Page 33 of Forged By Fire

Leslie chose a cup of chicken tortilla soup so that Becca wouldn’t be eating alone.

Halfway through her meal, Becca set her fork down, her expression becoming serious.

“I’m worried about Danny. I know he’s recovering and that’s going to take a while, but he seems so tired today. More tired than he was yesterday evening, even after coming out of surgery. I don’t know, I can’t explain it. His eyes don’t look right.” She sighed. “Maybe I’m just being paranoid.”

Leslie reached across the table and gave her friend’s hand a squeeze. “You know Danny better than anyone else here. Ask the doctor when he comes by. It doesn’t hurt to be cautious, and that’s a far cry from being paranoid.”

She tried to distract Becca by asking about her baby shower, which Becca told her all about.

When they were done eating, they made their way back to Danny’s hospital room where he was still sleeping soundly. With a whispered goodbye, she left so that he could rest and Becca could maintain her vigil.

Since she’d promised she’d wait for Clint, she decidedto claim a chair at the end of the hall from Danny’s room and read for a while. Or at least try. Every time she made herself focus on the words, her mind either drifted back to Becca’s worries, the kiss she’d shared with Clint, or the fact that the man who’d put Danny in the hospital was still out there somewhere.

Chapter Eighteen

Ortiz may have been a lot of things, but Clint had a hard time believing the man was capable of attempted murder. Especially since, from the moment he sat down in the interrogation room, he couldn’t stop apologizing for all the things he’d stolen at the fire station.

“I never wanted to take them, but I had no control over it. I thought about putting them back, but I was afraid I’d get caught. That’s why I threw most of it away. I certainly didn’t deserve to keep them.” Ortiz hung his head. “It was never my intention to hurt anyone I worked with.”

Clint looked to his left where Dr. Gerard was sitting. The two of them were watching the interview from the other side of a one-way mirror. Only Detective Paris was in the room with their suspect. Dr. Gerard had thought Ortiz might be more likely to open up if he didn’t feel as though he were being ganged up on.

“What have you been doing since you quit working for the fire department?” Paris had clearly thought through hisline of questioning. By avoiding words like “fired,” he was helping Ortiz feel more relaxed. Less judged.

Their suspect raked his fingers through his hair before pressing palms together and placing them between his knees. “I went to rehab for a while. Four months or so, maybe? It helped some. My doctor prescribed medication, and I’ve been working on some behavioral therapy. I think that’s helped the most. I’m also going to support groups and doing my best not to relapse.”

“That’s great, Mr. Ortiz. I’m happy to hear that. Where do you work now?”

“I transcribe documents from home for a doctor’s office here in town. On the weekend and evenings, I help a non-profit organization with their food pantry.” For the first time since coming into the station, Ortiz looked engaged and excited as he spoke about his work. “Being able to provide food for people who might otherwise go hungry is a true privilege.”

Paris nodded and offered a kind smile. “It sounds like a wonderful opportunity. You know, I only have a few more questions for you, but I could use some coffee. Can I get you a cup?”

“Please. Sugar, if you have it.”

“Absolutely. I’ll be back in just a minute.” Paris patted the table with his hand and stood.

Less than a minute later, the door to the observation room opened, and Paris slipped inside.

“Thoughts, Dr. Gerard?”

“He seems to genuinely regret what’s happened in the past. The combination of medication and behavioral therapy, coupled with a support group seems to be doing a world of good to keep his kleptomania under control. By making a living transcribing medical records, he’s removingthe general temptation to steal that he might face by working outside the home. Spending his free time helping others in need keeps him from getting bored and helps put a focus on others.” Gerard motioned to the man sitting patiently in the interrogation room. “I see nothing in his behavior to suggest he’s the man you’re looking for.”

Paris nodded thoughtfully. “I was thinking that as well. I want to ask him about taking the turnout gear and the man he seemed to be working with that day. Do you see any reason why I shouldn’t?”

“Avoid making it sound like an accusation, or he could become agitated and withdraw.”

Clint leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “If stealing something like the gear is not common for someone with kleptomania, then Ortiz was likely very uncomfortable taking it in the first place. It could be that the man who was helping him orchestrated the theft.”

“All right. I’m going to grab us both some coffee and head in for round two.” Paris left the room and closed the door quietly behind him.

“I’ve never known someone with kleptomania,” Clint said conversationally. “It sounds like it’s not unlike alcoholism or drug use.”

“You’re right. It’s an addiction that hurts him as much or more than it does the people he steals from. There’s a lot of shame and embarrassment associated with the illness, and it’s difficult to ask for help. The fact that Ortiz has done so much to better his condition and his life speaks volumes about his character. He can’t help having kleptomania, but he’s doing everything he can to thrive in spite of it.”

Yeah, there was no way this guy was targeting firefighters and trying to kill them. If it hadn’t been for hisillness rearing its ugly head, Ortiz likely would’ve been a valuable addition to the Destiny Fire Department.

Paris entered the interrogation room again, this time with two cups of coffee. He set one in front of Ortiz, gave him three packets of sugar and a coffee stirrer, then took a seat.

“Look, Ortiz, the main reason I needed you to come in is because I need your help locating someone. There’s a man in Destiny who started a dangerous fire and was seen wearing a set of gear stolen from one of the fire stations.”

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