Damon stands among the still-smoking wreckage of the old photography studio. Thankfully, whoever is setting fires in Mystic Falls hasn't caused any injuries...yet. Given the struggling economy nationwide, the arsonist has plenty of vacant buildings to choose from.
"Do you think we could persuade this guy to give it a rest?" Ric uses a poke pole to knock down an unstable section of the roof, sending a spray of sparks into the night sky.
"If this one had gotten away from us, we'd have lost half the block." Damon nods in grim agreement as he stares at his men who are working to put out the last vestiges of the blaze. "Why now? What set this person off and how do we catch him or her? We haven't had any new people move to town in months so no one stands out as a suspect."
"You're right. And this fire could have been much, much worse, especially with the chemicals stored inside. If we hadn't gotten to it early, we might have had to call for an evacuation." Ric lets out a low whistle.
"Scary thought." Damon raises an eyebrow. He steps over a pile of smoking siding, splashing in the mud left over from the water used to extinguish the fire.
"Why are you saying it's a guy?" Harper takes off his helmet and wipes the grime from his sweaty face.
"Habit, I guess." Damon's eyes narrow as he studies a mound of debris. A patch of khaki green catches his attention. He scurries over to the pile and begins tossing pieces of refuse and concrete behind him to free the unconscious man.
"I need an EMT over here!"
"Mr. Baker's going to be okay." Stefan enters Damon's office and takes a seat at the table.
"That's good to hear." Damon looks down at the notes he'd taken during his meeting with the Wattles family after the fire. "According to Henry Sr, some people have recently expressed interest in buying the building as it and the lot do have value. They did have cameras and chemicals for photo development among other things they left inside. Since they hoped to sell the property, they didn't want the building broken into or vandalized so they hired a security firm from Richmond to patrol the lot at night."
"Makes sense." Stefan looks up at the city map that Damon has tacked onto a corkboard on the wall. "Four so far."
Push pins mark the fire locations. The fire's locations appear so random that it's hard to discern any method to the madness.
Damon rubs his temples. "I don't see any kind of rhyme or reason to these places. The photography studio, an abandoned dog kennel, the bandstand in the park, and the old drive-in restaurant on the outskirts of town. What connection could they possibly have to each other?"
"Maybe there isn't one or maybe they mean something to him?" Ric mentions as he enters Damon's office.
Sheriff Liz Forbes taps on the doorframe. "Afternoon, guys."
"Liz. Please tell me you have good news." Damon sits back in his chair and laces his fingers behind his head.
"Depends on what you call good news," Liz replies cryptically.
"Okay, Liz, just spit it out."
"Well, Damon, we didn't find much physical evidence at the fire." Liz hands him a stack of photographs from the fire. "However, Mr. Baker thinks he saw someone."
"He what?" Ric looks at Liz in surprise.
Liz nods. "He saw someone or thinks he did. Odds are that it was likely the person who started the fire."
"The person?"
Liz nods slowly. "Mr. Baker said he saw a beam of light inside and went to investigate. He caught a brief glimpse of a shadowy figure and that's when the fire erupted causing that part of the building to collapse on top of him. This person left him to die in the blaze. When we catch this asshole, he or she will have attempted murder added to the already long list of charges."
Damon sighs as he shifts forward and leans his elbows on the table.
"Can I have a word with you?" Liz asks, looking at Damon.
"Sure." Damon gestures for Ric and Stefan to leave and pushes the door shut behind them.
"I believe we've reached the point where we need to ask for help from someone experienced in arson investigation."
"It's four fires, Liz. He hasn't left us much to work with." He points to the corkboard.
"I know that." Liz's voice softens. "We've all been working overtime on this. But last night, he almost succeeded in committing a murder. I called a friend of mine who works for the FBI."
"And?"
"Elijah's going to send us an agent."
"An FBI agent!?" Damon looks at her incredulously and empties his coffee cup.
"Yes, Damon."
"You're the sheriff, it's your call to make," Damon admits as he rakes his fingers through his hair.
Liz nods in agreement. "This woman has expertise in several areas, actually. Elijah said she's done some criminal profiling and is now working arson cases, including that string of fires in Chicago last year. She also has several years of experience as a hostage negotiator."
"She?"
"We're lucky. She's been in DC for an arson conference. Elijah managed to reach her before she boarded her flight back to Chicago. She's on her way."
"Now?"
Liz studies her watch. "She should be here this afternoon."
"Thanks for the heads up."
"Any time." Liz turns and walks out of Damon's office, leaving the door open behind her.
Damon looks up from the report he's typing at the sound of rapping on his door frame.
"Do you need something, Enzo?"
"A woman is here to see you."
"Who is it?
"No idea but she's hot," Enzo replies in a soft voice.
"Send her in." Damon spins in his chair to place a file in his drawer.
Enzo nods and steps out of the doorway.
The sound of high heels echoes over the linoleum floor.
Damon looks up as the woman appears in his doorway. His heart skips a beat when he finds himself staring into the chocolate-brown eyes of a stunning brunette.
"I'm Elena Gilbert." She steps to the front of his desk and offers her hand.
"Damon Salvatore," he introduces himself as he shakes her hand.
Elena's lips twinge in amusement. She shifts forward to look at the photos arrayed on the corkboard. Her jacket opens just enough at the waist to reveal a silver badge clipped to her belt along with what appears to be the faint outline of a gun in its holster.
"Why don't you fill me in?"
"We have a serial arsonist. I'm assuming it's one person but there's no method to his or her madness that I've been able to decipher."
Elena picks up a picture showing the burned-out rubble, all that's left of the photo studio. "This is a small town. Why would an arsonist pick this place, I wonder?"
"Hey, Damon." Stefan throws the door open and walks into the room. "I think we have everything..." He stops short as he stares at Elena. "Didn't mean to interrupt. You're the agent?"
She nods. "Elena Gilbert."
"Good to have you here. I'll leave you two alone." Stefan glances at Damon before backing out of the office.
"Is this everything?" Elena appears surprised as she looks over the various photos arrayed on the corkboard. She sheds her jacket on the warm late August morning, revealing a lace tank top that clings to her in all the right places.
Damon finds it more than a little distracting.
"As I said, we don't have much to go on."
"Elijah told me this person has been starting fires for several months already?"
"That's right," Damon confirms.
"And he hasn't left any evidence?"
Damon takes a deep breath before he answers. "That's why you're here."
"I'm surprised that he hasn't left more of a trail. Usually new," Elena starts, air quoting the word, "arsonists are rather reckless, meaning they often leave evidence behind. Matches, lighters, accelerant containers."
"Makes sense," Damon agrees.
"I've seen a lot. One man took the gas container with him to get rid of the evidence. He poured a trail all the way back to his vehicle, lit the match, and..." She pauses for effect. "Boom."
Damon's bright blue eyes widen as he looks at her in surprise.
Elena taps the table as she fights back a yawn. "Some are easier to catch than others." She pushes a strand of hair behind her ears as she looks at the clock overhead. "Did you work the fire last night?"
Damon nods from his seat across the table.
"Excuse me for saying it but you look all in but the shoestrings. You don't need to stay here for me." Elena remarks, noticing the dark smudges under his eyes.
Damon stands as he tosses what's left of his cold coffee into the waste basket. "I'm fine."
"I didn't say you weren't but I want to do a little digging around myself before people rummage through the rubble and destroy what evidence, if any he may have left behind."
Damon tugs at the damp fabric from his back. "Give me a few minutes, I'll meet you outside."
Elena frowns. "Why don't you just give me the address? It's a small town, I'm sure I won't get lost."
"It's my job, Miss Gilbert." Damon holds the door open for her.
"If you insist," Elena remarks as she walks past him and out of the building.
Damon sighs as he plucks his car keys out of his pocket and follows after her.
Elena and Damon spend several hours at the crime scene, taking pictures, digging through the rubble, and taking samples for analysis. As far as she can tell, Sheriff Forbes and the fire department have been beyond thorough when doing their investigation. There really is nothing left of the building. When fires are this intense, it's often difficult to find any traces of what the perpetrator had used to ignite the blaze.
Elena's eyes blur from staring at the scene for so long. "Do you have a space for me to work?" she asks, looking up at Damon.
"Actually, yes. It's small but it has good lighting and outlets for a computer. I hope you have one. This is a small town, we don't have it in the budget to run to the Best Buy in Richmond to pick one up."
"That's not a problem... I need to touch base with my boss tonight. Is there a motel around here for me to rent a room?"
"Yes, there's a boarding house about a couple of miles from town. Straight out on highway 8, on the left side of the road. Tell Zach I sent you. He'll give you a good rate," Damon explains.
"Zach?"
"My uncle. He owns the boarding house."
"Thank you. I guess I'll see you tomorrow." Placing the bag over her shoulder, Elena scurries to her rental car. As she's pulling away from the curb, she lowers the window and gives Damon a wave as she drives away.
"How was your first day in Mystic Falls?" Elijah asks as soon as she has their zoom call connected.
"Captain Salvatore took me to the site of the most recent fire. It was very hot and fast burning. Damon pointed out "ghost marks' between the seams of vinyl floor tiles in the pour area where the ignitable liquid seeped, dissolved, and scorched tile adhesive. A checkerboard pattern was clearly evident on the sub-floor."
Elena pauses to take a swallow from her water bottle. "How long am I expected to stay here, Elijah? I can give my expertise...but then what?"
"I want you to catch the bastard," Elijah states succinctly without blinking.
Elena spent her first 5 years with the FBI as a hostage negotiator, she is generally a pretty fair judge of character. "Why do you really want me here, Elijah?" she asks as she runs her fingers through her hair.
"Mystic Falls, Virginia is my hometown. I want whoever is doing this to be found and prosecuted."
"Really?" she looks at him curiously. "And you don't want to work the case yourself? Just saying...'" Elena smiles at him.
Elijah stares at her through the computer screen. "Elena, I know you're joking but you also know that's impossible with my job. Liz Forbes, the chief of police, is a good friend. I owe her. She called me to ask for help. I couldn't say no and you were in DC...you're also one of my best people and I trust you."
"You always know just what to say to reel me in," Elena replies in mock exasperation.
Elijah smiles at her through the computer screen. "Thank you. It means a lot to me. I still have friends in Mystic Falls. I don't want to see any of them hurt. Good luck, Elena," he states as the screen goes dark.
"Come out to Virginia, we'll have a few laughs...and solve an arson case," Elena mutters to herself as she blinks at the now-blank computer screen. She considers her room. The place is actually quite nice and has a homey feel to it.
Moving to the window, she peers outside and focuses on the barely visible form of a mother deer standing stock still, alert for any dangers. She smiles when the fawn appears. Beyond them, Evergreens seem to embrace the yard and house. A pair of mourning doves nestles in the lower limbs of a big Oak tree.
After hanging her things in the closet, she sits down on the bed and bounces a little on the mattress. It's very comfortable and she's looking forward to soaking in bubbles in the big bathtub before she goes to sleep.
Having had too much caffeine today, she knows sleep will be a long time in coming, and she isn't in the mood for TV. Feeling restless, Elena realizes that she could really use a rum and coke right about now.
Grabbing her purse, she decides to do just that...
Thanks, everyone so much.
This story was inspired by a Discovery Plus show on Paul Keller. He is a serial arsonist and convicted murderer from Lynnwood, Washington. He is serving 107 years in prison and will be eligible for parole in 2079. He was convicted of setting over 107 fires. The fires killed at least three people and caused more than $30 million in property damage during a six-month period during 1992–1993.
Chapter title: 'The Flame Ignites' from 'The Towering Inferno' soundtrack.
Have a wonderful weekend.