appreciate any thoughts you have on who we may be looking for.”
Glancing back at the map board, she said, “You might be able to discern more from where he has set fires and anticipating where he might set them in the future.”
“We thought about that. We’re hoping to use cameras that are already in the areas, plus maybe adding some to see if that will help us.”
As she turned to walk out, she passed his desk and glanced at the lists they were comparing. He explained, “We’re looking at people who did not make it to the firefighting training and trying to compare that list with those who have bought phosphorus and carbon disulfide.”
“I hate to add more to your work, but I’d add current firefighters and retired firefighters to your list as well. Whoever is doing this,” she nodded toward the map board, “is intelligent.”
31
“Dad, glad you could make it.”
Sean shook hands with his father, and they walked to the Arson Division’s workroom. Todd came out of his office, his hand extended toward Colm.
“Colm, good to see you again.”
“Todd, nice to see you too.”
Glancing over his shoulder toward Sean’s desk, he said, “This serial arsonist case is getting stranger by the minute. They’re usually caught when someone becomes suspicious and turns them in. Who knows? We just might be able to zero in on where they’ll strike next based on whatever you can tell us.”
Lifting his shoulders in a shrug, Colm said, “There’s no telling what this person is thinking, but if they’re using the pattern of a constellation, then we might have a chance of figuring where they’ll strike next.”
With that, Todd walked back into his office, and Colm followed Sean over to their map board. For several long minutes, Colm stood in silence, arms crossed over his chest, and stared at the board. He moved closer, shifting his glasses slightly on his face for better vision, then slowly walked back and forth, taking note of each pushpin.
Rubbing his chin, he nodded. “Well, let’s see if we can make any sense out of this.”
Sean shot Jonas a quick grin, and the three of them sat down at a table that had been placed in front of the map board. Sean had printed out copies of the constellation in various forms and passed them out among the three of them.
“In its simplest form, like this image here, the Phoenix constellation has fifteen star points. Some images will have less and some more, because it depends on the particular image you’re looking at. It has four main stars, and ten of its stars have planets. But if we look at the places on this map and compare it to the basic thirteen- to fifteen-star constellation that most people agree on, we can see he’s hit two on the southern part of the Inner Harbor, both in areas that are not so good. Over here is where he hit the warehouse. The shed was in the Old Town area. And he has two of the three in the western part of downtown.”
“Fuck, that still leaves several locations that he can target,” Jonas said.
“And even if we know the area, we can’t pinpoint the exact location or building.” Sean rubbed his chin. “Although, so far, he’s been hitting empty buildings.”
Colm held his son’s gaze. “My concern is that he hasn’t started a fire in the location that would be where the brightest star, Ankaa, is located.”
Sean sucked in a quick breath. “What do you think that means, dad?”
“I don’t know, Sean. But it gives me a bad feeling. When he strikes this location, it could be bigger than the others.”
Looking at the map where his father was tapping his finger, Sean’s heart clenched. Colm’s finger was pointing to the area of town that Harper lived in. At least for now. Another reason to get her into my house. Soon.
A voice boomed from the doorway, and Sean turned to see Chauncey walking into the room. Grinning, he knew the Police Commissioner never just dropped into the Arson Division but that his visit was for Colm.
“I heard you were over here this morning,” Chauncey shook hands with Todd before greeting Colm. He turned and greeted Sean and Jonas. “What’s up?”
Colm inclined his head toward Sean. With a wave toward the map board, Sean said, “We’ve made a connection between the sites of the serial arsonist and, strangely enough, the constellation Phoenix.”
“No kidding?” Chauncey’s eyes widened and his voice dropped in surprise as his gaze