Page 19 of Arsonist’s Match (Blaze and Badge #1)
She was halfway finished with the affidavit for the judge when her cell phone vibrated with a call. Spotting Flash’s name on caller ID, she stopped typing to answer. “Hey, sweetie, I’m still at work. ”
“Still?”
Athena glanced at the clock. Six-fifteen was later than she’d stayed for a while, other than to work the cryptocurrency kidnapping case.
“Still,” she answered with a sigh. “Aren’t you on shift tonight?”
“Yeah, but I wanted to let you know.” Flash’s voice lowered to a whisper as Athena pressed the phone to her ear.
“The warehouse was an arson, and it matched one from earlier in the summer. The fire investigator is looking for similar unsolved cases with a signature of a pile of burnables soaked in BBQ lighter fluid, ignited with a sparkler. That’s unique, isn’t it? ”
“Very,” Athena concurred.
“We aren’t telling anyone that Edwards missed it,” Flash continued in a hush, “so he doesn’t go ballistic. Anyway, Captain O’Riley said I could tell you. I’ve really tried to keep us under wraps, but it seems he and half the firehouse know. Can’t people get their own lives?”
Athena chuckled. “It’s OK, Flash. I don’t mind if people know about us … unless you do.”
“You mean and have them all jealous of me for scoring the smartest, hottest, sexiest law enforcement officer in the country? Heck, no, I don’t mind.” Flash’s endearing laugh sounded through the airwaves, coming to rest in Athena’s chest. The alarm bell sounded in the background.
“Gotta run, honey,” she said. “Talk to you later.”
“Take care of my firefighter, you hear? Keep her safe,” Athena mandated.
Flash laughed. “Always.”
As Athena finished the affidavit and sent it off to Judge Harrelson’s office in a fax marked “Urgent,” she contemplated the fires and Captain O’Riley’s instructions to her girlfriend.
They can’t ask for the FBI’s help since they’ve no evidence the arsonist has struck on federal property or in another state, she mused .
But I get the feeling O’Riley would like me to check our database to see if he has.
With no pressing cases consuming our resources, we could easily form a joint task force to catch this firebug before he burns down half of Houston.
It’s no trouble for me to start a run before heading home, then see what turns up in the morning.
Confident in her plan, Athena programmed her computer to run searches for similar fires nationwide, going back two years. If anything popped, she and Flash could end up working together. But would that be a good thing?
“OK, everybody,” Athena directed as her heels clipped into the situation room.
Paulson spun his wheelchair around, and skinny Agent Howard froze in mid-motion, like one of those spooky mimes.
Shoops, who’d adopted the routine of never leaving the office before the boss, looked up from her desk and adjusted her glasses.
The other agents had taken off at regular quitting time.
“Go home.”
“But—” Howard protested.
“I’ve requested a warrant for that hideous Culpepper’s arrest, which he doesn’t know nor suspect, so he’s not going to skip the country tonight.
Paulson, tomorrow, after you’ve had a shower, a good meal, and made love to your properly aged wife, I want you to dive deeper into that dark website where you found the incriminating video.
Get a couple of guys from cybercrimes to help.
Now, go home—and that’s an order.” Athena raised her chin, casting an intimidating stare around the room to underscore her command.
“If you insist,” John answered with a smirk and an arched brow.
“Don’t have to tell me twice.” Howard yanked his suit coat from the back of his chair and made a beeline for the exit.
“I’ll walk you out,” Shoops offered with a meek expression, concluding with, “if it’s OK.”
“That would be acceptable.” Athena wanted to check in with Karen anyway, as they never had a chance to converse in the office about anything other than the current case. In the elevator, she asked, “How are you doing, Agent Shoops?”
“Oh, pretty good,” she said. “I had to get a cavity filled at the dentist’s last week. I thought those stopped happening past a certain age.”
“If so, I haven’t passed it yet,” Athena admitted. “That’s not what I mean. I’m talking about your psychological and emotional well-being. After almost being burned alive and losing a fellow agent on the job … I’m glad you haven’t tendered your resignation.”
“Oh, I absolutely can’t quit,” she responded in horror.
“And let my parents think I’m not up to the job, the way they insisted I wasn’t?
But really, ASAC Bouvier, every day gets better.
I’m trying to show more initiative, like you said.
And I want to be here for me. I believe, in time, I can make a difference. ”
Athena regarded the shy young woman, considering her phenomenal work ethic and her caring heart. “You didn’t watch that Culpepper video, did you?”
Karen’s shoulders rounded as she hugged herself and shook her head. “I was busy running candidates’ finances—a much safer arena.”
“Good.” The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. “See you in the morning.”
“Have a good night,” Shoops offered as she scurried toward the exit.
Athena ambled out at a relaxed pace, allowing Shoops to rush ahead. She wondered if she was haunted by nightmares, the way Flash was, or if she had someone to hold her in the dark to help her through them. She had the skills to succeed—as long as the horror didn’t break her first.