Chapter 13

13

The smell hit Colin before they reached the ruins. The air was saturated with a burned odor that seeped into their SUV, but not a pleasant campfire, fireplace, or woodstove aroma people, including Colin, loved to smell. Mingled with the burned wood were furnishings and other materials releasing unpleasant odors.

And coming along with the smell was Colin’s unease in bringing Brooklyn here. The guys were likely right. Tarver wouldn’t come anywhere near this place, and she would be fine, but there was no guarantee. Something Colin needed. Craved as much as air.

He’d never worried this much before. But then, working in cybercrimes, he didn’t often see people in immediate danger. Still, it was more than that. She got to him in a way that he both liked and hated. Right now he hated it as it left him vulnerable and filled with concern.

Dev turned into the driveway and lowered his window to show his ID to the deputy securing the property.

Good. Good . A law enforcement presence would help.

“Glad to see Sheriff Day has the resources to be able to secure this place,” Colin said to Brooklyn from across the backseat.

She swiveled to face him. “Helps you know Kane didn’t get back onto the property.”

“At least not from this direction,” he said. “But having a police presence lowers the odds of him trying it from any direction.”

As did having Micha with them. Colin had convinced everyone to wait for him to finish his class so he could ride shotgun, literally. Dev loved guns and was an expert shot, but Micha outgunned him. As the team’s weapons expert and best marksman, Micha had brought his favorite rifle and would take a stand in a nearby tree to be able to continuously search the area and the tree canopy for a sniper.

“Are you usually this cautious?” she asked.

He shrugged. He couldn’t admit he had feelings for her when he’d just met her.

“Is there some reason you’re more worried about me?”

Ah, right to the point, as he was learning she preferred. He liked that among so many other things he’d observed about her. “I feel a responsibility for you.”

“Because I work for you?” she added.

“Yeah, that, and?—”

“We’re good to go,” Dev said, saving Colin before he confessed his feelings for her.

The car pulled forward, and he glanced back to be sure that Ryan was jumping out of the other vehicle to take watch at the mouth of the driveway. He was, just like they’d planned. One thing about this team. They might disagree and even argue at times, but when it came time to implement a plan, they were like the proverbial well-oiled machine. No one strayed from their assignment unless a life was on the line.

The vehicle bumped over ruts, and Dev parked behind the van, this one belonging to the Veritas team. Chelsea Vale, one of the Veritas crime-scene photographers, had driven through the night to bring additional equipment for Kelsey and Sierra this morning and to assist with photographing the crime scene.

She stood near the van, talking to two other guys in white suits. Techs who most likely came with her. She wore her hair in braids. That, along with freckles covering her face, left her with a girl-next-door look, not a forensic photographer, but her expression was all business.

Dev killed the engine and leaned over the seat to look at Brooklyn. “You stay put while everyone gets into position.”

She gave him a sweet smile. “I can do that.”

“I’ll let you know when I’ve located a good stand.” Dressed in camouflage, Micha slid out and disappeared into the wooded area aligning the drive.

“Let me tell Sierra and Kelsey what’s going on and post the other guys. I’ll be right back.” Dev hopped out and talked to Reid and Nick, who’d parked behind them.

They marched across the lot and took stances near the house that looked even less like a house in the daylight. A few structural timbers remained standing, along with a small section of the roof. Colin would make sure that area was off limits to Brooklyn. All of the team really. Too dangerous. But he would wait to warn her until they were in the house where she could get a better picture of the destruction and realize his warning was valid.

“Not much left,” she said, wringing her hands together.

Was she having second thoughts? Could he persuade her to leave? “You still want to go inside?”

“Want to, no. Will, yes.” She firmed her shoulders.

“I doubt there will be anything the Veritas staff misses,” he said, still trying to give her a reason not to stay.

“You could be right.” She bit her lower lip. “But at least I can sleep better tonight knowing I tried to help.”

Sure, but you might not sleep when nightmares of a burn victim permeate your dreams. He didn’t say that of course. He didn’t have the heart to. And for all he knew, Kelsey had removed the remains, and Brooklyn could be spared that sight.

Dev started back in their direction.

“Got a perfect stand, and you’re good to go.” Micha’s deep voice came over the comms unit.

Dev opened Brooklyn’s door. “We’re good to go.”

She slid toward the door.

Colin grabbed her hand. “Hold up until I get out. Remember. You stay between Dev and me the entire time.”

“Right.” She smiled at him.

A sweet, apologetic smile that melted any worry he had for her. Albeit for only a moment. A brief flash of a time while he imagined life with her when she wasn’t under siege by some madman.

He pushed out of the SUV and made his way to her side, taking in every bit of the area around him. The two forensic nerds who’d been with Chelsea scurried like little bugs in different directions, large plastic cases in their hands. One headed for Sierra, who was kneeling on the left side of the building, the other to Kelsey, who knelt by the body.

Neither woman looked up. Not for the men or for the arrival of the vehicle. Clearly they were in the zone, and Colin hated to disturb them, but he needed an update to formulate a plan.

“Straight to the house,” he said to Brooklyn, though he was sad to see that the remains were still on scene for her view.

The three of them crossed the area, now soggy and muddy from the water sprayed by firefighters’ hoses. Brooklyn’s boot caught, and she stumbled. Colin caught her arm and righted her.

She looked up at him. “Thanks for saving me from a mud bath. I’ve heard they can be good for the skin, but I don’t have time today to think about my complexion.”

She laughed, but as they stepped into the ruins and picked their way to Kelsey, her good humor evaporated.

“Oh. Oh. Oh, my. That’s horrific.” Her face paled, and she looked away from the victim to gulp in air.

Kelsey stood, a spray bottle in hand. “It is indeed horrific.”

Colin continued to hope smoke inhalation had gotten this guy first, but the trail of gasoline straight to his body probably said otherwise. Colin studied the victim. There didn’t seem to be any change or attempt to remove the remains.

He introduced Brooklyn to Kelsey.

“Nice to meet you,” Brooklyn said but kept her focus in the distance.

“I’m sorry it’s under such difficult circumstances,” Kelsey said.

“How’s your progress coming?” he asked Kelsey to move them along, yet try not to come across as judgmental.

“I get it, it doesn’t look like I’ve done a thing, does it?” She wrinkled her nose. “But I assure you I’ve been busy. We’ve completed the photos, and I’m in the process of stabilizing the remains before moving and transporting them.”

“Stabilizing?” Brooklyn asked, but looked at Kelsey instead of the victim.

She shifted the plastic bottle to her other hand. “As I mentioned, the person’s fingerprints and DNA are often destroyed in high-temperature fires, which we have here. They’re the most resilient part of the body. However, with victims this severely burned, the dental remains are the fastest and most reliable way to gain ID.”

“I hear a but coming,” Dev said.

“You’re right.” She compressed her lips into a flat line. “But incinerated dental remains can be fragile, falling apart in transport and leading to errors in ID. So if we can stabilize them before transport we have a better chance of being accurate. We have a new method to accomplish that. Special spray glue.” She held up the spray bottle. “I’m setting a virtual cast over the victim’s jaw, and we’ll have better odds of finding his ID.”

“Seems like you really are on your game,” Brooklyn said.

“They’re the best at what they do,” Dev said. “And that includes using new and cutting-edge procedures. Superhuman forensic staff.”

“I assure you we’re very human.” Kelsey waved a hand. “We do our best and are fortunate that researchers like to partner with us to test new products and procedures.”

“What about DNA?” Colin asked. “Do you still think that’s a viable option?”

Kelsey frowned. “I don’t know yet. I mentioned the heat factor, where there’s an inverse correlation. The higher the burn temperature, the less DNA is maintained.” She stared at the remains. “Emory’s test group used two different techniques to obtain DNA on burn victims. Both worked well, one better in fires that burned with higher temperatures like we have here.”

“But it’s different than the basic DNA tests performed for crimes?” Dev asked.

Kelsey nodded. “This technique allows for the amplification of shorter DNA fragments. I know that means nothing to you, but it’s useful in those hotter fires. So Emory has several methods she can use, and our chances of a DNA identity are better than if we hadn’t been called in.”

“I’m thankful you came,” Brooklyn said. “I will forever be in your debt.”

“Glad to do it.” Kelsey gave a soft smile that she seemed to have at the ready at all times, even at a gruesome scene like the one surrounding them. “We would love it if you found a way to pay it forward but don’t require it.”

“I will.” Brooklyn’s firm tone said she fully intended to do so. “You can count on it.”

Kelsey tipped her head at the body. “That’s all I have for now, and I need to get back to it, but you’re welcome to check in with Sierra.”

“We will,” Colin said. “Thanks for your help.”

He escorted Brooklyn across the house, picking their way through rubble and debris. Chelsea had joined Sierra and was snapping photos of something by a marker.

Colin wanted to ask about the item right off the bat, but he didn’t want to be rude, so he introduced Brooklyn.

They exchanged greetings, and Sierra introduced them to Chelsea, who cast a quick smile then went back to work.

“What have you found that Chelsea can’t seem to look away from?” Brooklyn asked.

“Sorry, we all get like that on the job at times.” Sierra cast an apologetic look at Brooklyn. “Nothing particularly unusual, but could be crucial to the investigation.”

“Okay, now I wouldn’t be able to look away either.” Brooklyn’s coloring started to return. “But your marker is hiding the item.”

“Sorry,” Sierra said. “It’s a shell casing. Looks like a 9mm, but that’s just a guess. Grady, our weapon’s expert, will have to confirm. Regardless, it could be proof that a bullet had been discharged here. Or not. Just a casing dropped. Could’ve been left as a way to lead us off track. We won’t know unless we recover a slug.”

“Mind if we take a closer look at it?” Dev asked. “We all have weapons chambered for 9mms.”

Chelsea let her camera hang from the strap around her neck, featuring the design of bright yellow crime scene tape. “I’m done with the photos.”

Sierra bent to pick up the bullet casing and displayed it on her gloved palm. The brass had discolored but was intact. “Thankfully, this wasn’t in the path of the accelerant or the extreme heat could’ve melted the brass.”

“Looks like the casing for my Glock.” Brooklyn tapped the gun she wore under an overshirt.

Sierra looked at her. “Ah, so you’re a gun owner like most of us here. I’m not surprised, with this guy after you. It does appear to be a 9mm casing, the same caliber as your Glock is chambered for, so makes sense that you think it could be for your gun. Of course, that’s just a guess based on years of recovering bullets, and like I said, Grady will have to evaluate it to be sure.”

“Looks like a nine to me too,” Dev said. “Good find. Have you located anything else of interest?”

“I told you about the Sig with silencer I located, which is chambered for a 9mm, so that could further suggest a bullet was discharged here.”

“Indeed,” Dev said. “Maybe our victim didn’t die from the fire after all.”

“If not, hopefully, Kelsey will be able to prove that,” Sierra said. “In other evidence, I’ve recovered the main doorknob and will process it back at the lab to see if it holds any viable fingerprints.”

“You can find prints even after the fire?” Brooklyn asked.

“Maybe. If I can clean it satisfactorily. The soot’s minimal, so I don’t think it’ll be a problem. And we’ve gotten better results using a newer technique called vacuum metal deposition.”

“Never heard of that,” Colin said.

Sierra got out a plastic bag and dropped the casing inside. “The process involves the thermal evaporation of metals inside a special chamber. The controlled high-vacuum conditions cause the metals—mostly gold, silver, and zinc—to form thin films, developing any fingerprints present and making them visible.”

Colin was impressed with her knowledge, even if he didn’t really understand the method. “And you can use this process on burned items like the doorknob or casing?”

Sierra nodded. “I have to safely remove the soot first. It doesn’t always work, but those cases are rare.”

“How long before we’ll get fingerprint results?” Brooklyn asked.

Sierra tilted her head. “It’ll be awhile. I can’t do it in the field. I have to use a custom-built chamber in my lab. I’ll have to finish up here first, but once I return to the lab, it should move along fast. Will take longer if the cleaning process is more difficult.”

“Can’t someone else at your lab run the test?” Brooklyn asked, sounding impatient for results.

“Sorry, no.” Sierra frowned. “Just me.”

“And I don’t suppose you want to leave here right now,” Dev said.

“I wouldn’t mind leaving a crime scene.” Sierra gave a wistful look. “But never before the scene is thoroughly processed.”

“Which will be when?” Brooklyn asked.

“Now that we have help”—Sierra nodded at her photographer—“I’d say it cuts our time down to a day or two.”

“Man.” Brooklyn bit her lip. “That long? Wait…sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like I was complaining. Just coming to realize that this isn’t a speedy process.”

“It’s an exacting science that will take as long as it takes.” Sierra locked gazes with Brooklyn. “Unless, of course, you’re clairvoyant and can direct us to evidence.”

Brooklyn laughed but looked around the ruins as if she thought she might be able to help. “Kane loved to hide things in his bedroom. Under the floorboards. Do we have any idea which room was his?”

Sierra shook her head. “Guessing by size, I’d say the large corner room in the back.”

Colin studied the area where the celling remained hanging precariously over the bedroom. “I’m assuming with the structure partially standing, you’ve stayed away from there.”

Sierra nodded. “Too dangerous. We’re waiting for the fire department to come back and safely bring it down for us.”

“But that’ll just set things back further.” Brooklyn looked between all of them, her frustrations so evident in her downturned mouth that she looked like a pouting little girl.

If the situation weren’t so serious, Colin would chuckle. But it was serious, made more so by the status of the structure. “We’ll just have to?—”

“Sorry.” Brooklyn flashed him an apologetic look and bolted for the corner.

“Stop!” Colin called out. Why he didn’t know? She wouldn’t listen. He raced after her, careful not to catch his foot in a hole.

She moved at a rapid pace, continuing ahead of him and reaching a section where a closet had likely stood. By the time he reached her, she’d dropped to her knees. She clawed at the floorboards and one lifted in her hands. Then a second one came up. A third one.

“See.” She glanced up, a triumphant look on her face. “I told you he hid things under the floor.”

She had indeed. “But is there anything in there?”

She reached into the crawl space, but the ceiling groaned and shifted.

The roof was coming down. Now! On top of them. Too late to move out of the area. He had no choice.

He dove for the floor, circled Brooklyn’s waist with his arm, and took her down to the charred floor. He rolled on top of her and covered her as best he could. He spotted something black in the space she’d revealed.

Had she been right? Tarver had hidden something?

Didn’t matter at the moment. Lumber came crashing down on his back.

Now his focus had to be on staying alive.