The Woman in the Hoodie

The fire was small, but it knew where to start.

Claire's home office burned first. Not the kitchen, not the curtains, not the decorative candles she kept unlit for staging. The flames took the desk where foundation gala files sat in white boxes.

Roslyn got June down the back stairs. Theo dragged Adam through the smoke by his jacket. Elise went for Claire, who had stopped in the hallway staring at the office door as if the fire had spoken her name.

"Move," Elise said.

"The school fund records are in there."

"Then they are gone."

"June's account, Elise."

"June is outside."

Claire looked at her then, and the old sister shape appeared under all that polish. Not good. Not innocent. But human.

Elise pulled her out.

Fire trucks arrived with neighbors, cameras, and Martin. He stepped from his black car before the hoses hit the windows.

"Claire," he called. "June."

June moved behind Roslyn.

That told Elise more than any testimony.

Martin's eyes went to the house, then to Elise. "What did you do?"

Elise almost laughed. He was so quick. A fire at Claire's house, and he had the accusation gift-wrapped.

Roslyn stepped between them. "Mr. Vale, unless you saw the ignition, stop talking."

"My family is under attack."

"By whom?"

"My stepdaughter has been unstable since her mother's death."

Elise took one step forward. Theo caught her wrist, not hard, just enough.

"Do not give him the picture," he said.

Across the street, a woman in a gray hoodie watched from behind a parked delivery van. She had short dark hair, a narrow face, and a white bandage on her left shoulder.

Elise stared.

The woman stared back.

Then she ran.

Elise broke Theo's hold and chased her, hearing Martin behind her say one word that did not sound like surprise.

"Ruby."