*****
The Accused
Mel lay in her hospital bed frustrated and angry. When she had woken she had been interviewed by a police officer about what happened, and then again by a good-looking fire investigator. It seemed her place of work had been deliberately set on fire. For a time, she was the main suspect! She, Melanie Ironstone! She had never even had a parking ticket and they thought she was an arsonist! What the hell, she wondered, taking a sip of her juice through the cheap little straws the hospital used. She thought about it more and out of anger she got up and went looking for her clothes. She was feeling fine other than a little dizziness. The doctors had given her lungs the all-clear, and she was ready to go home. Let them accuse her there, she told herself.
She went into the bathroom and the clothes she had been wearing were folded on a shelf, clean and laundered. She changed out of the embarrassing hospital gowns into her jeans, tank top and warm flannel shirt.
The nurse arrived. “Hello, Miss Ironstone? Are you in there?” she said. Mel’s nurse was a pretty little woman with the voice of a wood chipper, she thought.
“Yeah, I am in here. What do you need?” Mel said, not bothering to be too polite.
“You have visitors ma’am,” the nurse growled at her.
“Out in a minute,” she told her and finished dressing.
She had been allowed a shower earlier in the day so she was clean at least. She put her long red hair into a pony tail and tucked her shirts into her pants, trying to look as presentable as she could.
Mel walked out of the bathroom and saw the good-looking fire investigator and another man. The second man was bigger, very strong-looking with black hair and a goatee. The investigator was a few inches shorter than the big guy’s six two. He had red hair and was clean shaven.
“Hello Mr. Morgan, are you here to interrogate me further?” she asked sarcastically. It really annoyed her that she was a suspect. The big guy’s lips twitched as if he were suppressing a smile. There was something familiar about him but she could not put her finger on it. He was watching her interaction with the investigator.
“Actually I am here to tell you that you have been cleared, for now. You are free to go but if we need more information we would be grateful for anything you can give us. It was definitely arson, but it is a peculiar case. That being said I also wanted to introduce you to Lieutenant Max Cronkite of District Fourteen’s fire house. You met briefly the other night,” he said.
Mel looked closer at the man, frowning slightly. She thought she should remember a man like that, and then she saw it. His eyes, his eyes! She smiled big for him.
“You were on the ladder. I remember! Thank you very much for saving me. You risked yourself to haul my butt to safety. Thank you Mr. Cronkite,” she said, feeling like she was blabbering. She had dreamed of the horrific night several times and he was her savior every time. He came forward and took her hand. His eyes were beautiful, she thought as she gazed into them.
“You are very welcome Miss Ironstone. It is my pleasure; I hope I am not intruding. I like to meet survivors of fires. It is a reminder of the importance of the job we do,” he said.
Mel nodded somberly. She knew that the building’s janitor and his son had died in the fire. They had been in the basement and that was one of the places that the fire had been the fiercest. Mel understood why meeting survivors would be such a good reminder for the fire fighters. When every call could result in human lives being lost, it would be a good re-enforcement of how vital the job was to see the successes.
“Well I hope you know the work you do is very much appreciated,” she told him and could not stop herself from hugging him with a sudden lump in her throat. When she backed away she looked at the investigator.
“Thank you for letting him visit. It’s good to meet somewhere other than a fire truck basket,” she told him and he smiled.
“It is my pleasure as well. I have known Max for years and he is one of the best officers we have. Now, there are some inconsistencies with the fire we were both hoping you could help us with. We do not believe you had anything to do with it, but we are searching for other information. If you are ready to leave, can we buy you lunch and have you taken home,” he said.
Mel could see concern in Mr. Morgan’s eyes as much as in Max’s and thought she may have to change her mind about him. Well she thought, wait and see.
“I was about to leave on my own so your timing is excellent. Know any good delis?” she asked, lightheartedly.
In New York everyone has a favorite deli. They laughed and suggested whatever Mel’s favorite was since they would be taking her home too. She chose Darrel’s Deli; it was a block from her apartment and had great soup. After she checked out of the hospital, they took her to Darrel’s in an official fire department vehicle. It was a little pickup truck with the district number on the side, 14. Mel sat in the extra cab seat because she could not feel good about making the big man cram himself into such a little seat. They arrived at the deli, got a booth and ordered fairly quickly.
“I am glad to hear I am off the suspect list. What can I do to help?” she asked them. They exchanged glances.
“You are off of my list, definitely. Others still think you are a good suspect. I want to reassure you that we…do not,” he told her. Mel’s eyes narrowed.
“Who thinks I am a good suspect? I have never broken a law in my life for goodness’ sake,” she told them firmly with some irritation. Mr. Morgan looked at her with sympathy.
“Well, we can find no evidence that would work in court or even a motive that makes sense. Your employers have been speaking to a few commissioners in the city and they are listening. Considering there is nothing that makes sense about it we are at a loss as to why they are focused on you. They are going to get nothing back from insurance claims, since it is obviously arson. As I told you before, the fire started in two places at the same time and you were busy working from that room upstairs. The computer internet connection and your phone use prove that. Do you have any idea why you are the focus for your company?”
The waitress came by and delivered their orders. Mel always became hungry when frustrated, so the food was right on time. She thought about it while starting her lunch.
“All I was doing was an internal audit, they happen from time to time. Nothing ever comes…oh shit,” she said, remembering what she had found. Still, she wondered what that would have to do with anything.
“I did find some discrepancies in the books. They actually looked pretty severe. I figured that the boss would want to see them and investigate. I don’t know why that would get me in trouble, especially since I haven’t got a chance to tell the company about it,” she told them before taking another spoonful of soup. The minestrone was excellent as always. It helped her relax. Max looked at the investigator.
“What do you think Dave? It would seem an extreme reaction to some financial squirleyness wouldn’t it?” Max asked.
“Hm, maybe. Depends on how much it was and what kind of trouble it could get them in. Torch the place and blame it on someone else has been done before,” he reflected looking over at Mel. Mel dipped the last of her sandwich into the last of her soup and as usual, once she was relaxed and fed, her mind kicked into gear again. With the release of the initial stress she began noticing everything that should have occurred to her earlier. She felt more than a little stupid.
“Okay this is going to sound stupid guys but if my boss thinks I did it, I should be out of a job, right. I mean I haven’t heard a word from them. No one from work came by the hospital. Isn’t that strange?” she asked. They both nodded.
“Yes, it is. Then again there is no real proof other than you, the janitor and his son were the only people in the building at the time the fire started. So without proof you could have a case against them for firing you without cause,” Dave said.
“So me being there is the only reason they think I did it. I was only there for the internal audit they ordered.
I realize it was late but once I get started on something I don’t like to stop before I am done. It is how I usually work,” she told them shrugging. She took some flak for her single-mindedness sometimes, but had got used to it.
“They ordered? How much trouble could they get into with what you found if someone outside the company discovered it?” Dave asked. Mel thought about it. She glanced at Max and he smiled encouragingly. It was a devastatingly handsome smile and she looked away to stay focused.
“I would guess quite a bit if the misallocation of funds I found was actually the company’s doing, instead of one executive they could blame it on,” she told them. They thought about that a moment while finishing their own lunches.
“You were right Melanie; this place has good food. How about this, they were doing something shady and knew that they would be caught soon if they did not make it disappear. So they ordered an internal audit, and torched the evidence. My guess is you were the one they wanted to die in the fire,” Max said softly. Mel was stunned. Dave nodded.
“Even though she did not, the evidence is gone and they can deflect any blame to her as a survivor. Considering the fire though, my guess is blaming you Melanie was a spur of the moment thing. You were lucky Max was able to get to you in time,” he said.
“So they would have expected me to die in the fire and be free and clear. Then why the audit,” she began, but then shook her head. “Because it has to be proved that internal audits are done. Everyone can claim one was done, but oops it is gone. Here are new records you can use for another, except any records they give them will be clean,” she said disgusted. It seemed a roundabout way to get away with robbing your own company. She shook her head and reached into her pocket with a smile. She held up a thumb drive.
“Would a copy of the records help?” she asked. Never before had she been so glad she was so fastidious about her work. Both men were surprised.
“Why do you have a copy?” they both asked.
“I was going to give it to my boss so he could try and find the culprit. I was interrupted as soon as I finished it by the fire and never got the chance,” she told them.
“As intense as that fire was, all records are destroyed, even the digital ones, unless they kept backups offsite?” Max asked.
“I doubt it. They had impressive computer servers and didn’t need to have anything offsite. Security is better that way too,” she pointed out. Dave nodded. They all sat in silence for a few minutes, lost in their thoughts. Mel found that the more she thought about it the more she was convinced their theory was correct. Nothing else made sense. She knew she had not started the fire and was sure the poor janitor and his child had not. So somebody had to have done it, and she could think of no reason to torch the S.E. Super Shoe company unless it was a competitor. If that was the case though, she thought, there would be no reason to go after her as the company was trying to do. She shook her head and Dave reached for the thumb drive she still held.
“It you don’t mind Melanie, I can get that to a financial investigator to go over. Do you mind?” he asked. Mel had decided she did like Dave, and it wasn’t just for his good looks either.
“You can call me Mel, everyone does, and you can have the records. They all have the time and date I saved them. I wrote up a short description of the problem in one of the files too. I hope it helps – if I get accused of any wrongdoing I could have a hard time getting work,” she said. Dave nodded and they finished up. Then the nice gentlemen walked her to her place, a block down from the deli. She thanked them repeatedly and they promised to be in touch before they left. Once she shut the door she leaned against it sighing. Glad to be home.
*****
Home Invasion
“So basically Janey, you don’t know what is going on either?” Mel asked. Janey was an acquaintance from work and the closest person to a friend she had. They were both eggheads and had known each other in college. Janey was working in the marketing department at Super Shoes.
“All we have heard is the shop is shut down for the foreseeable future,” said Janey. “When I heard you were in the building I almost freaked. Lawrence from the executive assistant office said he had heard that they were suspicious of you. That is clearly ridiculous. You are like me, numbers and finishing the job in front of you is all you think about at work. Are you really okay Mel? It sounds like your experience was pretty intense.”
Mel could hear worry in her voice. She was touched by Janey’s concern and wondered if maybe she had a friend after all. Since she had drunk three glasses of wine and was working on her fourth she felt less inhibited and told Janey about the fire and her rescue.
“Damn, girlfriend! You are lucky to have made it. It sounds like those firemen are calendar material on top of being so brave, huh?” Janey asked. Mel blushed a little but smiled. She had seen a few office gals with firemen calendars and Janey was right. Max and Dave would not look out of place with those men in the annual calendar. Mel giggled.
“Well, they are pretty damn good looking but I am more concerned with saving my butt from an arson charge. I mean, I know I did not do it and there is no evidence, but Super Shoes has long arms. You remember how they got that building permit in an area not zoned for it last year?” Mel reminded Janey. Janey snorted. It had been a topic of whispered conversation in the break rooms for a few weeks.
“Yeah I remember. You be careful, you hear me? Ah crap, my boyfriend is here. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” Janey said.
“Okay, thanks Janey. Have a good night,” Mel told her and they hung up. Mel finished her wine with a smile. Janey had always been preoccupied with her boyfriend of the moment. She had also been a big proponent of setting Mel up with some of her male friends, but Mel had always been too busy. Janey’s words did get her thinking of Max and Dave though. They may be worth the time, she thought with a giggle. Then again, which would she choose? They both had their good points.
Mel decided to call it a night when she yawned three times in a row. The wine was going to her head and she was feeling the stress of the last few days. She went into the bathroom and brushed her teeth and hung up her robe. She glanced in the mirror on the way out. Not bad for a geek, she thought with a smile. Her waves of red hair looked good around her heart-shaped face. Her nightshirt and pants showed off her voluptuous figure nicely too. Maybe she should consider Max or Dave after this was all over. She was sure it would be over soon. She just wished she knew how it would end.
Shutting off the lights she went into her room and sprawled on her bed, pulling the blankets up and it was not long before she was asleep.
Her dream was a replay of the dreams she had experienced in the hospital. The room filling with a hot black smoke and she could hear the shouts of the janitor and his son from down in the basement. There was no way she should have been able to, but she was desperate to get through the door to go help them. She called out, but it was futile as she tried to rush out of her little office door. Her actions became desperate and she began sobbing as she was driven back inside by the roaring flames. Then she heard voices, angry and demanding. She felt hands on her arms and she tried to turn, screaming herself awake.
“Stop screaming bitch, you have enough problems,” said a gravelly voice she did not recognize. The only light was a little night light she had in the outlet on the far wall. There were three men in her room. They looked huge in the darkness with shadows that were frightening and she froze.
“Who are you?” she asked in a trembling voice.
“We are the cleanup crew darling. You should not be here, so we are going to make sure you die this time,” said one, as she was yanked out of bed. She felt weak and unprepared to defend herself.
“Why, I didn’t do anything!” she cried out.
“That is not what your suicide note will say. I wrote a good one for you. Listen to this,” he said. Mel felt tears coming down her cheeks as she trembled in the men’s hands. Suicide? What they were talking about?
�
��I cannot live with myself. I caused the deaths of the poor Mr. Jones and his son Harry. I just could not stop myself from that, so I must do this to make amends. I cannot help myself and must light the fires. God help me I am coming to you,” the man finished.
Mel felt coldness in the pit of her stomach. The company could have her killed and blame her for the deaths. Did they know she had proof of the financial misdeeds? She kept trying to come up with distracting questions as she was hauled across the room toward the bathroom. She tried to struggle but the two men holding her arms were too strong for her. She began crying out, then yelling for help and she was slapped once.
“No, don’t hurt her. She can’t look like she was hit. She did this to herself remember. Jeez you guys are idiots. How you got this job is beyond me,” said the man who had read the fake suicide confession. Then Mel heard a shout that made her heart soar. The men holding her were shocked and the shadows around her all turned to the door. Something flew through the air and the man next to her cried out and fell away. Mel jerked her arm free from the man still holding her as two bigger shadows came into the room. Suddenly there were curses and the sound of punches being thrown and connecting. Mel dove to the floor, rolling up against her dresser in the corner to stay out of the way. The cursing got louder as her tormentors seemed to be getting beaten.
“Damnit, who are you guys? Shit stop, oh, ow!” cried the voice of the man who had read the note to her. She heard another of the bad guys crying out as well and furniture fell over with a crash. She heard rapid footsteps and her front door sounded like it crashed open. Mel trembled in fear and hope until there was silence. She slowly uncurled and began looking up as the light was turned on.
“Melanie, are you alright!? Shit, come here Max!” Dave said as he bent over Mel. Mel began sobbing in relief and threw her arms around him. She had been saved. Max was next to them in seconds and checked her out for injuries.
Two Wolves For Lizette Page 107