"Can't blame him there. How bad is Lance injured?" Sam asked.
"Dislocated shoulder was put back in place last night and a shit load of glass shards were taken from his legs and ass. He's got to hurt, but there's nothing serious. Just annoying wounds that will take time to heal. Angus's mom and dad both have severe leg injuries that will keep them down for a while. I guess Jackson's bringing them back and forth to the hospital to visit."
"This is just crazy. Any word on what caused it?" Sam asked.
Amy shook her head. "Not yet. Everyone's working to figure it out. Current thinking is a gas leak, but that's not confirmed yet."
"Fire burned hot. I can tell you that. The bodies showed extreme heat. I'll be interested in reading the reports when they're released. I can't imagine the scene." Sam shifted the bag he was carrying to his other hand. "Tell Lance I'll be by tomorrow, and to text me if he needs anything. I know Kyle and Carrie plan on dropping by as well. I just wish there was more we could do."
"So do we, but other than assure him Angus will be okay, there isn't much more we can do. It's all he's focused on right now." Franks noticed an older couple walking toward the door and refocused. "Grandparents are here. We need to go."
"I'll call if there's anything to report." Sam left them and headed to the bodies.
Franks turned and headed out onto the front porch where the kids were being hugged by the older couple.
"What happened?" the older woman asked the kids.
"They won't tell us." The youngest girl cried as she spoke. "Avery said Mom and Dad are hurt."
"Avery?" The woman glanced at the boy.
"Ma'am, I'm Detective Franks and this is Detective Burns. Could we speak to you for a moment?" Franks asked.
"Sure." The woman and her husband followed Franks and Amy across the front yard to a place where they wouldn't be overheard by the kids.
"You are?" Franks asked.
"Shelly and Matt Corpus. Our son Leo is the kids' father. Can you tell us what happened? Avery said Leo shot Anna, then himself?"
"That's what we were told as well. I'm sorry to inform you that both parents have passed from their injuries," Amy told them gently.
Matt Corpus pulled his wife to him as both their eyes filled with tears. "How? What happened?"
"We aren't sure yet. We were told Avery witnessed it all. We were about to speak with him when you pulled up," Amy explained. "It appears to be a murder-suicide."
"No." Shelly turned her head against her husband's chest.
"Who shot who?" Matt asked as he held his wife to him.
"It appears the father shot the mother, but we're still investigating everything. It's too soon to know anything for sure. Right now, we are concerned with what the children might have seen or heard." Franks tried to redirect the grandparents' attention off the fact their son might have shot his wife.
"Yes, of course." Matt stared back at the kids. "You said Avery saw it happen?"
Amy nodded. "You're welcome to sit with us while we talk to him."
"I'll stay with the girls while you and Avery talk to the police. I'll find out what the girls know." Shelly pulled away from her husband and dug around her purse before pulling out a small package of tissues.
"Is there a place where we can go sit outside so we can talk to Avery?" Amy asked.
"There's a table in the backyard. We can sit there if that's okay. Where are the bodies?" Matt asked. "I don't want Avery to have to see them again."
"They're in the living room. Is there a way to get in back without going through the house?" Franks asked.
"Yeah, there's a side gate." Matt gestured to the side of the house before turning and hugging his wife. "Send Avery over to us. Let those girls know everything is going to be okay. They'll come live with us."
Franks hoped it was that easy. He didn't know the family dynamics and if there would be other relatives wanting custody of the kids or if the parents had a will that would state who got custody. He watched as Shelly made her way to the porch and hugged Avery first before pointing toward where they waited for him. With a single nod, Avery headed toward them.
"Please be gentle," Matt told them.
