flames of fire

They ended up driving to a small colony with small houses on both sides of the street. These houses were small but well furnished only to the point of their owners requirements. Each household had a little farm in their campus itself. Even if there was not much space they somehow managed to put plants on the balcony or verandas.

They were overwhelmed by the simplicity and cleanliness of the place until they saw the house they were searching for. It was painted with smoke patches all over the walls.The wooden frames were burned and the glasses we're scattered on the ground from breaking off the window panes. Even the lawn which used to green has now turned into dry infertile land.

"Did you check the location properly? " Dayal asked but immediately felt it was not needed because the rusted name plate said it was the right place.

After inspecting the place for a while they went to one of the neighbors. The door opened to reveal an old,short man, probably the owner of the house.

"Hello Sir, do you live here? "Jake asked.

"Yeah, it's 20 years since I am living here"

"Oh,do you know the owner of the house beside you? I am guessing it was an old lady? "

"Aah….. Yes. She's dead. "

Those words had the same weight as what it felt like when Jake saw Mr. Carl on the bedroom floor. He wonders if these two are related.

Sid who was just as shocked as him asked"When did that happen and how? "

"Well, it was a suicide as far as I know. She set fire in the whole house along with including herself. I don't know what she was thinking but it's still unbelievable to me. Can you see these dark stains on my wall, it's all because of the huge flames coming out of that house" He says showing them the dark spots who could undoubtedly say how huge the fire was.

"Umm… did you call for help? "Jake asks again.

" We did but before anything could be done it was already broken and devastated. The lady was dead too. Her body was completely burnt. "Sighs.

" Okay but did you see anyone suspicious at that time? "Sid asks.

"No… as I told you it was a suicide case. Moreover, it was around 12 at night. Who will come at that hour? "

"Most of the crimes are committed in those hours."He says.

" Let's check the place once again "Sam says and everyone follows her.

The house was completely devastated on the inside with all its furniture broken and scattered. Even remains of the house could tell how dangerous it must have been. Thankfully no other house was damaged because of this incident.

It was still a mystery, that why must she commit suicide. Was she having some financial crisis ?well that's what this place says. But why didn't she ask for help? Also, she must be paid enough to live a good living. There must be some other reason.

Sam and Jake asked out within the neighborhood to know about her family but they came to know that she was living all by her own.They searched inside the rooms and there was nothing but ashes.

The white frames on the wall which now turned into black ones we're broken. Somehow, Mon managed to pick an old half burned photograph.

"This must be her husband! " She assumed by looking at the picture. The lady beside him was the owner of his house.

"Is he still alive?He looks old. " Sam says.

"See there's anything written on the back" Dayal says as he checks the cupboards.

"Oh yeah.. It says 'I miss you'. She must have written this. " Mon says.

The cupboards were filled with the remains of crockeries and a few in their original state.

"Sir! "Jake shouts from the backyard.

They went running towards that direction and saw the burned electric panel. It clearly said that, that was the point from where the fire started.

" Look at this, the wire that is connected to this board has got its connection to all the other switch boards. But, this can either be an accident or someone's work"Dayal says.

" They said they have these power cuts and short circuit issues more often here"Mon says.

"Sid! Call the electrician, they can explain better" Dayal orders.

"For now let's see what else we get " Loy says moving straight to the kitchen.

Well Loy was indeed right. They could see opened gas pipelines which were almost burned to the core.

___________

Soon Sid came up with the electrician who said just by taking a glimpse of the electric panel that it has nothing to do with it. Hence, the leaking gas must be the cause of this whole incident but of course the kitchen being nearer to the backyard was fuel to the fire.

They searched the backyard for a while and suddenly something unusual was found. One black thick handglove was seen just beside the kitchen, burned but not as much as it can be easily recognized.

"These are?" Jake, who was the first to see them, showed it up.

"Take them" Dayal says.

"Where is the other one?" Jake searched at the same spot where he found one of its pairs.

The team went straight to the nearest police station to inquire more about the incident.

••••