After settling Bert down, Emily went straight to the police station the next morning.

“Fire?” the officer asked.

Emily nodded. “Yes, my house caught fire for no apparent reason, and I suspect someone set it deliberately.”

The young officer was very responsible. Hearing that it might be arson, he took it seriously and carefully asked her many questions related to the incident.

Emily answered them all, and after completing the report, four police officers accompanied her back to Bert’s ...