Page 30 of Arsonist’s Match (Blaze and Badge #1)

“ W hat do you think?” Campbell asked, hands on his hips, jacket swinging open as the suspect headed downstairs.

Spinning on her heel, angling toward her domain, Athena stated, “No alibi, and he’s into lighters. He stays on the list.”

Falling in beside her, Campbell added, “And the employee’s name he threw out?”

“Look up everything you can find on her.”

Athena stopped by the ladies’ room to freshen up, returning to find Travis Ice’s butt propped on Karen’s desk, his expression bright as they chatted. She frowned on principle alone.

“Where’d you put Rusk?”

The athletically-built agent jumped like a startled rabbit, twisting to face her. “In interview room two. Hernandez is watching him. Guy was full of bluster and bravado on the way over.”

“Well,” Athena said, adjusting the front line of her blouse and fluffing her tresses. “We’ll see how long that lasts. Since you’re here, you might as well assist Shoops with those warehouse employee files.”

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bouvier breezed into the interview room, introduced herself, and took a seat beside Hernandez.

Calvin Rusk lived up to the impression she’d gotten from his photograph—from his worn leather cowboy boots and scruffy blue jeans to his chiselled jaw and eyebrow scar.

Not handsome like De León—just worn and weathered.

“So, ag ents,” he began. “What’s so pressing you hauled me off my construction crew to ask about?”

“There have been a few industrial fires around Houston recently,” Hernandez said.

“There’s always fires in Houston,” he shot back with a grin. “Heck, I hear sirens whizzin’ by my road every day. What’s that got to do with me?”

“Are you familiar with Shreveport Steel Solutions, a steel pipe factory?” Athena asked. The man, a good ten years older than the previous suspect, raked his gaze over her before meeting her eyes.

“No. Why should I be? I’ve never lived in Shreveport.”

“But you’ve been there,” Hernandez prompted. “This summer, even.”

“There’s some good casinos in Shreveport,” Rusk allowed casually, “and without Baton Rouge’s traffic.”

“Do you recall where you were on August 8 th , Mr. Rusk?” Athena tilted her chin, ice in her eyes.

“I don’t rightly recall.” Folding his arms over his chest, he mirrored her look.

Athena slid a copy of his speeding ticket from her folder, placed it on the table facing him, and tapped it with a ruby fingernail.

Rusk barked a dry laugh. “If you already knew, why bother asking?”

“To test your level of cooperation and honesty, of course,” she stated. With a predatory grin, she added, “Zero for two so far.”

With a huff, he switched postures, this time leaning forward, elbows on the table. “I didn’t do anything—just wasted the money I won at blackjack paying the stupid ticket.”

“Mr. Rusk, your record indicates you’ve had some run-ins with the law in the past,” Hernandez said. “Served two years for aggravated assault.”

“Yeah, so what? Don’t mean diddly now. Folks get into fights.

Can I help it if I was stronger and better, and he ended up in the hospital with a broken arm and fractured cheekbone?

Wuss! If he hadn’t been three sheets to the wind, I could’ve been the one in the hospital and him in jail.

That doesn’t make me some kind of criminal.

I do an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. ”

Athena abruptly switched topics. “Do you like fires, Mr. Rusk?”

“I ain ’t scared of ‘em, but they’re not my buddies, either. Why?” He turned his confused gaze on her. “I don’t even know why I’m here.”

“As a teenager, you were caught setting a dumpster fire,” she continued, evading his question. “How many other fires did you start before being caught?”

“Hey, that’s sealed,” he snapped, edge sharpening.

“I’m no pyro, if that’s what you’re aiming at.

Our football team lost our homecoming game, and a bunch of us headed to the north side to blow off steam.

So, yeah, I torched a dumpster. I was fifteen and pissed.

Didn’t you ever do something stupid as a kid?

” He flicked a curious glance between Athena and Hernandez before continuing.

“The cops overreacted, and, because I had a disciplinary record at school, they hauled me off to juvie for six months.”

“And this was in Tyler?” Athena prompted.

“Yeah. It’s where my family lived then.”

“And where you attended school with Beth Knowles.” Athena let her statement hang in the air.

“Sure, I knew Beth, but we weren’t like close or anything. What does she have to do with anything? And you still haven’t told me what this is about. Do I need to call a lawyer or something?”

“You have that right, Mr. Rusk, although we haven’t arrested you for anything.

We’re just trying to put all the facts together.

You claim you and your friends set the dumpster fire to blow off steam, and that you didn’t regularly engage in fire-starting.

You were the troublemaker in high school, always in detention, while Beth was a solid student, a cheerleader, and heading off to college.

Years later, you’re both single. She works at Shreveport Steel Solutions as a human resource officer, and you happen to pick that city as your go-to Louisiana gambling site.

I don’t suppose you checked up on her, maybe asked her out? ”

Calvin blinked. “Beth? In Shreveport? Single? I know she got married a few years out of high school. Is she divorced now?”

“No, Mr. Rusk,” Athena stated bluntly. “She’s dead now.”

“Dead?”

His eyes widened. Color drained from his face. His breath hitched. Athena recognized his reaction of shock was genuine; however, was it because he didn’t know, or because he never believed anyone would find out?

Hernandez offered condolences. “We’re sorry to inform you that Beth Knowles’s body was found at the scene of an arson at Shreveport Steel Solutions in the wee hours of August 9 th .

The medical examiner was unable to determine if she died before or as a result of the blaze. We’re sorry for your loss.”

“No, no, you must have made a mistake.” His hands and voice trembled.

“I’m afraid not,” Athena corrected. “Dental records confirmed the victim’s identity. I must ask: why were you in such a hurry to get out of town that night?”

“Because I was due to be at my work site at seven the next morning,” Calvin replied, cloaked in anxiety. “I would never kill Beth. I wouldn’t kill anyone.”

“You nearly killed Heath Jones—if those other two hadn’t dragged you off of him during that fight that sent you to prison,” Athena corrected.

“No, no, I wouldn’t have. I swear!”

Sweat beaded on his brow and neck under the bright lights and the intensity of the questions. If Athena could just catch him in a lie.

“Where were you on July 17 th ?” she fired at him.

Calvin buried his face in his hands. “I don’t know.”

“July 1 st ?”

“Probably at work.” Rusk sounded defeated. Done. “I didn’t do whatever it is you’re pinning on me. I just found out an old friend’s dead. I want a lawyer.”

“Smart move, Mr. Rusk,” Athena said flatly. “Find one and check your calendar. The next time we talk, you’d better know more about your whereabouts this summer.” Standing, she dismissed the suspect. “You’re free to go, but don’t leave town.”

“Hey, boss.”

Athena got the impression Howard’s wave wasn’t so much a greeting as a flag-down. She and Hernandez had just returned to the situation room, Paulson rolling in behind them.

“Did you make a hit?”

“Well, ” Howard fudged, “it’s almost one-thirty and we haven’t had lunch, so—”

“Put in a delivery order,” Athena cut in, irritation written across her face. “Do none of you have the capacity to think for yourselves?”

“It’s just … we usually take an hour,” Karen murmured from behind her monitor, voice barely audible.

Athena’s chin lifted, her tone clipped. “ Sometimes, Agent Shoops. Not usually. What’s everyone been doing that built up such an appetite?” Work ethic or not, Athena’s stomach growled too.

“We’ve eliminated a third of the employees from the two Houston locations, based on solid alibis,” Ice reported.

Bright-eyed—with the prospect of food on the way—Howard said, “I’ve switched gears to looking at firefighter candidates who washed out of the academy in the past two years.”

“Agent Paulson?” Athena pivoted to her senior man, now settling in at his station.

“You know how a lot of arsonists want to watch?”

Athena nodded, already anticipating the angle.

“I’m combing news reels, fire department footage, and social media—any videos of fires in progress.

If our guy’s into watching fires, maybe he shows up in the crowd.

I’m tracking repeat onlookers, too—people who appear more than once without a reason.

My money’s on our firebug slipping into view somewhere. ”

The sheer volume of video made Athena blink, but Paulson had filters, apps, and shortcuts. He always did.

“You could be right. Keep examining that angle,” she instructed. “Shoops, food ordered?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Even sitting up straight at her desk, the petite woman looked small. “I just ordered everyone’s usual. Shrimp Caesar salad OK?” She bit her lip, peering hopefully at Athena.

“It’s fine. Now, run a deep dive into Jolene Carver.

I want to know everything—especially whether she was let go from Synergy the day of the fire.

Ice, Hernandez— after lunch, trail Rusk and De León.

Quietly. See if they go back to work, go home, hit a bar, or start another fire.

Talk to employers. We don’t have enough for a warrant. Find something.”

“You got it,” Ice said, crisp as ever.

Back in her office, Athena grabbed a notebook and a pencil to brainstorm.

After questioning the first two suspects, she was no nearer to an answer.

Whoever this arsonist is, they shouldn’t have a clean alibi for all four dates—or we need to place them in the right city at the right time.

Both men had motive and means; it might come down to opportunity.

Was he in the right place at the right time?