The Burning Girl (Haunted Collection Series Book 5) by Ron Ripley

Author:Ron Ripley [Ripley, Ron]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: ScareStreet.com
Published: 2018-03-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29: More of the Same

Victor had just tightened his gas cap when a third fire truck raced past the station. In the distance, he heard a fourth, and he watched as a pair of police SUVs barreled along the road. From the small market annexed to the gas station a small, overweight man appeared. Sweat glistened on his pale forehead, and he mopped at the back of his neck with a dirty, blue handkerchief. He glanced at Victor and asked, “How many was that?”

Victor answered, and the man shook his head and said, “There’s a fire over on Caltrap Road. Chatter on the scanner says they might upgrade it to a four-alarmer in a minute or two.”

“How far away is Caltrap?” Victor asked.

The man gestured with the handkerchief. “About half a mile over headed, west. It’s near the street that had the fire the other day. A second fire like this, well, people will talk. Seems like there’s a firebug around.”

“Fire’s a terrible thing,” Victor said, with far more venom than he had intended.

The man only nodded. “Yup. I live in mortal fear of it myself. Can’t stand the thought of fire. It’s why I don’t miss a Sunday meeting either. Don’t want to end up burning until the second coming.”

“No,” Victor agreed, “I don’t suppose so.”

The man smiled and said, “Well, have a nice day. Keep your eyes on the road. If they do bump it to another alarm, they’ll be sending trucks in on just about every route into the area.”

“Thank you,” Victor said, and he went to his car.

Instead of heading home, he drove to the street he had been on earlier. The one where he had seen the boy at the burnt house.

When he arrived in the neighborhood again, Victor parked at the beginning of the street, got out. Dark black, billowing smoke went racing up to the sky on the next street over, and the air was filled with the acrid scent of fire. A few people had gathered on the sidewalk and stared at the smoke. Victor walked to them and stood at the fringe of the group.

He didn't listen to their conversation. Instead, he focused on what he could see through the trees. Streams of water battled flames, lights flickered against trees, and the sound of the firefighters’ radios filled the air.

A cold, depressed feeling settled into his stomach, and Victor knew the fire had been set.

And he knew someone had been killed. He could sense it.

“Are you alright?” a woman asked.

It took him a moment to realize she had been addressing him. “Oh, yes. Thank you. I’m fine.”

The woman looked over her glasses at him, her gray hair pulled back in a messy ponytail.

“You don’t live around here,” she said.

“No,” Victor said. “I don’t.”

Some of the other people in the group turned their heads towards him.

“What are you doing here then?” his inquisitor asked.

He looked at the woman and understood she must have served as the de facto leader of the street.

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