“You think I don’t care about prevention?” Lena heard her voice rising before pulling it back. “I’m trying to stop someone from doing this again.”
"And I'm trying to make sure they won't be able to exploit the same weaknesses if they target this place." Erin turned back to the electrical panel, moving a stack of boxes aside. "Both previous fires hit buildings with safety violations like outdated electrical and poor access routes. This person seems to know what to look for."
“Which is exactly what I’m investigating.”
“Then maybe you should pay attention to how they choose their targets.” Erin crouched down, examining something behind the boxes. “Look at this.”
Lena moved closer despite herself. “What are we looking at?”
“The electrical panel access is blocked. The old wiring exposed here”—Erin pointed with her pen—”and the circuit breakers are outdated. Not code compliant, and, more importantly, a fire waiting to happen if someone knows what they’re looking for.”
“That’s just a code violation.”
Erin stood, and they were close again, too close in the cramped space. “And arsonists love exploiting them.”
Lena opened her mouth to argue, then closed it. Because, dammit, Erin had a point. Both fires had targeted older buildings with known safety issues. The warehouse had failed inspection twice, and the community center’s electrical system had been flagged for upgrades they couldn’t afford.
But admitting that would mean admitting this younger, earnest fire marshal with her clipboard and her fresh perspective might actually understand something Lena had missed.
“I’ve reviewed the case files,” Lena said instead, defensive. “I know the patterns.”
Erin’s voice softened slightly, though the steel underneath remained. “We’re trying to accomplish the same thing, Detective. We just have different approaches. Neither works without the other, but if you’d rather stand here arguing about whose method is superior while someone plans their next fire, that’s your choice.”
The words hung between them, sharp and undeniable. Heat rose in the cramped space, and Lena was hyperaware of everything: the way dust caught in Erin’s red hair, the controlled set of her jaw, the professional competence radiating from someone who refused to be dismissed.
Lena had spent years building walls and keeping people at arm’s length until they proved themselves worthy of trust. This fire marshal hadn’t proven anything except that she was stubborn, opinionated, and entirely too confident in herself.
And yet…
Lena recognized the dedication, fierce protectiveness, and refusal to back down when she believed she was right.
“Fine.” Lena stepped back, creating distance between them in the small room. “What else did you find?”
Erin’s eyebrows rose slightly—surprise, maybe, or satisfaction at the minor concession. “The kitchen ventilation system needs updating, exit routes could be clearer, and someone should talk to Lavender about not storing cleaning supplies next to the water heater.”
Lena nodded, and Erin turned back to her inspection, effectively dismissing Lena again, but there was something different in the angle of her shoulders and set of her lips. Not quite a smile but close.
Lena watched her work for another moment, irritation and grudging respect warring in her chest. Erin moved through the cramped space with purpose, documenting every risk with the kind of thoroughness that would be admirable if it weren’t so clearly meant to prove a point.
The cafe noise filtered through the door. Out there were people drinking coffee and sharing wine, oblivious to the professional clash.
Lena pushed off the doorframe. “I’ll need a copy of your report.”
“I’ll send it to the department when it’s complete.” Erin didn’t look up.
“And if I have questions?—”
“Then I’m sure you’ll find me, Detective.” This time, Erin did glance over, and something flickered in those green eyes. “You seem good at finding things.”
The words could’ve been a professional courtesy or an acknowledgement of Lena’s investigative skills, but the way Erin said them with just a hint of something underneath…
Lena turned toward the door before she could analyze it further. “I’ll be in touch.”
“I’m sure you will.”
Lena stepped back into the cafe’s warm light and comfortable hum of conversation, but the cramped backroom’s tension followed her. She should’ve left the cafe. She’d gotten what she’d come for: an assessment of Lavender’s vulnerabilities and confirmation that it could be a future target. The inspection was winding down, and she had work waiting for her back at the precinct.
Instead, she found herself claiming a small table near the window, watching the evening settle over Phoenix Ridge. The cafe had grown cooler as the sun continued to set, the vintage lamps casting pools of light across the weathered wooden floor and worn upholstery. The crowd had evolved from after-work urgency to leisurely conversation, the kind of comfortable community gathering that made spaces like this worth protecting.
