Read Online Wildfire by Mina Khan - Free Book Online Page A

ex-military guy, the deputy did intimidation well. All he had
to do was stand around, freeze his face and flex his muscles. “Let’s go.”
    Jenkin’s dropped his cards and unfolded to his six-foot two-inch
height. He lumbered to the door and held it open. Another benefit of the
military, the fellow didn’t ask too many questions.
    “We are going to the Chadbourne Street bridge downtown,
contact me only if it’s something you guys can’t handle.” He nodded to the
remaining deputies.
    One of the older guys snorted. “Going fishing at this time
of night?”
    “Yeah, fishing for information.”
    He swung through the outside door and jogged down the stairs
to his personal vehicle. An unmarked Ford Taurus. He didn’t want to announce
his arrival and spook his prey. He clicked the car open and both men climbed
in.
    “I’m just looking to talk to the guys that camp down there,
shouldn’t be any trouble.” He started the car and drove out into the street.
    “So you’re playing good cop to my bad cop?”
    Roberts grinned. Jenkins was alright. “Yeah. You just stand
around and scare the crap out of them, and I’ll be Mr. Friendly.”
    He tapped the steering wheel. “But be prepared for anything.
We might stumble across the arsonist. I don’t expect to, but we might.”
    “Yes, Sir.”
    They drove past hulking, ornate churches lit up by spotlights.
Stone angels and crosses stood silent and glowing like eerie sentinels on
either side of the street.
    “The old Sheriff, my dad, used to say it’s best to catch people
by surprise.”
    “Yes, Sir.”
    Half a block from the bridge, he killed the lights.
Moonlight illuminated the empty street. Decent folk were all tucked up in bed,
unaware of all the life going on without them. Being Sheriff didn’t afford him that
luxury. He parked the car at the closed shop nearest to the beginning of the
bridge. 11:55 p.m.
    He twisted the key out and both men slid out of the car. The
doors shut behind them with soft clicks. They fast-walked to the railing. Despite
the full moon, darkness shadowed the steps. Roberts clung to the wall as he
eased his way down. The smell of smoke wafted in the air, reminding him of
long-ago camping trips.
    They rounded the corner and came across men huddled around a
bonfire built inside a metal trashcan. Some held their hands out toward the
warm flames, while other stared mesmerized at the glow. A few lay scattered on
the incline, already asleep or drinking from bottles hidden in paper sacks.
    The tableau froze as he and Jenkins emerged into the light.
Only the drinkers and sleepers ignored them.
    Roberts pulled out packs of cigarettes from his jacket and
held them up. “Just want to talk, that’s all.”
    Jenkins took a step forward and folded his arms across his
big slab of a chest. Roberts winced. He could see the whites of eyes and the
twitch of muscles. He waggled the packs in his hands. “Got some smokes for your
trouble.”
    A young blond with a bruised nose stepped forward, eyed the
pack.
    Roberts took a cigarette out and offered it to him.
    The man grabbed it. “What you want to know?”
    He held out a few more cigarettes and looked around. “Any
other smokers in the group?”
    Several men shuffled forward. The stench of old sweat and
body odor wafted forward. Roberts kept on smiling as he handed the bribe out.
“How come you guys don’t go to the Salvation Army?”
    “Don’t like sleeping indoors.”
    “Can’t stand the preaching.”
    “Don’t got no room last time I checked.”
    Roberts nodded, feeling like a bobble head toy. “You guys
out here two nights ago?”
    Shrugs and murmurs of ascent rippled all around.
    “Anybody go out to the country? Out by Carlsbad or Paradise
Valley?”
    Silence.
    “Come on guys, we were getting along so well.”
    Jenkins twisted his head this way and that, until the bones
in his neck popped in the silence.
    “You can talk to me or to my deputy.” He thumbed at Jenkins.
    Wide-eyed gazes