By the time they arrived the fire brigade had the blaze well under control. The PCs had combed the area, but found no trace of Clive Young.
"I've interviewed the owners," Sarah indicated a shell-shocked couple in their 60's. "They've never even heard of Clive Young. Same M.O. though, a milk bottle and petrol."
"Doesn't fit the pattern," Gene muttered. "Is this one him, or someone else?"
"And if it was him, what is he up to?" Sarah questioned.
Suddenly Gene's radio crackled into life. "All units, major incident at Fenchurch East Police Station. All units, please respond."
Gene brought the radio to his lips. "DCI Hunt here."
"DCI Hunt, we have a major fire at Fenchurch East Police Station. Please return to base immediately."
Gene and Sarah exchanged a look before running to the car.
On the drive back to base Gene raged about what he was going to do to Clive Young once he had hold of him. It involved Gene's hammer, some twelve inch nails and Young's scrotum. Sarah listened in silence, all the time her mind whirring with the same question. Was James in that building when it went up?
They arrived to find chaos. A cordon had been set up and fire engines were beginning to arrive. Thick black smoke and flames poured from windows and flew up into the dark night sky. The heat was unbelievable.
"Where's my staff?" Gene demanded to a nearby fireman.
"We need to check the muster point," Sarah explained.
"The what?" Gene yelled.
"The muster point! Where you have to go and stand during a fire drill," she replied.
"You mean Luigi's?"
"No, that's just where you go during fire drills for a crafty pint and a smoke," she rolled her eyes. "Come on."
They pushed through the growing crowd of onlookers and found their department across the road, opposite the building. Gene quickly ascertained that all the office staff were accounted for. He leaned against the wall and sighed in relief. Sarah looked around, nervously.
"Where is DCI Keats?" she asked. "Did he get out?"
"Don't know, ma'am," one of the administrators said.
"Did anyone see him?" She questioned.
"He was in his office, just before the fire alarms went off."
Sarah turned and ran towards the building. Gene caught up with her and grabbed her arm. "What the ruddy bloody hell are you doing?"
"What if he's inside, Gene?" She tried to shake him off but he gripped her firmly.
"You are not to go near that building, DI Jenkins," Gene shouted. "And that is a direct order." He relaxed his grip on her arm. "I'll go ask security if they saw him leave. You tell the fire officer that there might be a man trapped on our floor."
Sarah went to walk away, but Gene pulled her back.
"Would he even be in danger?" Gene questioned. "I'd have thought fire was an occupational hazard for your Jimbo."
"I don't know," she admitted. "But I can't take the chance."
Gene stared at her for a moment. "I will never understand you and 'im, love," he said softly. "Go on, I'm going to ask around."
"Thanks Guv," Sarah turned and ran towards the fire teams, locating the chief officer.
"There's a man unaccounted for on our floor," she told him.
"Where?" He showed her to a plan of the building.
"CID, there," Sarah pointed to the plan. "He has a small office inside. DCI James Keats. Jim."
"Okay love," the officer went to walk away. "We don't think the fire has spread to that floor yet. As soon as we are clear to send teams in, I'll send men up."
"Can't you go in now?" She asked.
"Not until we've done a risk assessment."
The officer walked away. Sarah looked towards the building. One of the fire exits was open; smoke poured from it, but no flames. She looked around. Gene was on the opposite side of the road talking to security, and the firemen were crowded round in a meeting. She gritted her teeth and ran for the door.
"Miss!" One of the firemen yelled. "What are you doing?"
Gene spun around in time to see Sarah reach the door. "Sarah! Get your arse out of there now. That's an order!"
Sarah disappeared into the building, without a backwards glance.
"You bloody stupid mare!" Gene raged.