22. Josh
22
JOSH
Accusing anyone, even a former paramedic and not a current employee, is still something that may cost me both of my careers.
I’m not going to make any friends in the fire department if I’m wrong, and I’ll be betraying the thin blue and thin red lines both.
So walking into the chief’s office, where my captain and the fire chief and the police chief and the Birch County sheriff are all waiting for me is not something I want to be doing.
“Harmon,” Chief Hayes greets curtly. “I’m hoping that you have more information for us other than the short ‘I need to meet with you in the morning’ email that we all received.”
I sigh and hand over the four copies of the file that I’ve put together, including the stills I’ve just printed of the security footage with the time stamps. Not only that, but I’ve also confirmed, through dispatch records, that the ambulance had not been on any other calls the morning in question.
“I think one of our paramedics started the fires.”
“What?” comes from all four men.
I break it down for them, the same way I’ve done for myself, a little bit for Ryder, and then for Nia.
“I had the chemical analysis pulled for all arson investigations over the last five years. Of those cases, ten of them stretching over the last two years all had the exact same chemical makeup. Those fires include the one that took Piper Lachlan’s life.” I clear my throat. “In fact, over the last two years, that is the only fire that had a fatality as a result.”
“Who? Gem? The new girl, what’s her name? Virginia?” Sheriff Findlay crosses his arms over his chest in an impressive display of emotion.
“No.” I shake my head and point out the picture I’ve seen. “Laura D’mato.”
Silence, thick with tension I could cut with a knife, fills the air around me as the others look at the bundle of evidence I’ve put together.
“This is pretty damning,” Sheriff Findlay mutters. “I just can’t believe this. I’ve known Laura for years.”
“We all have,” Cap says disdainfully. “But it makes sense. She tried to have our department shut down. Repeatedly. And when she didn’t make any headway there, she quit. But it looks like she was up to a lot more than just reporting us to the state and trying to get the department closed.”
“Chief.” I rifle through the folder I brought for myself and pull out the most important piece that I’ve been able to find. “In the most recent fires, there were no indications that they were started by anyone. She learned how to cover her trail effectively. But the earlier fires, the first three to be exact, are the ones that showed her on different surveillance.”
“These photos look like they’re from the old Chevy dealership.” Chief Hayes taps the laminated paper with his forefinger. “This is from the oldest one?”
“Yes,” I tell him. “She was seen on the surveillance camera that they have there for the rental vehicles. At the time, it was a brand-new ATM and they hadn’t even formally announced to the public that it was there. Essentially, we got lucky.”
“But the MO is the same with all of them?” Cap is busy reading the various reports.
“It looks like some appeared to be electrical fires, and others were started by a candle or a stove left on. She was smart about it, and that’s why I had to get the accelerant report breakdowns. A fire here or there that blended in, in an old farmhouse, wouldn’t stand out. But it would look like BFD was overwhelmed and not able to handle the workload.” I clear my throat. “That’s not the only thing, either.”
I thought the tension in the room was bad before I started talking the first time. But now that the shock of what I’m saying, and who I’m accusing, has worn off, the tension is palpable. Every breath I take is stifling and more than capable of suffocating me if I don’t force the words out.
"What do you mean, this isn't it?" Cap waves his folder through the air a little dramatically. "There's a lot of damning information here, Harmon. I wouldn't hesitate to make an arrest in this situation." He sighs loudly. "But I guess that's why I'm not a cop."
"What else is there?" Chief Townsend asks, his voice holding a quiet and deadly tone. "What's not here that you need to tell us?"
I swallow down the immediate regret at thinking about sharing my suspicions. "Look. I really don't want to lose my job. Not the investigation part," I amend. "I don't care about that part of it. But I really enjoy being a firefighter. It's why I volunteered until there was a full-time position open with BFD." I look down at my hands for a moment. "There's just… There's this feeling in the pit of my stomach that I learned a long time ago not to question. It's why I was so good in the investigations department. Laura quit months ago. She was replaced. If she were going to quit and move on, it makes sense that the arsons would have ended there too. Yet they didn't. In fact, we had an arson in the weeks before she quit, and then we had another not even a week ago. She's got something planned. I don't know what it is or what it could be."
"I don't even know how someone who cares for the injured and sick citizens of Birch County could be the one to start fires that put those same people in danger." Disbelief clouds Cap's eyes.
But it is Sheriff Findlay and Chief Townsend who are both watching me with matching curiosity.
"Why?"
It is a simple question, but one that could have come from either of them.
"Like I said, it's a feeling that I have. I don't really have an explanation for it other than… In elementary school, if something didn't go your way, you acted out, right?" When they nod, I go on. "That's it. She didn't get what she wanted. That's where the fire that killed Piper Lachlan came into play. And instead of that death falling on the shoulders of the fire department, like she most likely hoped, our community came together to mourn her."
“That’s not just a feeling, Harmon.” Chief Townsend scrubs a hand through his graying hair. “That’s not even a jump away from logic.”
He and the sheriff share a look.
“Okay,” he goes on. “Here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to take this file to Judge Michaels and see if he’ll issue a warrant for her arrest based on the evidence at hand. Jake,” he says to the sheriff. “You see what you can do about pulling some deputies and troopers in to assist. Since she’s already proven that she can take a life, we don’t want to do anything that might place our officers in jeopardy.”
The sheriff nods. “Got it. I’ll let my men and women know that it’s strictly need-to-know, and we’ll keep it off the radio and away from the CAD for now.”
“What do you want us to do?” Chief knows better than to insert himself into the conversation unless he really needs to, so the fact that he is butting into their planning speaks volumes.
“Can you trust your men not to say anything to her? Or reach out at all?”
Cap snorts. “She didn’t leave with any friends. The only person in the whole department she was even on speaking terms with was Harmon. And that’s only because he wasn’t here for the bullshit that she pulled.”
I shrug. It is true, and even though Laura has always been a pain in the ass, I don’t think she is truly evil. In fact, I’m still trying to reconcile what the evidence is telling me about her because it doesn’t fit with the woman who volunteers as a medic at school events.
But I don’t put a voice to any of my concerns. I honestly don’t know her that well, and I can’t say for certain that I know her better than anyone else does in the department. In fact, from everything I know, it is me she’s managed to fool, and not them.
“Laura used to be a good person,” Sheriff Findlay says after a few seconds of silence. “But if she’s changed, or something’s happened to her to make her like this, I wouldn’t trust her not to react violently. Meet with your men, on all shifts, and let them know about the situation. Tell them to be careful on fire calls until we have her in custody.”
“ More careful,” Chief corrects him. “My men may not be trained to carry a gun, but they’re all trained to run into the flames without hesitation.”
“No insult intended, for once.” Chief Townsend laughs bitterly. “I think, given the circumstances, our men and women can work together and set aside whatever rivalries are going on to make sure that no one else is injured as a result of her actions.”
“I told Nia already.” I have to inform them all. “We’re practically living together at this point. She saw the investigative material while I was working on it, and she played the devil’s advocate for me last night, trying to come up with any logical reason why one of our men would be at repeated scenes, before any of the tones went out for the fires.”
“I knew she was a good hire,” Chief says with a smile. “Heard she is spending time with Richard Lachlan, the boy…” He trails off and I nod. “Good. Make sure he knows he’s always welcome at the department. We’ll look after him.”
“Well…” Chief Townsend stands up from his seat with a heavy sigh. “It’s time to get to work. This one’s gonna cause some sleepless nights, for sure. I’ll let you know when I’ve got the warrant from Judge Michaels.”
He and the sheriff walk out without saying goodbye, and I’m left with my boss and supervisor.
“Does this mean I can go back to A shift?” I try not to be too hopeful, but I’m getting tired of working a desk.
“When we catch her,” Chief acquiesces.
Cap nods. “It’ll be good to have you back on truck with us.”
“Now, get out of here and get the men to the conference room. I’m going to recall the B and C shifts, so that we can get everyone up to date with what’s happening.” Chief rubs his temple. “And someone have dispatch go to station coverage. We won’t be reporting to a fire until after the meeting.”
He barely gets the words out before the alarm starts ringing.
“Attention Birch Fire Department. Attention Birch Fire Department. Please report to 689 Hill Crest Drive for reports of a residential structure fire. Again, Birch Fire Department, please report to 689 Hill Crest Drive for reports of a residential structure fire.”
We all stare at each other for a second before Cap is out of the room, sprinting for his bunker gear and the truck.
“I know that address.” My brain goes blank for a second. “I think Nia’s sister lives on that street.”
Chief is already cursing under his breath, heading for his own bunker gear and his truck.
“I’m going,” I tell him even though he isn’t even paying attention to me anymore.
Not that it matters.
I slide my bunker gear out of the back seat of my truck and step into it before jumping into the driver’s seat. Then I follow the chief through town.
The entire drive feels like an eternity, even though I know it's only been minutes since the call came in. My hands grip the steering wheel tightly, knuckles white with the strain. Every nerve in my body is on high alert, a low buzzing hum of adrenaline coursing through me. The familiar streets blur as I speed through town, my mind replaying every conversation I’ve had with Nia about her family, about how much they mean to her. I can't help but think of Lyla’s sweet, innocent face and how she lights up whenever she talks about her dad and her home. The thought of something happening to them sends a wave of nausea rolling through my stomach.
Please don’t let their house be on fire.
I glance at the clock on my dashboard, watching the seconds tick by in agonizing slow motion. A thousand scenarios play out in my head—each one worse than the last. I can’t help but think about how quickly a fire can spread, how mercilessly it can consume everything in its path. And in those moments, all I can do is pray. Pray that this isn’t the worst-case scenario. Pray that the house is still standing when I arrive. Pray that everyone inside is safe.
But deep down, there's a gnawing fear that won’t be silenced. A fear that something terrible is already in motion, that I’m too late. And as I turn the final corner, my breath catches in my throat. The orange glow of flames in the distance is unmistakable, and my heart plummets as I realize one of my worst fears is coming true.
I should have known praying wouldn’t be enough. The moment I pull onto the street, the acrid smell of smoke assaults my senses, and my eyes are drawn to the source. A house engulfed in flames. My heart lurches painfully in my chest when I spot Ella, Nia’s sister, standing in the front yard watching her home be destroyed. Her usually neat blond hair is wild and disheveled, a clear sign of the panic that must have taken hold of her. She’s screaming something, but the roar of the fire and the blaring sirens drown out her words.
The scene is chaotic.
Neighbors have gathered, some holding their phones up, recording the devastation, while others stand frozen in shock. I barely register their presence as I scan the area frantically, my eyes searching for a glimpse of Lyla.
The absence of her little figure in the crowd sends a bolt of terror through me.
Where is she?
Where’s the little girl who should be clinging to her mother’s side?
A cold sweat breaks out on my forehead, and I feel a wave of helplessness crash over me. The fire is raging, consuming the house with a relentless hunger, and all I can think about is getting to Lyla. Finding the little girl who means more to me than almost anyone else in this world.
My training kicks in, forcing me to focus, to push the panic down and assess the situation like the professional I am. But it’s hard—so damn hard—when the lives of people I care about are hanging in the balance.
“The kids!” Rich hollers, his voice hoarse from screaming. He is trying to break away from Ryder, who is holding him back by the neck. “My daughter and her friend are in the backyard.”