Chapter Text
Sodder Fire Report, December 25th
At 8:45 PM, Mrs. Jennie and Mr. George Sodder allege to have put their nine children to bed for the night. The children were: Sylvia (2), Marion (17), John (23), George Jr. (16), Maurice (14), Martha (12), Louise, (9). Jennie the younger (8), and Betty (5). Mr. and Mrs. Sodder then allege that they both stayed up for approximately twenty minutes after this, during which Mrs. Sodder answered a telephone call from an unknown third party. After this, the two retired. Mrs. Sodder alleges hearing what sounded like a thump and then a canister rolling at around 9:25 PM. She alleges to have smelled smoke five to ten minutes later, putting the preliminary start of the fire between 9:25 and 9:35 PM. Mrs. Sodder alleges that she woke the already sleeping Mr. Sodder, and then went to wake the four children sleeping downstairs (Sylvia, Marion, John, George Jr.) and got them all outside. Mr. Sodder, meanwhile, alleges that he attempted to climb the stairs to the upper floor to find the five remaining children (Maurice, Martha, Louis, Jennie the younger, Betty), but that the flames had already blocked the stairwell. Mr. Sodder alleges that, once he himself had gotten outside, he was unable to find a ladder to go up to the upper floor. Nor, he alleges, was he able to start up either of his coal truck, in order to use them as a means to get to his children. Both Sodder parents additionally allege that, despite making early calls to the fire department, firefighters only arrived on the scene seven hours after Mrs. Sodder says she awoke. No reason for this has yet to be given.
At this time, preliminary reports suggest that the fire was caused due to faulty wiring in the house, which may have sparked and set the furniture ablaze. None of the five "upstairs children" has been seen since the fire began, and there were no rescue efforts made by any of the Sodders beyond Mr. Sodder's initial attempts. Nor were any attempts made by the firefighters when they arrived on the scene. Preliminary reports suggest that these five children are dead, either due to smoke inhalation or burns suffered if they attempted to navigate through the flames. The fire appears to have burned between the hours of 9:30 PM to 5 AM, making the total around seven and a half hours. It is estimated by the fire chief (who is conducting a separate investigation) that anyone not outside of the house within the first few minutes of combustion would not have survived.
Sodder Children Death Certificates, December 26th
- Maurice Sodder, age fourteen years. Died on December the 24th-25th, between the hours of 10 PM and 5 AM. Cause of death is unknown. Presumed to be smoke inhalation or severe burns. Body not found.
- Martha Sodder, age twelve years. Died on December the 24th-25th, between the hours of 10 PM and 5 AM. Cause of death is unknown. Presumed to be smoke inhalation or severe burns. Body not found.
- Louis Sodder, age nine years. Died on December the 24th-25th, between the hours of 10 PM and 5 AM. Cause of death is unknown. Presumed to be smoke inhalation or severe burns. Body not found.
- Jennie Sodder (younger), age eight years. Died on December the 24th-25th, between the hours of 10 PM and 5 AM. Cause of death is unknown. Presumed to be smoke inhalation or severe burns. Body not found.
- Betty Sodder, age five years. Died on December the 24th-25th, between the hours of 10 PM and 5 AM. Cause of death is unknown. Presumed to be smoke inhalation or severe burns. Body not found.
Missing Persons Report, December 30th
Filed by Mr. George Sodder and Mrs. Jennie Sodder. Couple alleges that their children (listed under the Sodder Children Death Certificates) did not perish in the December 24th-25th fire as previously believed by the police and fire department. Mr. Sodder alleges that he was recently threatened by a man he believed to be a life insurance salesman, who made allusions to hurting the Sodder children, and referenced fire as a means of revenge. Mr. Sodder refuses to elaborate on what enraged this supposed life insurance salesman, nor give any subsequent details. Couple additionally refuses to provide additional evidence, stating that they've given the relevant information to the fire department. We are at present unable to determine whether or not the children are in fact missing, and worthy of being the subject of a "Missings" announcement.
Artemus Ogletree Arrest Form, January 10th
Artemus Ogletree, male, dark hair, dark eyes, pale skin, slender. Individual works as a private detective. Police were called to investigate what appeared to be a domestic disturbance between Ogletree and [REDACTED]. While there are no signs of physical violence, it was clear to the arresting officers that Ogletree was the primary aggressor, and was thus taken to jail. Officers described the scene as "messy", with multitudes of shattered and broken objects, as well as a damaged map appearing to link a variety of things that remain seemingly unrelated. Ogletree has declined to ask for either a lawyer or a phonecall, choosing to wait to be formally charged with a crime. Arresting officers see no reason to do so. [REDACTED] has declined to press charges.
Footnote: Ogletree appears to have been contracted by Mr. and Mrs. Sodder (see Sodder File) in an attempt to locate the supposedly missing five "upstairs children".
Missing Persons Report, January 17th
Filed by Ricardo Goldsworth. Goldsworth alleges that Mr. Artemus Ogletree (who was arrested for domestic disturbance previously this month) has not been seen for a multitude of days. Goldsworth alleges that he and Ogletree were meant to meet with each other on January 12th for drinks, and that Ogletree never arrived. Goldsworth asserts that this is unusual behavior for Ogletree, who would never abandon anyone at a function without providing some excuse either beforehand or after the fact. Additionally, Ogletree was meant to meet with a "street informant", according to Goldsworth's allegations. This informant apparently never got the chance to meet with Ogletree. Goldsworth believes it has something to do with the case Ogletree was currently investigating (see January 10th arrest form for hypothesis). No signs yet as to whether Ogletree left town or was forced to, either through coercion or abduction. No reason to believe this is tied to sinister motivation.
"OK, so I have some questions."
"Don't you dare-"
"Why did he attempt to park not one, but two coal trucks next to a burning building?" Ryan resisted the urge to throw something at Shane's oversized head. "Like, does he not know that coal burns?"
"That's nice," Ryan commented. "A man loses all five of his children in a fire, and you're harping about the damned coal trucks. You're really something, ya know that?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, would you rather be working on this story with Vront or whatever?" A wheezing laugh left Ryan's lips, and he doubled over, clutching at his stomach. Tears pricked at the corner of his eyes. It may have been the beer he'd been nursing ever since putting this piece together with Shane.
"Vront..." Ryan wiped at his eyes and looked at Shane, who was giggling madly to himself. "You got anymore where that came from?"
"Oh baby I've got a ton," Shane retorted. He leaned back in his chair.
"You're an asshole."
"Yes I am." At least he didn't attempt to deny it. "But that doesn't change the fact that I have more questions. Does this all seem a little sketch to you?"
"Does what seem sketch?" Shane rolled his eyes, pulling a hand through unruly hair. It stuck up in sharp clumps between his fingers.
"All of this, Ryan. All of this is super weird. George Sodder says he was threatened by a man who said, what? I'm gonna burn your house down and your children are going to die-"
"Wait we don't know what he said-"
"And no one's following up on this? And then the Sodders don't give any other information? And then the detective they might have hired goes missing?" Shane gesticulated brusquely. "Seriously, this all just feels really suspicious."
"That's why we're writing about it for our thing," Ryan explained patiently. "Unsolved is gonna be the column of the century. And besides, we're chroniclers, not investigators. Let's leave the fine toothed combing for the police and whatnot." Shane responded with a simple eye roll.
"Doesn't sound like the police are doing a good job with this." It was Ryan's turn for an eye roll, and Shane ducked the swat aimed in his direction. They were both choking on laughter in spite of themselves.
"The private detectives then!"
"There's only one, and he's missing!" There was an urgent voice in the back of Ryan's mind. It was saying, Just tackle him, no one will care. He resisted this urge.
"Listen, apparently these people are putting up a billboard about this." Shane groaned, rubbing at the spot between the bridge of his nose and his forehead. "They're probably gonna hire another detective." Dark eyes met dark eyes, and while they were both still filled with mirth, Shane's seemed a bit more subdued.
"Honestly, God help whoever gets stuck with this," he said earnestly. "He's gonna need some balls of steel." Ryan's response was nothing but a wheeze.