Twisted Fire (5 page)

It was a little after four in the afternoon when they pulled up to the burning house. Neighbours stood out on their front lawns and lined the streets, watching the action unfold. Jared chose one of his most reliable men to search the premises. The remainder of the crew began to hose the house. Once the blaze was subdued Jared would begin his investigation so, to ready himself, he began to pull on his protective gear. He observed the flames and heat of the fire as his crew attempted to control it, as these were also indicators of origin and cause.

About five minutes later their crew member surfaced carrying a badly burned and unconscious victim. Ambulance officers tried resuscitation but it appeared the person was already gone. In most instances involving a victim, the fire itself was usually the accidental cause of death. Sometimes when a fire started in the early hours of the morning, while the occupants slept, the smoke could cause victims to become disorientated when awoken by the blaze. In most cases they would become trapped within the house or pass out from the thick smoke. In most cases a crew arrived in time to save a trapped victim, particularly if the fire didn’t burn with intensity, however sometimes victims died from smoke inhalation without actually waking at all.

The other scenarios, which he didn’t like to contemplate, were that the victim had been murdered before the blaze began and it was merely a cover up, or the fire itself was the murder weapon, which was far more sinister. He hoped it wasn’t like the previous arson case.

An autopsy would ascertain whether it was a deliberate or accidental death. His findings would also aid in discovering how the death occurred.

He didn’t feel confident about an accidental fire as he watched the strong, hot flames. Jared didn’t want to jump to conclusions until he’d investigated fully.

While the men continued to extinguish the fire, Jared checked over his kit and ran an inventory. Now there was a suspicious death, the police officers who attended the scene had called in detectives along with the Medical Examiner. Jared knew they would need his findings for their investigations.

The fire was almost quenched when Lucas and his partner Maggie Johnson arrived and, not far behind them, David Walker, the Medical Examiner. While David examined the victim, Lucas and Maggie came over to talk to Jared.

“
Have you had an opportunity to check for arson?” Lucas asked.

“
Not as yet. I was just about to go in as the boys are finishing up now.”

“
OK, we’ll wait and interview some of the neighbours to see if they have any information.”

Once Jared determined the fire was doused, he grabbed his evidence case and entered the building. He went from room to room checking for the possible point of origin.

After eliminating all appliances and power outlets as the likely causes, he moved on searching for other combustible items that might possibly be the source.

He checked each room thoroughly before discovering something in the dining room near a sliding door exit. The room, the curtains which housed the door and the carpet looked as though they’d been exposed to more heat than other rooms within the house. This indicated to Jared the area had probably burned for longer.

He took photos of the area and documented his findings before removing a test kit from his case to check for an accelerant. After many tests of different areas, he finally received a positive result on the walls, curtains and the floor. He followed the path the fire would have taken and determined the accelerant had been splashed though many rooms in the house. He completed his report and went outside to share his findings with the detectives.

“
Hudson,” he called.

When the detectives came over, Jared continued, “The intensity and colour of the flames indicated to me something was fuelling the fire. After ruling out possible sources such as gas or oxygen which typically combust a fire, I tested the areas which appeared to be the ignition point and I received a positive result for an accelerant - probably petrol or something similar. I believe the fire was started deliberately.”

“
The ME has informed us the young female victim has a blunt force trauma on the back of her head. He isn’t sure whether she has been hit or fell, but his assumption is the first, indicated by the wound markings. The blow would have rendered her unconscious and he believes she probably died from smoke inhalation but he is going to confirm and let us know. Your discovery of arson suggests the fire could again be the murder weapon, like our cold case,” said Lucas.

“
I agree. This scene appears similar to the last. I will look over the file again when I get back to the office and confirm. If you need any further clarification, give me a call,” he said, handing Lucas a copy of his report.

“
I will. Thanks again. I guess we’ll see you in a few weeks, if not before,” Lucas grinned.

“
Ah yes, the big day. I’m looking forward to it.”

“
Me too.”

The detectives left and Jared ran through the check list to ensure procedure had been followed before they headed back to the station house.

Jared spent the following hours checking and then entering his report into the computer. While doing so, he re-read the file from the fire seven months earlier. Both fires were started by an accelerant splashed throughout the house and then lit. Did they have a killer using fire to murder, or an arsonist who’d started to kill?

Now they had a comparable scene, maybe they could ascertain further information about the killer. Perhaps when the fires were ignited the arsonist was unaware someone was actually home but his gut told him different. He believed the arsonist knew they were and that he’d targeted them. After filing the paperwork, he discovered his shift was almost over.

He smiled, pleased he’d successfully gotten through the day without thinking of Charlotte, when he realised that thinking about not thinking about her made him think about her. He cursed. What was happening to him? He had met this girl for such a short time and she’d somehow bewitched him. He would normally run in the opposite direction from flirtatious women but this one somehow got in.

She was definitely stunning and he’d been instantly mystified from the moment he saw her. What was perplexing him the most was why this particular girl edged her way under his skin. Ordinarily it took more than one brief meeting for him to become remotely interested in a woman. Nevertheless, in this instance, he was very much so.

He was still pondering this when Sam sought him out with an invitation to join him for a beer after work. Jared decided it might be just what he needed. They decided to go to their favourite sports bar to catch up and perhaps watch a game on the big screen.

“
I met a hot woman yesterday at the gym,” Sam told him enthusiastically. “I’m going out with her Saturday night.”

“
Another one? You meet them every week.”

“
Yes but this one is different.”

“
Yeah, we’ll see,” he said, laughing at his best friend.

Jared and Sam met during their training for the fire brigade and had requested to be stationed at the same station. Sam was his second in command and enjoyed working with Jared. He lacked any real interest in a higher command, happy to be part of a team, not leading one.

His dark curly hair, dark eyes and olive skin always ensured he never lacked female attention. Charismatic and amusing, he never failed to captivate an audience. He was the complete the opposite to Jared, thus the reason why they were such good friends. They balanced each other.

“
So, Monty,” Sam began his usual probing, “how’s your love life?”

“
I don’t have one.”

“
Obviously. Any prospects?”

“
No.”

“
Come on, you have been quieter than normal today.”

“
Dead bodies kind of get to me.”

“
Yeah, me too, but that’s not it. You’ve been acting weird all day.” Sam took a drink of his beer while Jared, lost in thought, ran a finger along his bottle, catching the condensation drips.

“
I took Max to the vet the other day.”

“
Is he ok?” Sam offered a concerned frown.

“
Yeah, he is now.”

“
What has that got to do with you being quiet?” Sam studied him but Jared continued to scrutinise on his beer. He took a sip but didn’t meet Sam’s gaze.

“
The vet was ….. fascinating.”

“
Ah, now we are getting somewhere.” Jared lifted his eyes and was met with an amused grin. He offered a small smile before returning his attention to his bottle. This time he picked at the label. “So, ask her out.”

“
No, she’s not my type.”

“
Did she flirt with you?” Jared looked up at Sam to find him smirking again. Sam knew him too well.

“
Yes and she seemed a little shallow.”

“
How long were you there?”

“
About half an hour. Why?”

“
So you discovered she was shallow after such a short period of time?”

“
Yeah, first impressions … ”

“ …
. are not always right. You of all people should know that. No-one thinks you’re a nice guy when they meet you either.”

“
That’s what Carrie said.” He frowned. “I just can’t consider a girl who doesn’t take herself seriously.”

“
Maybe you made her nervous. If you really found her that fascinating, why not give her a chance?”

“
Maybe.”

“
Gees, you’re a stubborn man. Maybe there will be someone at Lucas’s wedding.”

“
Possibility.” Jared shrugged.

“
You need to loosen up a bit, man, or you’ll never find what you’re looking for.”

“
I beg to differ.” Jared finished his beer and shoved the bottle aside.

“
Your choice.”

“
Absolutely. I have to head off. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“
Ok, but think about it.”

Jared slid out from the bench they were occupying.

“
I have been. She’s been on my mind more than I would like.”

“
That’s a good start,” Sam said as Jared headed towards the exit.

When Jared pulled into his driveway twenty minutes later, he noticed a figure sitting on his front doorstep. As he got closer to the house, he realised it was his brother. Jared parked quickly and jumped out of the car, anxious to see his usually absent brother.

“
Mitch,” he called out before pulling him into a hug. “What are you doing here?”

“
I know, I’m a couple of weeks early, but I missed you all, so I decided to come earlier and catch up.”

“
Well come on in. Dump your stuff in one of the rooms while I start dinner.”

Once they’d eaten, they ventured outside with a beer and caught up on events. Mitch had become one of the most sought after freelance photojournalists in the country. He told Jared how effected he was by the tragic conditions which people were exposed to due to war or poverty and how many homeless, orphan children had to live on the streets and beg for food. Over time it had taken its toll on Mitch’s empathetic side.

“
I have decided to stay for a while and do something a little less emotionally draining,” he said, finishing his affecting story.

“
You can stay as long as you want. I’ll enjoy the company and I miss having you around.”

“
Don’t go getting all sentimental on me, little brother.”

“
I seem to be feeling that way a lot lately.”

“
You a bit lonely, Jads? No-one warming your sheets?” Mitch smirked and Jared presented him with a serious stare.

“
You know I don’t sleep around.”

“
Yeah, but you do set very high standards.”

“
No, I don’t. I just know what I want and just haven’t met her yet. Came pretty close the other day, though - well in the looks department anyway.”

“
Oh yeah? Details!”

“
She’s a vet at the clinic where I take Max. I had to take him in the other day because he wasn’t well and I met her there.”

“
And?”

“
And she was beautiful.”

“
So, what’s the problem?”

“
I just wasn’t too sure about her.”