Trial by Fire by Norah McClintock

Author:Norah McClintock
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: JUV028000, JUV039120, JUV024000
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2016-02-29T16:00:00+00:00

“What is that heavenly smell?” Aunt Ginny asked when she walked through the door that night.

“Just supper,” I called from the kitchen. I opened the oven door to baste what was inside.

“You didn’t!” Aunt Ginny’s voice was so piercing that I almost dropped my basting spoon. “You did! Oh my god, those are my favorite!”

Compared to most people, I’m a good cook. Compared to Aunt Ginny, I’m like the chef of a five-star restaurant. I have many specialties. But Aunt Ginny’s favorite is the oven-roasted ribs with spiced rice, homemade creamy coleslaw and homemade biscuits that George (the drummer in Jimmy’s band) taught me to make. You need the biscuits to sop up the extra sauce.

“It’ll be ready in twenty minutes, Aunt Ginny. You have time for a shower.”

She was back in the kitchen nineteen minutes later, declaring that she was famished. I put the food on the table—a heaping plate for her and a smaller serving for myself. She dug in with gusto.

“That was the best meal I’ve ever eaten,” she declared after a second helping. “I think I’m going to explode.” She sat back in her chair and smiled contentedly—for about a minute. “Is there dessert?”

“There’s ice cream.” It had mostly melted on the way home, but it should have firmed up again in the freezer by now.

“No pie?” Aunt Ginny sounded disappointed.

“Sorry.”

She pouted. “Okay. I’ll have ice cream.”

I scooped a couple of balls into a dish and slid it in front of her.

“Aunt Ginny, did you read the police report on the arson investigation?”

“No. I haven’t been able to get my hands on it. Why?” I cleared the plates while she ate her dessert.

“Just wondering.”

She put down her spoon—a bad sign. Aunt Ginny may have wished for pie, but she loves ice cream. “I know you, Riley. I also know when I’m being softened up by your cooking. Why are you so interested in that report?”

“No special reason.”

“Uh-huh.” She didn’t believe me. “Spit it out, kiddo.”

I sat down again. “Everyone assumes it was Mr. Goran who started the fire in his barn.”

Aunt Ginny’s eyes narrowed. “And?”

“A lot of people around here don’t like him, and at least one of your colleagues is related to Ted Winters—well, to his wife. Mr. Winters claims that Mr. Goran stole the farm, and there are a lot of people who believe him.”

“Brian Shears is a patrol officer, not an investigator. He has nothing to do with the arson investigation.”

“Who handled that? Who decided that Mr. Goran was the perpetrator?”

“It’s Josh’s case.”

“Is Josh related to Ted Winters in any way?”

“Not that I know of. If he was, presumably he wouldn’t be on the case.”

“Presumably?”

“It’s a small town, Riley.

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