Free Gina Cresse - Devonie Lace 04 - A Deadly Change of Power by Gina Cresse Page A

there.  I think that picture was taken before he added the heating gizmo.”
    “Heating gizmo?” I asked.
    “Yeah.  He had some big fancy name for it.  I could never remember.  All I know is it could get really hot — hot enough to make steam, and it could do it without kerosene, like his first engine needed.”
    “Really?” Ronnie said.  I could hear the anticipation in her voice as she formed her next question.  “What kind of fuel did it use?”
    “According to Harvey, it didn’t use any fuel.  All that technical mumbo-jumbo talk went right over my head.  He tried to explain it to me fifty times or more, but I told him it was no use.  All I cared about was that it got me to the store and back so I could make banana bread with walnuts and raisins.  That man did love my banana bread.”
    Ronnie and I exchanged glances.  Another engine that was apparently free to run, and the inventor killed in a freak explosion.  We thanked Gladys for the information and left her to finish whatever chores we’d interrupted.
    “Do you know how much horsepower can be generated from steam?” she asked, testing my knowledge.
    “No, but I bet you’re going to tell me,” I replied.  I started the car and pulled away from the curb.
    “A lot,” she said.
    “A lot?  That’s your answer?”
    “You know how much a train weighs?” she continued.
    “Let me guess.  A lot?”
    “Yes.  A lot.  And for years, steam was how we powered those old locomotives.  Unbelievable horsepower.  And to be able to generate the kind of heat you need to create steam without using fuel is an enormous breakthrough.  If Harvey had what Gladys is describing — ”
    “Then it probably wasn’t an accident that his house blew up,” I said.
    Ronnie sunk down in her seat.  She chewed on her thumbnail as she stared out the window.
    “I think we should talk to Jake Monroe,” I said.
    Ronnie looked at me, surprised.  “Jake?  Believe me, he’s not involved with any of this.”
    I wondered how she could be so sure.  “It just seems strange that he’d encourage you to file your patent, after what you told us about him.”
     
    I sat across from Ronnie at our kitchen table as she dialed Jake Monroe’s number in Detroit.  “He might be back by now.  His message the other night said he’d be out of town for a few days,” she said as she waited for someone to answer the phone.  I wanted to be on another extension so I could listen to the entire conversation, but I settled for just the one side I’d be able to hear from Ronnie.
    “Jake Monroe, please,” she requested.
    I watched her impatiently tap her fingers on the table.  When she stopped tapping, I knew he’d picked up the phone.  “Jake, it’s Ronnie.”  There was a brief pause.  “I know.  No.  I didn’t go to Cabo.”  Another pause. “I’m fine — no, I’m not fine.  Someone tried to kill me.  They blew up my house.”
    I could hear Jake Monroe’s voice over the phone. “What?”  He sounded extremely alarmed.
    “I said someone tried to kill me.  I’m pretty sure it has something to do with my engine.”  Ronnie listened to him for nearly a full minute.  “There are others — two that I know of so far — who’ve been killed after they filed for patents on their engines.”
    Ronnie listened again, then rolled her eyes.  “I’m not imagining it, Jake.  These guys came up with ideas that were way ahead of their time.  Now they’re dead.  I’m afraid I’m going to be next.”  Her hand began shaking.  The tone of voice she used with Jake led me to wonder if they were more than just business acquaintances.  I detected the subtle combination of irritation and affection.
    “I want to know why you told me to file the patent.  Do you have any plans to use the engine?” Ronnie asked.
    “Then why?” she demanded.
    “No, I’m not blaming you, but —
    “I’m staying with friends.
    “At this point, I don’t trust anyone.
    “No,