My Apartment Burned Down. My Parents Said, “Not Our Problem.” Then the Fire Investigator Called.

he said, setting down his cup. “I’ll be direct with you. I don’t think your fire was an accident.”

The words hung between us.

“What makes you say that?”

“Fire patterns.” He pulled out his phone, showed me photos I didn’t want to see—my bedroom charred black. “See this? The point of origin is here, near the outlet behind your dresser. But there’s no evidence continue reading …