While Chief Myers oversaw the loading of Mick’s stretcher into the ambulance, Alan led Pan back into Branson’s home and made a quick search for the nylon bag containing his iPhone. It only took two minutes to locate it on the coffee table in the living room. He snatched the bag up and returned to driveway just as the ambulance was pulling away. The police car with the rescued girls had already left the scene, leaving Barnes, the sheriff and a pair of highway patrolmen there besides himself and the chief.
He went over to Chief Myers and said, “Can we go now?”
The chief nodded. “I think everything is pretty much under control here. The feds have been notified and should be here within an hour. Barnes, you stay here and fill them in on the details. They will no doubt try to take over this investigation since it’s technically a federal matter. But not before we pay Martin Fowler another visit.”
Barnes nodded, “Okay, chief.”
Alan sat in the front seat while Chief Myers turned the cruiser around and sped down the driveway to the road. After switching on the siren, he brought the radio’s microphone to his mouth and called for Jacobs.
“Yes, Chief,” Jacobs replied.
“What’s your position?”
“We’re almost at Fowler’s house, Chief. I think—whoa! What’s that?”
“What’s what, Jacobs? What’s happening?”
“Smoke, chief! Lots of it. I think that—holy shit! The whole place is on fire!”
The chief glanced over at Alan. “How bad is it, Jacobs?”
“Wait, we’re just rounding the corner now— Holy mother of god—Fowler’s house is almost totally engulfed, Chief! We need the fire department up here on the double!”
“Shit! Okay, I’ll radio for them while you stand by.”
The chief threw a switch on the car’s radio and spat into the microphone, “We need the fire squad up at Martin Fowler’s home pronto! The house is totally involved. You read?”
“Ten-four, chief. I’ll contact them immediately,” the dispatcher replied.
The chief got back to Jacobs. “They’re on their way. What’s happening now, Jacobs?”
Jacobs spoke as though he was out of breath. “We’re standing outside at the east side of the house, near the courtyard. The fire has already engulfed the entire west side and is spreading quickly this way. Should we try to look for victims, chief?”
“Negative, Jacobs! Unless you actually hear somebody calling for help, I want you stay out of there and wait for the fire squad to arrive. Do you copy?”
“Yes, Chief. I sorta doubt anybody is in there, anyway. Alive, that is.”
“Let’s hope they got out in time. I want both of you to search the grounds for Fowler and the girl. Start with the guesthouse then cover the entire perimeter. There’s a chance that Martin may have staged this fire just to throw us off.”
“Ten-four, chief. You on your way?”
“Be there in about fifteen minutes.”
The chief called the dispatcher again. “I want you to send every man we have out to Fowler’s and tell them to surround his property. Tell them to set up a roadblock three miles either way in case he’s trying to flee the scene. You got that?”
“Ten-four.”
“You really think Fowler may have set this up, Chief?” Alan said.
He shook his head. “I don’t know. But I sure hope so if that fire is as bad as Jacobs says it is.”
“But if Fowler set it in order to escape, isn’t there a good chance he’d just leave Polina in there?”
“My hope is that he set the fire and took her hostage in case he needs her. Or at least has the heart not to leave her there to die.”
“I’m not so sure about that, Chief. It seems that Polina would be nothing but a burden to him if you ask me. Not only would she attract attention while he’s on the run but he also reminds me of the kind of guy who cares about nothing but himself.”
“I hate to admit it but you may be right—knowing now what he’s capable of. Jesus, this whole thing has gotten way out of hand. I’m still trying to get over the fact that I let that bastard off earlier today. If I hadn’t, none of this would have happened. Knowing that is gonna stick with me for the rest of my life.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Chief. I hadn’t really given you that much on Fowler to go on in the first place. Plus, you deserve credit for at least going up there and checking things out. That’s more than most would have done based on the lack of evidence.”
“Thanks, Alan—I’ll try to keep that in mind. The main thing now is to get our asses up there and see if we can find them.”