The Fear of Fire: (Book Two in The Fear Of Series) by S. C. Sterling

Author:S. C. Sterling [Sterling, S. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: No Bueno Publishing
Published: 2024-05-16T00:00:00+00:00

FIVE

Walking on the sidewalk to the Holt house, the sun weaved in and out of the clouds as the power lines dangled from house to house, countless strings of aluminum humming a quiet buzz, carrying thousands of volts of electricity.

Looking at the power lines, Hannah recalled a newspaper article about a newlywed couple on a walk when a line snapped and landed on the feet of the husband, electrocuting him in seconds. The wife instinctively reached for him, attempting to pull him back, but she became part of the electrical circuit. They both died instantly. When first responders found them, the bodies were charred to a crisp.

Since reading that story, Hannah kept an eye out for power lines that crossed her path. That, along with avoiding cracks in the sidewalk, kept her preoccupied on simple walks through any neighborhood.

Without realizing it, she found herself standing in front of the home of the second address with the Holt last name from the White Pages. Before leaving the motel, she’d called both numbers. The first number was a lovely lady named Peggy who lived with her cat Sophie and didn’t have children and wasn’t related to nor did she know anyone named Stacy. The second number, the house she was now in front of, hadn’t answered. Hannah had called three times within an hour and gotten the answering machine every time.

Glancing down at her notepad, Hannah confirmed that the address she’d written was the one on the front door. She stared at the house for a long moment. It was a single-story ranch house in the northeast section of Laramie, seemingly the only affluent neighborhood in town. Perfectly manicured lawn and landscaping, two newer cars in the driveway and a basketball hoop above the garage. It reminded her of the first house she’d lived in. Long before her parents got divorced, long before her dad became an alcoholic—and long before Casey was murdered.

Walking up the pathway to the front door, Hannah pondered what she would say if anyone answered, if she’d lie or tell the truth, use her real name or one of her many aliases. Finally, she decided her name was Rachel and she went to UW with Stacy, and she was in town for a couple of days and wanted to see if Stacy wanted to grab lunch. If she was pressed for further details, she’d make it up on the fly.

As Hannah reached for the doorbell, the front door flung open and a woman wearing a bathrobe and slippers glared at her.

With a hollow voice, the woman said, “How can I help you?”

Momentarily startled, Hannah was at a loss for words. “I was wondering if Stacy is home?” she managed to get out.

A small dog barked from another room. The woman ignored the dog and peered at Hannah with hardened eyes.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. It’s been months since I’ve seen or talked to her.”

The woman took a step back and started closing the door. Hannah placed her palm on the door and stopped it, leaving about a three-inch opening.

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