Kenzie looked on with horror as flames hungrily licked the sides of the house. Smoke was emitting from windows, and the fire hoses didn't seem to be doing any good.
And all Kenzie could ask herself was, "How did a fire start after last night's rain?"
Kenzie spotted Tara in the crowd, and when Tara saw her, she ran toward her.
"Don't get too close," she instructed her and Logan.
"I won't, but when did this happen?" Kenzie asked, confused.
"I have no idea. I don't even know how it happened. After that rain last night, no one should have been able to even get a spark."
Kenzie saw Max talking to the same officer from the police station when she'd first met Logan.
And he was yelling something about...
"Mark?!" Kenzie looked at Tara. "Is Mark still in there?!"
Tara nodded. "Yeah, they're trying to get him out, but this is intense heat. And very damaging. If they just charge in there, they'll likely get killed. The ceiling's about to collapse."
Kenzie looked at the house. The old wood was just feeding the fire. The smoke was so thick, it was unlikely anyone would even be able to see inside.
"This is terrible," Logan said as he watched in helpless horror.
"My thoughts exactly," Kenzie replied. Logan squeezed her hand for reassurance. He obviously didn't care if his sister, or anyone else, saw. And she didn't either.
And this meant that Mark was no longer a suspect. There was no way he'd torch his own house, much less while still inside it. He didn't seem the suicidal type.
Wait...inside?
"Tara," Kenzie said. "I think I know how this fire started."
"Well that makes one of us. How?"
"I think it started from inside the house. It wouldn't be wet inside."
A loud explosion sounded as a window blew out. Three firemen rushed inside, axes in hand. Max was still shouting for them to hurry up and save his son.
"That's a thought," Tara replied to Kenzie's theory. "But that means..."
"Mark didn't set this fire. Not even as a suicide. He's not the type. He's not depressed, he's just a prankster."
"And Sierra's alibi checks out," Logan added.
"Great," Tara said as she put her hand to her head. "What does that leave us?"
Suddenly, the three firemen returned, carrying what looked like an unconscious Mark. They put him on the ground and placed an oxygen mask over his face. One began performing CPR.
Max tried to approach, but the officer held him back, telling him that the firemen needed room.
Kenzie leaned against Logan, who held her. Tara gave them a look not unlike her brother's amused smile. Then all three watched as the firemen vainly tried to revive Mark.
But he wouldn't wake up. He had no heartbeat, and one of the firemen said he couldn't find a pulse.
Kenzie didn't have to be a coroner to know what that meant.
Mark Duncan was dead, killed by the fire's smoke undoubtedly in his sleep.
And Kenzie was out of suspects.
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