Chapter 24: The Smallest Things We Forget

Paleto Forest
Paleto Bay
20 Minutes Later

Harrison and Xander pulled up in the former's Dodge Charger SXT to the threshold of the cordoned off area just near the turn off that lead toward the Paleto Forest nature and hunting area which was a mere stone's throw from Paleto Bay, a small town which inhabited the upper edge of Blaine County. Beyond this safeguarded area, every available firefighter from both the Sandy Shores and Paleto Bay volunteer fire departments was busy trying to knock down a blazing fire on the left side of the road, as well as attempting to prevent the fire from spreading toward nearby trees and utility lines.

This epic, smoky blaze seemed to originate from the now essentially incinerated shell of the vehicle that both the LSPD sergeants believed to have been the ominous black Cadillac Escalade that they had been looking for. Xander walked up and displayed his LSPD Sergeant's shield to the young male Blaine County deputy who was guarding the perimeter.

"Sergeant Adam Xander", Xander announced, "Los Santos PD." He then motioned to Harrison. "This gentleman is my colleague", he continued, "Sergeant Troy Harrison. Who's the fire department's incident commander out here?"

The deputy then pointed to a tall older white man who was wearing a Sandy Shores Fire Department bunker coat and a white firefighter helmet, the lettering and markings on the helmet signifying that he was the Fire Chief. "Chief Cox from Sandy Shores", he said.

Xander nodded. "I know him", he replied, "We'd like a quick word with him, if possible, please."

With a confirmatory nod of his own in response, the deputy then turned in Chief Cox's direction and put both hands on either side of his mouth. "Chief Cox!" he loudly called out, "Two city cops want to talk to you!"

Chief Bobby Cox then turned in their direction and nodded before jaunting over to where Harrison, Xander, and the deputy were standing. Cox was a tall older white male appearing to be in his mid-50's. Immediately recognizing Xander, he extended a gloved hand to him. "Hey Adam", he politely said, "Fancy meeting you all the way out here."

Xander returned the chief's gesture with a firm handshake. "Hey Chief", he said before motioning to Harrison with his eyes, "This is Sergeant Troy Harrison. He's a good friend of mine. Troy, this is Chief Bobby Cox with Sandy Shores Fire. I volunteer with his department on weekends."

Harrison nodded and shook the chief's hand himself. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir" he said, "Adam speaks highly of you."

"The pleasure's all mine, Sergeant" Cox cordially replied.

"What went down here tonight?" Harrison asked.

"The staff at the Cluckin' Bell plant down the road called Paleto Bay FD after the smoke from the car fire wafted over there and set off their smoke alarms", Cox explained, "They responded and saw a vehicle on fire by the forest here. They were concerned that the flames could spread and cause a bigger problem, so they called us in to help manage the incident. What's LSPD's interest in this?"

"We believe that car that's burning was used to dump a body in Sandy Shores earlier tonight", Xander explained, "One of our off-duty detectives happened to witness the situation and went to check the guy's vitals. Turns out he was actually still alive."

"Holy shit", Cox candidly and colorfully replied, "How's he doing?"

"It's pretty touch and go at the moment", Harrison cut in, "The medevac chopper took him to Pillbox Hill Medical Center back in Los Santos. He should still be in surgery as we speak."

"Do you mind if we give the car the once over once you guys knock out the fire?" Xander asked.

Cox nodded. "As soon as we get the fire under control", he said, "You guys can work alongside us while we do the overhaul."

"Sounds good", Xander said as he gave Cox an thankful pat on the shoulder, "Appreciate it, Chief. Thanks."

"Not a problem, boys", Cox said, "Glad to help."

The two collective groups of firefighters spent the next 10 minutes hosing out the raging car fire. Chief Cox then waved the two sergeants over once the flames and any other potential hazards from the fire had been properly addressed and dealt with.

"We're all set, fellas" Cox said, "You guys should grab some protective gear before you inspect the car, though. There are a pair of bunker coats, some gloves, and some hard hats in the bottom compartment of Paleto Engine One." The chief then pointed to a large red Paleto Bay fire engine that was strategically parked just inside the blocked off area.

As instructed, Harrison and Xander went over to the engine, at which point Xander opened up the bottom compartment and grabbed a Sandy Shores FD bunker coat, which just so happened to be his own personalized one that he wore when volunteering with the department on weekends, and put it on. He then handed Harrison a second bunker coat, this one only baring the department name and bearing an orange reflective stripe on the bottom.

"So, this is how you spend your weekends, huh, Adam?" Harrison asked with a very noticeably acerbic tone as he donned the bunker coat.

Xander nodded as he put a neon yellow hard hat on his head and handing another identical one to Harrison. "It has it's perks", he said, "Knocking out blazes, extricating people from cars, pulling cats out of trees…"

"…And getting hot chicks is a very prominent benefit, I'm sure" Harrison cut in with the same sharp sarcasm as he donned the provided hat.

Xander chuckled in retort. "Fuck you", he lightheartedly replied, "Not all of us can seal the deal with a gorgeous, brainy, blonde Russian honey like Anna Barakova."

Putting on heavy duty work gloves, the two sergeants gone down to examining the car, with Xander meticulously noting the amount of burn charring around the vehicle's front windows. "This fire was an angry son of a bitch", he said, "As soon as the windows blew out, the flames fed off the outside oxygen, thereby increasing in size and severity."

"And that's a common phenomenon?" Harrison asked, "Sorry. I don't have much experience in fire investigations."

"Yes", Xander replied, "Fires feed off oxygen. With this car being all out in the open like this, it had plenty of oxygen to fuel itself."

Xander then knelt down beside the Escalade's driver's-side door. "The tremendous level of heat probably screwed us out of any fingerprints we may have been able to find on the door handle or door itself", he continued.

"As much as that does suck", Harrison said, "It does make sense. Extreme heat levels can damage or even completely melt off the lipids and other organic compounds that fingerprints are composed of. The question now is, I guess, where does that leave us?"

Xander didn't immediately say anything in response, instead electing to tightly grip the driver's-side door by its handle with his gloved right hand and pull with what appeared to be all his strength. His momentary bit of exertion did pay off, however, when the partially burnt door swung open with a loud creak, at which point Xander gestured to an intact and readable sticker on the inside panel of the door near the hatch.

"With a perfectly intact Vehicle Identification Number", Xander replied with a certain amount of pride in his tone.

Harrison knelt down to the now-open door and eyed the VIN number for himself before looking back up to Xander and smiling. "Nice work, Adam" he said, "Holy shit. Who needs a pry bar when you're working with strong-ass Adam Xander?"

A now very flattered Xander smiled and patted Harrison on the shoulder. "Thanks, bud" he replied, "I'm going to go call Dispatch and have them run that VIN. I'll be right back."

Harrison nodded and rose back up to his feet, watching Xander walk away for a moment before taking a beat of his own and just taking in the scene. He heard the sound of glass bits crunching into the boot soles of all the firefighters working inside the scene, which prompted him to check his own shoes for possibly embedded glass, finding satisfaction that he hadn't picked any up. The smell of burnt leather from the Escalade's incinerated interior still hung in the air, the distinctively pungent aroma made worse when mixed with the equally overpowering odor of smoke.

Xander returned to Harrison's side a few minutes later. "I got a hit on that VIN number", he said, "The Escalade belongs to a thirty-five-year-old stockbroker from Los Santos. He filed a report at my station two days ago after he left a Hawaiian Snow clothing store in Alta to find that the car had been stolen."

"I know where that is", Harrison said, "Public parking on that side of the city is at a very inconvenient minimum. I'm sure it's easy pickings for any sticky-fingered car thief."

"Except that it probably wasn't a sticky-fingered car thief who dumped Ahron Ward from that car after putting two shots in his head", Xander very matter-of-factly replied.

"So, the car was stolen in LS", Harrison added, "Where it was then used in the abduction and shooting of Ahron Ward. Ward then gets driven out here to Blaine County, where he gets dumped in Sandy Shores. Sounds like grounds for a joint Los Santos/Blaine County investigation to me."

Xander nodded. "I agree", he said, "the Sheriff's Office is pretty much right around the corner. Why don't we go have a chat with Sheriff Burton and try to get that ball rolling, bud?"

As the two men made their way back toward Harrison's Charger, Harrison caught a glimpse of a wire-thin bald man dismount from a dirt bike right beside his car. Both he and Xander observed the strange man stick some sort of object to the front push bar mounted on the Charger's front bumper.

"Hey!" Harrison shouted in the man's direction, "What the fuck are you doing to my car?"

With that, the man mounted the bike once again before quickly speeding off. Harrison and Xander picked up the pace and got to the former's car hurriedly, at which point Harrison inspected the strange item and immediately grimaced.

"What is it?" Xander asked.

"It's a fucking used condom, dude!" A now angry Harrison replied, "Who the hell was that shmuck, anyway?"

Xander sighed in realization. "Trevor fucking Phillips", he said.

[Author's Note: Sorry if Trevor's little prank grosses any of you guys out. Believe me, though, the condom was a lot less disgusting than what I had originally envisioned Trevor putting on the front of the car!]