Page 62 of Serial Burn

But what interested Jesslyn most was the cash register in the image. It was distinctive, with the gold dragon design on the side. “I’ve been in that store,” she said. “Before this morning, I mean. I went there with someone.”

Andrew leaned forward. “Who?”

She shook her head. “No idea. My mom maybe? Or my dad?Probably my dad since he’s the one who bought the jewelry for my mother. I don’t know, but I do recognize the interior of the store and know I’ve been there because of that cash register. The man, probably Isabelle’s grandfather, let me push the buttons on it and ring up the sale.” Why couldn’t she remember who she’d been with?

Her phone rang and it was her chief. She glanced at the guys. “I need to take this. I’m sure it’s about the fire.”

Nathan nodded to Andrew. “We’ll just step outside. I want to check in and see if there’s an update on the wreck.”

“The wreck. Yes.” Jesslyn pressed fingers to her temples. “I need to call the rental car company. Thank goodness I got all the insurance available on it.”

NATHAN LEFT JESSLYNat the hospital under the watchful eye of two Lake City police officers. They were men he’d worked with as a detective and he trusted they would keep her safe. And Tate promised to keep an eye on her as well.

“I’m going to head to my parents’,” Andrew said. “I have a family dinner thing I promised to attend.”

“Have fun. I’m going to the scene of the fire and then I’m going home too.”

“Let me know if you find out anything new.”

“Of course.”

The fire at the gym had been out for a while, and Charles Alexander, a fire marshal from Asheville, had come over to work the scene. He’d update Jesslyn with his findings and she’d take it from there if she was able.

When Nathan stepped out of the hospital, the rain was coming down in buckets. His first thought was that at least the arsonist wouldn’t strike in this kind of downpour. If that was the case, maybe they could catch a break while he waited out the weather.

The problem was, they really didn’t have any viable suspects.A few maybes, but no one who really stood out. Which was odd. Usually—okay,mostof the time—someone did.

He was stumped.

He drove out to the scene of the gym fire. Well, it wasn’t so much a fire now as a burned-out shell, thanks to the downpour that had now slowed to a misty drizzle.

He grabbed his umbrella and walked over to the man who he suspected was the fire marshal for this scene. “Nathan Carlisle, FBI.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Charles Alexander. How’s Jesslyn?”

“She’s still in the hospital for observation, but they’ll probably release her tomorrow.”

“Good. Scared me to death when I heard about the wreck.”

Try witnessing it, he wanted to say. “Anything else you can tell us about this fire?”

“It was a doozy. Permanganate and antifreeze. Sound familiar?”

He nodded. Just like the other fire, but Jesslyn had already figured that out. He handed the man his card. “I know you’re going to loop Jesslyn in on everything you find, but do you mind calling me too?”

“Of course not.” Charles pocketed the card, and on a whim, Nathan pulled his phone out and tapped the screen to show the man Kenny’s picture. “Have you ever seen this guy before at any other fires you’ve investigated?”

Charles shook his head. “No, don’t recognize him.”

It was a long shot. “Thanks.”

“But I did have a fire with this same accelerant. I’m guessing whoever set this one set the one I covered.”

“Really? Where and when?”

“Last week. The bank on Shady Oaks Drive. First Credit about thirty minutes from here on the outskirts of town, so it would normally have been her fire, but I covered it because she was gone.”

“Jess never mentioned that one.”

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