Free Fire Angel by Susanne Matthews Page B

provide an ideal vantage point — close enough to feel the heat, dark enough to provide the privacy needed. Whoever was watching her was on or in one of those. She thought she saw movement on the roof directly across the street, and shaded her eyes for a better look. She turned her camera towards the building, zooming in as best she could. Nothing! She would ask Jake to send some of the officers to check those areas for spectators.
    She turned towards the fire, closed her eyes, and reached out to him. Yes, she could feel his presence as he gloated over his handiwork. She knew the moment he felt her in his mind; fear and anger replaced his elation. She sensed his surprise and sudden panic before he severed the connection.
    Jake touched her arm to get her attention. He led her over to the two men standing beside one of the fire engines; one of the men wore a firefighter’s uniform.
    â€œAlexis, I’d like you to meet Lincoln Howard, the fire marshal, and this is Everett Lewis, our police chief.” She nodded.
    Lincoln Howard was the first to shake her hand. The man, with a head-full of snow-white hair and a flushed complexion, reminded her of her own boss. He had a friendly smile, but the anguish that these unsolved crimes were creating for him was evident. She had seen Peters with the same strained look on his face.
    â€œIt’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
    â€œThe pleasure is mine. I read your profile; I hope you can help us.”
    â€œI’ll do my best,” she promised.
    â€œWelcome back to Paradise, Alexis,” said Chief Lewis. “You might not remember me, but I remember you. When this is over, we’ll talk.”
    Alexis shook his hand and thanked him, purposely avoiding a comment on the last thing he had said. She wondered if he was referring to her uncle’s low opinion of her or something else; she would ask Jake later.
    She noticed that both men were tense. The fire marshal’s jaw was clenched and a scowl marred the chief’s face. From the note in his hand she knew that Jake had told him about the threat.
    â€œDo you think this fire is one of his?” she asked, indicating the note. Something in the grim look they gave her suggested they did.
    â€œWe aren’t sure, but some information came to light earlier today that makes me suspect it might be,” the chief answered.
    â€œDo you see that boy over there on the grass? That’s Willy, one of my department’s confidential informants. Since we connected the fires, I’ve had him keep a closer watch on the community’s less savory elements. Apparently, there was an unscheduled meeting here tonight of the Cobras, the local biker gang. One of them is doing community service work here, so they decided to meet while he was on the job.”
    He took off his hat and, using a handkerchief, mopped his forehead. Although they were quite a distance from the fire, its heat could be felt. Alexis had removed her hat and gloves and opened her jacket. It didn’t take her long to connect the dots — how many would die to eliminate a few bikers?
    â€œThere are twelve people unaccounted for; of the nineteen who got out, six are critical and seven others are in serious but stable condition. The ambulances are ready to take another load to the hospital for overnight surveillance. The remaining three are over there.” He pointed to the young people near the EMT truck she had noticed earlier.
    â€œDo you know where the missing are suspected to be?” she asked, flashbacks from another fire mixing with the current images.
    â€œThey’re all in that section,” the fire marshal answered, indicating the part of the structure in flames. “The staff members and volunteers should be downstairs; the bikers and the others could be anywhere upstairs in that area. Until we get inside we won’t know exactly where the fire started, but the council was in the process of re-insulating