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TUCKER
“Do we have any updates on the arsons?” I look up at my Uncle Jack as he flips through a file folder. We’re sitting in his office for our check-in meeting.
“They’ve gotten some security footage from the rec center parking lot. The cameras picked up someone coming out of the building right before the fire started, but they weren’t able to get an ID from it. No leads on the group home yet.”
“Anything from the rec center employees?”
“Nope, and it’s been a slow process of interviewing. Unfortunately, there aren't any other leads, so there’s nothing else they can do.”
“This guy has to be on the inside. I mean, how else would he be able to start two fires and not get caught from a mistake?”
“Are you thinking it’s a firefighter?”
“I don’t want to, but who else could it be? A regular person wouldn’t have the knowledge this guy seems to have.”
“You can learn a lot on the internet these days though.”
“True. I just have a feeling this guy knows what he’s doing. It’s been too hard to pinpoint how he’s doing it. The only thing we know for certain is it wasn’t an accident. Someone without fire knowledge wouldn’t be able to hide the rest of their tracks like this guy.”
“You might be on to something there. I’ll talk to Cooper and see what his thoughts are.”
I nod my head in response and move on before I get pissy about an arsonist potentially being a firefighter. If it is a firefighter, there’s a potential for it to be one of my guys, and I can’t stomach the thought.
“One more thing. Your dad’s trailer fire... They weren’t able to find a specific cause, but they haven’t made an official ruling yet either. There was no evidence of an accelerant, but his cause of death has been labeled suspicious.”
“Suspicious?” Surprise laces through my voice. I thought for sure the fire would be considered an accident. I mean, it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. I still haven’t quite worked out how I feel about his death, even before this news.
There’s mostly anger still because he was a shitty father, but I also have this little bit of sadness knowing my dad is gone forever. Then when I realize I’m sad, I get mad all over again because he doesn’t deserve my sadness. It’s an endless cycle.
“Have they finished the autopsy? I ask, watching Uncle Jack’s usually stoic face show a hint of emotion I can’t quite place.
“Not yet. Since the remains were charred it’s really difficult to know for sure, but there’s evidence to suggest he was shot.”
"Jesus.”
We sit in silence for a little bit, both of us caught up in our thoughts about my dad. I can’t imagine what it’s like for Uncle Jack to deal with his brother’s death like this. Especially if he was murdered.
I don’t know how close they were when they were younger, but when I was a kid, they didn’t have much of a relationship. I never asked because it could’ve led to questions about my own relationship with him. I wasn’t about to discuss that with anyone.
“Are you okay dealing with all of this? I know you two weren’t close, but he was still your brother, just like he was still my dad.”
Uncle Jack sighs. “Yeah, I’m okay. He changed a lot as we grew up, and he wasn’t the brother I remember when we were kids. Knowing how he treated you, it’s even more apparent he stopped being my brother a long time ago.”
I think about his words for a minute and realize I feel the same way. He stopped being my dad when he started abusing me after Mom left. It’s why I don’t have as many feelings about this situation as I should.
“I’ll let you know what Chris sends over when I get the full autopsy report,” Jack says, effectively ending our conversation.
I nod my head and stand up to leave his office to go back to mine.
I walk through the kitchen where all of the guys are hanging out and eating lunch. They’re laughing and ribbing each other just like usual. I scan each face trying to decide if one of them could be capable of arson. I honestly can’t see it.
Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but these guys eat and breathe helping people, so the idea of one of them doing something to hurt others is unfathomable to me.
It’s going to hurt like hell if one of them is the arsonist.
* * *
“Areyou sure he’s going to be okay with me tagging along?” Natalie asks. I glance over and watch her twist her fingers together. I’ve never seen her this nervous about anything. She wasn’t even this nervous for the gala.
