Page 44 of Deadly Attraction
“So he probably had juvenile incidents and those records are sealed. Was he sent to prison for the murder?”
“Nope. He did time in a psych unit. He wasn’t there when the murder occurred, according to courtroom documents. He was called in afterwards by the leader to burn the house, so he got off on a technicality and was sent for a psychological eval. He spent six months at the county detention center in the psych ward.”
“And his other arson charges? What happened there?”
More scanning. “Empty buildings. No one was injured in either place.”
Emma removed her glasses and put the end of one earpiece in her mouth as she rocked in her chair. “Those don’t sound like he was destroying evidence. What type of buildings were they?”
“One was a church, the other was an abandoned fire station that was being converted to a community center.”
More rocking, her teeth nibbling on the end of the ear piece. “A church. That’s interesting. What religion?”
“No idea.” Mitch forced his eyes away from her lips. “Living River Freedom Church was the name. Small congregation, no affiliation on the notes I have. It appears he had a partner working with him both times. He’s also suspected in six other cases where fire destroyed property.”
“The church is often perceived as a source of authority, and for many, represents damnation as much as salvation. Then there’s the symbolism. Burning in the fires of hell, fire shall destroy the earth, the burning bush and Abraham, etc. As for the fire station…” She set down the glasses. “Was the suspect’s father, or any other male family member, a fire fighter? Or a minister perhaps?”
“I don’t have the guy’s life story, here, only his criminal history.” But something she’d said triggered a connection in his brain. “Fire shall destroy the earth…the end of times? Is that the Biblical symbolism you’re referencing?”
“Yes, why?”
“Tom Monahan and the apocalypse, ring any bells? Remember that garbage Linda Brown was spouting on the phone… ‘The Chosen One will be protected by the Resistance who will carry fire in their hands. Fire will consume them, and He will rise from the ashes of their destruction.’”
“Many fables and most religions have resurrection stories that begin and end with fire. The creators of the show used a host of metaphors to come up with The Chronicles: the phoenix rising from the ashes, Christ’s resurrection, the Book of Revelations…”
“Chris Goodsman was in jail when the wildfires started, but Linda Brown wasn’t.”
“You think Linda Brown started the wildfires? That’s a huge leap.”
“I’m brainstorming. The fires certainly benefitted Brown and Goodsman. Maybe Brown didn’t start them but she had help. Someone who understands how fires, wind direction, that sort of thing, all work.”
“Your suspect.”
Mitch nodded.
“But why? How would setting a forest fire in the park have anything to do with her delusions of being Mary Monahan?”
“She’s acting out what it says in The Chronicles, and it worked, didn’t it? She got Chris free.”
Emma’s face took on a look of sheer shock. “Oh, my God, you’re right. But she couldn’t have known that the fires would spread in a direction that would cause the evacuation of the prison.”
Maybe not, but something told Mitch he was onto something. “Have you ever used that trail we were on today to get inside the park?”
“I’ve ridden that far a time or two when I needed to clear my head, but it’s a rocky one. Not for the faint of heart, and you have to access it on horse or foot. A couple of places it’s washed out by the stream that curves around my land, and there’s more than one outcropping that makes the trail dangerous to anyone who’s not familiar with the layout.”
“But a survivalist could navigate it, right?”
“A survivalist like your suspect?”
He nodded and she stared at him for a moment, her brain getting on the same page with his. Mitch scratched at his chin. “I need to have a look at that trail.”
Emma nodded. “I’ll take you.”
Boy, he wanted that. More than anything. Watching her lead the way, her sweet backside tantalizing him with every step of her horse. Plus, he might figure out how Sean Gordon had slipped out of the park and escaped.
But he couldn’t do it. His case would have to wait. “Too dangerous, forget it. I’d go alone and leave Will here to guard you, but if anything happened…”
“You couldn’t live with yourself?”
