Count to Ten

"Dectective Mitchell and my partner, Lieutenant Solliday."

"You'll find the nitric acid in the locked cabinet, Lieutenant. Here's the key."

Mia passed it to Solliday, who checked it off. "I take it a second way to get ammonium nitrate uses nitric acid."

"Yeah, it does." Solliday checked the cabinet and locked it back. "Still sealed."

"We don't use a lot of the stronger chemicals here," Celebrese said.

"Afraid the kids will splash each other with acid?" Mia asked.

Celebrese's jaw went taut. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

Solliday emerged from the closet the goggles still on his face. "Not yet." Ignoring Celebrese's scowl, Solliday walked to the far wall, to a booth with a glass front.

"Looks like a salad bar with an overactive sneeze guard," she said and he laughed.

"It's a hood. People use volatiles here because it's ventilated." He pulled out the sniffer he'd used to measure hydrocarbons at Pe

"Jackpot," he murmured. "Celebrese, when was the last time you used the hood?"

"I-I've never used it. Like I said, I don't use strong chemicals."

Solliday pulled the window back down. "Detective, can you ask Sergeant Unger to come down here as quickly as possible? He'll want to take samples here."

Her smile was one of admiration and respect. "My pleasure, Lieutenant."

Behind the goggles his dark eyes flickered. "Thanks."

Chapter Twelve

Wednesday, November 29, 5:00 p.m.

Reed came out of Interview to find Spi

In Interview, Ma

"That's him?" Spi

Reed nodded. "Manuel Rodriguez, fifteen."

"Who's the woman?" Patrick asked, referring to the wispy looking woman who sat at Ma

"His court-appointed advocate. We were shocked she let us go on this long."

"Our gain," Patrick said. "His history?"

"Ma

"They searched his room last night?" Hurst asked. "And found matches?"

"Yeah. At first the matches was all they'd admit they'd found, but after we found the eggs, they admitted that they'd found his stash of reading material. How-to articles on arson, but all on liquid accelerants, like the right mix of gasoline and oil. None mentioned the plastic egg as a delivery device. None mentioned ammonium nitrate."

"Did they also find pornography?" Westphalen asked quietly, his eyes on the boy.

"Yes, but that wasn't a big surprise. It's common with arsonists," Reed told Hurst when the man's brows lifted. "Many arsonists start fires, then… gratify themselves."

"I get the picture," Hurst said dryly. "So did he do it?"

"I didn't think so the first time 1 talked to him, at the school." Reed shrugged uneasily. "I still don't. This boy loves the fire. Practically salivates when you show him pictures of burning buildings. If he started a fire, he would have stayed to watch it burn. I don't think he could have forced himself to run away. Also, I don't get the sense of fury in this kid. Ma

"But our guy used gasoline on Caitlin Burnette," Spin-nelli pointed out.

"But pouring it on a person is different than on a floor," Reed countered. "Ma

Spi

"I'm inclined to agree. But first, do you have photos of the bodies, Lieutenant? I want to see his response to the results of his handiwork, if it is indeed his."

"Mia has them in her briefcase." It was in the chair next to her. "We didn't want to show him actual photos of the scene or the bodies without Patrick's okay."

Patrick considered for a moment. "Do it. I want to see his response, too."

Spi

"His fury's been pointed at women so far," Reed murmured. "We wanted to see if she could get a rise out of him. Intimidate him."

"But he's not taking that bait," Westphalen commented. "Another reason I'm inclined to agree with you."

Mia shut the door. "He's not budging, but I have his advocate shaking in her boots."

"What do you think, Mia?" Spi

"He's hiding something, I think. He's got motive and means-his history of arson possession of matches and all those how-to articles-but I still get stuck on opportunity. I mean, the kid's been in lockup. How the hell did he get out to kill Caitlin and Pe

She'd voiced this concern on the way back from the school and it was valid. Reed had given it a lot of thought, "If he found a way out, he might come back just because it's more convenient to do so. It's cold outside and Hope Center is warm and gives him three squares a day. He'd have his cake and eat it, too."

Mia's brows bunched as she considered it. "It's possible. I'll be more inclined to believe he's involved if we can tie him to Caitlin or Pe

"The doctor wants you to show Ma

"Okay, but you should go in. He talks to you. He just stares at my chest."

And for that, Reed thought, no man on the planet could blame the boy. "Anything special, Doc?"

Westphalen thought a second. "See if you can get him off his guard before you show the pictures. I don't want that bored look. He hides too much behind it."

"I'll try." Reed walked back into the interview room and closed the door at his back.

The advocate lifted her chin. "Ma

"I'm not sure he's going back. He might stay here tonight, as our guest."

Ma

"We have a special area for men under eighteen accused of capital crimes." He took his time finding the photos, watching Ma

Ma

Reed glanced up. "Death penalty."

Ma

"Lieutenant." The advocate drew herself up straighter, although her voice shook. "You're just scaring him. He's done nothing." She pointed to a chair. "Sit down, Ma

"He hasn't been arrested," Reed said carelessly. "Should he be?"

"No!" Ma

Reed walked behind him, leaned over him and put the photos of the charred bodies on the table. "Should you be?"

Beside him the advocate covered her mouth and gagged.

Ma