“This is private property,” my father stammered, his face turning pale under the flashlight beam. “You have no right to be here.”

“Actually, Arthur Bennett called us hours ago,” Harper said, gesturing for the officers to move in.

“He revoked your access to his properties, and he gave us a statement about what you did to Sadie,” the detective added.

One of the officers grabbed my father’s arms and pulled them behind his back.

The metal handcuffs clicked loudly in the quiet basement.

“You’re under arrest for attempted arson, breaking and entering, and embezzlement,” Harper said.

“Arson?” my mother cried out, her voice rising to a shriek. “We were just cleaning out old files!”

“With gasoline, Mrs. Davis?” Harper asked, his voice dripping with disbelief.

An officer stepped toward my mother and pulled her arms behind her.

“Get your hands off me!” she screamed, twisting her shoulders. “Do you know who we are?”

“I know exactly who you are,” Harper said, not looking at her.

Melanie backed away toward the corner of the room, her hands raised.