“What do you think that police officer meant when he said strike three?” Genghis asked, thinking back.
“I’m not sure. I guess, this Maitland fellow has struck women in the past and three or more times gets you a stiffer sentence.” Trent looked at Genghis. “But we’re going to have to be a little more careful and not get involved in local matters”
“Well, what are we supposed to do?” Genghis asked. “Sit back and watch a crime being committed? We’re police officers after all. A little out of our jurisdiction, but still.”
“Yes, I agree. We should help when necessary, but we’re going to have to keep a low profile when assisting.”
After about thirty more minutes, the initial shock of being in the paper faded. Jeff and Genghis were finishing their coffee and breakfast as Genghis put a section of paper down and reached for the Metro section. He started flipping through, found something and quickly scanned the article. Then said, “Here’s something.”
Trent asked what he found.
“Listen to this. ‘Serial Arsonist Strikes Again. The fifth arson in three months consumed the Griffon building on 15th Ave. and 10th St. in the Compton Square district of Old Town. Local fire station twenty-one responded to the three alarm blaze just after two in the morning last Friday. After fighting the flames for over an hour and a half it was determined by fire officials that the building was not going to be saved. Firefighters let the sixty-year-old building burn itself out, which took over four hours. Yesterday, fire investigators announced that this fire was indeed set with the same unknown accelerant that was used in the previous four arson fires.'” Genghis looked at Trent. “Unknown accelerant.”
“Yes,” Trent mused. “An unknown accelerant.” He thought for a moment. “Do you remember your survival training at the academy, during basic?”
“Sure, how could I forget. A week in the woods in Laning with only a limited amount of supplies. Yeah, I learned a lot that week. Why?”
“Do you remember how the instructors suggested how to make a quick fire, using a stun grenade?” He waited for Genghis’s response.
“Yeah, with the right tool you could disarm the grenade, unscrew the detonation striker, and use a small amount of the Calbenite powder inside to start a fire. One grenade could last you a week or two.” Genghis realized what he just said and looked over to Trent.
“Calbenite, as far as we know could be the unknown substance,” Trent said, looking back at the Doberman. “How many stun grenades were on 964?”
Genghis thought for a second. “I’ll have to check the inventory, but I’d guess five to seven.”
“I think that we should investigate this Griffon building on 15th Avenue and 10th Street and see whether or not we can find out what exactly this unknown accelerant is.” Trent then started the engine of the Thunderbird.
Chapter Eighteen
Genghis called up his computer and got directions, while Trent drove out of The Riverside Mall parking lot, turning left onto Eighth Street. This far north, Eighth was no longer a one way street. It was Saturday morning and the roads of Old Town were crowded with early morning shoppers. They continued, crossed over Seventh Avenue, then turned right on Fifth Avenue to make a quick stop at Dave’s Coffee Pot for some more coffee. Then, following Genghis’s directions, they continued west down Fifth. “Tenth Street is coming up next. Make a right.”
Trent followed his partner's directions and turned onto 10th St.. The road ran along the west side of Grant Park. There was a touch football game going on, and a handful of people cheered as one of the players made an impressive catch.
They drove into a section of Old Town that was in the process of renovations. A series of eight buildings in a three block area were in different stages of construction. There was no real traffic or pedestrians in this area, mostly construction workers and their vehicles. They drove three blocks and could see nestled in between other structures the remains of the Griffon building.
Turning right onto 15th Ave. they parked parallel to the building that was at one time a textile mill. Vacant for more than thirty years, it was earmarked to be a restaurant with a nightclub on the second floor. All that remained now was the two story back wall, charred black. The only reason it still stood was because it was still connected to partial right and left walls. The front section, second story and the entire roof had collapsed into the building. Roof timbers and brick were charred and caked with soot. It was all pushed toward the side walls, this being done to allow the fire investigators to investigate the scene. Debris that still covered the floor had a small path cutting through the middle of it. It started where the front entrance once had been and forked off in different directions toward the back crumbling wall.
Jeff and Genghis got out of their cruiser and proceeded toward the building. It sat directly on the corner of 10th and 15th. The building was roped off with black and yellow caution tape. There were signs posted warning others not to enter and that the site was condemned. They walked over the uneven ground. Bundles of 2 x 4's and plywood were still stacked to the left of the building, ready for a renovation that now would never happen. The sides of the plywood facing the building were warped and charred due to the intensity of the heat. Across the street, one block down, Jeff could see workers renovating a single story building. The sounds of hammering and skill saws drifted through the air. Other than that, no one else was around.
Jeff, carrying the duffle bag, had to bend low to go under the tape. Genghis just trotted underneath and into the ruin. They walked toward the middle of the building. Trent put the bag
