Jane and the Fire – Part XX

In 1958, young Jane has just moved to the city of Chicago, Illinois with her parents and cousins Billy. Cruel neighbor Mr. Bennet and his Thugs are preparing to execute – whatever their nefarious plan is – soon. Jane and her friends realize that Mr. Almond, who recently disappeared from the area, was a fairly high-ranking official.

“The back door is padlocked too,” said Jane gloomily.

“No, it isn’t,” said Don. “The lock isn’t attached to anything.” They stepped closer to the door and Jane realized that he was right.

“The padlock is just there to discourage people from entering?”

As they stood examining the rusty padlock and the scuffed door, Jane heard Paige give a start of surprise from the other side of the porch.

Before she could ask what the matter was, Paige had hurried to the paperboy distributing the last copies of the morning paper across the little alley between the house and the row of shops. Paige held the paper out as she joined Don and Jane on the porch. “Look at this!”

It was Mr. Almond on the front page, smiling at the camera next to a row of town councilmen. The article read, “Head Banker Retires.”

Mr. Almond had worked for the bank.

“Former Head Banker Frank Almond announces early retirement,” read Jane, “The City Bank of Chicago congratulates him on a career of service and wishes him all the best at a ceremony to commemorate his work. Almond announced early last week that he was the recipient of an enormous legacy and has retired to the Greek Isles.”

She stopped and looked at the two others. “He was always grumpy in the apartment and he hated his job.”

“Well then,” Don said, “I suppose it is fitting that he disappears off to the Greek Isles as soon as he’s got a bit of money.”

“Not a bit of money,” said Paige, “a lot. Remember what he said when Mr. Bennet fell down the stairs?”

Don looked surprised. “I’d forgotten. He said ‘at least,’”

“they’ll be out of action for tomorrow,” finished Jane. “Mr. Almond receives a huge sum of money and then books it to Greece. He claims that it was an inheritance but tells those who live in the apartment, who know his family, that he won the lottery. Who really gave him the money?”

At that moment, they heard the heavy footfall of a heavy boot approaching from the left of the old house. They exchanged horrified glances as Mr. Bennet’s voice was heard saying, “I’ll open the back door and let you in through the front.”

There was nowhere to go except inside the house. And so, just as Mr. Bennet turned the corner of the property, they slipped inside the door, shutting it as quickly as they dared to.

Mr. Bennet came slowly up the stairs. His knees ached. The wretched apartment stairs were far too many to take at once. Mr. McCawley always trotted at such a clip down the stairs that he, Mr. Bennet, felt obliged to keep up. Jack McCawley always was like that, going along faster than the rest, clever and crafty from the time they were boys. So lost was Mr. Bennet in musing about the past that he almost missed the newspaper that lay in the corner of the porch. Today’s paper? Why would that be on the porch? He bent to pick it up. It must have blown over from the paperstand across the street. One of the stories on the front page was Frank Almond’s retirement. He snorted derisively and straightened up, taking two steps before he stopped, staring at the door.

“Gentlemen,” called Mr. Bennet. Mr. Peele and Mr. McCawley came around to meet him. They looked questioningly at him.

“There’s someone in the house.” 🌳 The story will continue next month!