Chapter 8
Four nights out of the past five days. She wasn't supposed to be counting, but the number sat in her mind anyway, stubborn and undeniable.
The bullpen buzzed with Wednesday morning energy as detectives reviewed overnight reports, phones rang, and the steady hum of a department already deep into its day filled the air.
Erin spotted Lena at her desk, her dark hair pulled back in its usual ponytail, reading something on her computer screen with the focused intensity that made Erin's pulse quicken.
"Fire Marshal Vance?"
Erin turned to find Captain Julia Scott approaching, coffee mug in hand and an expression that managed to be both friendly and knowing.
"Captain," Erin replied.
"Got a minute?" Julia's eyes flicked toward Lena, then back to Erin with unmistakable awareness. "Detective Soto, you too. My office."
The words were casual, but Erin's stomach dropped. Julia knew. She had to. The way she'd said Lena's name, the careful neutrality of her tone—this wasn't about a case update.
Lena looked up from her computer, meeting Erin's eyes across the bullpen. Even from twenty feet away, Erin could see the tension that immediately tightened Lena's shoulders.
"Now?" Lena asked, already standing.
"Now."
Julia's office was cramped but private, with case files stacked on every surface and a Phoenix Ridge city map pinned to one wall. Julia settled behind her desk, gesturing for them to sit in the two chairs across from her.
"Close the door, Detective."
Lena's jaw tightened as she pulled the door shut, and the click echoed in the small space.
Julia studied them both for a moment, her expression unreadable, then she set down her coffee mug and leaned forward slightly.
"I know about you and Fire Marshal Vance."
The words hung in the air between them, and Erin felt heat rise in her cheeks but kept her expression steady. Beside her, Lena had gone very still.
"Captain—" Lena started.
"Let me finish." Julia's voice was calm, professional. "Whatever's happening between you two, I need you to keep it professional at work. Fire Marshal Vance is good at her job." Her eyes found Erin's. "Damn good. I won't have this case compromised because someone can't maintain boundaries."
"It won't be," Erin said, finding her voice. "We're both committed to—"
"I know you are." Julia's attention shifted to Lena, and her tone softened slightly. "But I also know you, Detective. You don't do anything halfway. Don't hurt her, Lena. She deserves better than someone who's going to put walls up the moment things get real.”
Lena's face flushed, but she met Julia's gaze steadily. "Understood."
"Good." Julia sat back. "Because I'm on your side. Both of you. Just be smart about it."
A knock on the door interrupted whatever response Lena might have said. "Captain? We've got that call from dispatch."
Julia stood. "We'll continue this conversation later. Both of you, conference room in five minutes. We've got a lead."
Erin followed Lena out of Julia's office, hyperaware of the eyes tracking their movement across the room. Officer Sofia Martinez looked up from her computer with barely concealed curiosity. Lieutenant Angela Hodges paused mid-conversation to watch them pass.
"Well, well," came a voice from behind them. "Look who's working together without anyone having to referee."
Erin turned to see Detective Vanessa Tribble grinning at them from her desk, coffee mug raised in mock salute.
"Remember when you two couldn't be in the same room without sparks flying? Now look at you. You’re Phoenix Ridge's finest crime-fighting duo."
"We're just doing our jobs," Lena said, but her voice was tighter than usual.
"Sure you are." Detective Tribble's grin widened. "Just saying, it's nice to see professionals who can put aside their differences for the greater good. It’s very inspiring."
Other voices chimed in from around the bullpen with comments about their improved teamwork and how much better it was when they were on the same side instead of arguing at crime scenes.
Erin felt her cheeks burning. Every comment was innocent enough on the surface, but the underlying awareness was unmistakable. They thought they were being subtle, but they weren't.
"Conference room," Lena muttered, steering Erin toward the hallway.
The conference room offered temporary refuge from the scrutiny, though Erin knew it wouldn't last long. Chief McKenna was already there, spreading a map across the table alongside someone Erin didn't recognize.
"Fire Marshal, Detective," McKenna nodded as they entered. "This is Dispatch Supervisor Kim Leventon. She took the call that came in this morning."
Kim was a woman in her fifties with silver-streaked hair and the calm competence of someone who'd fielded every kind of emergency call imaginable. She looked up from the map as they approached.
"The anonymous tip came in at 6:47 a.m.," Kim began without preamble. "Male caller, but wouldn't leave a name. He reported suspicious activity at Pine Ridge Cabins; that's about thirty minutes northeast of here, up in the mountains."
She pointed to a spot on the map where the foothills began their climb toward the peaks and continued, "Caller said he's been camping in the area for the past week and claims he's seen someone matching our arsonist profile making late-night visits to one of the remote cabins.
Multiple trips carrying what looked like containers. "
Erin leaned over the map, studying the location. The area was isolated and wooded, perfect for planning and storing accelerants without being observed. "How credible is the tip?"
"That's what we need to determine," McKenna said. "The caller knew details about the case that haven't been released to the public and specifically mentioned the containers from the previous fires."
"It could be someone with inside information," Lena said, pulling the map closer to examine the access roads. "Or someone who's actually seen our suspect."
"Either way, it's the first concrete lead we've had in days." McKenna's expression was grim. "The question is how we proceed. A full tactical response could spook our suspect if he's really using the area. But if this is legitimate, we might be looking at his base of operations."
Erin studied the terrain around Pine Ridge Cabins, noting the single access road and dense tree cover. "A reconnaissance mission makes sense to get eyes on the area and assess what we're dealing with before committing a full team response."
"My thoughts exactly." McKenna's eyes moved between them. "I'm thinking a detective and fire marshal would cover all our investigative bases. You both could look for evidence of accelerant storage, document any suspicious activity, and determine if we need further tactical support."
The implications hung in the air. They’d be doing overnight surveillance at a remote location, just the two of them.
Erin felt her pulse quicken, but kept her voice steady. "When do we leave?"
"This afternoon. Get your gear together and—"
"Captain?" Lena interrupted, her voice carefully controlled. "Perhaps the fire marshal should remain on standby. If this suspect is as dangerous as we believe—"
"The fire marshal's expertise is exactly why she needs to be there," McKenna cut her off. "This is about identifying accelerants. That's her wheelhouse."
Erin shot Lena a sharp look. Julia's warning was barely ten minutes old, and Lena was already trying to prevent her from doing her job.
"I'll be fine," Erin said, meeting Lena's eyes across the table. "This is what I do."
Lena's jaw tightened, but she nodded. "Of course. A professional assessment. That makes sense."
But Erin could see it in her eyes—the fear and desperate need to keep her safe. The same protective instinct that would make this impossible if Lena couldn't find a way to trust her competence.
They'd agreed to see where this went, to not rush into definitions or expectations. But watching Lena already trying to shield her from doing her job made Erin wonder if "seeing where this goes" would mean watching Lena's fear slowly strangle whatever was budding between them.
She'd meant what she said about taking it slow. But she hadn't anticipated how quickly Lena's protectiveness would surface or how much it would sting to be treated like someone who needed protecting instead of someone who knew how to take care of herself and do her job.
The next hour passed in a blur of logistics and preparation.
Erin gathered her fire marshal assessment kit, thermal imaging equipment, and sample containers while Lena coordinated with dispatch and secured surveillance gear.
They moved through their respective departments with professional efficiency, but Erin caught the sideways glances from colleagues who seemed to find their collaboration noteworthy.
"Ready?" Lena appeared at Erin's desk as she zipped up her equipment bag.
"Ready."
The drive out of Phoenix Ridge took them through the central area of downtown, past Lavender's Café where a few early lunch customers sat at sidewalk tables, then into the residential neighborhoods that gradually gave way to open spaces.
Erin watched the landscape slowly morph through the passenger window as they climbed into the foothills, the urban sprawl falling behind them.
"According to the map, Pine Ridge Cabins is about forty-five minutes up this road," Lena said, checking the GPS mounted on her dashboard. "It’s an isolated area with minimal cell coverage once we get deeper into the forest."
"Good for us, good for a suspect who wants privacy." Erin pulled the case file from her bag, reviewing the details they'd gathered. "If someone's really using one of those cabins for storage, they'd want to avoid curious neighbors."
"The caller mentioned late-night visits. Interesting timing since our arsonist has been getting bolder with when they set the fires."