will always rise, though. I can still be a hero.”
Harper had battled the paralyzing fear, but now it overwhelmed her, and she surged to her feet, unable to run but hoping to take him out. Her body slammed into his, and she brought her connected hands up, hitting his chin. His head snapped back, but not before his arms captured her and he tossed her to the floor. Her head and shoulder hit the corner of the coffee table, and while she remained conscious, pain seared through her.
Daniel picked up a box and set it on the kitchen counter. Her brain was foggy as she tried to sit up, watching in horror as he held up a large glass jar, swirling it around. Taking newspaper and rags, he poured the liquid over them and set them around the kitchen and dining room.
“No!” she screamed but to no avail. Her heart pounded at the dread of what he would do next.
He pulled out matches, struck several at one time and tossed them onto the already smoking rags, grinning as they sparked into flames. Looking back down, his face transformed from delight to sadness. “Goodbye, Harper. I truly did love you.” With that he stepped quickly out of her apartment, pulling the door closed behind him.
Harper rolled to the side and managed to scramble to a seated position again. The fire was already licking up the sides of the wall, fed by the chemicals and oxygen in a continual search for food. She hopped to the door, grabbed the knob and tried to pull it open, but it was stuck. He must have jammed it from the hall. Looking toward the window, she knew it was the only way out.
34
Sean insisted on driving, being familiar with the easiest way to get to Harper’s apartment building while avoiding areas of traffic. He had tried to call her, knowing she planned on going back to her apartment at some time, but his message went straight to voicemail. Frustrated that he did not have her work number programmed into his phone, he hoped that she was either at work or driving back to his place. One way or the other, he did not want her around to witness when they questioned Daniel.
“Do you think this guy has set more fires than what we know?” Jonas asked.
“I don’t know, but I’ve got a feeling that he may have been setting fires for years.”
Nodding his head slowly, Jonas surmised, “So, a possible hero complex when he was working for the Fire Department and revenge after he was forced into retirement.”
Focused on his driving, he turned down a few streets to avoid lights. “That would be my guess, but until we get a chance to talk to him and look into his apartment, I don’t want to hazard too many assumptions.”
“Captain James is working on obtaining a warrant, but with the exigent circumstances, we can search.”
“If he’s got phosphorus and carbon disulfide in his apartment, we’ve got to handle everything with extreme caution.” The idea that Harper might be nearby cut through Sean, and he prayed she was not in the vicinity. Mumbling, he added, “I just hope Harper still isn’t around.”
“Was she there today? I thought she’d already moved into your place.”
“She had a couple of boxes to give away that she was going to leave for Daniel. I tried calling, but it goes to voicemail. I’m hoping she’s either back at work or in her car.”
“I know she considers him a friend,” Jonas said. “If she’s there, I’ll take Daniel while you let her know that she needs to leave, and you can call her later.”
“Appreciate it.” This job needs a fuckin’ good partner. He and Jonas understood each other without having a lot of explanations needed.
When they were still a few blocks away, Jonas received a call from Beth. “Miller.”
“A 10-70 was called in. Smoke has been reported coming from the address that you’re heading to. Jonas, you’ve got to tell Sean, but the Fire Department is at Harper’s building.”
“Shit. Step on it, Sean. Harper’s apartment building is on fire.”
Heart stuttering, he pressed on the accelerator as he swerved to avoid other vehicles. Squealing around the corner, he looked ahead and could see flames shooting out of the side of a third-floor apartment, the HCFD trucks already in front, two ladders moving up. Slamming on the brakes, he jerked to a stop, barely throwing his SUV into park before bolting from behind the wheel. With