The air was pregnant with sirens, scorching heat, and bellowing smoke. Hungry flames ravished the board and batten treehouse and cargo bridge while its tentacles reached skyward to the branches of their supporting trees. Matt felt the searing heat of the inferno against his skin and stepped well back. He was pleased to see that Sergeant Gupta and two other constables had dropped the inadequate garden hose used to contain the fire and had moved along a perimeter a safe distance away, too.
“Where’s Mark Dale?” Matt shouted out to Sergeant Gupta through the cacophony of arriving fire engines converging on the site.
Sergeant Gupta cupped his ear but quickly realized it was fruitless and ran over to him. “I’m sorry, sir, but…”
Matt waved off his concern. “No problem, Sanjay…I was just asking where Mark Dale had got to.”
Sanjay took a moment to survey the organized chaos that was beginning to materialize around him. Finally, he pushed back his hat and scratched his head. “That’s strange.”
“What’s strange?” Matt noticed that Susan and Isobella were in an intense conversation situated well away from the activities.
“Come to think of it, Mister Dale was out here before I and the two constables arrived to attend to the fire.”
“I thought he entered with the boy’s aunt through the front entrance?” Out of the corner of his eye he saw Susan slap Isobella. For a moment they stood facing each other before Isobella stomped off toward the house.
“I, too, but apparently he hadn’t,” replied Sanjay, distracted by the firefighters going about their job.
“Where did you see him when you exited?”
“Standing on the ground, over there, behind what used to be the treehouse. The fire at that time was isolated to the treehouse.”
Matt recalled that the wooden ladder that led to the treehouse was located there. “Did you see anyone else?”
“Honestly, sir, I was too wrapped up in trying to stop the fire to notice. We all were.”
Matt noticed Susan walking toward him through the smoky haze, and bustling firefighters.
When she reached him, she looked back and said, “I’ve never seen so many locals on this property before.” Her voice seemed detached from her surroundings. Then, unexpectedly, she embraced him, her head placed tightly against his chest, and for a brief time felt her trembling sobs.
Though at first, Matt resisted, he finally relented and wrapped his arms around her. “What’s wrong Susan?” he asked after a few minutes of solace had passed. “Is it Isobella?”
She peered up at him. “Why would you ask that?” She asked wiping away her tears.
“It appeared from what I could see, you and she were in an altercation. That’s all.”
She stepped away from him. And after some thought said, “Oh! Only family stuff. A misunderstanding. Nothing more.”
“And the slap?”
She gazed at the charred remains of the treehouse before turning back. “I feel rather embarrassed about that. Generally, I don’t lose control but…I guess I got emotionally caught up in all this mayhem.” Her outstretched hand like a wand took in the still active area. “Not to worry. I’ll wait a bit then apologize to her. All will be well. Honest. Contrary to what you saw, Matt, Isobella and I do get along quite well,” she said, mustering up a Cheshire cat smile.
He stared at her for a few seconds feeling uncomfortable with her explanation. Their confrontation had a sting about it that said more than just a family misunderstanding. “Now that everything appears under control here, let’s see if we can find those diaries in your son’s room.” The content of her son’s diaries more than ever now piqued his interest. Though a long shot, he believed their contents held answers to his case.
She put her hand out to stop him and was about to say something when one of the firefighters called out. He didn’t hear the reason for the alarm, but he joined in with the others running towards its source.