August 7th, 2008 was a warm peaceful day.
"So how many suspicious fires had happened?" Asked Senior Agent Mackenzie Smith-Ryan
Sam replied, "In two month it was fifty three. Always late at night between 12:00 AM and 4:00 AM. That's the report I'm reading from FDCL,"
"Let's take a ride," said Mackenzie Smith-Ryan
***
33 Bacon Street
They saw the fire station which is two floors with four fire poles for rapid access from the top floor to the two apperatus bay garage.
They both saw Engine Company 5 a 1963 open cab fire engine and Ladder Company 5 a 1967 semi-closed cab rear mount fire truck outside being washed.
"Hey Mitchell," said Jack Skybolt, "You wanted to give us a demonstration? Or say something?"
Mitchell replied, "Yeah I do. I got a theory and it's a theory only. I think the arsonist fills the house with flammable gas or liquid fuel around the house and uses something to ignite it. Also my other theory is that. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that 98% of homes were built in the post World War Two era. So they'll have gas regulators and a water heater. And it doesn't take much besides some training to fiddle with them. With the gas just fiddle with it and blow out the piolet light and let the gas fill then after awhile ignite it."
"Just like that 1989 movie about a arsonist firefighter who fiddled with gas regulators to kill the women he loved because they used him since middle school," said Sam, "But this isn't a movie this is reality,"
Mitchell replied, "Since you brought up that movie Sam. You can put the pieces together and I can light the gas then will fill the balloon,"
Sam put the gas regulator in the middle, the bunson burner to the left and the balloon to the right and turned on the gas.
Mitchell lit it and the balloon filled up then popped.
"So that's how it's being done?" Asked Mackenzie Smith-Ryan
Mitchell then replied, "That's my theory on how it's being done. Here's my other theory,"
On another table was a wooden doll house.
"I already put some gasoline and kerosene inside," said Mitchell, "Now stand back a little because this is going to light up like a candle,"
The three did stand back and Mitchell used a stick which he caught a part of it on fire and the wooden doll house went up very fast.
Mitchell then used an ABC Fire extinguisher to put out the doll house fire.
"I'll just build a new one and give that to my daughter for her fourth birthday next year," said Mitchell
"A eighteen-year-old with a child?" Said Mackenzie, "Doesn't surprise me. But I'm not here to judge,"
"Guess I'll see you two at the next show," said Mitchell
Jack replied, "The next show?"
"The next fire the next arson," said Sam
"Oh Mr. Waterson," said Mackenzie, "We're going to need..."
Mitchell interrupted, "I'll send all fifty-five papers and mines as well for the three of you to read. I'll also get the guys on Rescue Company 11 and Foam Engine 12 to do the same,"
"Thanks for five minutes of your time," said Sam, "See you later Mitchell,"
"Any time," said Mitchell
"Damn that's sad," said Mackenzie looking at fifty-six plaques, "So all fifty-six of them died on 9/3/2003?"
Mitchell replied, "They died as heroes doing what they loved to do. Not for fame or money just to help others. Do I miss them? Damn right even my two uncles are on there,"
***
After awhile
"Got the files," said Jack
Jack placed vanilla folders with a big circle and a small circle that says "FIRE DEPARTMENT NATION OF LITTLE BIRD TOWN OF CLEARLAKE"
"We got a lot of reading to do," said Sam, "Let's get started,"
In a interrogation room the three of them read fifty-six files but nothing stuck out or jumped out at them.
"At least we're not reading the list of every employee of the Little Bird Fire Department," said Jack, "That'll take forever!"
Sam replied, "That'll be 165,473 names we would have to read,"
"I wanna say the arsonist is a firefighter," said Mackenzie, "Who else is around fire all the time?"
Jack replied, "Off-duty? Yes I can see that. But on-duty I don't believe they'll know out of fourteen they'll know that one is missing."
"Do you know anything about criminals?" Asked Mackenzie
Both of them told her no.
"Criminals start out near their home," said Mackenzie, "So if something doesn't go according to their plan they have a safe spot real close and they can flee. But as their confidence grows they stretch out and hit further targets from home. Also firefighters their second home is the station,"
Sam replied, "She does have a point. I mean look at it. In 2004 when the arsonist started the fires were within thirty second response from the fire house usually on Bacon Street between Main St and Second Street. The first fire was December 26th, 2004 at 34 Bacon Street Apartment Eight which is the most top apartment,"
"Whoever the arsonist is has balls to light an apartment on fire right across the street from a fire station," said Mackenzie, "Unless the arsonist is a firefighter,"
***
At night it's 2:40 AM
Sam and his girlfriend Police Officer Haliey Erin Nicole-Royce were dead asleep.
A shadowy figure tiptoed around the house pouring gasoline mixed with gelatin agent around the living room, kitchen, dining room and hallway. The figure also turned on the stove and blew out the fire but let the gas fill up the house and the figure left behind a cigarette with matchbook.
The time was 2:53 AM when the two smelled the gas and smoke and they couldn't get out of the house. But the main way out was blocked by fire.
A neighbor who was having trouble sleeping called the fire department.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
The house was gone but Mitchell used his walkie talkie and radioed for a third alarm and mutual aid to help in fighting the blaze.
It took hours to put the fire out but 90% of the house was burned down and gone.
They also know that whatever caused the fire wouldn't be there because it would've either burned up by the fire or washed away the evidence from the attack lines and thousands of gallons of water that the fire dept sprayed.
"Sorry about your girlfriend house," said Jack, "Do you and Hailey need a place to stay?"
Agent Mackenzie walked up and said "Totaled. Hope you two had home insurance,"
Both Sam and Jack looked at her especially with Sam wanting to punch her but didn't.
"Where's Lieutenant Mitchell?" Asked Agent Mackenzie
Sam replied, "Look for the one in black turnout gear with yellow and white striping with FDCL on the back with a lantern flashlight on his torso and his helmet says 'LIEUTENANT 5 CLEARLAKE 1990' and his helmet has a flashlight on the right side,"
"In another terms the one who just went back inside with a fire ax," said Jack
Agent Mackenzie went to go talk to him but Jack offered to have Sam and Hailey come and stay with him and his girlfriend even though she's not home because she's a Drill Instructor in the Little Bird Marine Corps.
***
Inside of the charred house
"Mitchell what's your theory about this?" Asked Agent Mackenzie
Mitchell replied, "As my theory. Someone turned the gas stove on and blew out the fires and filled the ground and other stuff in gas. Follow me into the kitchen,"
In the charred kitchen
"Gasoline fumes," said Agent Mackenzie
Mitchell replied, "Yup. My guess was that someone turned on the stove, blew out the fires and poured the gasoline and started the fire in the living room. But when we got here at 02:58 the living room, kitchen, and dining room were fully involved. Just like the other houses but a few houses had electric stoves though. Thank goodness that Sam and Hailey are safe. Their house maybe gone but a house can be replaced a human life can't,"
"Care to walk me through it?" Asked Agent Mackenzie
Mitchell walked Agent Mackenzie through it but told her that someone either hates Hailey or Sam if not both or someone knew that they stopped by and talked to him at the firehouse yesterday.
Lieutenant Mitchell then helped his crew on Ladder 5 to finish overhaul and packed up their gear and went back to the firehouse and went home as B-shift came in.
***
At the EOD building in Clearlake
"Who hate your guts?" Asked Jack
Sam replied, "Hailey's mother. She hates that her daughter is a Policewoman not a mindless housewife who listens to their boyfriend/husband and do as they say no questions asked and do nothing but cook, clean and have babies left right and center. Even though her mother has a job. Hailey told me a few times that her mother is a female misogynistic jackass. She believes in that women should stay home yet she works. I'm all for that women are equal as men and women should do what they want. But her mother? She believes that women are inferior to men. She's a kook!"
"I hate women who believe that they're inferior to men!" Said Agent Mackenzie, "To me men and women need each other to cherish each other for survival. Not because one believes they're gender is inferior to the others. But we all believe in other things. If Officer Rank II Hailey if her mother wants to believe that then let her believe that. There's plenty of men out there who'll gladly take her off of her feet. Not Darick he supports that I work even though we have four children together,"
Jack replied, "Who's Darick?"
"My husband," said Agent Mackenzie Smith-Ryan, "I met him wanting to help clean up the city of Empire. At first we were just colleagues then we secretly started to be in love romantically. My mom and his sister and cousins kept saying we were boyfriend and girlfriend but we kept saying no. We dated in 1995/1996, broke up but got back together in 1999 and got married in 2000. He's a real nice guy. We mostly he exposed corruption in the city of Empire,"
Sam replied, "Why did you two break up?"
"Impossible to date someone," said Agent Mackenzie, "He was in the city of Empire as your typical rank and file patrolman and I was in another city the city of Palm Shores investigating Extortion and Environmental laws being violated like it's going out of style. I broke up with him but when I went back to the city of Empire in December of 1998 I went right up to him and restarted out relationship. Of course he did tell me he did get back together with his ex-girlfriend for awhile but broke up because the two are married to the job and he dated a detective for awhile before going their separate ways. He said that they didn't have anything like I do. If you and your girlfriend was hundreds if not almost thousands of miles apart you two would've done the same,"
Sam replied, "Tell us about the extortion and violation of environmental laws?"
"Just a criminal group who extorted garbage men and if they didn't pay "Their dues" to the criminal groups," said Agent Mackenzie, "Then they would get beaten up at first just a typical beating and then it would become worst and worst later on down the road! Also they were dumping toxic waste into the river and bay like nothing. It took me a year to put them out of service. Of course they took the violent route than giving up,"
The trio then returned to Patrol officer Hailey's charred house and looked around but everything was charred.
"You two must've been dead asleep!" Said Jack Skybolt
Sam replied, "Yeah we were dead asleep,"
Agent Mackenzie looked around but she had a feeling that the arsonist is Lieutenant Firefighter Mitchell Steven Waterson.
***
Later
4:30 PM
Mitchell and his Caucasian wife were eating pork chops for dinner. But as Mitchell was placing his plate in the sink.
There was a knock on the door and it was Senior Agent Mackenzie Smith-Ryan who peacefully brought him in for interrogation than arrest him in front of his wife.
***
E.O.D. Building in a interrogation room
"Alright Mitchell," said Mackenzie, "What were you doing between 23:00 and 02:58 last night?"
Mitchell replied, "I was asleep in my office on the ground floor. I was dead asleep with my cousin Michelle in the office next to mines who was also asleep as well. I didn't leave the firehouse until the bell went off. If you don't believe me you can check the camera facing west towards the firehouse,"
"I'll check it out," said Mackenzie
Mackenzie did leave but she did check the camera out and reviewed the footage and like Mitchell said he didn't leave the firehouse.
She also decided to check the back end of the firehouse and there's an alley behind it.
Mackenzie went back and question Mitchell about it and he told her that if he was the arsonist he would've walked and have a stash car somewhere out of sight. But he told her he only has one car which is an Azure Blue '57 T-bird with three speed manual transmission.
Mackenzie went back to 1777 Blueberry Street and entered Mitchell's property and she opened the passenger door of Mitchell's '57 T-bird and opened the glove compartment and got the pink slip.
The pink slip says:
2007
Automobile
Clearlake
Certificate of Ownership
Name: Mitchell Waterson
Tab Number: 774521
Registration number: 8K 10 26
Make and Cyl: Ford 4
Date issued: 01-18-2008
Engine number: 85425624
Body type: luxury car 2 door
Year model: 1957
Registration fee: $1.96
Mackenzie folded it back up and placed it back. She then returned and used a phone and asked if Mitchell Steven Waterson owned any other vehicles but he just has the one.
Mackenzie then kicked Mitchell loose because he isn't the arsonist.
As they waited but while the members of A shift were doing what they do while not working no suspicious fires were reported and no fires happened.
When the next day the ninth came there was a suspicious fire at start of shift at a apartment complet with two apartments are next to each other and there's a pathway that separates the other apartments with two facing the pathways.
The apartment was a total loss where the apartment next to it went with it as well but the fire spread through the wall and engulfed the other one before Engine Company 5 and Truck Company 5 got there.
Besides the Clearlake Fire Department it took twelve other fire companies from Port Serenia, Blister Canyon Fire Department to come and help out to extinguish the blaze.
There was nothing for them to look for evidence all of it burned up and broke. The fire was so hot that the metal inside of the apartment expanded and melted. Also before the fire department arrived on scene the fire shattered all of the windows.
When Mackenzie, Jack and Sam arrived they had to watch where they were going because there were hundreds of feet of fire hoses stretched carrying water from the hydrants to the engines and trucks.
"Lieutenant with your permission," said Mackenzie, "I would like to search everyone's lockers at the firehouse,"
Mitchell was about to reply but Ladder 5 was called to another emergency of a Child getting their leg stuck in a storm drain.
***
Clearlake Firehouse, 33 Bacon St
Mackenzie entered the firehouse while everyone was out but she had a crowbar and she pried open Lieutenant Mitchell Waterson's and thirteen other lockers while they were out.
All of them just had clothing and some photographs on the doors of the lockers but the locker of Firefighter Damien Smith jumped out to Mackenzie.
Well, well, well, Mackenzie thought, What do we got here?
Besides some clothing but she saw a map of Clearlake with red X's that represented past fires of arson. She also found some jerry cans with gasoline in them but they were hidden half-ass like. There was also a list of people who have died in the fires and all that.
I found my arsonist! Mackenzie thought, Let's see what he has to say for himself!
The three of them waited and soon Ladder Company 5 returned and backed into the station.
"Hey Lieutenant," said Mackenzie, "Point out Damien Smith. I want to ask him a few questions,"
Mitchell called a mid thirties Caucasian male firefighter over and that was Damien Smith.
Mackenzie was about to ask him where he gets the fuel or why he starts the fires only for him to book it and got into his car.
"Freeze scumbag," said Mackenzie, "I said freeze!"
Damien Smith got into his car and started it and drove off. Mackenzie got into the undercover car with Sam and Jack following where he got at them but Sam leaned out of the passenger window and fired his 9mm pistol (Hi-power but chambered with .40 S&W) and Jack fired his .357 Mk1 revolver (S&W M27) and soon was able to disable the car.
Damien Smith got out of the car and started to run on foot. Sam jumped out of the car and got Damien within thirty seconds and he thinks he's fast because Sam placed baseball in Middle school as a center fieldsman and in high school he was a wide reciever. Jack was the same but he was a first baseman and was a quarterback. That was before they dropped out of high school to fight in the Second Vietnam war and the Third World War in the Little Bird Marine Corps.
"Come on let's go!" said Sam
***
The trio placed Damien Smith into a cell.
"Hard to believe that a fireman did this!" said Sam
Jack replied, "Criminals aren't where you expect them. A majority of the criminals we go after are found where people trust. People trust firemen and at least 1% of firemen are firefighter arsonists."
"I'm going to go tell Hailey the good news," said Sam, "Not entire good news but good news for her,"
***
Outside of a two story brick police station that's home to the 67th Precinct which is home to the Island Patrol and town's Arson squad which gave up and called the E.O.D. in when the tenth fire came and they're both firefighters and cops who are arson investigators.
"Hey Hailey I got some good news," said Sam
Police Officer Rank II Hailey Erin Nicole-Royce replied, "Yeah what's that?"
"We got the arsonist," said Sam, "He's in a holding cell and somewhat surpringly it's a firefighter. Do you have some good news?"
Hailey replied, "No got some bad news. First is that I'm being denied of my last week paycheck. Those bastards in the pay wing at HQ said I got mines they mailed my check last Wednesday and should've came by last Friday and they say it's my fault for not getting paid! Also, I haven't heard anything back from my home insurance! They said someone will get back to us because I had to file a claim! Oh speak of the Devil it's my mother!"
Soon a woman in her forties walked up.
"Come on Hailey it's time for a date I set up for you!" said the woman
Sam interveined, "Where do you think you're taking my girlfriend?!"
"None of your business!" said the woman, "I'm setting her up to be with a man who'll gladly take Hailey to be a housewife who'll tell her what to do and have Hailey just cook, clean, listen to her husband, and give her husband babies!"
Sam replied, "She isn't going to be a housewife and she already has a boyfriend!"
"I don't see any Caucasian males around here," said the woman
Sam replied, "I'm her boyfriend!"
"You? Her boyfriend?" said the woman, "You ain't her boyfriend! You're mixed!"
Sam replied, "Yeah? So? Who care's I'm half Aroura tribe Native Little Birden and Half German and part Irish!"
"The Little Bird Armed Forces during the Colonel Era" said the woman, "Should've exterminated the Native population!"
Jack replied, "What the fuck is wrong with you? You dumb bitch!"
Jack is Half Nightingale Native Little Birden and half German and part Welsh.
"Your kind should've been enslaved!" said the woman
Jack replied, "My people? Bitch please. The Welsh who came to Little Bird worked in the mines with the Polish and Italians! The Germans came here had the technological skills! The Spanish roamed and explored. The Greek and Portugese just fished and brought seafood, The Irish, Russian, Hungarian, the Slav and Asians worked side by side making the infrastructure. The English, the Dutch, the Scotch built and worked in workshops, the French and Swiss made the vineyards here. The Dane, the Swede and Norwegian were on farms growing food like grain and seeded areas that would become farms. The people of the old countries came and built anew country. And the Natives? The Natives helped them survive and not starve to death when colonists arrived! So you can take your cavilier and racist attitude and shove it up your ass!"
"Come on Hailey let's go!" said the woman
Hailey replied, "I'm not going anywhere! I'm in a relationship with Sam! If you don't like it then I don't care!"
"This skinny boy who looks like he won't be able to last one second in bed?" said the woman, "I don't think so! Also I don't want to have mixed grandbabies!"
Sam did what he never thought he would've done but he punched Hailey's mother in the mouth and knocked her out in one punch.
"Sorry for punching your mother," said Sam
Hailey kissed him.
"Don't worry about it," said Hailey, "She's in politeness she's rude and very evil and a stupid witch!"