Who's sorry now?

taken Parker along to interview neighbors and to see the lake. It smelled so nasty that it made both of them gag. Walker had forced Parker, who had been terribly shy then, to conduct one of the interviews himself. Parker had done a good job. A much better job than Ralph could have pulled off. It was the reason he’d wanted Parker when he thought he’d be likely to be rid of Ralph. Parker could be brought along and he’d learn to get over being shy.
    ”When is the funeral? I need to shake out the suit and spruce it up. And I also need to buy a tie.”
    ”I can loan you a tie. And I don’t know when the funeral will be yet. But I’ll give you fair warning when McBride’s mother tells me. We don’t want to show up in police uniforms. And give me the brown suit. Mimi, the maid at Grace and Favor, can make it look almost new.”
     

CHAPTER TWELVE
     
    HOWARD WALKER was awakened at three in the morning when his phone rang. It was Mrs. Smithson.
    ”We’ve had a fire here at my grandfather’s shop.”
    ”Is the fire out?”
    ”Yes.”
    ”Don’t touch anything. Call John Butler. He’s the head of the volunteer fire department. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
    He threw on his clothes and ran into Robert in the hallway. ”Where are you going at this time of the night? I heard your phone ring,” Robert said.
    ”Fire at Kurtz’s shop.”
    ”I’ll follow you.”
    ”All right, but don’t interfere,” Howard said as he ran down the stairs.
    Mrs. Smithson met Walker in front of the shop. ”Grandpa’s really upset.”
    Howard looked at the metal trash can tipped over on the sidewalk. It was charred and on its side. And there was water on and in it.
    ”Grandpa smelled smoke and opened the front door,” Mrs. Smithson said. ”The can was leaning against the door and almost fell into the shop. He kicked it away and came back and poured a pitcher of water over it. Then tipped it over. The awning over the front door was also burning. He ran up the stairs and poured another pitcher over it. I’ve told him to sit and rest. I was afraid he’d have a heart attack.”
    She’d thrown a coat over her nightgown and parked her car a few feet away from the shop. She was shivering even though the night was warm.
    ”You need to rest, too,” Walker said. ”I’ll have the can examined by an expert in fingerprints and someone who’s an expert in arson by morning. Are you sure the shade over the door isn’t still smoldering?” he asked, looking up.
    ”Dear God!” she exclaimed, looking up as well. ”There is a wisp of smoke coming off the top.”
    Howard ran inside, asking Mr. Kurtz where he’d left the pitcher.
    ”In the bathroom upstairs,” Mr. Kurtz said in a shaky voice.
    Walker found and filled the pitcher and called down, ”Mrs. Smithson, stand away from the building.”
    When he could see her out in the street, he poured three pitchers full of water on the shade. Meanwhile the volunteer firemen and Robert Brewster appeared. ”Don’t touch anything,” Walker shouted from the upstairs window.
    Lights were going on in houses on the next block. People were coming out to gawk. A moment before Robert showed up, Ron Parker had come running at the sound of the fire truck. He’d thrown a coat over his pajamas and was still wearing house slippers.
    ”I’m glad to see you, Deputy Parker,” Walker said. ”Help me to keep everyone away from this trash can. Someone leaned it against the front door and set it on fire. It’s evidence of a crime. No, Robert! Don’t touch the trash can!” Walker added.
    Parker said, ”Give me five minutes to put my uniform on, would you, Chief?”
    ”I’ll watch it until you’re back. I need to question Mr. Kurtz as soon as I can,” Walker replied.
    ”Is there anything you want us to do?” John Butler asked Walker. He was already rolling the hose back up on the ancient fire truck.
    ”Go home and catch up on the missed sleep,” Howard said.
    As the firemen left, Robert asked, ”Want any help? I came around the corner and saw you upstairs at that window pouring water over the canvas shade. Want me to make sure it’s safe now?”
    ”I’d appreciate that and so would Mr. Kurtz and his granddaughter.”
    When Parker returned, dressed in his old uniform, Walker said, ”I have two people to call in the morning as soon as I can. You’re going to have to sit out here all night, I’m sorry to say, to make sure nobody touches the waste bin.”
    ”I’ll stick