Black Creek Burning (The Black Creek Series, Book 1) by R.T. Wolfe

that time,
     Brie's bedroom. The file suggests that whoever set it knew what they were doing."
    "Backdraft?"
    "Set especially so it can't spread at first. Uses all the oxygen from the room. When
     the fire gets a new dose of air, such as opening a door... boom. The parents were
     the ones that opened the door. Died instantly. Brie was blown back from the kick.
     Hit her head. Knocked her out. Treated for head injury and smoke inhalation.
    "It said in her formal statement she saw two people walking as she pulled up in a
     cab but couldn't remember anything about clothing or faces. Not even gender. Both
     her sister's and her alibis for the evening were confirmed."
    Nathan leaned forward. "You suggesting they might have blown up their own parents?"
    "Just saying what I read. They were seen that night by several bar patrons. Bartender
     remembered them, too. A neighbor also said she remembered seeing someone out walking.
     Not so strange to take a late night walk if you ask me, but both Brie and the neighbor
     said it was odd for the neighborhood." Dave tossed his empty bottle in the paper grocery
     sack next to the dog and opened the cooler for another. "Have you talked to her since
     the tires?"
    "Just stuff about Andy. She's touchy about the whole getting-involved-with-parents-of-students
     thing."
    "That is weird. If I had a kid, I wouldn't want his teacher running around with some
     classmate's dad. Shit, it's still weird to think of you as a dad."
    "She supposed to be the Pope? And being a dad's still weird for me, too. I don't know
     what the hell I'm doing."
    "Is that why you came back?"
    "Pretty much, yeah. My ex wanted the divorce. Andy's teachers basically told me I
     was doing a rotten job. The shop was taking all my time." He looked into the paper
     sack at the growing stack of empty bottles. "They're piling up in there."
    "Yeah. I think I'm sleeping on your fucking filthy floor tonight."
    "It's not a fucking filthy floor. It's just a fucking unfinished floor and don't talk
     about fucking. It's been too long for me." He stood up slowly. "You're welcome to
     my extra mattress, and I have a Spiderman sleeping bag that might fit your right leg."

 
     
     
    Chapter 11

     
    Nathan had Duncan pulling orange and white stickers from the new windows and working
     on installing the screens.
    "The windows are all different sizes. There are too many screens. I'm only eight."
     Ironically, Duncan tried to reason like an adult about his young age, but Nathan wasn't
     budging.
    "Mmm hmm. You are only eight. That's why I'm only giving you this one project for your Saturday." He
     continued spreading stain on one of the twenty-seven interior doors. "And remember
     to only put in the screens on the first floor and basement day-lights. Just lean the
     screens next to the windows upstairs."
    He stacked doors on drying racks throughout the garage. They, too, were different
     sizes but all matched in design, each with three flat panels boasting the straight
     lines that fit a Mission-style home. The wood, however, differed depending on which
     room it belonged. The master bedroom, bath and closet doors were made of quarter-sawn
     oak, the boys' rooms in distressed oak and the rest in riff-sawn.
    Andy's chores stayed in the garage where Nathan could keep an eye on him. The younger
     boy's job was to replace router and drill bits to their proper spots. Since it was
     much like completing a puzzle, it was just the right task for him.
    He knew the house didn't look like much had been done, but he'd checked off plenty
     from his list over the weeks. Besides the new windows, the electrician had finished.
     The plumbing was ready for sinks and fixtures. He'd changed his mind and decided on
     a shower that had both high and low spigots for all three upstairs bathrooms. The
     plumber wasn't too happy about the change and took his time making the extra return
     trip. Nathan didn't mind. He wouldn't have the new sinks picked out for some time