Pie Town - Lynne Hinton [85]
“I know,” Malene responded. She started making the sandwiches. “It’s a miracle,” she added.
“Maybe,” Roger responded.
Malene finished making their lunch and placed the sandwiches on napkins. She got two glasses out of the sink and poured them both some iced tea. She sat down with their lunch and bowed her head. Roger did the same.
“Amen,” she said softly, and Roger lifted his head on cue.
“So, what’s going on at work?” she asked, taking a bite of sandwich.
Roger shrugged. “Closing up the case on the fire,” he answered.
“You saying it was Trina?” Malene asked.
Roger shook his head. His mouth was full.
Malene waited.
“Officially, it’s been ruled an accident without any names attached,” he said.
“How about unofficially?” Malene asked. She and Roger had not talked too much about the fire. Their conversations since Alex had become a hospice patient were mostly about Alex.
“Unofficially?” Roger asked. “Well, unofficially, everybody assumes Trina was the last one in the church building.”
“But you don’t?” Malene asked.
“I don’t know what to think,” he finally said. “She won’t say much, just that she was there and that it doesn’t really matter what she says because folks have already made up their minds that she did it.”
“Well, she’s right about that,” Malene responded. “Except, it does seem like if she didn’t do it, she’d tell you.”
“Maybe,” Roger said. “But maybe there’s more to it than just saying she didn’t do it.”
Malene was curious. “Like what?” she asked.
“I just got a funny feeling that there’s more that went on that night up there at Holy Family than what we’ve been told,” he answered.
“Well, I sure think Father George knows something. He’s acted odd ever since,” Malene noted. “Maybe you could go talk to him again, ask him some more questions.”
Roger shook his head. “Well, that’s not going to happen. Father George left this morning for Gallup and then will be on his way to California.”
“Oh,” Malene responded. “Well, I guess Daddy missed him then.”
Roger’s face was a question mark.
“Daddy said he was going over to the rectory, didn’t say why.”
“Well, yeah, he probably missed Father George,” Roger responded. “I saw him drive past the station about nine o’clock. Looked like he was heading out for good.”
“What about Rob Chavez?” Malene asked. She knew the boy’s truck had been seen at the church the night of the fire.
“Well, see, that’s something else that bothers me,” Roger replied. He ate the last bite of his sandwich.
“I think there’s more to that story too,” he said.
“Like what?”
“Like, he was there longer than he’s saying or he came back. There’s just something about his story that’s too neat, too perfect. Did you know that he came by the station to tell me and Danny that he was there before we ever went to question him?” He shook his head again. “Just feels too neat,” he repeated.
Malene nodded. “Does Trina say anything about him?” Like everyone else, she knew that Rob and Trina had been seen together before. Even Alex knew that much.
“Just that she wasn’t there with him. She confirms his story that he dropped her off and then left.” Roger patted his stomach. “Good sandwich,” he noted.
“Thanks,” Malene responded. “Then why do you think he’s got more to say than what he’s saying?” she asked.
“Just a hunch,” Roger replied. “He and his girlfriend, Katie, act very odd when I’ve run into them.”
Malene raised her eyebrows. She hadn’t heard any of this news before, and it was interesting to her. “Maybe there was a private prayer meeting at Holy Family,” she said, smiling.
“Well, whatever happened that night, I don’t think it was a prayer meeting,” Roger said.
“A mystery!” Malene said, sounding excited.
“And one that won’t ever be solved,” Roger replied. “Because, as of eleven-thirty this morning, the case is closed.”
“For the books,” Malene noted. “But not for that poor girl everybody’s blaming. Did you hear that somebody keeps leaving boxes of matches at her front door?”
Roger nodded. “Some kid’s idea of a prank.”
“Well,