Fire Angel

by Susanne Matthews

  * * *

  Jake stepped out onto the deck with two cups of coffee.

  “Morning, did you sleep well?” he asked, handing her the steaming mug, the closest thing he could think of to give as an apology and peace offering.

  “Surprisingly, yes. Smells wonderful,” she said, holding the mug up to her nose and sniffing. “Thank you.”

  “I’m sorry about last night,” he mumbled, hanging his head. Why were apologies always so hard to give? “I’d forgotten that stuff was there. I shouldn’t have snapped at you…”

  “No, Jake, please don’t apologize.” She held up her free hand like a crossing guard. “I had no business in your desk. I’m the one in the wrong. I should’ve known you wouldn’t be long. I could’ve waited.”

  “Those memories are still raw. I overreacted. Can we let bygones be bygones?”

  She nodded.

  He indicated her digital camera. “Will you print some of those?”

  “Maybe.” She shrugged. “If you like, I can email them to you. I sent you the pictures I took at the crime scenes.”

  “I was looking at them earlier. I was interested in the angle of the shots. I don’t know how the techs missed that residue. By the way, I spoke to Nate’s grandson yesterday. The old man never used candles. Thought they were too dangerous. It’s too bad we seem to be playing catch-up all the time. Come on inside,” he said, putting his arm around her shoulder and turning her towards the door, praying that she wouldn’t reject his touch. “You look like a frozen fairy princess. Your nose is pink. Minette has breakfast ready for us. The roads are plowed and salted, and we can go to the second fire scene as soon as you’re ready. The police and firefighters will meet us there around half past ten. We have the press briefing at the station at ten o’clock.”

  After they’d undressed, he led the way into the kitchen. With the roads cleared, the guests were leaving, and so were Minette and Mia—just as soon as he could arrange it.

  Minette smiled at them. “Good morning! I didn’t know how long you would be out there. It’s so cold. Will you want to take a packed lunch with you today?”

  “No. We’ll stop by Louis’s for lunch,” Jake answered. “I’m sure that after Alexis finishes at the house, she’ll want to go to the station and check on her samples. Everett says we can’t go through the shelter until tomorrow. The safety inspector has to sign off on it first, and with the snow, he hasn’t had time to get in there. Do you need anything from town?”

  “Actually, I could use some Christmas mints for the reception desk, and those chocolate foil-covered balls Mia likes with the peanut butter inside. If you’re going to the bulk food store, you can always pick up a couple of pieces of Turkish Delight.”

  Jake made a face. “Yuck! I don’t understand why you like that stuff—it tastes like after-shave!”

  “Maybe, I like after-shave or rather, those who wear it.” She laughed. “I got hooked on it in Kandahar.”

  Minette placed a plate of toast on the table and removed covers from bacon, eggs, and hash browns.

  “Help yourselves. Leave the dishes. I’ll clean up later.” She kissed Jake on the cheek. “Be careful in that house. The last few days have given you time to rest, and you’re not as sore. Don’t go overdoing it”

  “Yes, Mother,” he said and rolled his eyes at Minette.

  “Fine. Don’t listen to me then—not that you ever do,” she answered and chuckled. “You be careful too, Alexis. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to you either.”

  “Where’s the rug rat?” Jake asked as she moved towards the door connecting the apartment to the inn. “I can take her with me, if you like, and leave her at the station for an hour or so; you know how Lynette likes to spoil her.”

  “Mia’s playing with Hannah Doig. Max came for her around eight. She’ll be back for supper. Enjoy.”

  Jake picked up his fork. “I’m starving.”

  “So am I,” Alexis answered, fork in hand.

  Food wasn’t the only thing he was hungry for.

  * * *

  After attending to her needs and gathering her gear, Alexis hurried out to the reception area, candy-cane colored hat in place. Randy manned the desk.

  “Good morning, Ms. Michaels. It’s nice to be able to get out again, isn’t it?”

  “It is. I’ll bet you’re looking forward to getting back, too.”

  He’d spent the week camping out with his Temagami aunt so that he could work through the storm.

  “Yeah. Don’t tell my aunt, but her snores could wake the dead.” He chuckled. “Someone left a message for you,” he said, handing her the envelope.

  “Where did you find this?” she asked, reaching for it.

  “It was sitting on the desk when I started my shift,” he answered. “There wasn’t a night clerk on, so I don’t know who or when it was left. The security guys might’ve noticed. One of them would’ve been in and out of here all night long. Is there a problem?” He frowned.

  “No. I was just curious. Thanks.”

  Jake honked the horn startling her.

  “I’d better get a move on. My driver’s restless.”

  With an unsteady hand, she shoved the note in her pocket and hurried out to the waiting SUV.

  “What’s wrong?” Jake asked when she opened the door. “You’re trembling, and it can’t be from the cold. You’ve barely stepped outside.”

  “There’s another note.” She pulled the cream-colored envelope out of her pocket. Her name was printed on it. “It’s from him. Randy found it when he came on duty. Like it or not, Jake, Fire Angel was here again, and no one, not even your expensive security noticed him.”

  Face grim, the muscle in his jaw jumping, he started the engine and drove out of the parking lot, his fingers gripping the steering wheel so tightly, they were white.

  “That’s inn stationery. What does it say?” he asked once the vehicle was heading toward town.

  Since she was gloved and there was no danger of destroying evidence, she tore a side of the envelope off in order not to disturb any DNA on it and read aloud.

  Alexis,

  You had no right invading my mind like that, ruining everything.

  I could’ve spared you, spared him, but you leave me no choice.

  All of this is your fault, as always.

  Fire Angel

  She swallowed. “How could he have gotten this paper? How can he move around at will unseen?”

  Jake scowled. “I don’t know, damn it!” He pounded the steering wheel. “That bastard’s always one step ahead of us. I’ve never been one to believe in ghosts and goblins or the rest of that stuff, but now I’m not so sure. I’m beginning to wonder whether or not he’s some kind of malevolent spirit like the evil Manidoo of Manitou Lake. The Temagami believed he really existed and wouldn’t camp on the shores of that lake, although there’s a bear hunting lodge there now. Fire Angel comes and goes at will, and there doesn’t seem to be anything to stop him. That note’s a death threat aimed at both of us. Spirit or not, as soon as we get to the station, I’m making reservations for a flight to Florida for Min and Mia.”

  “Jake, whatever else he may be, Fire Angel is human. Of that I have no doubt. How he manages to get overlooked is anyone’s guess. Randy didn’t start work until eight. Whoever put this there had to do so before that. The restaurant started serving at six. Since the roads are clear, I’m sure whoever left this came for early breakfast. There can’t be that many people who were there then. We’ve got him. Tawny will know who she served. But he also left us another clue, one that points to the fact he knows me well—too well—and will exonerate Andrew.”

  Jake glanced at her quickly before focusing on the road once more. Just because it had been plowed didn’t mean it still wasn’t a difficult drive.

  “What clue?”

  “Before my uncle used to beat me, all of this is your fault, as always were the words he used.”

  She shivered, that “someone just walked ov
er her grave” feeling strong once more and as disconcerting as it had been the night of the fire. She looked around to see if they were being followed. Nothing.

  “Damn. I need to check out all of James’s friends again. You spent time with Sam. Could this be him? I don’t like it. Let’s put off the visit to the house until later.”

  She squared her shoulders, anger simmering inside, and fought hard to keep it in check.

  “I told you before, he isn’t going to scare me away. I’ve wasted enough time as it is. You’ll be there, as will the police and firefighters. I refuse to be bullied away from doing my job. If you like, you can go to the station and look through the files, but I need to see that fire scene. We’re running out of time. The answers are there. They have to be. He may have had the upper hand last week, but I’m in control now.”

  “Then we go there together,” he answered his teeth gritted, the muscle in his jaw jumping erratically. “I can look at the files afterwards. I’m your damn partner, Alexis. I won’t let you shut me out of this. Everett is meeting us at the house later. He’s testifying in North Bay this morning. That trial was delayed because of the weather, too. He needs to see this.”

  “I agree, but no matter what he says, I’m going into that house and that’s all there is to it.”

  “Shit,” Jake cursed. “I forgot my Bluetooth.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone and tossed it to her. “Call Everett and leave him a message to meet us as soon as he can; tell him you received another note, and make sure he knows it’s not a love letter.”

  Alexis nodded, made the call, and then set the phone in the receptacle in the console.

  “We’ll have answers soon,” she vowed. “He’s not going to win.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  After stopping to pick up Min’s supplies and a bag of jujubes for Alexis, they arrived at the station to deliver the news briefing. More than a dozen reporters waited, two of them from the major television networks, as well as forty or fifty locals who’d heard about the briefing since Ev had informed the town’s radio station at his request. People were scared, reeling from this latest blow to the community. They were looking for answers, and so was he. It was about time the bully learned that people were ready to fight back. They intended to push Fire Angel’s buttons and draw him out.

  Jake stepped up to the mike and brought Alexis up beside him. Normally, Ev would make this announcement or at least introduce him, but with the man in North Bay, it was either do it this way or wait another day. The one thing they didn’t have was time.

  “Thank you for coming on such short notice, especially the people of Paradise since this affects you directly. Let me introduce Special Agent Alexis Michaels, from Vulcan International Fire and Arson Investigators, who’s been instrumental in helping us with this case. With each fire, we’ve learned more about Fire Angel, and we’re confident we’ll stop him before he can strike again.”

  It sounded good, but it was a lie—one designed to draw the son of a bitch out. The truth was that there were too many variables, including the fact that they didn’t actually have anyone at the top of the suspect list.

  “What I would like to do this morning is give you an updated profile. After hearing this, if you have any information—no matter how slight—that could lead to Fire Angel’s apprehension, please call the station.”

  Jake scanned the faces of those in the throng. Concern was the emotion most prevalent followed by curiosity. He opened the folder containing his notes.

  “Our suspect is a local man between the ages of 30 and 40 with ties to Paradise as well as the Temagami community. He’s a smoker, possibly trying to quit through the use of nicotine gum. He has extensive hunting and camping experience, is well-versed in chemistry, home maintenance, and a number of arson techniques, as well as the basics of demolition.”

  Murmurs rose from the crowd. He’d just described more than a third of the citizens of Paradise.

  “He’s a common face around town, so much so that he comes and goes without arousing any suspicions—people don’t even notice he’s there. Based on his method of operation, be on the lookout for repair men, salesmen, anyone who shows undue interest in a particular building where large crowds gather since we suspect that’s what his next target will be. Each fire has been staged like the acts of a play. By our count, the Providence House fire was act four of his delusion.”

  He watched the crowd for their reactions to his words. Fear oozed from those listening, but no one looked offended.

  “Fire Angel, as he calls himself, is a coward as well as a narcissistic pyromaniac,” he continued. If he was here, that would make him angry. “He believes he’s smarter than any of us, goading us to find him through notes and unwelcomed gifts he’s sent to Ms. Michaels. The man is detail oriented, pre-selecting the locations of his fires, incapacitating his victims in some way, and executing the events with precision, so watch for someone coming and going who, while he doesn’t stand out, doesn’t need to be there either. I realize with Christmas coming, that may be more difficult, but this man’s grievances against his victims may be imaginary rather than real. For his plans to succeed, he needs time to set the stage, and given his strict timetable—his fires occur monthly, always on the first night of the full moon—he’ll be looking to act again on December twenty-seventh. Public events scheduled for that night have been cancelled. If he can’t set the scene, he’ll get frustrated, so watch for unusual bouts of temper in an otherwise calm person.”

  Glancing over at Alexis, he watched her scan the crowd, knowing she was trying to sense him. Fire Angel wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this to stay ahead of them.

  “We’re closing in on him, but we need your help in stopping him. In the past, he’s purchased supplies, things no one will consider unusual, since we believe his plans for this revenge have been in the works for more than a year. Among his purchases are large quantities of white sandbox sand, several cases of liqueur, fertilizer, and small paraffin figure-shaped candles, the kind you might use to decorate a birthday cake. Everything we have indicates this man may have recently lost someone—it could be a girlfriend, wife, child, or pet—and that loss has caused a psychotic break. We suspect this is not his first mental breakdown nor does his psychosis manifest itself all the time, which is what makes him doubly dangerous. When in his right mind, he’ll be friendly and helpful, but when separated from reality, he’s on a mission to punish those he feels wronged him. While the total death toll is staggering, only fourteen of those he’s killed were intended targets. Collateral damage means nothing to him. We also believe he’s killed before, using other methods, and will do so again.”

  There was a gasp from the crowd, and Jake realized how disturbing his words might be. The man he was describing was a monster out of someone’s worst nightmares, but worse than that, he could be a neighbor, a spouse, or a brother.

  “He won’t stop until his mission is accomplished. Therefore, if you suspect someone is acting out of character, contact the police. We would rather err on the side of caution and be proactive rather than reactive. Any and all leads will be treated with the utmost confidentiality by all of the members of this department. Thank you. I’ll take questions now.”

  Lynette had already been given a lecture about speaking out of turn.

  “Oliver Smith from the Citizen. You say that he’s completed Act Four of his revenge drama. Does that mean you think he has only one fire left to meet his agenda? Some grand finale involving a large crowd?”

  “He could have an epilogue planned,” Jake said, staring straight into the camera the man beside the reporter held. “But one more major event seems to fit with what we’ve learned about him so far. That’s a fire we don’t intend to let him set.”

  “Ms. Michaels, Amanda Hastings, Ottawa Sun. You’ve only been here a little over a week, but I’ve read you’re called the Fire Psychic. Has that special ability helped you in this case?”

  Alexis looked a
t him. They’d discussed how she would answer this if it came up, knowing that Fire Angel would hang on every word.

  Jake frowned but nodded. She was making herself a target, and he didn’t like it.

  “Yes, it has. Thanks to my training and ability, I’ve gotten inside his head. I know how he thinks, how he sets his fires. The man’s definitely delusional. He believes he can scare me and everyone else in Paradise. He thinks it’s all about him and the respect he feels is his due. He believes he’s empowered by the moon as if he’s some kind of mythical creature. I have news for him. The moon won’t help him when we catch him.”

  Jake watched the crowd as she answered other questions, each of her answers designed to annoy Fire Angel, giving tidbits of what she’d learned about him in the most insulting or belittling way possible. He scowled, his jaw clenched. If Fire Angel was there, he was doing a hell of a job controlling himself, but one he let go, no doubt that tantrum would be one for the books.

  * * *

  “Goddam bitch,” he mumbled, standing on the edge of the crowd. He’d listened as Jake had briefed the press, but it was her answers that ate away at his self-control. That little trip she’d taken inside his head had told her far more than he wanted anyone to know about him. How did she know about the moon’s power unless she really was a witch and used it herself? Was she telling the truth? Could she learn about his methodology from the fire scenes? How else would she know he’d cut himself when he’d dropped those beer bottles? Well, she’d learned everything she was going to. He’d taken care of that.