Page 20 of Inferno

Tennet peered at the papers in front of him. “We have gone through about fifty percent of the structure so far. The team is at work on it now, contractors who understand evidence cleanupprocedures. But early yesterday morning when we first walked the scene?—”

“You secured it?” Julio asked.

Tennet nodded. “It’s safe.”

Julio nodded. That was good. He wanted to walk through the scene where he’d almost lost his life. It was something he’d been taught to do as a rookie. Memories lived in your head, and in a tense situation that turned to a nightmare quickly, they could build and build in the mind of a firefighter. Until the memory of an incident became more powerful than what had actually happened.

If he walked through the debris in the light of day, his fear would diminish.

Julio said, “Thanks.”

Tennet knew why. They came from the same training school, similar eras of firefighting. Even if they’d gone two different directions as captains in the Benson Fire Department. “Yesterday, we found a deceased person in a back room at the warehouse.”

Julio frowned. “I thought we got everyone out?”

“We did as well,” Greyson said. The chief would take responsibility, but only because Julio had broken protocol and gone inside, forcing him to take command of the scene.

“The deceased was discovered in a back room,” the captain continued. “Apparently, the staff were present for a meeting, and this guy is the lawyer. They actually said they weren’t aware he’d arrived yet.”

Someone only just got there when the fire started. Didn’t that mean there would have been indications of smoke, or heat. They’d have had time to get out, surely?

“Accelerant?” Julio asked.

“We’re running tests. I’ll pass on the results.”

That was new. Arson didn’t usually invite outside help in their cases. In fact, they played things extremely close to the vest. What were Samantha and her partner doing here? He wanted to lift his hands, sign to her and ask, but he was already looking at possible suspension.

Samantha said, “Did any of the employees indicate why they were meeting after hours?”

Tennet shook his head. “We couldn’t get them to say, but we’re still working through initial interviews. The parent company had no idea why they were meeting.”

Samantha picked up her pen and made a note on the pad in front of her. “I’ll add that to my list to find out, after we connect the dots on the lawyer.”

“Could be something fishy,” Romeo said. “The arsonist knew what the meeting was going to be about, set everything up, and timed it so they’d be there.”

Julio figured it was a decent theory. “Are you taking the case?”

Greyson cleared his throat. “Actually, you all are.”

A taskforce. Seriously? But the chance to work with Samantha… Even if Romeo was there, it was more contact than he’d had with her in months. Years, even. Would it change anything for them to be colleagues for a while?

“As of now, the people in this room comprise our newest interagency taskforce.” Greyson glanced at Samantha and Romeo. “We know you have other cases. Most of the personnel in here will be doing double duty…”

Samantha picked it up. “But with two deaths now, and lives at risk, it needs to be priority.” She paused. “Maybe someone in the fire department brass can speak with the police commissioner. Get at least myself reassigned for the duration. Detective Alvarez can float back and forth as needed.”

Greyson nodded. “I like that idea.” He looked at Julio, a question on his face.

Julio didn’t have a problem with it, so he said nothing. Working with Samantha on a case? He wanted the people in this city to feel safe, but he also wanted to see her more. Hang out. Spend time together. All those expressions that basically meant the same thing.

The chance at giving it another shot.

Or, at least being able to talk about the idea.

He tried to gauge if she agreed but couldn’t tell. She’d always been able to keep her emotions below the surface, until she started to sign and her face lit up with expression.

“I’ll go speak with my sergeant.” She gathered her things and stood.

The meeting was breaking up, so Julio timed it so he went to the door at the same time she did. Her partner right behind her.

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