Fallout Chapter 32
Turning into the hallway at Mid-Wilshire division, John almost runs into Wesley. "Hey, I was going to call you. I was wondering if you need any more help with the Studeman case."
"I could use some," Wesley confesses. "I've been going through suits filed against the contractor Studeman was working for, Morgan Callis. It took some digging to find the actions because none of them ever made it to court. They were all settled quietly."
"What was he being sued for?" John asks.
"He was accused of bribing employees of potential customers for information so he could come in with the lowest bids on projects. Callis paid off the complainants without admitting guilt. But the cases formed a pattern."
"Any competing contractor who was particularly ticked off at him?" John asks.
"A guy named Charles Verona. He owned Verona Contracting. But he lost the business and died a year before Studeman was charged with murder."
"How did he die?"
"One man car crash."
"Suicide?"
"Could have been, but it was raining, and he was diabetic. So the M.E. called it an accident."
"Any family?"
"Wife and son. The son testified in the depositions."
"So if the business had survived, the son would have taken it over?"
"It's possible."
"Then he might have known about ratios for mixing cement."
"That's also possible," Wesley considers. "I'll see if I can track him down. Thanks, Nolan."
"No problem. I needed something to take my mind off of Mother's Day. Even Lucy's talking about what to do for her mom."
Wesley's briefcase slips from his fingers. "Oh, God! Is it this weekend?"
"Yeah. Are you telling me you don't have anything planned for Angela? The restaurants are probably all booked ahead. It's their biggest day of the year."
"She's going to kill me. So is my mother."
"Probably not. But women have hundreds of ways of making you wish you were dead. Still, you've got time. You should talk to Thorsen. He's the event planner around here. He must have something up his sleeve."
"Good idea. But isn't he out with Harper?"
"He is. But the best restroom on their patrol route is at the Taco Loco on Hollywood Blvd. You hang around there, and they'll show up. Harper's baby is dancing a jig on her bladder. Or that's what Sarah said when she was that size with Henry."
"Right. I remember that with Angela and Jackson, too. Thanks again, John."
"You're welcome." Nolan checks his watch. "I've got to get back on the street before Grey or Bradford come down on me. Good luck."
John doesn't make it more than a mile from the division when a call comes from Dispatch. "Fire reported at the warehouse at South Santa Fe and Bay Street. Units needed for crowd control."
John picks up his radio. "This is 7-Adam-15 responding. Even before he arrives, John knows that Bailey's fire company will be there, along with several others. The darkening sky and falling ash herald a blaze requiring a battalion. That means a battalion chief, not Bailey, will be in charge. In a way, that's a relief. If she wants to run hell-bent into the flames, she'll be met with a voice of caution. Still, when Bailey Nune gets something into her head, it's almost impossible to dissuade her. John loves that about his girlfriend. It also drives him crazy.
Bailey has expressed similar sentiments about John running toward danger, whether gunfire or a burning house. But neither one of them is about to change. They've learned to live with the constant tightness in their guts – more or less.
As John approaches the blaze, he can see he has urgent work to do. Onlookers are close, way too close. If something inside the warehouse explodes or the building flashes over, they'll be caught in the shock wave. He pulls up at almost the second Bradford does, receiving the sergeant's command to start moving people back.
The increasing heat helps convince the crowd to keep its distance, but not everyone. John spots a man using a video camera to shoot footage of the blaze. That's strange in itself. Usually, people use their phones. Press? John doesn't see any credentials. But what has Bailey told him about arsonists? They love to relive their triumphs. And what better way to relive a fire than with high-definition video? Nolan signals to Bradford. "Look at that guy," he directs when Tim comes over. "Who walks around with a video camera anymore?"
Tim's expression darkens. "Firebugs who like to shoot their handiwork. All right, Nolan. Keep eyes on him. I'm going to talk to the arson squad and see if they know anything about this guy."
"If he has an MO, the firefighters should know as soon as possible. It would help them get this thing under control and avoid any booby traps."
"I hear you, Nolan. And I know your girlfriend's crew is here. So I'll make the calls ASAP."
While trying to focus on the possible arsonist, Nolan can't help trying to catch glimpses of Bailey. So far, she's on the outside of the building helping to direct her team. That's better than inside, but she'll still be hit by the blast if the building blows. John wishes he could run in and grab her, but she'd never forgive him – assuming he could succeed. He's seen her fight and would never want to be on the wrong end of it.
As Tim finishes his calls, Lucy studies the man with the camera. "I think Nolan's right. He doesn't look horrified or scared. He's fascinated and ewww, proud. Can we pull him in for questioning?"
Tim shakes his head in frustration. "On what justification? There's no law against taking pictures of fires. People do it all the time. You know that. And if we're wrong, or even if we're right, with no proof, he could file suit against the department. Or once he knows we're on to him, cover his tracks better on the next one. All we can do is keep him under surveillance until we have justification for going after him or evidence he's not involved."
Lucy pulls out her notepad. "I can't do nothing. I'm going to profile his behavior. If the fire is arson, I can give what I get to the investigation team."
"Yeah, you go ahead," Tim agrees. "I'm going to call Grey. He's managing a situation with the Graveyard Gangster Crips. A new group, the Laurentian Lords, decided to expand into Crips territory. We need to make sure a dispute doesn't escalate into a war."
"Isn't the Gangs Unit on top of that?"
"They're in the middle of raids on a string of chop shops."
"Damn! They're more gang operations than there are cops."
"You just noticed that?" Tim questions. "I thought you were quicker than that, Chen."
"If I missed something, it's your fault. You trained me," Lucy retorts.
"So I'm not allowed to take credit for your accomplishments, but if you miss something, I get the blame?" Tim returns.
Lucy shrugs as Nolan's voice comes over the radio. "Hey! It looks like the camera guy's moving back. And he's putting in earplugs."
"He's expecting an explosion," Tim realizes. "We have to get everyone back now. I need to alert the chief. Damn! he's not answering!"
As John runs forward, he can hear Bailey in his head. "It's not your job to run toward the fire." She can lecture him later. But he needs her alive to do it.