Flashover

by T. Alan Codder

  “And what should the card read?” the short, smiling woman asked.

  “For the best Bond girl of them all.”

  “From you?”

  “No name on the card. She’ll know who they’re from.”

  The woman flapped the Junior Police Officer stick-on badge he’d given her to include in the card.

  “Yeah, I guess she will. Okay, chief, we’ll get these delivered right after lunch.”

  “Thanks, uh, was it Faye?”

  The woman twittered out a laugh. “Close. Fawn.”

  “Sorry. Thanks, Fawn.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He grabbed a quick burger then returned to the station and looked up the number he needed.

  “Chief Zimwalski, please,” he said.

  “Who’s calling?”

  “Police Chief Sean McGhee, Brunswick.”

  “Just a moment, chief. Let me see if he’s available.”

  He sat on hold for a moment.

  “This is Zimwalski. How can I help you, chief?”

  “First, I want to thank you for your assist with Juno the other day.”

  “No problem.”

  “I’d like to ask another favor.”

  “Okay, let’s hear it.”

  “I’d like to talk to Harvey Juno, on the record.”

  There was a short pause. “Why should I let you do that? You just spoke to him a couple of days ago.”

  “I know. From that, I’ve gotten enough that I’d like to question him more fully.”

  There was another pause. “Can you tell me what you’ve got?”

  “I can trust your discretion?”

  “Of course.”

  “You remember I had the plate, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay, after talking to him, I’ve since found out he’s in financial trouble. How deep, I don’t know. The site where the man was seen prowling is the same site where we had two recent arsons. He was the low bidder to take those buildings down if another company that was looking at the property had moved forward with their project. They elected not to when the property was purchased before they were ready to proceed.”

  “And you think Harvey started the fires?”

  “I think he hired someone to start the fires. I caught the man who admitted to setting the fires, and he picked Juno’s picture out of a group as the man who hired him.”

  There was a moment of quiet. “How reliable is the witness IDing him?”

  “Well, that’s part of the problem. He’s not great.”

  There was another moment of silence. “Since your witness isn’t reliable, it sounds to me like you’re fishing. Harvey Juno is a well-respected member of this community.”

  “I am, a bit,” Sean admitted. “But think about it. I have two arsons. The man who was hired to set the fires picked Juno out of four men. One of his trucks was spotted at the scene, and he has a financial incentive to see this project fail. You draw your own conclusion. I’d like to keep this unofficial, if I can. Right now, I just want to talk to him and give him a chance to clear up a few things.”

  “You want us to bring him into the station?”

  “If you would. It might encourage him to talk to me.”

  Zimwalski sighed. “Okay, I’ll ask him to cooperate, but if he refuses, I won’t try to detain him on what you’ve given me.”

  “That’s fine. Just keep what I told you to yourself.”

  “Okay. When?”

  “Tomorrow would be great if he can do it.”

  “I’ll call you later and let you know the date and time. Fair enough?”

  “Good enough. Thanks.”

  Sean hung up. He didn’t blame Zimwalski for pushing back. He’d have probably done the same, but he’d rather not have to go for an arrest warrant until he had a little more. He needed something, anything, more solid than Clicks’ testimony to base the case on.

  He opened his case file and began to type in all the new information he’d collected. He was almost done when his phone rang.

  “McGhee,” he said, tucking the handset to his shoulder as he continued to type.

  “They’re lovely. And I got a badge too,” Maggie said.

  He smiled. “I figured it was the least I could do since you helped me out.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  There was a brief pause, a slightly awkward silence. “I have to get back to work, but I wanted to thank you for the flowers. You’ll be over as soon as you feed Marmalade?”

  “After what you said in my office? Count on it.”

  She giggled. “Don’t be late.”

  “You can count on that too.”

  Thirty-One

  “Mr. Juno, thank you for meeting with me,” Sean said as he entered the interrogation room in the Charleston PD station.

  In the room were Harvey Juno along with his lawyer, a thin, pale, wisp of a man with little hair, wearing too large a shirt and thick glasses, and a member of the Charleston PD.

  The interrogation room was much like his own back in Brunswick, a square concrete block room with a door, stainless steel table, two matching chairs, and nothing else. An extra chair, probably borrowed from an office, had been added for Juno’s lawyer. The most obvious difference in this room compared to his was the large mirror on the wall. He was a little envious. He wished his interrogation room had an observation room behind a two-way mirror.

  “First, I want to state my client is here of his own free will. He agreed to this interview at the request of Chief Zimwalski,” the lawyer said, his voice far deeper than Sean would have expected possible from such a scrawny neck.

  “Okay,” Sean said.

  “Please confirm for the record this is not a formal detention and my client is free to leave at any time.”

  “He’s free to leave at any time.”

  Harvey glared at Sean. “What is this all about? I answered all your questions at my office the other day. If you had more questions, you could have called me.”

  “This shouldn’t take long. Can you explain why your truck was at The Mills at Brunswick site on Friday, July twenty-first, twenty seventeen, at approximately ten p.m.?”

  “No. I thought we agreed the guy who thought he saw it got the plate numbers mixed up.”

  Sean ignored the statement. “To your knowledge, has the truck been moved from the location you showed me any time before or after then?”

  “I don’t know, maybe.”

  “But no time around July twenty-first?”

  “No.”

  “What about anytime during June of this year?”

  “No, probably not.”

  “When did you last try to start the truck?”

  “When you were there. What is this?” Harvey protested.

  “Just bear with me, please,” Sean replied. “When was the last time before that?”

  “I don’t know! Why does it matter?”

  “When was the last time you inspected the engine of the truck?”

  “What? I don’t know that either. What difference does it make?”

  “Is there a point to these questions?” the lawyer asked.

  Sean ignored the lawyer. “Can you explain the fingerprints on the hood?”

  “What fingerprints?” Harvey asked.

  “There are fingerprints in the dirt on the hood of the truck that suggest the hood has been recently opened. I’m curious if perhaps someone boosted the truck and drove it to The Mills at Brunswick site.”

  Harvey stared at Sean. “This is about more than someone seeing my truck. What’s this about?”

  “Just answer the question, please.”

  “No, I can’t explain the damn fingerprints on the damn hood! Maybe someone opened it for some reason. What does that have to do with anything?” Harvey snarled, clearly irritated.

  “How’s business, Mr. Juno?”

  “None of your damned business! I’m done here!”

  Harvey pushed
back from the table and began to stand.

  “Just one more question, before you go. Can you explain how your photograph was picked out from among several as the man who paid to have The Mills at Brunswick buildings burned?”

  “Don’t answer that!” Harvey’s lawyer cried before Harvey could answer.

  “That’s a lie!” Harvey yelled as he jumped to his feet. “We’re out of here!” He started for the door. “Let me out of here!”

  Sean clinched his jaw. No confusion, only outraged denial. Harvey was lying, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

  “Sit down, Mr. Juno,” a voice came over a speaker. “This is Chief Zimwalski. I’m detaining you for questioning in the arson investigation of The Mills at Brunswick.”

  “What? You can’t do that!” Harvey yelled.

  “I protest this action!” Harvey’s lawyer said, his voice loud and demanding.

  A moment later, Police Chief Arnold Zimwalski stepped into the room.

  Zimwalski was pushing seventy, his hair still full and thick but completely white. He was a bit overweight, but he still carried himself with pride. His white shirt and black pants were sharply creased and spotless, and his shoes and leather duty belt glowed.

  Zimwalski’s crystal blue eyes studied Harvey a moment. It was clear he had seen a lot in his years of service, and it was just as obvious by his stance he knew Harvey was hiding something.

  “Mr. Juno, care to answer the question of how a man picked out your picture?”

  “Don’t answer that,” the lawyer advised again.

  “I’m not answering that,” Harvey repeated.

  “Are you familiar with Dynamic Properties?” Sean asked.

  “I’ve heard of them.”

  “What about…” Sean paused as he consulted his notes. “What about Olentangy Development?”

  “I bid a job for them.”

  “Did you win the contract?”

  “None of your business.”

  “You did, didn’t you?”

  “So, what if I did?”

  “How bad a shape are you in?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Your company, Juno Demolition, you’re in financial trouble, aren’t you? That was a big job, wasn’t it? Maybe enough to put your company back on its feet?”

  “That’s none of your business, either.”

  “What did you think when you found out Olentangy wasn’t going through with the project?”

  “I’m done answering questions. You’re trying to frame me for something I didn’t do with a bunch of wild-ass guesses and accusations you can’t prove!”

  “See, here’s the thing, Harv. I know you did it. I caught the guy you hired. I know your company’s in trouble and you needed that job. I know you were there in the truck you said hasn’t been moved and wouldn’t start.”

  Harvey went slightly pale. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Sure you do. You offered to pay a man a grand to burn the buildings down. The thing is, he botched it, so you had to tell him to do it again. You gave him specific instructions. You even told him you were Wallace Barns and those were your buildings. And he botched it again. You decided to take matters into your own hands, but you got caught by the security guard. You must be right on the ragged edge to risk so much. Even your wife doesn’t know how bad it is, does she? How am I doing so far?”

  “You’re crazy. I’ve not been anywhere near those buildings. I’ve damn sure not been near them when they were on fire.”

  “That’s why you hired Richard Cowler, to give you an alibi.”

  “Who’s Richard Cowler?”

  “Don’t play dumb with me. He’s the man you hired to torch the buildings. You paid him two hundred up front with the promise of another eight hundred after the job. But you stiffed him, and he rolled over on you.”

  “I don’t know any Richard Cowler.”

  Sean smiled, but it was cold and didn’t reach his eyes. “Sure you don’t,” he said, drawing out the words, making his disbelief clear to all. “Just like you don’t know how your truck got to the construction site. Were you tired and out of breath after being chased by the guard?”

  “I told you, I haven’t been to the site. Not since I bid the job, anyway.”

  “Got a good look at the place, didn’t you? I bet you know just how to bring a building down with a fire. Chief Zimwalski, I’d like to place Mr. Harvey Juno under arrest for conspiracy to commit arson, and arson.”

  “Are you kidding me!” Juno’s lawyer snarled.

  “You can’t do this!” Harvey shouted, turning to Zimwalski. “I haven’t done anything! You’ve got no proof!”

  “I’ve got an eye witness,” Sean said, his voice calm.

  “An eye witness?” Harvey snarled. “Who?”

  “The man you hired. Richard Cowler. He can testify you’re the man who posed as Wallace Barns and hired him to burn down the buildings.”

  “This is bullshit! Chief Zimwalski, you can’t do this! I don’t know what he’s talking about! You’re going to arrest me on the word of some homeless guy? I didn’t hire anybody to set any fires! I haven’t been in Brunswick in six months or more! He’s completely lost his fucking mind!”

  “I never said Richard Cowler was homeless,” Sean said quietly.

  The entire room went still for a few heartbeats.

  “Harvey Juno,” Zimwalski said, his tone clipped and formal, “I’m placing you under arrest for conspiracy to commit arson. You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future.” He glanced at Juno’s lawyer. “If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. If you decide to answer questions now, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time. Do you understand your rights as I have explained them to you?”

  Juno glared at Zimwalski but said nothing. The chief rolled his eyes and looked at Juno’s lawyer.

  “Does your client understand his rights? Will you please advise him to answer?”

  “Tell them yes, then shut the hell up,” the lawyer advised.

  “Yes, I understand my rights.”

  “McGhee, I need to talk to you,” Zimwalski said as he started for the door. The two men stepped into the hall. “How much of that shit in there can you prove?”

  “Most of it. The rest I’m pretty sure of, even if I can’t prove it.”

  “What are the chances Juno heard you say Cowler was homeless some other time?”

  “Zero. I never mentioned him before, Juno said he didn’t recognize the name, and you were watching the whole time.”

  Zimwalski shook his head. “I’ve known Harvey and Peg for years. Not well, but they’re active in the community. I can’t believe he’d do something like this.” He glanced at the door. “What a dumbass. He had to know this was going to come back and bite him in the ass. He must be desperate.”

  “Yeah. Maybe his creditors are breathing down his neck. What he may not know is Olentangy Development is actually waiting to see how the Barns project does before committing to a mall in Brunswick.”

  Zimwalski shook his head again. “You want to take him with you?”

  Sean smiled. “Sure. I’ll take him off your hands.”

  The two men stepped back into the room. “Mr. Juno, are you willing to answer questions regarding your involvement with fires of the North State Textiles buildings?” Zimwalski asked.

  “My client refuses to answer any further questions.”

  Zimwalski nodded. “Very well. I’m turning him over to Chief McGhee. He’ll be transported to Brunswick for processing.”

  “Fuck,” Juno muttered.

  “Hang in there, Harvey. I’ll have you bailed out in no time.”

  “Chief Zimwalski, can
you hold him until one of my officers can pick him up? I’m not equipped to transport prisoners in my car.”

  Zimwalski smiled. “We’d be happy to have Mr. Juno as our guest for a few hours.” He nodded at his officer. “Put him in one of the cells and make sure he’s comfortable.”

  As the officer led Juno out, Sean pulled out his cell and dialed.

  “Brunswick PD, how may I help you?”

  “Terri. Shake someone loose and have them come to Charleston to pick up a suspect for transportation back to the station.”

  “I assume you mean Charleston, North Carolina?”

  “Yeah. Make it as quick as you can, please. I’ll wait here until he arrives.”

  “It’s slow now, so I’ll have someone on the way in a couple of minutes.”

  “Thanks, Terri.” He ended the call. “Someone is on their way now.”

  “Want a cup of coffee?” Zimwalksi asked.

  Sean smiled. “I’d love one.”

  -oOo-

  Sean was busy in the kitchen. He was whipping up a quick stir-fry as he waited on Maggie, daydreaming about the day as he flipped the chicken and vegetables.

  Juno made bail before he’d even been processed in at the station, but he didn’t care. He was sure he’d caught his man after he’d spilled it in the Charleston interrogation room. The three cops in the room had heard him, and Zimwalski’s attitude had done a complete one-eighty.

  “Door’s open!” he shouted at the knock.

  “That smells terrific!” Maggie said as she paused, allowing him to give her a kiss as he continued to work the wok.

  “Nothing fancy. I didn’t feel like spending all evening fooling with dinner.”

  “You sound like you’re in a good mood.”

  “I am. Harvey Juno let slip he hired Clicks to start the fires.”

  “That’s great news!”

  “Yeah, and I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  She grinned. “I didn’t do much.”

  “You did enough. After your meeting with Peggy Juno I had motive, which I didn’t have before. That was the key. I’ll give you even money this will break him and his company will fold.”

  “He’s in that deep?”

  “I have no idea, but something was driving him. He’d become desperate enough to hire someone to burn down Barns’ buildings to try to land the demo job. That’s the actions of a man who’s out of options.”