CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
"I've been looking for you everywhere." Amy walked toward Franks.
He straightened from where he'd been leaning on his car.
There was no sense in hiding the cigarette he held.
It was clear from the narrowing of Amy's eyes that she'd seen it.
"Had to get some air after that meeting.
" He took another drag, then put the cigarette out on the bottom of his shoe, shoving the unsmoked half into the pack in his pocket for later.
"You okay?" She leaned against the hood of his car beside him.
"Yeah, just wish we had more to go on. They've verified the blast came from the bakery, but I just don't see the owner doing anything to risk her business.
That means it was either a maintenance issue or someone else was in there and did something to cause that explosion.
I don't know where to look next. We've talked with everyone we could. "
"Then we talk to them again. While ATF focuses on the financials and looks for signs of insurance fraud, we focus on the people.
Someone had to have seen something. Let's find out the last time the bakery had any work done.
See if the city was upgrading anything in the area.
Talk to those we know were in the area during and directly before the explosion.
Maybe we've missed something or someone thought of something else.
We don't give up." Amy pointed to the pack of cigarettes in Franks' pocket. "Except those. We give up those."
"Yeah, I know. I feel bad enough already for starting back up. I don't need a lecture." He pulled his keys out and unlocked his car. "Where first?"
Amy went around and opened the passenger door.
"Let's go talk to Hillary Hilton again. Push a little harder on how well the restaurant was doing.
See if she knows who his competition was.
Then we can hit Jasmine Chris and see if she has thought of anything.
I feel like we're intruding on the families since we're interviewing them, the fire marshal has spoken to them, and now ATF will be looking into things. "
"I don't care who we have to annoy or intrude on to find out why my best friend is lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life.
I'll knock on every door in the city if I have to.
" Franks started the car. "Besides, the fire marshal and ATF are focusing on the gas lines and equipment at the moment.
If they find that this was caused by an equipment malfunction, I'll back off, but my gut—"
"My gut is saying the same thing. There is something more to this.
This was human caused. Equipment doesn't malfunction like this, or we'd be having huge explosions all over the place.
Not saying it's not possible something broke or went wrong, but it's more likely a human did something that caused this," Amy agreed.
"We'll do the rounds again today and reinterview those we can, then tomorrow we can start talking to other business owners in the area to find out if there were any feuds going on between businesses or if they saw anything earlier in the day. "
Franks nodded as he pulled out of the lot and headed back to the Hilton residence. It was a short drive, and before long he was pulling up in front of the house. A single car sat in the driveway, giving Franks hope that someone was home.
"They finally released his body this morning. We can always say we were dropping by to make sure they knew." Amy glanced over at him.
"True, but honestly, if it was my spouse, father, or even family business, I'd be willing to answer any questions to get answers.
I can't imagine anyone involved in this that doesn't want to know what happened.
" Franks got out of the car, keeping an eye on the house as he walked around to meet Amy on the sidewalk.
As they walked toward the house, the front door opened and Becca Hilton smiled at them. "Hi, Mom's not here if you came to talk to her. She won't be home for a few hours."
Franks smiled. "We're just dropping by to talk to people again. Can we speak with you for a few minutes?"
"Sure, but I'm not sure what I can tell you." She held the door open. "Come on in. The house is a mess, but we can sit out back again."
"Still have your grandparents in town?" Amy asked as they entered the house.
"Yeah, they decided to stay until after the funeral. Mom's getting all that planned out today and talking to Dad's lawyer about what the next steps are. I just couldn't bring myself to sit through all that. It's too hard."
"That's understandable. It sucks that you have to plan and grieve at the same time," Amy commented.
"Yeah, Mom's holding it together better than I am." Becca led them through the kitchen.
Franks noticed a large bakery box on the counter as they passed by. "That from Sweet Things?" He pointed.
"Yeah. Sad, isn't it? I hope she rebuilds. I really love her cakes. Mom got that one for us the day of the explosion. Grandpa likes Sweet Things carrot cake, so Mom got it for him." Becca slid the sliding glass door open so they could step outside.
"She got it the day of the explosion?" Amy asked, glancing over at Franks.
"Yeah, after Dad said he wasn't coming with us for dinner.
She's got a key to the bakery and Kathy doesn't mind if Mom grabs stuff sometimes.
As long as it's not a special order, but Kathy marks those and keeps them in a certain fridge we all know not to touch.
" Becca stood by the table. "Grandpa finished it off last night or I'd offer you some.
Can I get you a drink instead? I think there's soda. "
"No, we're good, but thanks," Franks told her.
Becca sat down. "So, have they found out what happened? What caused the explosion?"
"Not yet, but they're working day and night to find out," Amy said. "We just want to verify everyone's statements again. See if you might have remembered anything else since we last talked."
Becca shook her head. "Nothing, but I wasn't really there. I mean, I was in the car while Mom ran in to talk to Dad, but I was on the phone with a friend. I knew she wouldn't be long."
"How long was she in there?" Franks asked.
"I don't know, maybe ten minutes, maybe less. I wasn't really paying attention. She came out, pointed to the bakery, I thought she was going in to get cookies, but she came out with a cake for Grandpa. Then we left and came home to get my grandparents to go to dinner."
"How long was your mom in the bakery?" Amy asked.
"Maybe five minutes, if that. It wasn't long. I was still on the phone when she came back to the car, and I hadn't been talking to Liz that long. I could maybe look at my call log on my phone and tell you exactly, because I hung up once Mom got back in the car."
"That's okay." Franks didn't need the information.
Just knowing that someone had gone into the bakery after Kathy Willgrow had closed for the day was enough.
He didn't want to accuse Hillary of anything yet, but his mind was already going there, working out ways she could have messed with the gas in the bakery before leaving.
"You haven't recalled any issues with employees or anything since we last talked? "
"No. In fact, I've mentally gone through the entire staff trying to think if anyone would want to hurt Dad or the restaurant, but there isn't anyone.
Seriously, everyone got along. I don't know if you've ever worked in a busy kitchen, but it's like a family.
Everyone has a job and it's that flow that makes everything work.
If people don't get along or someone is upset with someone else, it ruins that flow.
Dad was big on making sure his staff were happy and enjoyed their jobs.
He was always willing to help people learn and advance.
" Tears filled her eyes. "Sorry, I just miss him so much. "
"It's understandable." Amy reached over and placed a gentle hand on Becca's arm. "I can't imagine how hard this is for you."
Franks hated pushing her with more questions, but now that he knew Hillary had gone in the bakery, he had no choice. "How mad was your mother that night that your dad wasn't going to dinner?"
"Furious, but that wasn't unusual. Mom and Dad fought a lot about the hours he put in at work.
She said he needed to be home, and he reminded her that he had to work to pay bills.
Mom wanted all the stuff that came with a successful restaurant, but she hated that Dad wasn't home more.
I think after a while, Dad would stay at work just to avoid getting yelled at.
Mom can be a bit much when she doesn't get her way.
" Becca looked up at them. "Not that Mom's a bad person.
I mean, I get why she wanted Dad around more.
I did too. But I would go to work with him and get time there with him. Mom never did that."
"Does your mother work?" Amy asked.
Becca shook her head. "Never has that I know of. She was always home with me when I was little."
Franks nodded. "And you never heard of any issues between Tyler Chris and your father?"
"None. They were best friends. I call him Uncle Tyler.
He's always been around and I've never heard Dad and him fight.
There was once, years ago, they disagreed about replacing the carpet at the restaurant but even that wasn't a fight.
They ended up flipping a coin. That's how well they got along.
He even called me last night. Me, not Mom.
He wanted to know how I was holding up. He's just a good man.
" Becca was openly crying now. She reached for a box of tissues on the table, probably left there from the last time they'd interviewed them.
"Okay, I think that's all we need from you then. Again, if you remember something or think of anything that might help us, give us a call." Amy set her card on the table in front of Becca. "I'm so sorry we have to keep bringing all this up."