From the best they could tell by Bell’s memory, Joe Mahoney and his partner had been momentarily separated as they’d begun to enter the sunroom. Joe had spotted Bell inside and had to make a split-second decision to try to save him. He did, getting Bell out just before the porch collapsed and the flames made their way to the second floor, even touching the attic.
“How did Bell get away that night?” Evie asked.
“He knew enough about the controlled chaos of firefighting,” the deputy said. “He blended in and disappeared, but lost his lighter in the process.”
“And lived for twenty years with no price to pay,” Declan murmured, holding Evie’s hand, but turning to Max. “Until this man provided us with the missing piece of evidence. Without that, we could never have proved his role in the fire.”
“You were the one that made me think of it, son,” Max replied with a denture-filled smile.
“Bell didn’t escape unscathed in those twenty years, though,” Deputy Hanson said as he glanced at his notes. “He’s been treated multiple times for depression and has attempted suicide on more than one occasion. His lawyer will no doubt plead insanity for this last fire, especially if the DA levels homicide charges for the first fire, which is possible, but don’t worry, he won’t walk.”
“He better not,” Kirby Lewis said, crossing his arms and leaning back on the barstool, his gaze on Declan. “Because I wouldn’t be surprised if he started a few other fires in the ensuing years.”
“He doesn’t seem to have the profile of an arsonist,” the sheriff said. “But he was on the scene for two fires at the same place, claiming both were accidents. He did spray the lighter fluid in an attempt at arson, we know that. And the rags combusted outside, and he got stuck.”
Kirby nodded. “That finally makes sense of everything I saw.”
“We also know he managed to gain entry to Gloriana House on two different occasions, one during a historical event, but he couldn’t get to the lighters. Also, he tried again by convincing Penelope Hewitt that he was an electrician. Mr. Hewitt confirmed the incident,” Deputy Hanson added. “His goal was always to find the lighter that could pin the fire on him.”
“He got into the house?” Evie choked. “Oh my God, that’s terrifying.”
“And now that whole electrician thing makes sense,” Max added. “Penny walked in on the guy poking around the museum room and read him the riot act. She got him out of there, but she was upset. She must have caught him before he found his lighter.”
“So his offer to buy was a hoax?” Declan asked. “Just a ruse to get inside?”
“Actually, no.” Deputy Hanson flipped a page. “His grandmother passed away and left a large amount of money.”
“And he decided to use it to buy the house?” Evie asked. “Just to find the lighter?”
“A man’ll go to great lengths to get away with a crime,” Kirby said.
“He kept his eye on the place by blending in with the tourists out front,” Deputy Hanson added. “He confessed that when he spotted Declan coming out of Gloriana House, he renewed his efforts to get inside.”
“Well, he won’t need that money in jail,” Max said.
“Especially because a whole bunch of it could be yours,” Shane, Declan’s cousin, interjected. “Speaking as a former attorney, you have a rock solid civil suit, if you’re interested in pursuing it.”
“Hell, yes,” Max said. “Just the idea of that gives me a new reason for living.”
Evie beamed at Declan then, giving his hand a squeeze.
An hour later, the room was a little emptier, and Declan could swear he heard a collective sigh and unloading of a few decades of emotions, especially from the Mahoneys.
“Thanks, bro.” Connor looked hard at Declan, his eyes suspiciously damp. “You did this for us.”
He shook his head, not wanting any credit.
“Seriously.” Next to Connor, Braden’s look matched his brother’s. “This has always bugged me. I couldn’t find the missing piece, so I figured it wasn’t there.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t put two and two together sooner,” Max said. “I never gave that lighter a moment’s consideration until Declan asked about the collection in light of the fire. He deserves the credit.”
“Dad would be proud of you.” Ella put her arm around Declan’s waist, wiping tears from her eyes. “We all are so happy to know this. You realize that, don’t you? Somehow it changes everything to know he gave his life to save someone else, no matter how awful that someone else turned out to be.”
“It was so like Joe,” his mother said on a sigh. “I should have always known it.”
Declan reached for her. “You feel better, Mom.” It wasn’t a question.
“I feel light and free,” she whispered. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
“You don’t have to,” he replied. “I already know.”
Uncle Daniel leaned forward from his seat on the sofa. “Dec, he used to tell me that you were the finest firefighter he knew. He said you’d be chief one day. He had no doubt.”
Declan just smiled, but Evie looked up at him. “One day soon,” she added. “Very soon.” At his look, she shrugged. “What? You said there are no secrets in this family.”
“True.” As they all stared at him, he laughed. “I’ll be named chief early next year,” he announced.
A cheer went up, taking the whole room from somber to celebratory as they congratulated him on the promotion.
As that quieted down, Max slowly pushed himself to a stand and glanced at Evie. “Can we make this announcement now?”
At the question, a new hush fell over the room, except for Ella’s little squeak of excitement and Gramma
