Page 41 of Built of Flames

Bella pulled up her laptop and opened her spreadsheet, added more columns and input more data.

So much data.

It was on the verge of overwhelm. Tansy’s friend was a data analyst who contracted out to the FBI. Last Bella had heard, Tess was planning to arrive at Midnight Lake on the weekend. Maybe it was time to get an outside perspective.

When an alarm interrupted her typing, Bella stood with everyone else. It took a moment for her to remember she wasn’t part of the team.

Mitch squeezed her shoulder on the way past and kissed her cheek. “See you in a while.”

And then the room was empty except for her and her data. Having everyone else rush out to a call left emotions swirling in her belly.

Regret at not being part of the team.

Worry for Mitch and Christo.

And fear.

Fear that the arsonist was striking again before they’d been able to stop him.

Mitch’s stomach tightened as the engine approached the warehouse. A glance at Christo in the seat beside him showed the same concern. Not regular concern. This was the first warehouse fire they’d had since the Isabella had left Kelsor.

They only had a minute or two before they arrived at the scene, so he spoke up before they were hooked up to the rest of the team. “It’s too big of a coincidence.”

Christo nodded. “My thoughts exactly. Other than us and the Chief, who knew she was back in town?”

Mitch shook his head. “No one that I know of. The Chief might have mentioned it, but I doubt it. He didn’t even come out of his office this morning when she was in the building.”

Christo huffed out a breath. “I know. He’s such a hardass. She was gutsy going over there last night.”

Mitch nodded. “But she’s been in the hall for a couple of hours now. Word spreads as quickly as fire. I want to head to the upstairs offices first, look to see if the setup is like what happened with Roberto and Bella.”

“I’m coming with you. Roberto, I’ll need you on communications.”

Roberto didn’t even spare them a glance in the rear-view mirror as he turned the corner. “No way in hell. I’m going up those stairs with the two of you. Call in back up. Paul can handle it until someone gets here.”

Mitch couldn’t blame the older man for wanting to be in on the action. And there was no way he was stepping aside either.

Christo sighed and put in a terse call to dispatch for back up. “I’d like to keep this off the communication channels until we see what’s up. It could actually be coincidence.”

But none of them believed it.

The warehouse wasn’t fully engulfed when they arrived, but it didn’t take long to ascertain that there had been multiple ignition points. Another similarity.

And if this went the way they expected, there would be two more devices ready to explode in the offices upstairs. Devices that would simulate a backdraft.

They had to get there first. If they couldn’t stop the detonation, at least they could get a look at the devices and maybe even get a picture.

Christo set up the rest of the crew and then the three of them headed immediately for the back stairs. If the arsonist had set a timer like before, they had some time. Even if the arsonist was watching and setting a timer from when they arrived onsite, they had time. As long as the person assumed they were following protocol.

Either way, they needed to hurry.

The fire was mostly on the west side of the building and the blueprints showed the stairs on the east. Almost like a lure.Come on up, nothing to see here.

Did the arsonist know they were figuring things out? Did they suspect Bella was working on the case?

What kind of trap was it?

So far, in the fires Bella suspected were part of the pattern, no one had died. Property damage. Loss of memories. Injuries for both civilians and firefighters. But no deaths.