A reporter shouted, “Why were you at the house?”
Howard looked directly into the camera.
“Because Michael’s father called me.”
My breath stopped.
“He asked for help,” Howard continued. “He was extremely upset about financial problems involving Michael.”
“What financial problems?” another reporter asked.
Howard lowered his eyes as though the truth pained him.
“I don’t want to accuse a grieving young man of anything.”
Then he accused me of everything.
He claimed my parents had discovered I’d taken money from them.
He claimed Dad and I had argued.
He claimed Howard had gone to the house to mediate.
And then he said the sentence that made my blood freeze.
“When we left that night, Michael’s parents were alive.”
Denise wasn’t beside him.
Mercer swore through the phone.
“Do not talk to reporters.”
“He’s saying I had something to do with the fire.”
“I know.”
“He knows what time I got home.”
