Free Diana by Laura Marie Henion Page B

evening when the first call about the fire came into the department. The patrol officers had canvassed the neighborhood and most of the tenants. A few people had seen Lee arrive downstairs in the lobby around 12:30 a.m.
    It was a little after 5:30 a.m. now, and the sun was rising. She looked at the window, noting the small bits and pieces of melted metal on the floor. The hard wood was burned to black and gray.
    Her attention was drawn toward the center of the room where the bed once stood. Now, only the metal bed frame sat broken and blackened. The frame was a small mound of ash. Both she and Fontella had forensics take samples. That was the source of the fire, she was sure of it.
    Diana bent down lower to take a look. It appeared as if the fire may have begun right there, or their suspect wanted it to look that way. The burns to the flooring seemed deeper, and some sort of material sat melted to the floor. Something caught her eye next to the left, metal leg of the bed frame. It was metallic, thin, and somewhat mangled from the fire.
    "What do ya got?” One of the forensic technicians re-entered the room.
    Diana looked up. “I thought you guys were finished."
    "Come on, Pellino. I've been around a while and I know how you operate. You don't leave anything unchecked."
    "I'm not sure what this is. Maybe the fire marshal missed it?"
    "I'm not positive. He was pretty thorough, even though his attitude sucked."
    Diana smiled. “Could ya?"
    "I'm on it. Let me grab my bag."
    She didn't like the feeling she had inside. Also, she didn't like the fact their killer was leaving messages after the crime, nor that the media was involved. People who committed crimes like this and notified the police were usually after attention. The media played into the killer's demands, and the best way to stop him was to stay silent.
    She had to clear things up with the fire marshal, despite his ability to get under her skin. After all, he was her boss's son, her brother Brian's friend, and he was obviously assigned to this case. She and Jerry were the lead detectives and they needed Luke's help. Especially since their killer decided to torch this latest victim.
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Chapter 5
    Diana and Jerry made their way back to the precinct. She finally convinced Jerry she wasn't involved with Commander Fontella, and told him the whole story. He laughed at her.
    "You got the worst luck and, to top it off, all you were doing was a good deed for the old lady."
    She shook her head, then took a deep breath as they exited the car and entered the precinct.
    A couple of conversations stopped when they entered their office on the third floor. She tried to ignore it, until the commander opened his door.
    "Pellino! My office, now."
    Her patience diminished. Didn't her commander realize what rumor was going around?
    "Montoff, give us five minutes, then come in,” the commander ordered.
    Diana cringed as she locked gazes with Jerry, who smirked in return. She headed toward the commander's office. He leaned against his desk waiting for her. She heard kissing noises behind her, and a group of detectives giggled like eight-year-old boys.
    Diana flipped them the bird and a look that made their smirks disappear. She closed the door behind her.
    "Before we discuss this latest victim and the case, I need to apologize. It has come to my attention that a certain rumor is traveling around the department."
    Her mouth dropped open. She was about to speak, but the commander continued talking. “I was approached by the brass, and I straightened things out. I've been around here for more than fifteen years. That should count for something. I'm sorry I placed you in this position. I can see that the others are running with this. I'll try to do what I can to stop it."
    "I can handle them, sir. But this case ... Your son is the fire marshal assigned to the case."
    "I know.” The commander shook his head and sighed.
    "I talked to him. Well, I left him a message,