Page 90 of Her Braun
"We went through the whole place, even into the basement as part of the overhaul. No bodies. It was clear."
Jacob let out a breath and gave him a half smile. "Good. That's really good." He turned his head and looked over the property which had once been the home of a family. "I can't imagine what it would be like to come home to this when you'd left an actual home less than a day before."
"We've also found at least three points of origin for the fire."
"Arson, then." Jacob had been to enough fires to know.
"That's right. I've already sent images to the arson investigator for CCFD. They'll come out and check our findings and make the official determination in the morning when they can see everything in the light of day." He gestured to the police cruiser pulling in. "There's our security for the night."
The officer stepped out of the cruiser and Jacob lifted a hand in greeting.
Walker called out to his sister and her partner. "Who the fuck did you two piss off to get this duty?"
Pilar's partner offered a single finger salute hidden from others by his taller figure.
Walker nodded. "Nice, man. Really classy."
Jacob reached into his pocket and pulled out a paper. "We came by to tell you whose house just burned down."
Gibson leaned back and turned his gaze toward the paper in his hand.
"Charles Franklin." Jacob read out the information. "He owns Smokey's BBQ."
Gibson frowned at his friend. "That's the place Kay orders from."
Walker lifted a knowing eyebrow and looked at Jacob. "I've been wanting to go there and try the ribs. You want to go with me and make the notification?"
Gibson hesitated before he spoke, but the instant they started to walk away from the sidewalk, he called out to them. "Be careful when you get there."
Walker turned around first. "You know something we don't?"
Gibson wanted to say something nicer, but he couldn't help but wonder if his gut feeling was something they needed to know.
"When I first started seeing Kay, I called for a food delivery from Smokey's and it was delivered by the owner’s son, Chuck."
He tried to keep the distaste out of his voice, but given the curious look on the detectives' faces he hadn't done a good job. "It wasn't anything he really said outright but it was the way he talked to Kay. I got the feeling he was kind of... I don't know how to describe it... he's distant? And kind of childlike in some ways."
"Chuck Franklin?"
Jacob's expression changed. "There's something about that name..." He opened his phone and brushed a fingertip over his screen a few times before he lifted his phone to his ear. "Molly?" He almost hid the smile that touched his lips talking to the woman on the other end of the call. "That address you looked up for me? Yes, the fire. Is there a Chuck Franklin listed there as a resident?"
Gibson felt something twist in his gut.
A moment later, a call came over his radio.
"Gibson? This is Irish at the 911 Call Center. Is your truck done with overhaul on that house fire?"
Gibson lifted the radio mic toward his mouth. "Yeah, Irish. We're done."
"We just got an alarm from Smokey's BBQ. You guys are the closest."
Gibson looked up and caught Jacob looking back at him.
The look in his friend's eye was enough for Gibson to start running as he answered Irish. "We're going!"
As the ladder truck pulled into the parking lot, Gibson felt his heart stop. "That's-"
Jacob's voice blared over the radio. "That's Kay's car, Braun."
