Page 5 of The Smart Killer (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #4)

T he deceased family was at the morgue when Noah maneuvered his Ford Bronco through the new east-end neighborhood. Raindrops tapped against the windshield like hurried footsteps, falling from a canvas sky of muted grey.

Approaching the scene, Noah peered out at the area cordoned off by yellow crime tape. A neighbor in a raincoat walking his dog lingered to see what was happening. Ray’s cruiser was parked in the driveway of one of the cul-de-sac homes.

As he shut off his engine near the charred remnants of the house, the rain intensified, casting a melancholic sheen on the destruction before him. The remainder of the burned-down house stood like a monument of tragedy, its skeletal frame a testament to the unforgiving power of fire.

Noah waited a moment for a break in the rain before climbing out.

The air was heavy with humid residue, a reminder of the stifling discomfort the town had endured amid rolling blackouts in the days prior.

Almost in synch, Ray stepped out of his cruiser into the rain-soaked morning, his footsteps splashing through puddles formed by the downpour.

“Noah. Thanks for coming. Crazy weather we’ve been having. The home could have used this yesterday.”

“What have we got?”

“Four dead. A neighbor said the fire started sometime around nine.”

Ray led the way.

Rainwater mingled with the ashes, creating rivulets of soot that snaked down the curbside. The scent of wet earth and burnt wood hung heavy as they approached the remnants of the house.

He continued to talk as he led him across the wet soot.

“Crash and fire investigations unit came out to the scene. After an extensive examination of the home, they couldn’t determine the source of the fire.

However, it was determined that the area of origin was concentrated at the center of the structure, on the main floor.

They identified several potential ignition sources, mostly based on the layout of homes in the neighborhood; however, due to the level of destruction from the blaze, one ignition source couldn’t be isolated, so they classified the cause of the fire as undetermined. ”

Noah nodded, his mind still swirling with thoughts from his conversation with Savannah. “What about fire alarms?”

“Multiple sensors throughout the home. Top of the line. They were connected to the home security system with a central monitoring system that alerts the homeowner and the fire department. They’re not your run-of-the-mill sensors, Noah.

They are meant to detect heat changes before smoke appears and, if needed, activate an extensive fire sprinkler system.

The system is pretty complex. According to the fire marshal, they are frequently tested.

The sensors should have alerted the family. ”

“But they didn’t.”

Ray cocked his head. “They were destroyed in the fire, so they can’t verify it.

However, based on the location of the bodies, we do believe they were awake, as they were found huddled together in one room.

So, did it work? Who knows. However, no notification was sent to the fire department.

So that is the assumption. What they have been able to verify is the sprinkler system didn’t turn on in any room.

The fire marshal has confirmed that all the other homes along this street are functioning.

” Ray sighed. “The hard part. Two of the victims were kids. Thirteen and ten.”

Noah shook his head.

“So, what was at the center of the house?”

“The kitchen.”

Ray led him cautiously through the remnants to the heart of the home, their footsteps muffled by the damp debris underfoot.

A once-cozy living room was nothing more than rubble; it bore the scars of the inferno that had consumed it.

What remained of the smoke-stained walls loomed overhead like ashen ghosts.

The center of the abode, once a bustling hub of activity, was now a blackened void. The appliances, once gleaming, were now twisted, charred metal. The wooden cabinets were gone, reduced to skeletal frames, a haunting reminder of a life that used to be.

Rainwater trickled down to the scorched tiles below. Puddles mixed with soot created a grimy sludge that clung to Noah’s shoes as he stepped further into the desolation. In the midst of it all, they found a dining table, its surface warped and marred by the intensity of the flames.

“Off the record, the chief thinks it may have started from the stove, but they’re unsure. They’re mostly going off the heavy fire in the kitchen area when the fire department arrived, and what the neighbors stated.”

Noah nodded as he looked around. “It’s tragic, but it’s a fire, Ray. People leave shit on the stove, forget to unplug appliances, and so on. Thousands happen every year in homes.”

“Agreed.”

“So why ask me to come here?”

“I was talking with the fire chief about this, and he mentioned how a month ago, another family died under unusual circumstances in High Peaks. It was a different neighborhood. Castlestone. However, the home used the same technology. The last deaths were by gas poisoning. The family never made it out.”

“Accidents happen. Products fail. That’s why there are class action lawsuits.”

“Maybe, except they checked the home, Noah. No signs of violence, no forced entry. There was no gas leak, but they died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Weird, right? Almost immediately after, every home received updated tech.”

Noah shrugged and sighed. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Ray.

They wouldn’t have been the first family to die from gas poisoning.

Unfortunately, it happens. Maybe whoever checked the home overlooked some area.

What can I say? Some days it rains, other days it pours.

” He lifted his hands in the air, catching the numerous droplets.

“If you think there is something more to this, then investigate; contact State Police if you need additional support.”

He turned away, trudging out of the home.

“I did. That’s why I contacted you.”

“I can’t help you.”

“It’s your job.”

“Not now, it isn’t. I’ve been suspended.”

“What?” Ray spat as he sidled beside him and took him by the arm.

“Savannah has me on a temporary suspension.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think?” He kept moving, wanting to end the conversation and get out of the dreary weather.

“I thought you were working the Leeman case.”

“I was until I got wind of liquid morphine back in the area.” He stopped walking. “That is, if it ever left. I’m beginning to have my doubts about everything in this town. But I’m almost certain that the Ashfords are tangled up in it somehow.”

“The Ashfords?” Ray tossed a hand up in the air. “I told you to leave that alone.”

“Leave it? I have you involved in God knows what because you won’t tell me, but it was bad enough for them to put a gun to your head.”

“That was a debt, and I’m paying you back.”

“Then we have our father in bed with Luther Ashford’s LLC on some real estate deals that he won’t talk about — which, if Ashford’s daughter is to be believed, is some mutual agreement.

Then we have them giving me a place to stay for free because I helped rid the town of corruption?

It seems that corruption is still happening; the only question is who else is caught up in it and how deep it goes. ”

Noah continued back to his vehicle.

“Listen. Noah! I didn’t just call you out because of a hunch. On the night of the fire, I had them pull the GPS information from the owner’s Tesla. The last place Adam Johnson was at before coming home was an address over on the east side. An apartment. It was rented out to Hannah Thorne.”

Noah turned his head, hand on the door, just about to get in.

“Callie’s sister?”

Ray nodded. “Autopsies were performed on the bodies to determine the cause of death. You know, just in case they were dead before the fire. Dental records confirmed it was her. That’s why I called you.”

“Does she know?”

“No, we only learned about this today.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before I came?”

“Because I wanted you to see the bigger picture before every asshole in this jurisdiction goes traipsing through here. And now you’ve told me you’re suspended, I’m glad I did.”

Noah opened the door to his vehicle.

“C’mon, Noah.”

“I need to tell her.”

“Then you need to know a few things. The autopsy showed they died of smoke inhalation. They were alive. For whatever reason, they just didn’t get out.”

“Or couldn’t.”

“But that’s the thing, they should have.

These windows in this neighborhood are made from polycarbonate and are designed to self-eject before firefighters get to them.

It’s a similar design to a company in town that makes acrylic windows.

The frames are meant to be combustible and burn up, causing the panels to fall off.

Except that’s not what happened. When the fire department arrived on scene, steel shutters inside blocked the upper windows.

It’s a security feature built into each home, making the whole house a giant panic room against intruders.

Most homeowners don’t use them, and from what we were told, Adam Johnson never used them either. ”

“So, a malfunction?”

“I’m not so sure about that. The ones on the lower floor were open when firefighters arrived.

Just a little before nine, a neighbor heard screams. When she looked out, she swears that all the windows on the lower and upper floors were sealed shut.

” He paused. “Even if those fire sensors worked, they couldn’t have gotten out because of the shutters. ”

“You think someone wanted them trapped inside?”

Ray stared back at Noah.

“Something doesn’t sit right. That’s all I’m saying.”

Noah knew he wasn’t an officer who quickly jumped to conclusions. Right then, a garbage truck rolled in, and Ray turned his attention toward the guy tossing the contents of cans into the back. “Hey, fella. Don’t be taking that one. We still have to go through it.”

The guy gave a thumbs-up.

“I figured local PD would be on top of that by now,” Noah said.

Ray blew out his cheeks. “Another reason I’m here. Look. I have to speak to the parent of a teen we pulled in that night; you want to be a fly on the wall?”

“Ray. I can’t. If Savannah catches wind…”

“She won’t. I never asked you to lead the investigation. As far as I’m concerned, you just came by to give me a ride back to the station because I got a flat.”

Noah furrowed his brow. “But your cruiser’s fine.”

Ray turned back to his cruiser and pulled out a knife, ready to stab one of the tires.

“Ray!”

He laughed, stretching out his arms. “I’m kidding, I wouldn’t do that,” he said, walking back, a grin forming.

Noah shook his head.

Noah listened attentively to the conversation inside a home in the same cul-de-sac. Only the sound of a ticking clock could be heard in the background. A hound dog lifted his heavy eyelids from a nearby couch.

“He’s a good kid, officer. A little lost but good. I can tell you right now; he never started that fire.”

Denise Ellis was in her mid-fifties, an unusually frail woman for her age, but what she lacked in strength, she made up for it in other ways.

The home was spotless. Nothing out of place.

“You can understand why folks might be hesitant to believe that.”

“That was last summer and wasn’t intentional.”

“That he told you,” Ray said.

Seated on a well-worn armchair, Denise set her cup down, her manner polite, her posture upright. “Officer. Jason has been through a lot with my recent divorce. He’s sixteen, so it’s expected that he might act out. I’m sure you were sixteen once.”

Noah observed the interaction in silence. Getting a glimpse into Ray’s world on the job was rare. He could see some of the mannerisms of their father in his elder brother.

Ray pulled out his notepad and flipped a few pages.

“June 14th last summer, he and two others were charged with more than 20 counts of arson in Adirondack County. Fortunately, no one died. Investigators determined the homes were deliberately set on fire. Three multi-unit residential buildings and some smaller fires nearby. He was caught on camera, Ms. Ellis.”

“Setting a shed afire. Not the homes. That was the other two. My son fell in with the wrong crowd.”

“That’s not what the other two said. Their statement was...” He flipped pages again.

“I know what they said, officer,” Denise erupted, cutting him off. Then she sighed and looked back at him, composed. “I’m sorry. Listen, I know what they said, but he wasn’t the instigator, and if you have any doubts, I’m sure the cameras in this neighborhood will clear that up.”

“We’re combing through that footage.” Ray looked back down at his notes. “Neighbors reported him stumbling around incoherent, appearing to be high on drugs. An officer from our department took him to the hospital for assessment, where it was confirmed that narcotics were in his system.”

“Like I said, my divorce and the last year have taken a toll on him. He was locked out of the house. Forgot his key. Drug use or not, that doesn’t mean he was responsible for the fire over at the Johnsons.’”

Ray studied her. “You were working that evening at the diner in town.”

“I work every evening.”

“And you felt comfortable leaving him at home?”

“Officer, do you own a home?”

“I do.”

“Well, then you would understand, a home like this doesn’t pay for itself. Without a partner, I am left to work two jobs to provide my kid some semblance of normal life. I’m afraid I don’t have the luxury of being here at all hours. Jason is mature and responsible enough to take care of himself.”

Ray glanced up at Noah, rolled his eyes, and then looked at her. “No offense, Ms. Ellis, but the drug use would beg to differ.”

She narrowed her gaze. Noah wanted to interject but restrained himself.

“Has Jason made any new friends since last year?” Ray asked.

“If he has, he doesn’t bring them around.”

“And your neighbor. Adam Johnson. Did you ever see or hear anything unusual around his home in the days or weeks leading up to the fire?”

She took a sip of her coffee. “Like?”

“Strangers. I mean, living in a cul-de-sac, I’d expect you’d see the same faces. It’s not like people pass through here.”

“None that stand out.”

He closed his notebook. “Well, thank you for your time. If you remember anything, don’t hesitate to get in contact.” Ray handed her a card with the department's number on it. “An officer or myself will be at the hospital this morning to collect Jason.”

As they walked toward the door, Denise cleared her throat. “Is he being arrested?”

“Detained while we conduct our investigation.”

“When will he be released?”

“Soon. If all is good after we question him.”

“Jason didn’t start that fire.”

Ray paused in the doorway. “Ma’am, with all due respect, how can you be sure when you weren’t there?”

“Because my son saw who was responsible.”