“Mr. Pearce says we got to the count of three, and Drew, he just starts mocking Mr. Pearce, putting on this fake English accent. ‘One, two, three, four, five, six…what’re you waiting for’ he says. ‘This guy needs a wake-up call,’ he says to us.” Ian shook his head. “We were trying to leave. Begging Drew to come on. But he just kept pounding on the house and yelling stuff. ‘I ain’t scared of you!’ he yells at the house. Then, he flicked his cigarette.” Ian looked at his mother. “I tried to get him to leave.” He shared a look with Amanda. “We all did.”

Ian focused on Duane once again. “I decided I was going to leave, but when I rounded the house, I saw the fire. Drew’s cigarette. I was so scared! ‘Drew, get over here’ I yelled. He came straight away but, man, that fire spread quick.”

Amanda nodded. “The flames were everywhere, and then windows started busting out.

“Drew hollered for Andy to call 911, but there was no reception.” Amanda paused and broke into a short sob. “And then everyone was screaming…them inside, us outside. I was so scared. I didn’t know what to do.”

“Then everybody took off. It was like we all knew it was over, and we didn’t want to get busted,” Ian offered. “I grabbed Amanda, and we all jumped in the truck and bolted.”

“But, it was an accident, Sheriff. I swear it,” Amanda added.

James gave her a sympathetic look. “It’s going to be OK.” He turned to Duane. “I figure that’s when Travis shows up, heart pounding from his ride, he sees the fire. But Travis is Travis. Afraid or not, he gets back on his bike and pedals toward that house with every ounce of strength and energy he can muster. Whatever fear he’s feeling is won over by the goodness that’s always been in his heart.

“But by the time he gets there, there’s nothing he can do. The flames are out of control...I can only imagine what must have been going through his head. Not being able to help must’ve been his worst nightmare...” James let his voice trail off as the mental image formed of Travis standing helpless amongst the flames. Travis, whose goal in life was to help anyone who needed it.

Duane rested his hips against the desk. “OK, so why the lie? The confession?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he felt guilty that he couldn’t do anything...he couldn’t save them.”

The room fell silent for a moment.

“No. He sacrificed himself for us. He was saving us.” Amanda’s soft voice broke the stillness, creating a palpable awe.