As promised, Kel arrived at nine the next morning. Watching from the corner of his eye as they drove to the police station, he could tell Johnny was nervous by how he was trying to resist digging his finger nails into his upper legs.
Hoping to ease his mind, he told John, "I spoke to Detective Crockett last night. He promised that the head of the arson investigations, an Allan Gardener, will make sure to be there so it's easier for you. I was told that a stenographer will be there as well. That way once she transcribes everything, you can sign a statement."
"What then?" Johnny wondered. "And am I allowed to give out the name I do remember from the incident?"
"In this case, the privacy laws you were taught about protecting a patient's name and medical information, doesn't apply. I double checked last night with Detective Crockett and he agreed. Since this is a matter of public safety and concern, as long as we don't pry into his medical records without a warrant, we will be fine. To be on the safe side," Doctor Brackett assured him as he pulled into the visitors parking at the station. "Once we have the exact date and as much information as possible, we'll call Dixie and ask her to pull up the address. Then, I was told a judge was expecting the information so a warrant will be issued fairly quickly."
"So, if the so-called victim gave out the right information, it could be over soon?" sighed Johnny.
"Yes. And of course, once the warrant is issued for the person, there will be a check run on his name to see who his father is or if he has any older brothers. Warrants will be issued for them as well. Also, I was told the police would see if there was any other known property in the family."
Seeing Johnny begin to breathe heavier and really dig his fingers into his jeans, Brackett realized that perhaps he shouldn't have told John so much at once. Grabbing his hands, Kelly had to fight a bit before being able to control them.
"Hey, HEY!" Kel finally said sharply.
Caught off guard, Johnny sucked in a breath harshly and turned to look at him.
"Look at me and how I'm breathing," Doctor Brackett coached. "Slowly in through your nose. Hold it. Now let out a deep breath through your mouth. Again. Slowly in through your nose. Hold it. Now let out a deep breath through your mouth."
A few minutes later, Johnny began to settle down and was able to start settling down on his own. Releasing his wrists, Kelly watched him carefully, making sure he kept focusing on his breathing and didn't go back to trying to claw his skin off. Five more minutes passed by before he thought John was calm enough.
"You doing better?" he asked. Seeing the nodded, Kel queried, "So, can you tell me what was going on."
Running not so steady hands through his hair, John thought for a minute.
"I guess it feels like things are coming to a head. If I mess up or am wrong, it's my fault, you know?" he said softly, unable to look at the doctor.
Turning John's head gently so he would face him, Doctor Brackett spoke firmly, "This is not your fault. None of this is. If this isn't the right person, that isn't your fault either. All you are doing is trying to help and that is all that is being asked of you. The only person to blame is the one who is starting these fires and hurting those people. You are just doing what you can to help.
"And it is not just here," Kelly went on. "Every time you have gone in to try and save someone in a fire, whether it was set by this arsonist or not, is something right that you are doing. The outcome may not be ideal and people may blame you, but I repeat: IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT."
Placing emphasis on those last three words, Kel saw that he was starting to get Johnny to realize some important truths he seemed to have forgotten.
"Fire doesn't pick and choose its victims. It is merciless and cruel. So are car accidents, chemical spills, and all the other things you and I come across. Life happens and with it, things will happen that we wish we could prevent, but we aren't gods. We are just humans. We can only simply do our best to help those willing to accept it," pausing to let that sink in, he continued. "Just like right now, you are choosing to try and help by speaking up with what you know. Right or wrong, it doesn't matter. At least you are trying and that is all we as humans can do."
Letting the silence stretch out as Johnny thought about it, minutes passed by. Kelly watched as John first looked confused, quickly followed by acknowledgment. Resisting the ideas Kel gave him seemed to come next and after what Brackett could guess was an integral battle, acceptance slowly started to come to the forefront. With that, peace also came.
"I…uh, I never thought about it that way," Johnny admitted, so quietly, Kel almost couldn't hear him.
"Maybe it's time to start," came a reply that was just a bit louder.
Nodding, Johnny took a deep breath and opened the door, finally ready to face the Detective and arson investigator.
"So, Doctor Brackett said last night was the first time you thought of the connection between the incident where you were injured on the job and the potential suspect?" questioned Crockett.
"Yes. I mean, it was at the back of my mind throughout the shift that it looked familiar, but we were just so busy, I didn't have much time to give it any thought," John replied.
Nodding, Crockett knew that John had been taken to the hospital after shift for what was being called a work related injury and was currently staying at his Captain's house. Knowing that was unusual, but unwilling to cause the arson investigator to contact John's superiors, he skipped over the next day.
"So, when Doctor Brackett came to check on you yesterday, it was while you were talking that it finally occurred?" he asked to clarify.
"Yeah, we were talking about some stuff and we started talking about the latest fire. That led to the newest leads and I kept saying there was something familiar. I'm not sure, but by asking some questions, Doctor Brackett helped me to remember why it was so familiar."
Going over the characteristics that were similar and dissimilar, Detective Crockett also was able to determine that Brackett hadn't influenced Johnny in any way.
Just to make sure, he asked, "So, Doctor Brackett, what do you think about all this?"
"Honestly, I can't remember treating the person. It could have been anyone on the staff that day, but I do trust Johnny," Kel backed up his paramedic.
Nodding, Crockett asked John if there was anything else he remembered.
"I know that part of his name is Evan. I don't know if it is his first or last, or if it's his actual name. But he said to call him that and it was on his uniform."
"Did the uniform look similar to those who worked there?" the detective asked, intrigued by this new information.
Never having thought of that, Johnny blinked his eyes rapidly before closing them.
"This was a one piece type of uniform, where you zip it up. If I remember right, the others had similar uniforms, but they were two pieces. His was a tannish color. The others were black pants and bright shirts, like a yellow, maybe?"
Impressed, Detective Crockett said so and after making sure the arson investigator had nothing they wanted to ask, nor was there anything Doctor Brackett or Johnny wanted to add, he sent the stenographer to transcribe the deposition.
"It shouldn't take more than an hour. She is one of our fastest typists. While we wait, I'll have you call Ms. McCall if you don't mind," the detective said.
"Not at all. If you'll excuse me," Kel said as he went to use the phone in an unused office.
As the three waited for someone to return, the silence grew uncomfortable and no one was quite sure what to say. It was with great relief when Kelly returned less than ten minutes later with the information in hand as to who the patient was.
"According to our records, the patient was Evan Collins, age 35. Contact person is Vincent Collins, age 57. Vincent is Evan's father. We also have an address for both of them," Doctor Brackett shared excitedly.
"Excellent!" Allan finally spoke up for the first time.
"We just have to wait, though," Detective Crockett cautioned. "We don't know for sure that these are who we've been looking for or if the addresses are listed."
"Well, I know I shouldn't say this, but according to Dixie, she remembers Vincent coming in once about six years back. It seems like the reason why is that part of his nose was bitten off by a squirrel."
Seeing the various looks, from disbelief on Allan's face, to pain and amusement on Johnny's, to puzzlement on Detective Crockett's, Kelly shrugged.
"What can I say? Some of our odd cases are easy to remember," he defended his head nurse and friend.
"That's for sure," John muttered.
Thankfully for Allan who was looking a bit pale, the stenographer came in with John's statement. As she left, Crockett looked over it quickly.
"Alright, all you need to do is read this over John and if there is something that needs to be changed, just let me know. Otherwise, just sign at the bottom and each of us here will as well as witnesses."
Nodding, Johnny quickly read the document and then scanned it over, before announcing everything looked right. Signing it, he passed it to Detective Crockett first, who then passed it to Allan, before Doctor Brackett finished with the witness signatures.
"Thank you, gentlemen, for your time and help," the detective said as he got up. "I'll just run this over to the judge and I'm sure with this and with what other evidence we have, a warrant for the two Collins will be issued within a couple hours. Hopefully, by the end of today or tomorrow, we'll have them in custody."
"That's it?" Johnny wondered, amazed that was all that was needed to be done.
"For now," Crockett reassured him. "If the case goes to trial, you'll likely be a key witness, but that won't be unless these are the right people. If these are and they pled guilty, then you wouldn't be needed."
"Okay…thanks," Johnny said, feeling uncertain.
"If it helps, I really think we got the right people," Crockett offered as he turned towards the door.
Nodding, Johnny took his leave with Doctor Brackett.