Run (The Tesla Effect #2) by Julie Drew Page A

investigation confirmed that there was a slow gas leak from the impact, and the fire could very well have started after the actual crash. After Jane made the call.”
    “It doesn’t tell us anything, then?”
    “Well, maybe not by itself, but it is a piece of the entire picture that we don’t want to ignore. What we do know—and this is not insignificant—is that the fire burned for at least half an hour before it was extinguished. Tasya’s identity was confirmed with dental records, but whatever evidence might have been in the car was pretty much incinerated. It wasn’t until after midnight that the fire fighters arrived on the scene, having been called by the paramedics, and were able to put it out with their heavier equipment.”
    “Is that a problem in terms of believing Jane’s report?” Bizzy asked.
    “I don’t know,” Finn said, frowning. “The detectives and the investigator from the Fire Department found no evidence of foul play, and they were satisfied with Jane’s report, finding it consistent with the timeline the evidence suggested. The final pages of the case file, written by Jane’s superior, note that she failed to call in the fire the moment it started, but she was a rookie, and there was no official reprimand. She didn’t call it in, she said, because she was busy trying to extricate Tasya’s body from the car. She states that there was no pulse before the fire started, that she had confirmed Tasya was dead right before she made the call. The case was closed.”
    “What about Tesla?”
    “Well, that part is certainly strange. Jane’s call said nothing about anyone else being on the scene, but when the local police and ambulance arrived, Dr. Abbott and Tesla were there. The police report says that neither the man nor the little girl, husband and daughter of the driver who was killed, had been in the car, but came upon the scene while taking a walk near their house. The report also says that the little girl was in shock and was treated at the scene.”
    “So, what—Dr. Abbott was taking a walk with his little girl at eleven thirty at night? And Tesla doesn’t remember any of this?”
    Finn shrugged. “I guess not, she’s never mentioned it. And I think she would have, she certainly didn’t hesitate last summer to tell us the entire story of her first time-travel. And—wait, there’s more,” he said when Bizzy looked like she was going to interrupt.
    “The report notes that the medical examiner determined the cause of death to be either internal injuries caused by the collision or immolation after the impact, when the car caught on fire. It was ruled an accident, either way, but they were unable to determine which was the official cause because the husband of the deceased refused permission for an autopsy, citing the already traumatized child.”
    “Oh, I see what you mean,” said Bizzy. “You could draw the same conclusions the officials did, but it’s just as easy to see this story in other ways. Especially since we know the players and some of their personal history. Not to mention the top secret work the dead woman and her husband were involved in.”
    “Exactly,” said Finn. “We know that Jane has a thing for Dr. Abbott, and it is weird that, given Nilsen’s accusation against him, he was at the scene and refused an autopsy. Frankly, it doesn’t look good. Tesla’s suspicions seem well-founded, even without knowing what she overheard her father saying.”
    Bizzy looked troubled for a moment, but then her expression changed to one of certainty.
    “Yeah but Finn, I know him. He wouldn’t…you know, have anything to do with his wife’s death. She was his kids’ mom, geez. What kind of monster would that make him?”
    “Biz, we both know there are monsters in the world, and they don’t always look like monsters.” Finn’s voice was surprisingly gentle, and Bizzy tensed a little.
    “Yeah, we do know that,” she said after a moment, her voice faintly brittle.