Harry’s first stop the next morning was the station to check with Chief Rogers. He remembered the fire but, like Harry, he knew of the couple but didn’t know them personally. “It was my first year with the force. I remember the sirens wailing, and the smoke and flames could be seen clear across town.”
“I read there was no funeral.”
“No. When the sun rose that morning, there was nothing left but ashes. There was a memorial service, mostly to show support for the family, and the church was packed. I spoke with the children afterwards, and it felt like they were kind of resigned… like they’d had been expecting it for years… and perhaps they had.”
“I was hoping to learn more about the history of the house.”
“Old lady Pinkerton would know more,” the Chief said thoughtfully. “She’s the type of person who keeps up with current events, reads all the news and, as far as I know, her memory is still pretty sharp.”
Harry nodded slowly. “I’ll give her a call. Thanks, Chief.”
“Anytime, Harry. You’re always welcome around here.”
Harry spent the next few minutes catching up with the boys before leaving. He intended to return to the office and call Miss Pinkerton. But, almost without thinking about it, he pulled the truck out into the street, heading in the direction of her home… and he smiled.
When the housekeeper opened the door, her pleasant face was lit up with a smile. “Mr. Hogan! So nice to see you again.”
“Hello, Glory. Is she free?” He stepped inside. Although her name was Gloria, she was known as Glory and it suited her.
Glory shut the door behind him. “For you? Always. She enjoys your visits.” She headed down the hall. “Come along.”
This wasn’t the way to the living room… but he kept quiet and followed her until she stopped. Glory tapped lightly on the closed door and then opened it. “You have a visitor, Miss Edith.”
Miss Pinkerton was sitting at a huge old wooden desk, the top of which was hidden under file folders and notebooks. In the centre of all this chaos sat what looked to Harry like a brand new computer. A grin spread across his face as she turned around.
“Mr. Hogan!” She lifted a box of papers from a nearby chair. “Do sit down, please. Glory, be a dear and get some coffee, please… and three cups.”
“What are you up to now?” Harry asked.
“I think I’ve taken leave of my senses,” she replied.
“You? Never. And is that a new computer?”
She nodded. “I have too much time on my hands these days and nothing to do. So, I decided I needed a new project to keep me busy.”
Glory returned with the coffee and a plate of raisin tea buns. “If you ask me, she’s losing it. It’s like she’s trying to relive her younger days by reading all this stuff.”
“Perhaps,” Miss Pinkerton said. “”There’s some truth in what you say, but there’s a reason for it too.”
