“Fire safety codes and arson investigations are two different?—”
“Are they?” Erin glanced up, and this time her gaze held longer. Not challenging, exactly, but not deferential either. “Because it seems to me that which buildings are vulnerable and why are relevant to both.”
The espresso machine chose that moment to hiss and steam, punctuating Erin’s words with mechanical emphasis. Somewhere in the cafe, someone laughed. The sounds felt distant, muffled by the sudden weight of professional territorialism rising between them.
Lena had come here to assess the space, to see what an arsonist might see. She hadn’t expected to find someone alreadydoing exactly that, with a different methodology but perhaps—and this grated on her nerves—equal competence as her.
“I’d like to review your findings,” Lena said, keeping her tone carefully neutral.
“When I’m finished.” Erin returned to her inspection. “Fire safety doesn’t wait for convenient timing.”
It wasn’t hostility, exactly. Just the absolute certainty of someone who knew their job and had no interest in being interrupted while doing it. Lena recognized that quality. She saw it in the mirror every morning.
Which somehow only made it more irritating.
From behind the counter, Lavender watched the exchange with barely concealed amusement. The colored light from the stained glass windows shifted as the sun continued to set.
Lena took a breath and recalibrated. Professional. She could be professional. “How long will the inspection take?”
“As long as it needs to.” Erin moved toward the back of the cafe, her stride purposeful. “But if you’d like to observe, Detective, you’re welcome to follow. Just don’t touch anything.”
The words were courteous, but the tone suggested that Lena would only be in the way. Lena followed anyway. She had a case to solve, and, apparently, the fire marshal had decided she was going to make that as difficult as possible.
The backroom was cramped and utilitarian, all exposed brick and stacked supplies that smelled of old wood and coffee beans. Dust motes danced in the air where Erin moved boxes aside to access the electrical panel, her movements efficient despite the confined space. The cafe’s ambient noise faded to a muffled hum beyond the closed door, leaving just the scratch of her pen and Lena’s careful breathing.
Lena leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed, observing the way Erin worked.
“So what’s your assessment?” Lena kept her voice casual and professional. “From a fire safety perspective.”
Erin didn’t look up from her clipboard. “Of the cafe? Or of the arsons you’re investigating?”
“Both.”
“Lavender’s has some vulnerabilities.” Erin moved to examine the storage area, her pen making quick notes. “Old wiring, insufficient fire suppression in the kitchen, exit signs that don’t meet current standards. But nothing immediately critical.”
“And the arsons?”
Erin paused, glancing over her shoulder with those direct green eyes. “I’m focused on prevention here. We need to identify vulnerable locations before they become targets.”
Lena’s laugh was sharp. “We need to catch the arsonist, not fireproof every building in Phoenix Ridge.”
“Well, maybe if someone had focused on prevention”—Erin turned fully to face her now and lowered her clipboard—”that community center wouldn’t have been a total loss.”
Lena felt the words land hard somewhere deep in her chest. Images of those melted swings flashed across her mind. She’d known some of the kids who had gone to the community center’s programs and had volunteered there herself on occasion to teach self-defense classes to teenagers who were just trying to figure out who they were.
“That’s not—” Lena’s voice came out harder than intended. “Prevention doesn’t stop someone determined to burn down a building.”
“No, but it can limit the damage and save lives.” Erin moved closer, and suddenly the cramped room felt even smaller. “You’re focused on catching themafter. I’m trying to protect peoplebefore.”
“Closing the barn door after the horses are gone,” Lena said, her jaw tight.
“Better than waiting for disaster and hoping you can solve it in time.” Erin’s tone remained controlled, but heat crept into it. Not anger, exactly, but passion and conviction. “You investigate destruction. I try to prevent it. Both matter, Detective.”
They were standing too close now, their voices raised but still controlled, the kind of argument that happens between professionals who know how to disagree without making a scene. The aroma of coffee and cleaning supplies mixed with something else, something citrusy and fresh Erin was wearing that cut through the storage room’s mustiness.
Lena was acutely aware of Erin’s sharp eyes meeting hers in a challenge. Of the way Erin didn’t back down despite being younger, newer, and probably less experienced. The fire marshal stood her ground like she had every right to question Lena’s approach.
It was infuriating.
