Page 12 of Wild Fires

“Why would someone attempt a fire on wet ground? It's close to the road. Are we sure it wasn't just a cigarette or something? Maybe with a drink or something?”

“That was a thought at first, but it doesn't account for the wet ground.”

“Possible coincidence? Like someone dumped a drink out the window and then someone else came by and flicked a cigarette out?”

“That's a lot of coincidences, and none of us even believe in coincidences, but also no one could find any trace of a cigarette butt, only . . .”

“A wooden matchstick,” he said, quietly finishing my sentence for me.

“Exactly.”

He started looking around, sifting through the grass that was already beginning to dry out from the sun.

“What are you looking for?”

“Feathers.”

I huffed and fought not to roll my eyes.

“They're so common around here that they aren't even admissible. Besides, as far as I know, there's no way to link a feather back to the actual bird.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

He leaned down and retrieved a single black feather and triumphantly held it up before putting it into a Ziploc bag and pulling out a pen to label it.

“I guess you'll be an expert on forensic science before you know it.”

He just grinned.

“What?” I demanded.

“I majored in forensic science. Always thought I'd be a cop.”

“Really? I don't see it.”

“Why's that?”

“I don't know. I mean, you exude authority, but you're such a politician.”

“I'm not sure if that's an insult or a compliment.”

“Take it how you will.” I shrugged.

“Wait, there were no footsteps here despite the rain?”

“None. It's possible whoever did this set it and took off just before the rain. I think the rain may have thwarted his plans.”

“But how do you know it was a he?”

I shrugged. “Stereotypically, according to statistics, pyromaniacs are more likely to be male.”

“But not always, and we're keeping an open mind.”

“Yeah, but statistics don't lie, so it’s not guaranteed but just more probably a male.”

“Have you profiled him yet?”

I shrugged. “Male between the ages of sixteen and twenty-eight, more likely an unskilled worker who's either sexually or socially awkward, often an alcoholic, and almost always has low self-esteem.”

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