The Girls Across the Bay by Emerald O'Brien

Author:Emerald O'Brien [O’Brien, Emerald]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emerald O'Brien

Madigan had parked between John’s house and his only other neighbour’s property on Dorothy’s side of the road. A team of firefighters worked to extinguish the burning fire, and she spotted Jack, Drew’s closest friend, by the wheel of the hose straight away.

Two cars were parked outside the house, one police and one unmarked, along with the local news van.

The first time it doesn’t matter, I make it here before Thane.

Madigan jogged toward the house where two officers unrolled a new line of police tape closer to the road.

Paul Banning, Chief of Police, stood speaking with one of the firefighters in front of the flames, and not even the reporter and cameraman had approached him yet.

Where’s Grace?

Thane’s station wagon pulled up by the curb behind Madigan’s bike. When he saw Madigan, he did a double take, and Madigan laughed to herself.

He can’t believe I’m here first.

It’d be funnier if I hadn’t just been fired.

“Knox,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

“What does it matter to you anymore?”

“I heard you were just fired,” he said, rubbing his chin.

“News travels fast,” Madigan sighed.

“Does when I’m around,” Thane said. “Seriously, why are you here?”

“I want to know what’s happening. I wanted to make sure no one was in there, and, well, I guess you know about my personal connection to the case.”

“Yeah,” he said, taking out his notepad. “Ornella wants me to look into that more.”

Madigan pressed her lips together and nodded. “I’m sure she does.”

“I don’t think it was fair how it all happened.” He pursed his lips and stared past her at the fire, its bright orange lights reflected in his eyes.

“Wonder where John Talbot is tonight?” he asked.

Not inside. If he were in there, they’d all be scrambling.

Maybe he thinks I know where John is.

Chief Banning and Officer MacIntyre walked toward them.

“No official statement yet,” Chief Banning said. “But there’s another truck on the way. Fire’s under control for now.”

“Is there anyone inside?” Madigan asked.

“We can’t confirm or deny that right now,” Chief Banning said, and Officer MacIntyre whispered something to him as Grace stepped beside him.

She’s just getting here now?

I should have called to let her know.

As Grace pulled the Chief aside, Madigan walked away from the gathering group of news outlets down the line. No lights on at Dot’s place.

Wonder if she saw anything.

She caught Jack staring down at her from the firetruck. She nodded to him, but he turned his attention back to the fire.

Great. He thinks I’m so awkward.

Officer Mac jogged past her, and Grace followed further behind.

“Grace,” Madigan said as Grace ducked under the tape and lowered her voice. “Have you told them about what I said? About Evette?”

Grace shook her head and kept walking down the boulevard. “Not a word, alright? Not until we see her.”

She’ll know if John was in there.

She reached out to her. “Listen, I have work to do. If you find anything else out, text me before you put it in an article, alright? Call you in the a.m.”

No more worries about what I do or don’t know, Grace.

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