"Someone wanted these specific units to burn," Connor noted, standing next to me. He'd been on the job almost as long as I had, so he knew what we were looking at.
"Yeah, the question is, why these units? What was in them that someone wanted gone?" I questioned as I continued taking photos.
"I asked for security footage, but the guard said the system has been down for maintenance since yesterday." Dane shook his head.
"How convenient," Connor replied.
I looked over the scene one more time, cataloging details for the report I would write. "Let's finish up here. GPD will want our preliminary assessment, and I need to call the Fire Marshal," I said, pulling off my helmet and wiping sweat from my forehead.
My crew nodded. They knew as well as I did that someone deliberately setting a fire meant more was to come. Arsonists rarely stopped at one. The thought sent a chill down my spine.
As we packed our equipment, I caught Evan watching me. The kid was observant, picking up on the tension between the senior crew members.
I clapped him on the shoulder. "We'll brief back at the station. You'll learn to recognize some things."
He nodded. "Yes, Lieutenant."
I glanced back at the damaged storage units before climbing into the truck. As much as I wanted to be wrong, every instinct screamed that this was only the beginning.
Back at the station, we spread our gear out on the back patio to dry. I rolled my shoulders, trying to work out the tension settling between my blades. Arson calls always left me wound tight.
"Perfect Saturday evening, right? Nothing says weekend fun like the odor of burning furniture," Dane commented.
Evan scoffed as he scrubbed a black smudge on his helmet. "Like you had better plans. Watching the game alone in your underwear isn't exactly living your best life."
"For your information, I had a date with the new nurse from County General," Dane shot back.
"We don't need the details. Let's focus on the debrief."
A smile twitched at the corner of my mouth at their banter. The crew gathered around the patio table, giving me their attention. Evan pulled out his notebook to take notes.
"Alright, let's break it down. What we saw today wasn't accidental. The burn patterns, the chemical residue, and the fact that multiple units were hit is classic textbook arson."
"The smell was distinctive. It reminded me of the warehouse fire in Centerville last year," Connor added.
I nodded. "Good catch. I thought the same thing. Accelerant was probably gasoline mixed with something else to slow the burn rate, which gives the perpetrator more time to clear the scene before it really gets going."
"Why those specific units, though? The security guard said they belonged to different people with no obvious connection," Evan noted.
"That's the million-dollar question. GPD is contacting the owners now. We'll know more once we figure out what's being stored in those units," I replied.
"Some firebugs like to watch shit burn," Dane pointed out.
Fire Marshal Winters' voice came through my earpiece. "Crawford, I got your preliminary on the storage complex. It looks like we have a problem."
I pointed to my earpiece before speaking, alerting them that I had a call. "I'm with my crew on a debrief. What are we looking at?" I asked.
"This is the third fire with the same signature. Three fires, same MO, all within a thirty-mile radius. Pattern?" Winters questioned.
I ran my hand down my face. "We're still working that angle. Different owners," I replied.
I glanced at my crew, who watched with concern. They couldn't hear Winters' side of the conversation, but my expression must have broadcast it loud and clear.
"Watch your back, Crawford," Winters responded before ending the call.
I steepled my hands, taking a moment to organize my thoughts before looking at my crew.
"We have a serial arsonist. Two other incidents in neighboring counties have the same signature.
