Bess added, "We need to talk to this Derek guy. If Bobby was onto something, he might have been silenced."

Ace pulled out his laptop. "I'll do some digging on McAllister. See if I can find any connections or shady dealings."

As Ace typed away, Nancy turned to Athena. "Athena, we're going to stay close. We'll check into an Airbnb nearby. We need to be discreet and stay under the radar while we investigate."

Athena nodded, grateful for their support. "Thank you, all of you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

After meeting with Athena, they checked into their Airbnb near Station 118. The house, a modern and stylish retreat, was a welcome sight after their long journey. The spacious living room featured high ceilings, sleek furniture, and an abundance of natural light pouring in through large windows. The group took a moment to absorb the stunning decor.

Bess, admiring the tasteful design, turned to Nancy. "Nancy, how did you find such a stylish place?"

Nancy smiled. "I did some research. I figured we could use a comfortable spot to regroup and strategize. Plus, I have a friend who recommended it. She said it would be perfect for what we need."

As they settled in, they gathered in the living room to debrief on the case. Nancy began, her voice steady but filled with concern. "Bobby was investigating a series of arson cases. All the fires were ruled accidental, but he must have found something connecting them. That's why he was targeted."

Ace leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "What kind of connections? Did he have any suspects?"

Nancy nodded. "He did. Derek McAllister, a property developer, was at the top of his list. Bobby believed McAllister was behind the fires, trying to drive down property values so he could buy the land cheap and redevelop it."

Bess raised a question. "If Bobby had enough evidence to suspect McAllister, why wasn't anything done sooner?"

Nancy sighed. "Bobby was still gathering evidence. He was working discreetly to avoid tipping off McAllister. But something must have happened that made McAllister realize Bobby was close to exposing him."

Ace added, "And now with Bobby gone, it's up to us to piece it together and find the proof he couldn't."

Nancy nodded. "Exactly. We need to find out more about McAllister and his connections to the arson cases. But we also need to consider other suspects. According to Athena, the police have a list of people they're looking into."

Bess looked puzzled. "Who else is on that list?"

Nancy took out a notepad and read aloud. "Besides Derek McAllister, there are a few other suspects: Evan 'Buck' Buckley, Eddie Diaz, Tommy Kinard, Maddie Buckley, Henrietta 'Hen' Wilson, Carly Sinclair, and Henry Adonis."

George, frowning, spoke up. "Why would firefighters and first responders be on the list?"

Nancy responded thoughtfully, "It's possible they have connections to the incidents in ways we don't understand yet. Maybe they saw something or were involved in ways that aren't clear. We need to dig deeper."

Ace asked, "So, what's the plan?"

Nancy laid out their strategy. "We'll split up. Ace, Bess, and I will head to the city council to meet with McAllister. We need to get a sense of him and see if he slips up. George and Nick, you two head to the police station and find out more about the suspects on the list. See if you can get any more details on why they're being looked at."

They agreed on the plan and set out to follow their respective leads.

Nancy, Ace, and Bess arrived at the city council building, an imposing structure with a steady stream of people going in and out. They found McAllister in his office, a sleek and modern space that exuded wealth and power. McAllister greeted them with a confident smile, but Nancy could sense the underlying tension.

"Ms. Drew, Mr. Ace, Ms. Marvin, it's a pleasure to meet you. How can I assist you today?" McAllister's tone was smooth, almost too smooth.

Nancy didn't waste time. "We're looking into the recent fires in the city, Mr. McAllister. We understand you had some disagreements with the city council about redevelopment projects in those areas."

McAllister's smile faltered for a moment. "I assure you, those disagreements were purely professional. I had no reason to resort to anything illegal."

Ace interjected, "It's interesting, though, how those fires conveniently aligned with your interests. Property values dropped significantly, making it easier for you to acquire land."

McAllister's eyes narrowed. "Are you accusing me of arson, Mr. Ace?"

Bess added, "We just want to understand the situation better. Did you know Bobby Nash was investigating these fires?"

McAllister's composure slipped further. "I had no idea. And I find your implications highly offensive."

Nancy maintained her calm demeanor. "We're just gathering information, Mr. McAllister. Thank you for your time."

As they left the office, Nancy whispered to Ace and Bess, "He's definitely hiding something. We need to keep a close eye on him."

Meanwhile, George and Nick were at the police station, meeting with Detective Henrietta Wilson. She provided them with the list of suspects and additional details.

Henrietta explained, "Besides McAllister, we've looked into a few firefighters and first responders who were present at multiple fire scenes. Evan Buckley and Eddie Diaz were at nearly every fire. They have clean records, but it's too much of a coincidence."

Nick asked, "What about the others? Tommy Kinard, Maddie Buckley, Hen Wilson, Carly Sinclair, and Henry Adonis?"

Henrietta replied, "Tommy Kinard has a history of arson-related offenses, so he's on our radar. Maddie Buckley is Buck's sister; she was present at some of the scenes, likely because of her brother. Hen Wilson is a respected firefighter, but she was also at many of the fire scenes. Carly Sinclair and Henry Adonis are connected through their roles in the city's redevelopment planning."

George nodded. "We need to talk to these people and see what they know."

Henrietta gave them access to the files. "Be careful. If McAllister is behind this, he won't go down without a fight."

As they left the station, George and Nick reviewed the files and planned their next steps. They would need to question each suspect, looking for inconsistencies or hidden connections.

Later that evening, the Drew Crew reconvened at the Airbnb to share their findings. Nancy reported on their meeting with McAllister. "He's definitely hiding something. He was too defensive and his reactions were telling."

George added, "Henrietta gave us more details on the suspects. Buck and Eddie were at nearly every fire, which is suspicious. Tommy has a history with arson. Maddie, Hen, Carly, and Henry all have connections that need further investigation."

Nick nodded. "We need to talk to Buck and Eddie first. They might know something they're not telling."

Nancy agreed. "Let's split up again. Ace, Bess, and I will talk to Buck and Eddie. George and Nick, you follow up with Tommy, Maddie, Hen, Carly, and Henry. We need to cover as much ground as possible."

The next day, Nancy, Ace, and Bess met with Buck and Eddie at a local coffee shop. Buck was tall and muscular, with a friendly demeanor, while Eddie was more reserved but equally strong. They seemed surprised but cooperative.

Nancy started, "Thank you for meeting with us. We understand you were at many of the fire scenes. Can you tell us anything unusual you noticed?"

Buck shrugged. "Honestly, it seemed like bad luck. Fires kept breaking out, and we just did our job."

Eddie added, "We didn't see anything out of the ordinary, but we were focused on saving lives."

Bess asked, "Did you ever notice anyone suspicious hanging around the scenes?"

Buck shook his head. "No, but there were always a lot of people. It's hard to say."

Nancy pressed, "Do you know Derek McAllister?"

Eddie's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yeah, we've seen him around. He always seemed too interested in the fires, if you ask me."

Ace leaned in. "In what way?"

Buck replied, "He would show up, asking questions, taking notes. It was weird, but we didn't think much of it at the time."

Nancy thanked them and the trio left, convinced that Buck and Eddie were not directly involved but might have more information later.

George and Nick, meanwhile, tracked down Tommy Kinard at his run-down apartment. He was rough around the edges, with a wary look in his eyes.

George asked, "Tommy, we need to know about your connection to the recent fires."

Tommy sneered. "I got nothin' to do with them. I paid my dues for past mistakes."

Nick remained calm. "We're not accusing you. We just need information."

Tommy hesitated. "Look, I heard McAllister's name come up a few times. People say he was pushin' for those fires. That's all I know."

Next, they visited Maddie Buckley, who was working at a call center. She was visibly shaken by their questions but cooperative.

Maddie explained, "I was only at the scenes because of Buck. I don't know anything about the fires, I swear."

Hen Wilson met them at Station 118. She was strong and composed but had a concerned look.

Hen said, "I wish I could help more, but I didn't see anything unusual. Bobby was a good man. He didn't deserve this."

Carly Sinclair and Henry Adonis were harder to pin down, but they managed brief interviews. Carly denied any involvement, stating she was just following redevelopment orders. Henry, a smooth talker, claimed ignorance but his answers felt rehearsed.

That evening, back at the Airbnb, they shared their new insights.

Nancy summed it up. "McAllister is the common thread, but he had people helping or covering for him. We need to find out how deep this goes."

George nodded. "Tommy's information aligns with our suspicions. And Buck and Eddie confirmed McAllister's unusual behavior at the fire scenes."

Nick added, "Carly and Henry were too rehearsed. They know more than they're saying."

Ace suggested, "Let's dig into McAllister's financials and connections. There might be a paper trail."

Nancy agreed. "And we need to keep the pressure on him. He's bound to slip up if we get close enough."