The New Girl

Chapter 20

It took 2 weeks for Donner to get the results back on all the mud, leaf's and other debris found on Heather's car. Problem was that all of it was indigenous to the area. There was not one thing they could hold Heather on. Questioning her brought out her trip to Garrett Toliver's house and that could have been the place she picked up the mud and leaf's. They found nothing in her computer or journals that talked about her setting fires or anything else concerning fires. They had found a pair of gloves that smelt like gasoline but she had explained that away by saying when she got gas for her car some had spilled out on her gloves. Donner hadn't believed her but you couldn't convict someone on just your belief, you had to have proof. And right now Donner didn't have that.

Ethan hadn't been happy about the outcome but Donner had convinced him that sooner or later Heather Shilling would mess up and then they would get her. As they had been searching the Shilling's house Donner had gotten a call from Tally. Sheriff Butts had killed himself with one bullet to the head with his own gun inside his truck out at Gulliver Park. No note, no nothing but they all knew why he had done it. Donner felt like he had pulled the trigger himself. Being that he was the one that was taking over Sheriff Butts job and the Sheriff knew that.

Of course his wife was distraught and inconsolable but had said she would get through this in her own time. Since the Sheriff had killed himself his wife would not be receiving any of his benefit's. The house and car's were paid for so at least she didn't have to worry about that. The whole police force in Bay Height's had collected over 20,000 dollars to help her out financially. He knew that wasn't a lot but that was all the money the police force could come up with.

Donner set out on his deck looking out over the sea, Sugar laying next to him. He had taken Ethan to work a little over an hour ago. It was Friday and looking to be a nice quiet day, he hoped. Technically he was off but in reality he was always on call. As he set and let his thought's roam, Sugar barked and took off down the beach. Within a minute or two she came back with her puppy following behind and two girls running after them. As they got close he saw that it was Melody Smith and Lyric. He waved his hand in the air and said, “Hey girls what are you two doing out of school today.” Melody answered, “Teacher's work day so we get a three day weekend.” He smiled at them then said, “Well don't go getting into any trouble with that extra time on your hands.”

They walked on over and set down on the steps of Donner's deck. Lyric spoke up then, “Is this your dog?” He shook his head yes. “Wow, I thought she was a wild wolf. You know this is her puppy, her name is Koda,” Lyric said and nodded at Koda. “Yup, sure do. Born right here in this house and their both part wolf and Husky,” Donner told them. “Umm, you don't want her back do you? I didn't steal her, her mother kinda gave her to me,” Lyric stated, afraid Donner would want Koda back. He smiled at Lyric then said, “Of course not. If she gave her to you then she must have wanted you to have her for a reason. Sugar here is a smart dog and I don't think she would choose someone in haste to be Koda's surrogate mother.”

Lyric breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Oh great, thank you. My mother and I love her to pieces.” “So do I,” Melody added. Donner laughed and enjoyed the girls and dogs company before they decided it was time to head off, leaving Donner and Sugar behind. As Donner watched them leave he thought of Andrea. She had not called back since the night the fire trucks woke everyone up. Since it was the weekend, he thought he just might call her later.

Lyric and Melody walked back to Melody's house. They found JaCoby where they had left him, on the couch with a bag of chips watching TV. “Okay little brother time for you to get up off that couch. It's your arm that's broken not your legs,” Melody stated with her hands on her hips. Lyric laughed and looked at JaCoby. He gave them both a shameful look then grinned. Melody walked towards him and said, “I'm not kidding, get up and go clean yourself up. It's Friday and we've got three whole day's to do something fun. Let's all walk down to the pizza house and see how everything's going and see if mom or dad will give us some money and then head down to Kate's and get us something to eat.” JaCoby throw the blanket off and said, “Great, beats settin around here. I'll be back in a sec.” He then headed up the stairs to change clothes and wash up.