“You’re right... she’s perfect. Here, and for me.” He hesitated and then asked, “When are you going to bring Kallie over?”
Brock grinned. “Anytime, man… anytime.”
They met each other’s gaze, then moved in for back slaps. “Then we’ll plan it soon. Take care, Brock.”
“Always,” Brock replied with a cocky grin. “You too.”
Giving a chin lift in agreement, he watched as Brock slowly walked to his vehicle. Lost in thought for a moment, he jolted as small hands touched his back before sliding around his waist. Feeling Harper’s front press against his back, he knew he wanted to have her with him every day.
Turning around so that his front was now pressed against Harper’s, words flew from his mind as he stared at her fresh-faced beauty so intently looking up at him. Leaning forward, he kissed her, intending for the touch to be gentle, but with the tip of her tongue on his, it flamed. Scooping her into his arms, he laughed as she squealed in delight, hanging on tightly as he stalked up the stairs toward the bedroom.
27
Sean sat at his desk glancing toward Jonas, both with files and lists in front of them. A week had passed and there had been one more fire. The ash evidence proved that their arsonist was still using phosphorus and carbon disulfide and the pile of rocks still his calling card.
His phone rang and he answered it with his usual greeting. “McBride.”
“Detective McBride? Of the Arson Division?”
“Yes, ma’am. May I help you?”
“I’m hoping that I can help you,” she replied. “I’m Valerie Gladden. I believe you sent in a request to speak to me. I’m an FBI profiler specializing in arsonists.”
He sat up straighter in his seat. “Yes, thank you for calling Agent Gladden.”
“Oh, just call me Valerie.”
“Would you mind if I put us on speaker so that my partner, Jonas Miller, can hear us as well?”
“I’m actually driving right now and prefer not to try to have an involved conversation while in traffic. I’m not too far from the Inner Harbor of Hope City. Would we be able to meet for coffee?”
Agreeing, he gave her the name of Casey’s Diner. “It’s not too far, and my partner and I can meet you there in thirty minutes.” Disconnecting, he looked at Jonas and explained who Valerie was and where they were meeting.
Thirty minutes later, he and Jonas were in a booth, sitting across from Valerie, an attractive woman with her blonde hair pulled back in a low ponytail and the FBI’s prerequisite dark pantsuit and white blouse.
“To be honest, I doubt that there’s much I can offer you that you don’t already know,” she confessed, taking a sip of her coffee.
“At this point, we’ll take anything,” Sean said.
“There are numerous profiles on arsonists, but of course, the problem with profiles is that they’re not exact. For example, the information comes from arsonists that have been caught, not the arsonists that have gotten away. According to one report in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, the majority of profiled arsonists have a below-normal IQ, with one in four falling into the below seventy IQ range. Of course, we can only use that information in the context that it came from profiled arsonists… those who were caught. There are many more arsonists out there who were never caught, probably having a much higher IQ, therefore skewing the statistic. According to the Department of Homeland Security, half of all arsons are committed by those younger than the age of eighteen, and the other half is typically in their twenties. Older arsonists are usually motivated by profit. Interestingly enough, about ninety percent of arsonists are male and usually white.”
Sean rubbed his chin and shook his head slightly. “I just don’t see our guy being in his twenties. It seems random, and yet I’m sure that it’s not. I know that he’s working methodically. That just seems like an older person to me.”
Nodding, Valerie agreed. “That’s why we have to be leery of profiling arsonists because, as I said, those are based on the ones who have been caught. There’s an expert in the field who counsels young arsonists and said that many of his patients are extremely bright. They often have a history of neglect and physical abuse. Those are often sexually aroused by fire.”
“Jesus,” Jonas said, leaning forward with his forearms on the table.
“These are things that are more recently coming out,” Valerie continued. “In the past, it’s been hard to study arson because of the compilation and