Blue Smoke Read Online Free Page B

tell Pete there was a fire in the shop and to get out right away, then to call the fire department. He was running downstairs when he told her. And he said to call nine-one-one, but she already was.”
    â€œThat’s a good report.”
    â€œI remember more. We all ran, but Dad ran the fastest. He ran all the way down. There was more fire. I could see it. And the window broke and it jumped out. The fire. Dad didn’t go in the front. I was afraid he would and something would happen to him. He’d get burned up, but he ran to the back steps, up to Pete’s.”
    She paused a moment, pressed her lips together.
    â€œTo help them get out,” John prompted.
    â€œBecause they’re more important than the shop. Pete had the baby, and my dad grabbed Theresa’s arm and they all ran down the stairs. People were starting to come out of their houses. And everybody was shouting and yelling. I think Dad was going to try to run inside, with the fire, but Mama grabbed him hard and said, Don’t, don’t. And he didn’t. He stood with her and he said, Oh Christ, baby. He calls my mother that sometimes. Then I heard the sirens, and the fire trucks came. The firemen jumped out and hooked up hoses. My dad told them everyone was out, that there was nobody inside. But some of them went inside. I don’t know how they could, with the fire and smoke, but they did. They looked like soldiers. Like ghost soldiers.”
    â€œDon’t miss much, do you?”
    â€œI’ve got a memory like an elephant.”
    John flicked a glance up at Gib, grinned. “You got a pistol here, Mr. Hale.”
    â€œGib. It’s Gib, and, yeah, I do.”
    â€œOkay, Reena, can you tell me what else you saw? Just when you were sitting on the stairs, before you saw the fire. Let’s go back and sit and you can try to remember.”
    Gib glanced toward the shop, then back at John. “It was vandalism, wasn’t it?”
    â€œWhy do you say that?” John asked.
    â€œThe door. The open door. I talked to Pete. He closed last night. I took the family to the ball game.”
    â€œBirds trounced the Rangers.”
    â€œYeah.” Gib managed a small smile. “Pete closed, along with one of my other kids—employees. He locked up, he remembers specifically becausehe and Toni—Antonia Vargas—had a conversation about his key ring when they locked up. He’s never left a door unlocked. So if it was open, somebody broke in.”
    â€œWe’ll talk about that.” He sat with Reena again. “It’s a nice spot. Nice place to have a cold drink on a hot night. Do you know what time it was?”
    â€œUm, it was about ten after three. Because I saw the clock in the kitchen when I got the ginger ale.”
    â€œGuess most everybody in the neighborhood’s asleep that time of night.”
    â€œAll the houses were dark. The Castos’ outside light was on, but they mostly forget to turn it off, and I could see a little bit of light in Mindy Young’s bedroom window. She sleeps with a night-light even though she’s ten. I heard a dog bark. I think it was the Pastorellis’ dog, Fabio, because it sounded like him. He sounded excited, then he stopped.”
    â€œDid any cars go by?”
    â€œNo. Not even one.”
    â€œThat late at night, that quiet, you’d probably hear if a car started up down the block, or a car door closed.”
    â€œIt was quiet. Except for the dog barking a couple times. I could hear the air-conditioning humming from next door. I didn’t hear anything else, that I remember. Not even when I was walking down toward the shop.”
    â€œOkay, Reena, good job.”
    The door opened, and once again John was struck by beauty.
    Bianca smiled. “Gib, you don’t ask the man in? Offer a cold drink? Please, come inside. I have fresh lemonade.”
    â€œThank you.” John had already gotten to his feet. She was