Montana Fire Read Online Free PDF

missed each other. “What is it?” Had they unearthed a body?
    “I couldn’t sleep, so I drove over to the scene. I think you’ll want to see this.”
    His patience dried up. “Spit it out, dammit.”
    “There’s a message, not just a bunch of swirls like on the front of the warehouse.”
    The tightness in his chest eased, relieved Rich didn’t say there’d been another victim.
     “There’s often been a message. What did it say?” Max wanted to strangle his assistant
     for not just telling him.
    “It was spray painted on the back of the east side door.”
    That didn’t answer his question. “Does it look gang related? Were the letters black
     with multiple colored haloes around each word?”
    “Sort of. Just come and see for yourself.” Rich’s authoritarian tone seemed out of
     character, but Max chalked it up to his excitement.
    “Be right there.”
    Other than needing to turn off the coffee machine and placing his dirty dishes in
     the sink, he was ready to go. When he arrived, cops and CSU techs were crawling all
     over the place, looking like ants at a picnic. The morning light had breached the
     horizon, but the sun had yet to make an appearance.
    Rich was standing at the east end, waving him over. The sweet ember smell permeated
     the air, and while the smoke was gone, the heat still rose from the ground.
    Max reached Rich but couldn’t spot any additional graffiti. “Where’s this message?”
    “Let me show you. We didn’t see it last night because it was too dark. It’s on the
     outside of the door—the door Donner Pearson ran out of carrying the burned victim.”
     Rich pointed to what was written in black spray paint.
    Max said the words out loud. “You fucked with the wrong—,” He tried to read the last
     word a few times, but the dark paint against the burned wood make it next to impossible.
     “I can’t make out—”
    “Guys, maybe?”
    “That’s it. Guys.” Something seemed off. He read it again. “You fucked with the wrong
     guys. Hmm. Note how the whole phrase is outlined instead of each letter.”
    “Maybe he was in a hurry. Besides, the colors look similar to those used at the last
     fire.”
    “I agree.”
    Rich stepped closer. “I wish I knew why they’d leave such a personal message if they’re
     only going to burn down the building.”
    “Because they can?”
    “Maybe. We might be coming at this from the wrong angle.”
    Rich often had good instincts. “How so?”
    “Could be the target was the interloper.”
    “Based on what evidence?”
    “None.” Rich scratched his nose. “Merely throwing something out.”
    They often tossed out theories. The first few were just that—guesses, but the more
     they dug, the closer they got to a solid lead. “I guess the trespasser could have
     been running from someone. When they found him, why not just kill the guy? What would
     be the purpose of torching the place? No one would have found the guy for weeks or
     months instead of a few hours. Any evidence would have been long gone.”
    “Beats me,” Rich said.
    “I’m going to ask Thad to compare the lettering to the other fires. When the lab comes
     back with the composition of the accelerant, we’ll have a better handle on things.”
    “I know we kind of dismissed the owner, but I’m thinking he could be guilty. Maybe
     he hired some kids to paint graffiti on the side to throw us off.”
    Max glanced over at Rich. “You know the old saying. When you assume something, you
     make an ass out of you and me.”
    *     *     *
    Jamie drove toward the clinic the next morning, feeling almost like her old self.
     Zoey’s words had made a big impact on her. Jamie liked the idea of doing something
     proactive, whether it be taking gun lessons, asking for a different shift, or even
     finding a new job.
    All positive thoughts about having a lot of options disappeared the moment she caught
     sight of the travesty in front of her. Dear God. Her throat nearly