I pull out my notebook, settling into interview mode. "Mr. Blackwood, we've confirmed that both the warehouse on Henderson and the commercial building on Maple were owned by your subsidiaries. Can you think of anyone who might want to target your properties specifically?"
Blackwood's practiced smile falters slightly. "Target us? You think these fires were deliberately set?"
"The evidence strongly suggests arson, yes."
"I see." He's quiet for a moment, processing. "We're a real estate development company, Ms. Pritchard. We buy properties, improve them, sell or lease them. It's business. I can't imagine why anyone would want to burn down our buildings."
"No disgruntled former employees? Contract disputes? Tenants who might have felt wronged?"
"We run a tight ship here. Sure, there are disagreements from time to time, but nothing that would lead to..." He trails off, shaking his head. "This is shocking. Truly shocking."
His face gives nothing away. I look for tells—a twitch, a flicker, anything that suggests he'slying. Either he's genuinely surprised, or he's very good at hiding it.
"We'll need access to your employee records. Recent terminations, HR complaints, any legal disputes involving your properties."
"I'll have my assistant compile everything." Blackwood's composure is returning, the executive mask sliding back into place. "Whatever you need. These fires have cost us millions. If someone is deliberately targeting Blackwood Properties, I want them caught."
"So do we."
The interview continues for another hour—property acquisition history, insurance details, competitor relationships. Blackwood is cooperative but not particularly helpful. Either he genuinely has no idea who might want to hurt his company, or he's very good at hiding it.
On our way out, the receptionist hands us a flash drive. "Mr. Blackwood's assistant compiled the employee records you requested. HR files, termination records, the works."
"That was fast," I murmur to Aiden as we wait for the elevator.
"Almost too fast."
"You noticed that too."
"They had that drive ready before we finished the interview." His jaw is tight. "Either they're very efficient, or they knew we'd be asking."
The elevator doors open. We step inside, and I catch our reflection in the mirrored walls—the two of us standing side by side, partners in more ways than one now.
"Something feels off," I say.
"Big time."
"Blackwood's too calm. His company is being targeted by an arsonist, and he's reacting like it's a minor inconvenience."
"Maybe he's just good at compartmentalizing."
"Maybe." But my gut says otherwise. "Or maybe he knows more than he's telling us."
The elevator descends in silence. Outside the glass walls of the lobby, Copper Ridge looks the same as always. Normal Tuesday afternoon, people going about their lives.
Someone is burning down Blackwood Properties, one building at a time. And until I figure out why, I can't stop them.
But I will figure it out. That's what I do.
Back at my apartment, I open the flash drive's contents on my laptop while Aiden makes coffee in my kitchen like he belongs there. Employee records scroll past—names, dates, positions, reasons for termination.
"There's a lot of turnover," I note. "Fifteen terminations in the past year alone."
"That normal for a company this size?"
"On the high end." I click through the files, scanning for patterns. "Most of them are standard—performance issues, downsizing, voluntary resignations. But this one..."
A name catches my eye. Daniel Marsh. Terminated eight months ago. Reason: Gross misconduct.
