Page 79 of Fear of Flames
“But according to a source we spoke with directly, Mr. Holdcraft’s outbuilding was an elaborate technological setup. Tell the listeners what we found when we investigated.”
“The most moving sight was the ruins of Mr. Holdcraft’s home. While prior to the fire it was a two-story home, it was basically reduced to ashes and a chimney.” Kenzi paused. “We walked farther out on his property. It seemed like a mile, but it was probably closer to one thousand yards. That’s where we found the outbuilding. It was as we were told: empty.” She emphasized the word.
“As if someone had scoured every surface. And what looked rustic on the outside had recently been up-to-date on the inside. Electricity, heat, and air conditioning. I’ve done a little research based on what we found: conductors and wires. There were also voids in the snow, suggesting larger machinery had been removed.”
“What did you learn?”
“I read up on ways to generate energy off the grid.”
“Why do people do things off the grid?” Kenzi asked.
“It could be to hide their activity. It could also be that with how rural Mr. Holdcraft’s property was, it was his best option. The thing is from what I’ve read, the kind of power he possibly had at that shed was enough to light a small town.”
“Like Iron Falls?”
“Exactly,” Ali replied. “What was Mr. Holdcraft doing in that shed that required so much power? What happened to the setup that was seen? How did it all disappear? Who cleaned out the shed?”
“We know it wasn’t Ms. Holdcraft. And after this word from our sponsors, we’ll tell you more.” Kenzi sat back and sighed. “I know it’s not up to us to decide guilt or innocence, but I still don’t believe that Michelle killed her father. Why would Sheriff Perkins tell us that he possibly committed suicide?”
“I agree,” Ali replied. “For now, let’s stay with the facts.”
“Three, two…” Greta cut in.
“We’re back,” Kenzi said. “After Iron Falls, Ali and I flew to Indiana to check out the crime scene in Indianapolis.”
“You can go to our website to see our pictures and videos from both Iron Falls and Indianapolis.”
“In Indianapolis, we met with Officer Darla McCoy from the IMPD. And if you’re listening, Officer, thank you for seeing us.”
“After the press conference the night before, she didn’t have much more to add.”
“Greta, can you play the audio from the press conference for our listeners?” Kenzi sat back and stared at her notes.
Both ladies knew what the audio said. They’d listened to it repeatedly, choosing the precise clips they wanted to share. Once the audio ended, the podcast went to commercial break. When they returned to broadcasting, their listeners would know that the Indiana attorney general, Sandra Oaks, was convening a grand jury to determine if there was enough evidence to indict Michelle Holdcraft of serial arson and the murders of both her parents.
“Welcome back,” Ali said. “As our regular listeners know, Kenzi and I share the facts and our instincts. We try to see what others may have missed. We learned in that press conference that Mr. Holdcraft died from a bullet to the head, not by the flames that consumed his home.”
“Right. Let’s look at facts. Mr. Holdcraft was either shot by someone else or his own hand. In order for that someone else to be Michelle Holdcraft, she would have had to be present in Iron Falls on Sunday night. There was a severe snowstorm that evening. The IMPD confirmed they spoke to Michelle in her home near midnight Tuesday night, or early Wednesday morning. It is possible to drive between the two locations in that amount of time, but how could she have done it?”
“Officer McCoy stated that on that late Tuesday night, once they reached Ms. Holdcraft in person, Ms. Holdcraft claimed she saw her father on Thursday, stopping on her way to Boston,” Ali said. “And if you check D. Valentine’s website, she was at an event Saturday in Boston. There are pictures of her on the event’s website and social media. D. Valentine was seen by hundreds if not thousands of readers as well as other authors at the event.”
“Officer McCoy also said Ms. Holdcraft claimed to have left her car at her father’s and ended up flying home because of weather conditions.”
“Do we know the airline?” Ali asked. “And if her car was at her father’s, she couldn’t have driven to Indianapolis.”
“We found multiple flights between Boston and Indianapolis on Sunday. I’m not saying that a bestselling author wouldn’t fly an inexpensive airline, but if she didn’t that still gave her numerous options.”
“I think we need to investigate if Michelle was on one of those flights.”
“I couldn’t agree more, Ali. Speaking of flights…or fleeing…where is Michelle Holdcraft now?”
“According to the Indiana attorney general, they’re pursuing her as a person of interest. No human remains were found in Michelle’s home. As we all heard in the clips from the press conference, law enforcement believes the explosion was ignited with an incendiary device that could have exploded after Michelle fled. A diversion.”
“Wait,” Kenzi said. “If she took a flight home, it doesn’t seem as if she was in Iron Falls, not at the time of her father’s demise. Then why would she flee and ignite her own home?”
“How would she even know how to do that?”
“It’s not exactly common knowledge,” Kenzi said.
