Stage Fright by Gabrielle Holly

clear image of Preston Stringman was captured as he ran from the scene, clutching his fedora to his head, and framed against a backdrop of debris engulfed in flames.
    “That’s definitely Stringman,” Thomas said, “So Monroe didn’t do it!”
    Schmidt shrugged “Well, the guy who set the fire is dead. The guy he wrongly blamed is dead. And the woman who took the photos is dead. No one was ever charged with a crime. So, other than satisfying your curiosity, I’m not really sure what we’ve accomplished here. Is there anything else I can help you folks with?”
    “You can help us get the Evening Star to print a retraction,” Thomas said
    Schmidt pushed back his baseball cap and scratched his hairline. “From a story they published in 1955?”
    “The Star fed off of that story for weeks and ruined an innocent kid’s reputation. They published Preston Stringman’s accusations about Kip Monroe as a matter of fact and this police department issued a statement that the fire was probably arson and that the likely perpetrator had died committing the crime. What was that headline, Bridge?”
    Bridget flipped through her file then tapped the photocopy of a headline. “Reclusive Greaser Likely Firebug in Bijou-Rialto Conflagration.”
    “Right,” Thomas said. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at Schmidt. “Well?”
    “Aw, shit!” the detective said. He swivelled to face the monitor, minimised the window of scanned images and clicked on a documents folder on the computer desktop. He scrolled down until he found a subfolder labelled “Closed Cases.”
    He hovered over the file ‘Rialto/Bijou Fire 12 August 1955– Closed 15 August 1955’. He paused then tilted his head from side to side. The pops from his realigning vertebrae rang out in the quiet room. Without turning from the screen he said, “I’m going to be here all night filling out paperwork. Can you find your own way out?” His annoyance was obvious.

Chapter Six
     
     
     
    News crews were waiting for them when they arrived at the theatre late the next morning.
    “Looks like Schmidt made some calls,” Thomas said.
    The reporters had swarmed the van before they had stepped out. Toni stuck close to Thomas’ side as tape recorders and microphones were thrust towards them. “Mr Becker, Dani Cross from News Six. Can you tell us how the Paranormal Research Team discovered the evidence that will almost certainly clear Kipling Monroe’s name?”
    Toni squeezed his arm and he smiled down at her. She winced and hoped he understood that she didn’t want him to tell the whole truth. Thomas pasted on his TV star smile. “Dumb luck, Dani. We were going through some old items and happened to find the film negatives. It was really the hard work of the Travois Police Department and Detective Bob Schmidt that cracked the case.”
    A stream of questions rushed out from the other journalists. Thomas held up his hand. “I’m sure Detective Schmidt would be happy to give you the particulars. However, I think the real story here is the restoration of a Travois landmark. The Bijou will reopen tonight thanks to its new owner, Mike Briggs.” Thomas nodded towards Mike and the huddle of reporters shifted to surround him.
    While Mike happily fielded questions out on the sidewalk, Thomas, Toni and Bridget slipped into the theatre. They’d just wriggled out of their coats and gloves when a delivery man wheeling a dolly stacked with boxes entered the lobby. He steered the cart around the stack of metal Paranormal Research Team equipment cases that were stacked near the entrance. Bridget signed the receipt and directed him to drop the load behind the concession stand. “Candy’s here!” she said. They opened the cartons and began arranging the colourful boxes of snacks in the case.
    Toni had just started unloading the stacks of soda cups and popcorn buckets when Mike strolled in grinning from ear to ear. “That was awesome! The TV station is going to send a