Fire and Ice by Taylor Lee Page A

night. As quickly as the building burned, the fire could have spread to the whole development. Connor’s crew wasn’t taking any chances, and were busy building a guard perimeter between the smoldering fire and surrounding homes.
    Nate turned to the visibly shaken cop. “Okay, Sergeant. What’ve we got? I understand you were the first on the scene.”
    “Damn, Nate. I… I was driving by, circling the development. Like I always do… a couple of times a night. I saw smoke and then before it even registered in my brain that we had another fire, there was a massive explosion. Shit! It looked like the whole damn place was going up in smoke.”
    Baker’s eyes were wide, red-rimmed. Smudges of soot lodged in the deep wrinkles lining his face. He looked haggard, distressed. Annika couldn’t be sure, but she thought she smelled alcohol on his breath. For a veteran cop he seemed more affected by the scene than she expected. But to be fair to the guy, this wasn’t only a massive fire; it was a murder scene.
    Baker hitched up his jeans and scrubbed at his three or four day old beard. He focused his bleary gaze on Nate.
    “I thought I heard screams but I couldn’t get close enough to see…. I… I called dispatch and these guys were here in minutes. But… not quick enough to save Leo. Damn, Nate. The poor old guy must have been sleeping it off in the house that blew. I’ve seen him around here some nights. Never paid much attention. Hell, as long as I’ve known him, old Leo always manages to find a hole to crawl into at night. Except in the winter. You know, when he hits the shelters.”
    The furrow between his brows deepening, Nate studied the distraught man. His next words confirmed Annika’s suspicion that Baker had been drinking.
    “Don’t know how you got here, Baker, but it’s a damn good thing you did. But you look like hell, bro. I’ll get someone to take you home. Don’t want you driving. And buddy, lay off the booze. We’re gonna need your insights. You’re an important witness, being the first on the scene. Be at the station at 8 a.m. I’ll arrange for one of the guys to pick you up.”
    Annika interrupted.
    “If you don’t object, Detective, I’d like to ask the sergeant some questions—if he is up to it. His first impressions are important.”
    Holding up his hands, Nate shrugged. “Sure thing, Lieutenant. You’re the boss.”
    Nate’s eyes narrowed as he turned toward the agitated cop. “Baker, answer the lieutenant’s questions, and in the meantime I’ll get Pete to drive you home. You don’t look good, buddy. Shape up before you get to the station in the morning. You hear me?”
    Sgt. Baker nodded, then reluctantly faced Annika.
    Sam moved next to Annika. “Do you need help, Lieutenant?”
    Annika shook her head. “No, thanks. The Sergeant and I will be fine. I need to focus on how the fire started. I know you and Nate need to deal with the dead body.”
    They all turned at the sounds of angry voices.
    “I don’t give a good goddamn if you’re Jesus Christ himself. Get the hell behind this perimeter or I’ll have you arrested on the spot. Nuthin’ I’d like better than puttin’ your sorry ass in jail!”
    Fred Dalton, Connor’s ground commander, was toe to toe with an angry Brennan Corcoran. It was hard to tell which man’s face was a deeper shade of red.
    Sam looked to Nate who gave him an affirmative nod. Annika watched in admiration as Sam eased between the two angry men confronting each other. A master negotiator, he skillfully put the pompous developer and the irate firefighter on the same level—addressing both by their first names.
    “Brennan. I’m glad you got here. I was just asking if you’d been notified of this latest tragedy. Let’s go over here at a safe distance and let Fred and his men get the fire under control. These men are doing their best to prevent any more damage to your property.”
    Sam focused on Fred Dalton who’d taken a wary step back but was