Chapter 0195


    “Intentionally? Are you kidding me?” My voice is shaky as I process this.


    “Just get here, Abby.”


    “I’m on my way,” I say, hanging up. The room spins around me as I turn to face my team. “Guys, I have


    to go. There’s been a fire at my building. They think it was set on purpose.”


    Karl stands up, visibly concerned. “Do you want us toe with you?”


    “No, you guys stay. Handle the interview with Vanessa if she shows up. Exin the situation, please. I


    just... I need to see what''s happened.” I’m already grabbing my coat and bag.


    “We’ve got this, Abby. Go,” Anton says, nodding firmly.


    “I’m so sorry,” I say, almost out the door now.


    “Don’t be ridiculous. Just go!” Chloe shouts after me.


    As soon as I arrive at my building, I see the mess. Fire trucks, police cars, neighbors standing outside


    wrapped in nkets, the stench of burnt wood and stic in the air. David spots me as I push through


    the crowd.


    “Abby, over here.”


    “What happened?” I ask, my eyes darting around, trying to assess the damage.


    “It started on the first floor, in the storage room. The firefighters contained it before it could spread too


    much, but there’s still a lot of damage,” Mr. Davis exins, wringing his hands.


    “A storage room? That’s...odd,” I say, confused and anxious.


    A police officer approaches us, her face stern. “You’re the tenant from apartment 8?”


    “Yes, I am. Abby. What’s going on?”


    “We’re investigating. It seems like the fire was started intentionally. Do you have any enemies, anyone


    who might want to harm you?”


    I almostugh at the absurdity. “Enemies? No, I run a restaurant, not a mafia.”


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The officer doesn’t smile. “We’re taking this very seriously. We have yet to identify the person


    responsible.”


    “How bad is the damage?” I ask, still trying to wrap my head around the situation.


    “We’ll need to make some repairs, but your apartment is mostly okay,” Mr. Davis interjects. “Some


    water and smoke damage. You might want to stay somewhere else for a few days, though.”


    I swallow. The weight of it all suddenly feels like too much. A fire, possibly caused by an arsonist, on


    the very day that I’m supposed to publish a news article?


    “Sorry, but do you know where in the building the fire may have originated from?” I ask the officer just


    before she walks away.


    The officer nods, then gestures for me to follow. David and I trail behind her into apartment, number


    eight along the row of townhouses. I can feel my heart leap into my throat as we make our way up the


    front steps and in through the door.


    “Oh my god…”


    The officer leads me over to the kitchen, where it appears as though the window was pried open.


    My eyes widen and tears begin to brim up, obscuring my vision. “I… I…”


    “I know it’s a lot to take in,” the officer says gently. “But trust me, miss, we’ll find whoever did this. Arson


    is a felony. They will go to prison.”


    “T-Thank you,” I murmur, wiping the tears from my eyes. Reаd at Draмanоvels


    I nod and sniffle, quickly ncing away.


    “Now then,” the officer says, “will you be willing toe down to the station with us to answer some


    questions?”


    “Of course.” I nod. I’m already hell-bent on finding out whoever did this… and why. “Let’s go.”