“I don’t want her to get in trouble. I know she didn’t do anything,” Isaac tells me.
“She won’t get in trouble if she didn’t do anything,” I insist.
I picture the poor man killed by the arsonist and vow to myself that I want whoever did it in jail, even if it happens to be a friend of mine.
With that, I signify for the police to come over and take a look at our discovery.
“Isn’t that the Fire Captain’s girl?” one police officer asks.
“She has a background in fire control. Maybe she just wants to help out with the investigation,” Isaac meekly suggests.
“The ID has burn marks on it,” an officer notices.
“Yes. However, we need to look at those burn marks more closely. Why did only the edges experience burning? I find it funny that we can read everything perfectly. Send it to the lab for analysis,” I request.
Isaac nods and seems to have a sense of relief.
“Well, we need to ask her some questions. We will go to her home right now. You guys have knowledge about the fire. Do you care to join us?” the police officer asks.
“Yes,” Isaac and I answer quickly.
“Well, you can follow us,” the cop says.
“We know the way,” I tell the officer.
The police pick up the ID and place it into an evidence bag. Then, Isaac and I climb into the fire station and drive toward Emma’s place.
“You don’t think she actually did it, do you?” Isaac wonders.
“I can only use the information in front of me,” I respond.
“Well, I know Emma. She doesn’t like fire. She knows how dangerous it can be. Also, she screams at movies when someone treats an animal poorly. I don’t think she could commit a murder if she tried,” Isaac defends Emma.
“Look, if it makes you feel better, we can hope the lab determines the burns look too even to happen during an arson,” I remind him.
“Why would we find her ID in the first place?” Isaac ponders.
“Who knows with her. For all we know, she went to the woods to drink or fuck and ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time,” I casually suggest.
“Maybe someone wants to frame her,” Isaac throws out.
“That’s possible. However, it seems silly to blame a woman who grew up in a fire station for arson. Besides, who doesn’t like Emma? She looks great and sticks to dancing most nights,” I say.
“Maybe someone doesn’t like her career choice,” Isaac muses.
“Like her father? Come on. He does everything in his power to protect her. Never,” I immediately disregard the idea.
“Or maybe an ex,” Isaac guesses again.
“Or maybe an exes’ ex,” I retort. “I watch enough true crime to know bad breakups can lead to things like this.”
When we pull up to Emma’s buildings, it looks like a scene from a movie with all of the squad cars. I suddenly feel bad for Emma but also know my responsibility as a firefighter.
“Just promise me you don’t think Emma did it,” Isaac requests from me before we head inside.
“I can’t do that. However, I don’t think so, and I will do my best to find the real arsonist,” I promise.