Page 80 of Burn With Me

I held up my hands and looked around. “Mitch, I’m not a miracle worker, and I just got here. I don’t even have the original items or the confession interview that says this man did it. How can I give you solid evidence?”

Mitch shook his head and even though he didn’t touch me, Asher moved around the table and strategically stood by my side. I appreciated his support, but was happier that he wasn’t interfering or jumping in to try and save me.

“Fine. You can stay here all night if you want to look this over, but at noon tomorrow, the mayor will announce the arrest if you haven’t found anything new.”

Mitch turned and marched out before I could even put my next sentence together. This was completely unreasonable.

“I’ll go get us some lunch and extra-large coffees. It looks like we’re going to need it,” Asher said and gave the top of my head a kiss before he, too, walked out and left me alone with the piles of photos and reports.

Great, a little over twenty-four hours to prove my theory. Nothing like having this man’s life in my hands. If I didn’t find something else to prove his innocence, he was going to prison for the rest of his natural life. Nope, no pressure at all.

Derek

I decided to take Mathers up on his offer. The list was way too enticing to pass up, but it meant that I couldn’t watch Violet until I finished the job. Divided attention would cause errors, and I didn’t make errors. Somewhere along the line, I’d decided that the only way they were locking me up again was in a coffin. Until that day, I was going to continue my work and do it to utter perfection.

Benny was first on my list. I didn’t think that was his real name, but it was what he went by on the streets. This guy was a bad dude. Ironic that I was the one thinking that, but it was true. Everything from drug running to assault, rape, and murder was under his name.

So, my first question was, what was the reason Mathers had given him to me? It didn’t take much digging to come up with the answer. It was because some of Benny’s business dealings were encroaching on Lost Souls’ territory. Chase had even lost a couple of guys over the last month to Benny’s crew. If Chase Mathers, leader of the Lost Souls, killed Benny, it would start a whole damn war. But…if the crazy ass arsonist targeted Benny and his crew, well, that was another story.

There was a certain appeal to having the crime organizations around town know me as The Dragon. I liked that they were genuinely terrified I’d turn my attention to them. If I got off on that shit, I’d have a whole slew of reasons to stroke my cock, but unfortunately, power and popularity was not what I sought. At least not that kind of power.

I didn’t give a single fuck about gang or motorcycle club turf wars. But, this Benny had a particular sexual appetite that Chase knew would piss me the fuck off. He was an asshole for exploiting it, and I’d pay him back at some point.

I didn’t care, most of the time, what one piece of a shit human decided to do to another, but you add a kid in the mix, and my body burned with white-hot rage. I’d managed to do an initial survey of Benny’s hideout with some strategic diversion at their stash house. It was amazing how quickly they fled like little insects when they thought their money and drugs were going to go up in smoke.

I’d utilized my time wisely and was currently staring at a live feed of some girl that couldn’t be any older than twelve, giving my target a blowjob. My teeth ground together as he roughly manhandled the girl until she cried. Every instinct in my body cried out to storm the place and kill everyone other than the two girls he was keeping in the basement.

Taking a deep breath to calm my anger, I put the phone down. Watching this only made me want to lose control, and I needed them to sleep. Other than the two guards sitting in the kitchen with the television on, I would have no one to get in my way.

So cliché. Couldn’t they sit in the living room or maybe the dining room to switch it up? Why was it that all the bad guys in movies would park themselves in the kitchen with a television, fast food containers, and a deck of cards? I’d been watching way too many old movies lately.

I flicked on the radio while waiting for the sun to get lower in the sky so I could make my move. I might as well have something to listen to in the meantime.

Breaking news.

The arsonist that has been plaguing our city has been caught.

The police found his resistance and are now in the next stage of arresting the accused.

I sat up a little taller in the seat, my eyes flicking to the mirrors, but all remained quiet. Grabbing my phone, I turned on the feed to my home, and all was quiet there as well.

It has been months of fear.

We were all living with the knowledge that anyone could be the next target.

This serial arsonist was attacking all of us, and we will sleep easier now that this man is off our streets. This nightmare is finally over.

The mayor announced just a few short hours ago that the man hunt is over and that we will once more be able to breath a little easier.

I scoffed at that the comment. If they had an arsonist in custody then great, but they were going to be sadly mistaken when they realized that they had the wrong one. A deep chuckle rippled from my mouth at the thought.

We are unable to release his name at this time, as the investigation is still ongoing, but he is the most prolific serial arsonist in history.

My chest puffed out at the compliment.

The case should be quick and just for all the victims since the man has already confessed to the fires and the murders.

My lip pulled up as I growled at the radio. It was one thing to arrest the wrong man. It was a completely different thing for him to take credit for my work. My hands tightened on the steering wheel. No, this would never do.