Free Oh Say Can You Fudge by Nancy CoCo

shop for an hour or so? I need to go see Rex.”
    “Sure, but why do you need to see Rex?” Frances asked.
    “I remembered something last night when I was telling Trent the story of the explosion.”
    “What did you remember?” Jenn’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
    “There were two bikes parked outside the warehouse when I got there. When I left, mine was the only bike there.”
    “A clue,” Jenn said with a smile.
    “I certainly hope so.” I took off my chef coat and placed it on the coatrack near the back door. Mal poked me with her nose.
    “You can’t go, sweetie. You just went out with Frances.” I reached down and patted Mal on the head then grabbed my keys and handbag and went out through the alley that ran behind the McMurphy. The day was warm and the scent of flowers filled the air along with the sound of carriages, bikes, and birds.
    Locals often walked the alleys when the crowds on the streets swelled. Mr. Beecher, Papa’s old card buddy, was on his morning stroll down the alley that ran behind the Main Street buildings. He wore a pair of black slacks, a black and white tweed jacket over a white dress shirt. He had an old golf cap set on top of his head and his cane was black with silver tip and handle.
    “Good morning, Allie. Where’s your puppy?” Mr. Beecher always reminded me of the snowman from the old stop action Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer show.
    “Hi, Mr. Beecher. You just missed Frances and Mal. They came back from their walk not five minutes ago.”
    “My loss,” he said with a tip of his hat. “They are two of my favorite people to meet on my walks. You are my third.”
    “Oh.” I felt a blush in my cheeks. “You are always so sweet.” I gave him a hug. “I’m on my way to the police station to see Rex. It looks like you’re going home.”
    “I am.” He pointed his cane in the opposite direction of the police station. “One of these days we need to take a walk together.”
    “That would be nice.” I straddled my bike. “You take care.”
    “I will.” He gave s short nod of his head. “You do the same, young lady.”
    “I will.” I took off down the alley, rounded the end of it, and turned right toward Market Street and the police station. Liz was on the sidewalk when I emerged from the alley and I quickly braked to a stop. “Hi.”
    “Hey, Allie. Are you going to the police station?” Liz wore cargo shorts, a light green tank top, and a green and white blouse. Her bare legs were long and ended in socks and hiking boots.
    I drew my brows together. “Yes, how did you know?”
    “There’s been another fire. I figured you heard about it and—like me—were headed to see Rex and try to get the details out of him.”
    I laughed. “Yeah, like he’d give up details.”
    “To you, he might,” she said, her expression sober. “Seriously.”
    “Right and Papa Liam is really alive and living in my attic.”
    “Whatever.” She shrugged.
    “I’m sorry.” I put my hand on her arm. “That was rude. I hadn’t heard about the fire. I was going to see Rex because I remembered something from the day of the explosion.”
    She stopped short. “What did you remember?” She reached for a small notepad she kept in her breast pocket just like her grandfather did.
    “It has to do with where I parked my bike.” I paused. “You know what? I need to let Rex know first. Okay?
    “Sure.” She put away her notebook. “Let’s go hear what the man has to say about the fire and whatever you remembered. I’ll meet you there, since you have your bike.”
    “Now that’s a plan I can stick with,” I said.
    Liz arrived as I was locking my bike on the rack and we walked in tandem toward the big white building that housed the administration and police and fire stations. Ed Goodfoot was outside wiping down the fire truck. When it came to an ambulance and a fire truck, the island had state of the art vehicles. It looked so odd to see them parked next to bicycles and