He Was Sure the Cops Would Believe the Polished Son-in-Law Over a Terrified Old Woman. Then I Asked Them to Look at the Fireplace

Specifically: is it a wood-burning hearth, and are there any iron fireplace tools present — a poker, a stand, anything of that description.

Over.”

There was a burst of static, and then a few seconds of nothing, and those few seconds were some of the longest of my life.

Ronan stood frozen in the middle of the room.

My mother had gone still, watching.

Doyle waited, his eyes on my husband.