CHAPTER 2

By 9:30, Matt had finished putting all of his notes into the computer including detailed drawings of the layout of the theater that showed the damage that had occurred. He had already talked to CJ and Catey Rose that morning and as he went out to get in the truck he thought about his daughter. She was just a few days away from her first birthday, a fact that seemed unreal to the cowboy. He clearly remembered the day that she was born on the ranch in the barn during a tornado. Laughing, Matt thought about how lucky he was to have not only CJ in his life, but Catey as well and in a few short months there would be twins. He was absolutely positive that they would be boys and at 10:00 he hoped to have proof of his belief; CJ was going for her ultrasound and he was headed that way to be with her. If the two would cooperate they would know for sure, although in his heart Matt already knew.

He pulled up outside of the clinic run by CJ's sorority sister Carol LeMaster who was now their personal physician. A few minutes later CJ pulled into the lot and they walked inside hand in hand. After a short wait they went back to the ultrasound room where the gel was applied to CJ's belly. They exchanged a look and were still holding hands when Lacey gave both of them a big smile. "Here you go, Mom and Dad." She turned the monitor so that they could see, and sure enough both of the babies were boys. Matt let out a whoop and kissed his wife as the tech laughed. "You're pretty good at this guessing game that we play around here, Houston."

"No guessing involved." Matt shared a knowing look with CJ. "So…" He kissed her again. "Should I change my business card?" They both laughed and then settled down so that Lacey could make her measurements and finish the exam before they went to one of the other rooms to wait for Carol to give CJ her checkup. Matt removed the picture of the ultrasound from his pocket, set it on the counter, and took a picture of it.

"Whatcha doing, hon?" CJ watched as he began punching on the phone's screen.

"Letting Vince and Michael know." His smile was from ear to ear. "There." Leaning over, he gave her another kiss, this one much more involved than the one in the ultrasound room. Neither one heard Carol come in until she cleared her throat.

"So it's two little boys in there, huh?" She shook her head and smiled at the pair. "Boy, are you two in for it!" Giving the pair a hug she congratulated them.

Matt's phone buzzed and he looked at it as Carol was taking CJ's temperature. They heard a chuckle. "Vince or Michael?" CJ looked over at him.

"Michael. He says "God help us!"" All three cracked up and then the phone buzzed again and Matt laughed once more. "Vince says, "Noooooooooooo!"" They cracked up again. After the exam, the pair went to the penthouse offices of Houston Investigations where Matt wanted to do a little research into Thorson's Theater.

Although CJ had been doing most of her work from home for the last month, she had a lunch date scheduled with a friend and was going to look through some papers for Carol. As they stepped off of the elevator, their secretary Chris Chase was waiting for them, her own baby bump showing quite well. "So how did it go?" Matt pulled out the picture and handed it over. "Oh, my gosh! You were right again, Boss!" She gave both of them a big hug.

A familiar voice was heard coming from the main part of the office and Matt's Uncle Roy appeared in the doorway. "So you were right, huh?" He smiled as Matt handed him the picture. "Congratulations, Matt." He gave his nephew a hug and then CJ. "I wonder how Miss Catherine Rose is going to like having two little boys around?"

"Knowing her she'll rule the roost." Matt chuckled as he put the picture in his wallet and headed for the coffee pot. "What are you up to today?"

"Well, nothing now. I was supposed to meet with a client but he called and said he changed his mind. What are you doing?"

"About to get to work on a fire scene investigation. Did you hear about Thorson's Theater?" Matt walked across to the couch and stepped over the back of it as did Roy.

"Yeah, saw it on the news this morning. So you landed that one."

"Solo." Matt smiled proudly.

"Congratulations again. You're having a really good day." Roy laughed as Matt punched the keys on the computer and began reading about the theater and its history. "How bad was it damaged?"

"Pretty bad. Chief Weston and his men did a really good job keeping it from spreading to the businesses on either side. They may have some smoke and water cleanup but should be fine. Thorson's though – that's another matter." He accessed the footage that he had recorded and played it as CJ and Chris came to sit with them.

"You were actually inside that place while it was burning?" Chris looked at her boss.

"Yeah, sometimes we have to do that." He pointed out what he had found, in particular the flares. "I got a partial number off of one of them…" Working the keyboard for a minute he was rewarded. "Yep, that looks like what I found." He and the others read the information on the manufacturer's website. "They're used in flare guns…that makes sense. Our guy could be a distance away when he starts the fire." Pulling up the footage of the center aisle he pointed. "See the direction of the smoke and char right there? It went straight up and then went in two opposite directions. That's the only place on that row of seats where it's like that. That's where he shot the flare and started that row on fire."

Moving the footage further along, he showed them the hole in the curtain. "Now according to the manufacturer, that flare is 12-gauge and can burn for about eighteen seconds. The maximum distance on it is 500 feet. That would make a dandy fire starter."

"I would say so." Roy nodded.

"But it looks like our boy either had aiming problems or one of the flares didn't ignite properly." Matt brought up the pictures from the balcony. "I'm waiting on the lab to run the samples but I believe that this…" He indicated the greasy looking trail along the row of seats. "…is coconut oil. And here's another flare." Leaning back he took a sip of coffee. "You can tell from looking at it something went wrong with that one; it didn't burn like the others. There's more of it left."

"That's good for us." Chris nodded her head as Matt smiled.

"The popcorn on that row of seats is really out of character. That's about the cleanest theater in town. The cleaning crew doesn't leave until that place is spotless." Roy had been there many times since moving to LA a few years back.

"Which leads to some other folks that I need to talk to today." Matt pulled out his notebook and wrote TALK TO CLEANING CREW before also writing TALK TO OWNER AND MANAGER. He went back to the computer and pulled the first tab that he had opened back on top. "Here's one of the folks I need to chat with – Todd Conley." Reading through the information on the forty year old he spoke again. "Conley inherited the chain of seven theaters from his maternal grandfather Garrick Thorson when he passed away eight years ago…wow; this guy was 105 when he died. That's impressive. Mr. Thorson opened the first theater – the one that burned – in 1930. Boy that took some work. Right during the Depression was a hard time to start a business."

"That was about the only luxury some folks had back then." Roy spoke up. "Not to mention the fact that they were a lot cheaper to run in those days. The movie stars weren't making the multi-million dollar salaries that they do now. It was a cheap way to escape reality for a few hours."

"It sure isn't anymore. Murray and I went to see a movie last weekend and the concessions were almost as expensive as the tickets." The secretary shook her head. "Anyone trying to escape from reality today has to look somewhere else besides the movie theater."

"Guess it's time for me to go and talk to them. Somebody obviously wanted that place burnt down for whatever reason." Matt closed up the computer before leaning over and kissing CJ on the cheek. "Don't get too tired."

"I won't. Be careful out there."

"Yes ma'am." He started to leave and turned back around. "Uncle Roy – want to go with me?"

"What the heck. I don't have anything else to do besides babysit you." He gave the women a wink as he turned. Giving CJ a peck on the cheek he congratulated her again and then gave Chris a kiss, too.

"Wow! What was that for?"

"Because you're absolutely glowing." The older man whistled as he followed Matt out to the elevator and the two left for Todd Conley's office, Houston turning right out of the parking garage and then left on Fifth. His route would have him turning onto Wilshire and then heading west until he came to Santa Monica Boulevard where he would hang a right. The pair chatted as they headed up toward Conley's office that was located in a modern looking concrete and glass building located at the corner of Santa Monica and Camden, home to Coastal Finance Bank in Beverly Hills. They got on the elevator and went to the third floor, turned left, and went to Suite 306. Once inside, the reception area was empty save for the receptionist.

"May I help you?"

"Yes ma'am." Matt flashed his ID and informed her he was with the Fire Marshal's office and was working on the theater fire that had occurred early that morning. "I need to speak with Mr. Conley."

"I'll have to see if he's available. Please have a seat." She got up and went into a room sporting a large oak paneled door.

"How are you feeling?" Matt looked over at his uncle. A few months earlier he had suffered a heart attack and after a little vacation time and some medication looked extremely well.

"Fine. Actually, I feel better than I have in quite a while." He gave Matt a smile. "Don't worry – I won't croak in the middle of the interview." Both cracked up as the receptionist held the door for them.

"Mr. Conley can see you now."

They walked into the office that overlooked busy Santa Monica Boulevard and was part of what was known as "The Golden Triangle": a shopping area that caters exclusively to the wealthiest people in the Los Angeles area. "Mr. Houston is it?" Todd Conley stood behind his desk and shook Matt's hand.

"This is my uncle, Roy Houston. I'm an advisor to the Fire Marshal's Office and am investigating the fire at your theater early this morning."

"Please – have a seat, gentlemen. Would you like a drink?"

"No, thank you. Mr. Conley, do you know of anyone who would want to destroy your theater?" Matt had his notebook and pen out and was closely watching him.

"Heavens no – I can't imagine why anyone would. We've strived to keep it the nicest theater in town." He shook his head. "When I was first notified this morning I just couldn't believe it was true until I went down there to see for myself. I haven't been able to go inside yet since it's still under investigation…but I guess that would be you?"

"Yes sir. Did you have any recent problems with employees or neighboring businesses – or maybe an unhappy customer?"

"No…well, yes. Unfortunately the manager told me that he had to fire a longtime member of the cleaning crew due to excessive absenteeism. But I really can't imagine that he would have done something like that."

"Would you be able to tell me his name?"

"Well…" Conley thought. "I'm sorry – no. It just isn't coming to mind right now but I'm sure the manager could help you with that." He wrote a name and number on a slip of paper and handed it to Matt. "Ryan Quinn."

"Thank you." Matt tucked the paper into the notebook. "Had there been any electrical problems reported by chance?"

"No, not that I know of, but there again I'm sure Ryan could tell you more about that. I've got six other theaters scattered across the area which doesn't leave me much time to spend on each individual location."

"Well Mr. Conley, I appreciate your help. We'll try to get this settled as quickly as possible."

"It was a pleasure to meet you – both of you. Just let me know if there's anything else I can do to help." He walked them to the door of the office and neither spoke until they got back to the truck.

"Alright so next we go talk to the manager." Houston pulled out his cell phone and called the number that Conley had given them for Quinn. "Mr. Quinn? Hi, my name's Matt Houston…oh, he did. Is there somewhere we can meet? Uh huh…" He jotted down an address near the theater. "Yes sir, is about fifteen to twenty minutes okay? Alright then. Goodbye." Disconnecting the call he started the truck and backed out of the parking space. "It's an apartment on Ivar." As they waited for the light on Santa Monica he looked over at Roy. "So how are you and Mama doing?" Roy had been dating "Mama" Rosa Novelli since Matt and CJ got married.

"Fine." He was smiling as he looked out the window.

"So as your favorite nephew that's all I get – just fine?" Matt cut his eyes over at the man.

"You're my only nephew – it isn't like I've got much choice in the matter of you being my favorite." Both chuckled.

"And?"

"Getting nosy in your old age are you?" Roy tried his best to look irritated.

"I learned from you. So – what's going on with you two? Will there be wedding invitations?"

"No, I don't think so." Roy wasn't smiling at all now and could feel his nephew's eyes on him. "We, uh…" He paused. "We just decided to keep things simple."

"Meaning?"

"You're not going to make this easy for me are you?" Roy looked over at the man.

"As I recall you pestered the dickens out of me about CJ for quite a few years. Payback time."

"It isn't the same, Matt. Neither one of you had been married before."

"Uncle Roy, Vince's dad has been dead for…decades. Why is that stopping you two?"

"It isn't stopping me. I popped the question almost a year ago." Roy hadn't told anyone about that.

"Uh huh – so she said no because of him?"

"Partially." The older Houston sighed. "First off she was afraid that her sons would get upset over her wanting to remarry. Then there's the difference of religion."

"I wondered if that was part of it." Both were quiet for a moment. "So have any of them gotten upset over y'all being a couple?"

"Not really – Michael doesn't seem too happy but he's not saying much; everyone else is all for it."

"So basically we're back to religion." He nodded. "She's Catholic – you're not. And she wants a church wedding is that it?"

"She does."

"But that isn't really a big deal anymore in the Catholic religion is it? Besides they have classes where you can convert if you want to…"

"We talked about it but she just…" He shrugged.

"Have the two of you talked to a priest?"

"No, she's afraid to approach the subject."

"Now wait a minute – her son Tony is a priest. Surely she can talk to him." Vince also had a son named Tony, named for his brother.

"She's afraid."

"What about Vince?"

"He suggested the same thing and I did, too." Roy got quiet. "Maybe…" He shook his head no.

"Maybe what?"

"Maybe if you and CJ talked to her…" He sighed. "Matt, after Flo I never thought I could love another woman…but Rosa is…" He gestured. "She's a breath of fresh air, and life, and laughter. Someone I want to spend the rest of my life with."

Matt stopped the truck outside the apartment building and shut off the engine. "Want me to talk to CJ? 'Cause I gotta tell you, she's all onboard. We talk about you two…a lot."

"You two don't have a better way to spend your time?" Roy gave him a lopsided grin.

"Gotta have a little rest in between ya know." Matt opened the door as did Roy and they started up the stairs.

"Must be getting old."

"Why – are the stairs bothering you?" He stopped, not wanting his uncle to do anything too strenuous.

"No, I meant you…needing a rest in between." The older man laughed as he went ahead of his nephew.

"She's the one that…never mind; I'm not going there." He caught up with Roy.

"Too late – you already did." Roy chuckled as he knocked on the door of apartment 21. It was opened by a balding man in his early forties.

Matt showed his Fire Department ID. "Mr. Quinn, I'm Matt Houston."

"Sure, come on in." He opened the door and let them in. "Have a seat."

"Mr. Conley said that you might be able to give us a little more information about an employee that you recently fired?"

"Mitch Camden." Quinn nodded his head. "But I really don't think that he would do anything like that."

"Mr. Conley told us that he was fired for excessive absenteeism, is that right?"

"Sure was, I really don't understand what happened with him. He had been there for almost twenty years on the cleaning crew. Everybody has to call out sometime, but it got to be habit with him. He was gone more than he was working. It got to where we couldn't count on him and had to let him go."

"Did he seem overly angry about it?" Matt was jotting down the information.

"No, not at all. He just left. The only time I've seen him since is when he brought his uniform back and collected his final paycheck. He was always nice – never a bit of trouble until he started missing."

"Would you happen to have an address or phone number by chance?"

"I've got a phone number. Hang on." He pulled out his phone and searched for it. "Here we go: 555-8312."

"Can you think of anyone else who might have had a beef with you – an angry customer – someone like that?"

"No, a lot of our customers have been coming there for years and years. We very rarely have any problems."

"When I was in there this morning I didn't see any security cameras."

"No, we don't have any."

"And would you happen to know who the last person was to leave last night?"

"That would be me. I stay and work on the night's take while the cleaning crew works. When they're done we all leave at the same time. Safety in numbers you know."

"Yes sir. Would you be able to give me a list of the cleaning crew…and the rest of your employees?"

"Sure. But I'm telling you…" He pulled up his phone directory again. "…none of our people would do this." He rattled off the names and their phone numbers.

"Do y'all ever leave popped popcorn in the machine after closing?"

"No, never; it would be stale by morning and would attract bugs and mice – we have to be careful about that with all of the sweets that are in the concession stand. Can you tell me how bad the damage is?"

"It's pretty bad, Mr. Quinn. I would say that it will need an awful lot of work done to be able to reopen." Matt stood and held out his hand. "I sure appreciate your time."

"No problem – that's all I've got now is time. I hope I still have a job when this is all said and done."