“Morning, I think,” he said. “One of these days you’re going to have to let Michael and Rob go to a fire all by themselves. Are these the folks who called in the alarm?”
My passengers poured out their story, interrupting each other in their haste. The chief heard them out, then took their names and numbers.
“I hate to ask it, but would you good people mind staying here until the fire’s out and I can get into the church?” he asked. “I’d like to take your detailed individual statements as soon as possible.”
“No problem,” Hank said.
“We’re the night owls,” the plump woman said with a small laugh. “We were planning to stay up all night to watch over the church.”
“Looks as if we failed,” another man said.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Chief Burke said. “Looks as if you called 911 in time to save the church.”
He pointed to the front doors, where firefighters had begun trickling out. I felt a sudden wave of relief when I saw Michael’s tall form among them.
“Is it the same prankster, Chief?” one of the men asked.
“Too early to tell,” he said. “Were the five of you the only people in the church?”
“Yes,” said the plump woman.
“As far as we know,” muttered one of the men.
“The doors and windows all locked?” the chief asked.
“And checked every hour,” the plump woman said, nodding vigorously.
“And you didn’t let anyone else in at any time?”
The members of the watch all shook their heads, some of them frowning uneasily.
“Good.” The chief nodded absently. He appeared to be lost in thought. I hoped the watch members were reassured by the fact that he was staring into space, not at any of them. I know I would have been relieved.
Chief Featherstone came over.
“We’re still finishing up in the basement,” he said. “But the fire’s out, and you’re welcome to come in and start your investigation. And I expect these folks would like to get in out of the cold. Okay with me as long as they stay out of the basement.”
“And with me as well,” Chief Burke said. He turned and strode toward the church. My passengers all murmured thanks to me and scrambled out of the car to follow. I decided to tag along.
Since the night watch had all been in the social hall when the fire broke out, the chief sent them there, with orders not to talk to each other until he’d interviewed them—and a deputy to watch over them and make sure they followed orders. I went along and busied myself making a pot of coffee so I’d look useful enough that they wouldn’t kick me out. In fact, I decided, I’d fill the big pot we used for receptions. The firefighters might want some before they went home, and there were bound to be more deputies showing up soon, not to mention curious parishioners.
When the coffee was ready, I grabbed a cup with my good hand and went out to hand it to one of the firefighters or deputies, so I’d have a good excuse for taking a look around. I spotted the two chiefs in the vestibule, talking intently about something. I headed their way.
Then I saw my dad appear in the vestibule, medical bag in hand. He said a few words to the two chiefs, then trotted briskly in my direction.
“Morning, Meg,” he said when he spotted me. “Terrible business.”
He disappeared down the basement steps.
I went to the head of the stairs and peered down. A deputy was standing at the foot of the stairs. He turned, and I recognized him as Vern Shiffley, one of Randall’s many cousins.
“No one’s allowed down here,” he said.
“Not sure I even want to go down there,” I said. “Coffee?”
“Thanks.” He trudged up the stairs, looking glum, and took the cup from me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Is it bad down there? Was anyone hurt?”
“We have a body,” he said. “Looks like the prankster went too far this time.”
Chapter 23
“A body?” I flinched at the thought. “Who?”
He looked for a moment as if he were about to tell me to mind my own business, then his face fell.
“It’ll get out soon enough. That old gentleman who used to run the First Farmers Bank of Caerphilly before it got bought up by that out-of-state bank.”
“Barliman Vess?”
“That’s him.” Over Vern’s shoulder I could see the chief had spotted us talking and was heading our way. I braced myself to be kicked out.
“I gather Mr. Vess works here or something?” Vern asked.
“He’s a vestryman.”
I could tell from Vern’s face that he didn’t know the word.