WHAT THE FIRE TOOK.

outside her window, and the scent of fresh bread drifted up from the bakery below. S

here's something

ut she didn't reply. Instead, she slip

ong shadows over the streets. Elias was already waiting

ective," he t

ing in her chest felt tight. "

Come on. I'l

The road twisted, climbing toward the hills that overlooked Rosefield.

be," Elias explained. "Your father was the only landown

boots sinking into soft dirt. The air

e tell me this be

r. I heard my dad talking about it back then. He said your father

And what about your

ked with the contractors. But he quit befor

stuck in her mind, but

e company had started to dig before the fire stopped everything. T

had been waiting for her return. "This was supposed to be our future," she whispered. "My dad

n beside her.

a moment, it was quiet

digging-figuratively, I mean. If someone

ough boxes of old records and reports. Helena found a copy of a complaint

anything happens to me or m

r fingers trembling. "Why wasn

er shoulder. "I don't know. Ma

ce him. "But who

"Someone with s

d. The room felt

but one stood out: Jacob Ryder-the lead developer f

ena muttered. "It's like everyone jus

nd rubbed her eyes. "Elias, why a

you deserve to know what happen

t. "Even after a

all these years,

the stars above the quiet town. The warning in her father's handwr

anted him

hone

"You

"Just th

"Abou

"Every

Come for

sitate

kay. Give

ilence for a while. Their shadows stretc

ame back," Elia

els the same, but everything's different. I keep askin

"Maybe the truth w

ll break me,"

hand, and for a moment

er than you th

t. There was something in his eyes-warm, steady-but

you, Elias," sh

n," he

hesitated. Jus

park. Helena sat on the edge of one swi

t about that night?"

away. "S

o you r

r the smoke... the sirens... and

htened. "I don't r

at her.

usted chain. Something about th

old photos she had stored in her bag. One of them showed her house-before the

eath c

as E

half-turned, holding something in

photo closer. It could'v

wn quickly, h

rself. It's just a p

d planted someth

ub