Ramón pulled his shirt over his nose to cover the smell. Javi’s eyes watered with disgust as he fanned the smoke away. We all stared at Vero when it cleared. Her face was livid, her shoes covered in dog excrement.
She wiped her spattered cheek with the back of her sleeve. “Someone’s going to pay for this.”
“Did you see anyone?” Ramón asked me.
“No one. It was too dark. All I saw was the fire,” I answered, still short of breath. He looked at Vero. She shook her head.
Wendell’s porch light turned on across the street. Joan was already halfway down the sidewalk as Eugene’s walker clunked down his ramp.
“Is everything okay?” Lenore called out from her yard. “I heard a commotion.”
“I smelled something burning!” Joan wheezed.
Wendell made a face. “Smells like shit.”
“That’s because it is!” Vero snapped.
“Did anyone see who did it?” Javi asked them.
The Fantastic Four all shook their heads, too.
“That fire couldn’t have been burning for more than a minute,” Ramón said. “I didn’t see any cars or anyone on foot when we drove in. Whoever did it must have come from the other direction.”
“Or they snuck in from the back and left through the woods,” Javi said.
“Whoever it was, they probably have a dog,” I suggested.
“A big one,” Wendell added, chuckling at the mess on Vero’s porch.
“Can you think of anyone that could be?” I asked the neighbors.
“Loads of people,” said Joan.
Eugene harrumphed. “Most don’t even bother to pick up after them. Anyone could have scooped that crap off the street.”
“Maybe you should check the note.” Lenore pointed at the front of the door.
We all turned to see a piece of paper tucked in the frame. Vero shook off her hands and pulled it free. We all stayed where we were on the grass, none of us brave—or foolish—enough to come read over her shoulder.
“What does it say?” Javi asked.
“You know what you’re doing is wrong. Back off before someone gets hurt,” she read aloud. “No name. But that’s nothing new.” She crumpled it up. “At least Aunt Gloria and my mom weren’t here to see it.”
“Or smell it,” Joan said, waving her hand in front of her nose.
“Lavender is good for masking odors!” Lenore said helpfully. “You should try putting some in your bathtub—”
“That’s it,” Vero snapped. “Everybody go home unless you plan to start scrubbing.” The Fantastic Four were quick to bid one another good night, and they all headed back to their homes.
Ramón checked his watch. “It’s getting late. We should get this mess cleaned up before our moms get back. Where are they anyway? They should have been home hours ago.”
“Their hot dates must be going pretty well,” Javi said with a sly grin.
Ramón threw him a surly look. “Don’t even joke about that, unless you want another black eye to match the one I already gave you.”
“You should get out of those clothes,” I suggested to Vero. “I’ll put your pants and shoes in the wash while you grab a shower.”
“I’ll hose off the porch,” Javi said, unspooling the hose from the spigot.
