He resumed eating and nodded, but found himself slightly irritated by her lack of elaboration, which was a stupid response. Keeping things simple meant keeping them impersonal. He should be glad she was on the same page.
Pulling the bottom file free, Darcy opened it and began to carefully spread out photographs on her desk. Aside from a quirky blown-glass pen holder and red metal toolbox, there was nothing cluttering the pristine surface.
Jared chewed on a perfectly crispy French fry and studied the crime scene photos. She began to explain what he was looking at.
“The fire began at approximately ten o’clock in the evening. The owner locked up at eight. It started here,” she pointed to the third picture, “in the hallway outside the restrooms.”
“It was a brick-faced building?” he queried, noting the rubble.
“Yes. Florinda’s Dance Studio took over the old firehouse after the town moved all the civil services into this one area and called it a town square.” Darcy pulled another photo out of the file, this one a close-up framed with an L-square ruler, and set it in front of him. “See these curled aluminum shavings? They tested positive for traces of white phosphorous. It’s likely that the incendiary device was hidden in a soda can dropped into a waste bin.”
“Interesting.”
“You know what I think is interesting?” Setting her palms on the desktop, she leaned forward. “An arsonist who picks a brick building. There are buildings in Lion’s Bay that have been around for over a century. Good, old-fashioned wood-sided and shingled structures that would light up like a match, in areas where other buildings nearby would light up just as quickly.”
He’d been thinking along those same lines. “Any possibility this is insurance fraud?”
“With the extra fires being a deflection? The incendiary device is too sophisticated for a dabbler. Our subject is a pro.”
“Right. Go on.”
“Structure number two was an old animal shelter, built mostly from cement block.” Darcy slid the photos from the first fire into a neat pile and put them away before grabbing the second folder. She set the new photos out with care. “This location is very out of the way, but there’s a lot of vegetation. It might’ve gotten ugly if we hadn’t just had days of rain that saturated the area.”
Jared dragged one of the photos closer. “You received the anonymous tip about this fire, correct?”
“Yes.”
After he examined the images, she put them away and showed him the most recent property casualty.
“What was this place?” He eyed the unidentifiable twisted shapes that lined the floor along the walls.
“A candy shop. Those weird-looking things used to be the plastic bins the candy was kept in. The store shares a wall with a costume jewelry shop. The sophisticated fire alarm system ensured we responded quickly. The jewelry store sustained only minor damage.”
Shutting the lid of his empty food container, Jared stood and moved to the map pinned to the wall. Three red arrow stickers marked spots. “Are these where the fires took place?”
“Yes.”
He heard her put the files away while he studied the seemingly random locations. Different parts of town, different types of businesses. He sucked down the rest of the best shake he’d ever had, and said, “Let’s head to the dance studio.”
“It’s been three weeks. There’s nothing left to find.”
“It’s not evidence we’re looking for.” He met her gaze as she straightened. “The subject saw something in these targets that we’re not. If we’re going to get inside his head and anticipate his next moves, we need to figure out what’s catching his attention.”
“I’ve pored over everything until my eyes bled. I can’t see anything but random chaos.”
“A fresh perspective never hurts.” She’s reluctant to go back, he realized, wondering why and hoping that seeing her at the location would give him a clue.
“Hey.”
Jared turned toward the open doorway and the man who leaned casually into the frame there. His uniform of short-sleeve white dress shirt and navy slacks was the same as Darcy’s, except for a few extra patches on the sleeves and some gold braiding.
“Hey, Jim.” Darcy quickly introduced them.
Chief Fire Inspector James Ralston straightened and shook Jared’s hand, taking his measure with a sweeping glance. “I just heard that Darcy called in the cavalry. Hope you can help us nail this bastard.”
“Working on it.”
“Do you want to take over?” Darcy asked. “Deputy Cameron wants to check out the studio. You’ll be more help to him than I’ll be.”