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“What happened?” he asked, eyeing the captain through the glass.
Lana sighed. “Bryant told on me. I got chewed out and I’m directed to turn the evidence over to Bryant.”
“With the evidence that Kate uncovered, you can at least prove that there is a possibility of a serial arsonist.”
He said the words to comfort her, but she wasn’t happy. “I can, but will Bryant care?”
“Lana, it’s not your job to worry about that,” he offered.
“I know, but I have a bad feeling about all this.” And she did. She didn’t think it would do an ounce of good to give this evidence to Bryant. She was convinced that he didn’t give a fig what she said. He saw her as a woman who didn’t belong in a man’s job and who couldn’t do that job. Lana sighed again. Sean was right. There wasn’t anything she could do.
“Let’s go get the report from Kate and get over to HQ.”
They took one of the station’s small trucks to the police department to pick up the report.
Kate was in her office when Lana and Sean walked in. Kate smiled at them and indicated her chairs.
“San Diego has a serial arsonist on its hands.”
Jolted by her words, Lana felt something come alive inside her, like a wire suddenly filled with electricity. She chafed at the thought that she had to give her hard-won evidence over to a man who could care less. The urge to take the next step in the investigation was almost overpowering. But a bad mark on her record would effectively delay her ascent or may even hurt her enough that the captain’s position would move beyond her reach. She shifted, thinking about her father’s reaction to that. “Positive for accelerants?”
Kate nodded grimly. “I’m afraid so and they match in quality. I’d say that the two buildings were torched using a metal can like one would use to fill a gas tank. I found trace amounts of metal and rust.”
“Any way to trace where the accelerant originated?” Sean asked.
“No. I’m afraid not,” Kate said regretfully. “But if you bring me the metal container, I can tell you if it’s the one that held the accelerants used in the arsons.”
“Thanks, Kate,” Lana offered.
Kate pulled her report off the printer and tucked into an envelope. She handed it to Lana. After a moment, she said, “Lana, I would suggest that you turn this over to Bryant. It’s important information that he should have even though he didn’t want to believe you in the first place.”
“That’s exactly where I’m heading now. I got the word from my captain. No more investigating or else it goes in my file.”
“I’m sorry, Lana, but I have to agree with him. This could be very dangerous.”
The receptionist in Bryant’s office building directed Lana and Sean to the arson investigator’s office.
Lana went up to his door and knocked. A man was walking by.
“If you’re looking for Dane, he’s not here.”
“I need to drop off two reports.”
“I can take them if you like. What’s your name?”
“Dempsey.”
“The firefighter who’s busting his chops?”
“Afraid so.”
Lana felt Sean stiffen beside her and she rested her hand on his arm.
The man laughed and reached out his hand. “Hi, I’m Tim Davis. Keep up the good work.”
“Nobody likes the guy,” Sean said under his breath.
Lana elbowed him gently in the ribs.
