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All these things run through my mind as the night goes still once more in the wake of such bitter devastation. We’ll have to leave it for now and return tomorrow afternoon with the police to discover just what went wrong.
Fortunately, the barn was empty of life, so that’s a win, but it only makes me more curious how an old barn miles from anything caught fire.
???
Upon my arrival, I’m met by Deputy Police Chief Denholm. He offers his hand that I don’t hesitate to accept. “Afternoon, Captain Ortiz.”
I smirk. “Hey, Peter.”
He chuckles. “I wasn't sure if we would leave the niceties at the door.”
I wink. “You know me.”
“Fair enough. Estrella, allow me to introduce our newest investigating Detective, Jack Green.”
I nod at the attractive black man dressed more casually than most plain-clothes officers. Their norm is typically an unassuming suit and tie while Detective Green appears to prefer jeans and a t-shirt.
“Nice to meet a new face. Wish it were under better circumstances.”
His boyish features appear at odds with the seriousness of the moment, but as he smirks, it certainly lightens the mood. I’m sure the ladies of Piper Falls will eat him up.
“Feeling’s mutual, Captain.”
I sigh. “Not you, too. Please call me Estrella.”
He nods succinctly and holds his arm out to the still-smoking barn. “Shall we, Estrella?”
The barn is all but a crumbled pile of refuse, so we’re only able to climb around it. I’m pondering where he’s leading me until I see it. At first sight, it appears to be cement blocks piled into a pyramid, but upon closer inspection, I see its rectangular blocks wrapped in plastic. Most have been decimated, but a dozen or so remain mostly intact so you can deduce its blocks of drugs, more than likely cocaine based on the appearance.
Not far off, I spy a couple cans of gasoline. “Doesn’t seem like they were trying to hide anything,” I muse.
“Nah,” he chuckles. “If I were a betting man, I’d say they believed the fire would destroy any and all evidence.”
I snort. “They must not know the firefighters in this town. We’re not ones to sit on our laurels.”
He nods. “Right. If given another hour, hell, another twenty minutes, and maybe their plan would have succeeded.”
I study him wondering how much he’ll trust me with. “We’re there any suspicions about drugs being stored here?”
He nods absently. “Actually, that’s what brought me to town. I’ve been following a kingpin from the Mexican cartel from Kansas City. He’s led me on a merry chase.”
My brow furrows. “Your superior allowed you to leave your jurisdiction to hunt this guy?”
He throws his head back and laughs. “Hell no. I almost got my ass fired several times because I couldn’t let it go. Lucky for me, my supervising Lieutenant is my old partner and best friend. She always managed to pull me out of hot water. When I heard ole King had made it so close to the border, I had to call in all my favors to get transferred down here.”
I smirk as I listen. “Wow, you’re a chatty one.”
He shrugs good naturedly, and I know he and I will get along just fine. “You must have one of those faces.”
“Most people say I have a resting bitch face.”
Another chuckle. “I always did like the grumpy ones.”
???
The next morning, I’m awoken bright and early by my godforsaken phone. I snatch it up and answer without looking.
“What?” I bark.
