He examined the charred remains of the backyard shed. The burn patterns were unmistakable—some accelerant had been used to feed the flames deliberately. Manny traced the scorch marks with gloved fingers, reconstructing the scene in his mind. This was intentional destruction of evidence. Vale hadn’t simply snapped; he was covering his tracks.
Neighbors, initially reluctant to cooperate, shared hushed comments through cracked doors, saying they’d heard “a boy scream” the night the fire erupted. After that, no child was seen entering or leaving the home again. Their fear-filled eyes told Manny everything. They suspected something terrible had happened, but fear of Vale had kept them silent.