Her radio crackled. "Command, we have movement."
Lena's binoculars snapped toward the target building just in time to see a shadow passing by one of the windows. Brief, but definitely human.
"Confirmed movement inside the structure," she reported. "He's in there."
Erin's voice came through immediately: "I need to get inside for a full assessment, but if he's in there with accelerants..."
"It’s too dangerous," Julia responded. "Pull back and let tactical handle approach."
"No." Erin's reply was firm. "If he triggers those accelerants, we could lose the entire structure and any evidence inside. Plus the fire could spread to the main house or surrounding vegetation. I only need ten minutes to do a proper evaluation."
Lena watched Erin position herself near the building's main entrance, crouching as her instruments scanned for heat signatures and chemical concentrations. This was exactly what they'd planned for—Erin's expertise determining the scene safety before anyone else entered—but the rising smoke suggested they were walking into something more than a simple arrest.
Lena keyed her radio. "What do you need from us?"
"Perimeter security while I work. If I give the evacuation signal, everyone pulls back immediately, no questions asked."
"Copy that."
Lena moved to her assigned position, maintaining visual contact with Erin while scanning for any sign Ashford might try to flee. Around the property, other team members took their positions.
The smoke from the building was getting thicker.
"Erin," she said into her radio, using her first name without thinking about protocol. "How much time do we have?"
"Unknown. Could be minutes, could be hours, depending on what he's doing in there." Erin's voice was steady. "But I need to get inside soon to make that determination."
"And if he's waiting for us?"
"Then we’ll learn something new and adapt."
The words sent a chill down Lena's spine. Not because she didn't trust Erin's expertise, but because they had no idea what they'd find inside that building. Or what Ashford was desperate enough to do when they found him.
Erin disappeared around the side of the building, her voice coming through the radio in steady intervals. "I’m reading multiple accelerant deposits along the east wall. Recently placed. Chemical composition suggests a planned ignition sequence."
Lena forced herself to breathe normally while tracking Erin's progress through the tactical radio chatter. Around the property perimeter, team members held their positions, weapons ready, waiting for the all-clear signal that would begin the arrest phase.
"Fire Marshal, can you determine if the accelerants are actively heating?" Hallie's voice cut through the morning air.
"Negative on active heating, but temperature readings are climbing. He’s doing something in there." A pause, then: "I'm going in for an interior assessment. Stand by."
Lena's grip tightened on her radio. "Erin, wait?—"
But Erin was already at the building's entrance, her equipment pack swinging as she moved with the confident stride of someone who'd done this a hundred times before. The door opened under her touch, and she vanished inside the structure.
Radio silence.
Seconds stretched into eternity. Lena counted heartbeats, watching the windows for any sign of movement, any indication of what Erin was encountering inside.
"Fire Marshal, report status." Julia's voice carried a hint of tension now.
Nothing.
"Erin." Lena keyed her radio, protocol forgotten. "Status report."
Static answered her.
The radio crackled to life with Erin's voice, strained but controlled: "Command, I've got a visual on Ashford. He's barricaded in the back office with what appears to be a significant accelerant setup. Advise immediate?—"
