Fatal Obsession

Chapter 63

"Pete, are you downstairs?" Kyle asked when he answered the phone.

"No, I'm almost there."

"Then why are you calling?"

"An abandoned building on fire was reported twenty minutes ago." Pete's voice drifted over the phone.

"Why are you calling me about a fire?"

"I was told it might be arson."

  Kyle glanced back at Aaron who was also on his phone. Arson always meant that someone was trying to hide something.

"Did they find anything?"

"They haven't searched the place as yet."

"Meet us at the scene."

"Is Aaron coming with..." Kyle ended the call before Pete could finish asking his question. Damn guy had a thing for Aaron. Whether it was admiration or lust, he didn't care.

"Did you get a call about the fire?"

"Yeah, Pete will meet us there instead."

They left his office to head down to the garage.

"Do you want to drive?" Aaron asked.

"Yeah, let's take my car."

  On the ride to the scene, Aaron told him it was their boss Harold who had called to inform him about the fire. It seemed that the building was on the lists the police had yet to search. Now someone had set it on fire.

"What kind of building was it?"

"It was a meatpacking plant."

"How long ago did it shut down?"

"A couple of years ago."

"Hmm."

"Tell me what you think?" Kyle knew that Aaron had a good memory and was able to deduce things other people couldn't detect.

"It's a remote building, no one goes there, not even homeless people. I think Dirk was using this place as a hide out. He probably killed Logan's friends there. He left in a hurry and burned the place because he didn't want to leave any evidence."

  Kyle glanced over at Aaron. "Why didn't you become a criminal profiler?"

"I'm not trained to be a profiler. I'm a cop."

"With your quick thinking and skills, you could become one."

  Aaron looked at him. "I don't want to delve into the minds of criminals."

  Kyle knew that it was time to change the subject. "Why do you think he decided to leave?"

"Probably, something unexpected happened. He had to change his plans."

  Flashing lights up ahead captured their attention where two fire trucks were parked. Firefighters were already putting away their equipments. Black smoke rose from the smoldering building, the smell permeating the air lightly. He spotted Pete standing next to his black Toyota cruiser.

  Aaron exited the car first striding towards Pete. Kyle quickly jumped out to follow him.

"Hey, Aaron. How's it going?"

"You tell me, Pete?"

  Kyle crossed his arms with a scowl on his face watching the grin stretched on Pete's mouth.

"I can't wait for all this to be over."

  Kyle watched the exchanged between the two. He opened his mouth to reproach Pete when a firefighter walked over to their side.

"We were able to extinguished the blaze before it could cause any damage to the surrounding area."

"Did you find anything inside?" Kyle asked.

"We're sifting through each of the rooms. The fire destroyed everything in its path."

"Can we have a look around inside?"

"Sure, I'll lead you in."

  The firefighter led them inside the building.

"Where did the fire originally started?" Aaron asked.

"Upstairs, in the office." The firefighter told them while climbing the stairs. Burnt furniture was overturned on the floor landing.

  Kyle noted that the office had sustained worst of the damage. He walked over to the only desk in the room with a computer. He tapped the keys with his gloved fingers even though he knew it nothing would happen. It sucked that Dirk had destroyed potential evidence.

"Pete, look out!"

  Kyle spun around when he heard a loud crash. Aaron was on the floor, his body protecting Pete from a piece of the ceiling that had fallen. He rushed over to check on Aaron, helping him to his feet.

"What the hell happened? Are you hurt?" Kyle asked Aaron. He wanted to make sure he hadn't reopened his stitches but he would have to do that when they were alone.

"I'm good." Aaron said, as he held out a hand out to Pete.

  Kyle saw him wince in pain but kept his mouth shut. He knew Aaron wouldn't say anything with Pete around.

"It was a loose ceiling board. It probably got dislodge from the structure." The firefighter strode over to look at the ceiling board. "Gypsum material."

"What does that mean?" Pete asked.

"It means the ceiling was recently installed. This is an old building but the board isn't. It's also fire resistant."

"That's why the ceiling isn't burned like everything else." Aaron observed as he stared up at the ceiling. He took careful steps around the room, inspecting.

  Kyle turned to the firefighter. "How did it came loose?"

"It's probably from a impact. Don't worry, it won't cause any damage."

  They continued searching the building until Kyle noticed a room with a deadbolt lock on it.

  Why would there be a deadbolt on this door?

  Kyle gestured the firefighter over to the door. "Can you open this door?"

"Sure." He took his bolt cutters and cut through the shackle then removed the lock.

  Kyle used the tip of his toe to push the door open. It had also sustained damage but he could fairly see the burnt body on the table in front of him.