Jack ran into a police roadblock on the narrow lane leading to the Brandon house. Up ahead he could see fire trucks and flashing lights. Firemen were still directing their hoses on the smoking rubble. Jack pulled the Jeep over and parked. Kathy pulled in behind him. She got out and thought this cannot be a damned accident. Local police were manning the block. Jack, with Kathy beside him, showed the badge he still had and told the sergeant he lived here.

The sergeant said, “It’s a mess in there, and the crime scene guys have the area cordoned off, but I’m going to let you through. Just stay clear of the house.”

Jack and Kathy ran toward the house.

The devastation was incredible. Only the detached four bay garage with the guest apartment had survived, untouched by the fire. Firemen were beginning to gather up their hoses. A cold winter drizzle was falling. A lingering smell of burned plastic, rugs and upholstery hung in the air. The house had collapsed. Only the south wall was still standing. From an angle they could see portions of the cars in the house garage crushed and smoldering in the debris. Jack showed his badge again and said this was his father’s house. The lieutenant said, “Sorry, everyone in the house is dead from gunshots.”

“Gunshots! Are you sure?”

“No question.”

“The firemen got the bodies out before the fire got to most of them. I’m sorry we had to meet at your father’s murder scene. We found six bodies, one outside and five inside. We believe the house was torched by the attackers. The bodies are all in the morgue. You don’t want to see them yet. Two of the bodies found inside and the one outside have not been identified. The only living thing here when we arrived was a big black dog that had apparently taken on one of the attackers and killed him but was shot in return. The dog is now in the McLean Animal Hospital.”

Jack told him that was his dog Shadow. The police lieutenant asked Jack to please stop in at the station and give them a statement and answer some questions after they had taken care of the dog. Jack said fine and left with Kathy in her car for the animal hospital.

The door was locked, but when they knocked and Jack told them who he was, the attendant opened the door and let them in. The attendant told him Shadow’s surgery was over. The doctor should be out of the surgery suite almost any minute, and Jack could go see him. He then called Lee Jensen who picked up on the first ring. Jack told him where he was and what had happened but told Lee not to come over. He would check in with him in the morning when he knew more. Lee said he would make time for Jack whenever he called and could come over. There were papers he had to sign. Jack thanked him and hung up.

Jack had no sooner put his cell in his pocket when the surgeon came out. The doctor said, “Mr. Brandon, that is some dog. He was shot by a large caliber weapon through his right shoulder. The angle of entry missed his heart and lungs and exited on the same side just under his right leg. No significant bone damage. There is extensive muscle damage which he should recover from. He lost a lot of blood, but his chances are good. I don’t know what the police told you, but they found your dog on top of one of the assailants, who was apparently trying to enter the house from the back. The man had a semi-automatic weapon still clutched in his hand. According to the officer who brought your dog to us, it looked as if the Bouvier had surprised him and in the fight tore out the attacker’s throat, but not before he was able to shoot your dog. According to the police several expended casings were on the ground. Now you can see your dog. He’s just waking up. Unless an infection occurs and I don’t think it will, Shadow can go home in three or four days.”

Jack gripped the doctor’s shoulder and made sure he knew Shadow should get the best treatment possible. Cost was not a problem. Jack asked Kathy to come with him into the surgery recovery area. Shadow watched Jack approach and licked his hand when Jack held his head. Tears ran down Jack’s face, and he was so choked up he could barely talk to Shadow. When he looked up at Kathy, he saw she was also crying. Shadow was restrained with an IV in his front leg and a drain tube in his chest. Kathy said she could stand people getting hurt, but not animals.

Jack and Kathy sat with Shadow until the big dog dropped off to sleep. Promising to come back in the morning, they eased quietly out of the room. Both he and Kathy got into her car and headed for the McLean Police Station.

Lieutenant Gallagar was waiting for them. He told them this wouldn’t take long. His first question was about Peter Brandon’s business interests. Jack said his father was always searching for good investments and did a bit of quiet philanthropy. Then the lieutenant, apologizing to Jack said, “I have to ask you where you were tonight?”

“We were both having dinner at the Ritz.” When Kathy confirmed Jack’s statement, the lieutenant said, “Okay, but I have another problem. At least four armed men attack a house with a very sick old man, an elderly Vietnamese couple and a dog, and three of them get killed. You gotta admit that, given surprise was on the side of the attackers and the attackers lost three men, is a bit unusual. Can you explain?”

Jack said, “Well, my father believed people should be able to protect their homes, and he had a gun collection and knew how to use them. As a boy he taught me to shoot both handguns and rifles. His servants, veterans of the Vietnam War, were skilled with small arms. The dog’s my Bouvier des Flandres, named Shadow. He’s a trained and very powerful watch dog. I’m guessing he gave the alarm that got my father and the Nguyens ready. Given those factors, it’s not so strange the people inside an attacked building should have some success.”

“Hmm. I think you’ve explained my problem. You both can go now. Where will you be staying?”

Jack answered, “I’ll be staying in the apartment over the garage at my father’s house. Before we go, I have to ask a few questions. What can you tell us about the attackers? And when will we be permitted to look through the fire site? I assume it is still a crime scene. You can call Captain Shorer at this number. I’m sure he’ll vouch for me. Please give me as much detail as you can about my father’s murder.”

The lieutenant smiled at Jack, got up and shook his hand and said, “I’ve a high regard for the Pittsburgh police in general and Captain Shorer in particular. I’ll extend you every courtesy I can. You can use the garage, and our investigation at the site should be completed within a few days.”

Lieutenant Gallagar thought for another moment, then told them what he was going to say was not for publication and was off the record. “We don’t think it was a robbery. The violence, the size of the attacking force, the firepower they carried and the burning of the house just don’t add up to a robbery unless, of course, something of incredible value was in the house that the surviving attacker or attackers found and took with them. I believe you would’ve told me if that was the case. Secondly, these guys were all rather long in the tooth. I haven’t heard officially yet, but to me it doesn’t look like any of the dead attackers was under sixty years old. They all looked to be in good shape, though. As to ethnic backgrounds, they did not appear to be Arabs. They looked like Caucasians.”

In answer to Jack’s question, Lieutenant Gallagar told them the weapons were all nines and the two submachine guns they found were Uzis. The one handgun found with an attacker was a CZ-85 of Czech manufacture. The third dead attacker looked to have been killed by a shotgun. Le Dinh and his wife were found with empty shotguns. Other than the weapons the dead men carried, they had nothing else on them. No one knows yet how many there were or how they got there. Not one of the people contacted by the police noticed anyone leaving the scene. They had all heard the gunfire, and several had called 911.

It would be some days before forensics finished the ballistic report. They were now attempting to trace the weapons found at the scene. Fingerprint analysis would take some time. Some of the burns on the hands were extensive. Gallagar told Jack he could look through the wreckage the day after tomorrow or the next day. He would be in touch. Jack asked when he could take his father’s body and make funeral arrangements. Gallagar made a phone call and, when he hung up, said the day after tomorrow.