(4 days before the switch)
Location: District Attorney's Office conference room, San Francisco, California, world of Earth
Vivian laid out her tablet on the polished conference table. Its screen displayed the intricate, multi-layered map of GIG properties and fire incidents. Detective Garcia leaned forward, scanning everything and comparing it to geographical landmarks around the city. Prosecutor Davies, ever analytical, adjusted her glasses and waited for Vivian's presentation before making any decisions or assumptions.
"Thank you both for meeting on such short notice," Vivian began, her voice clear and authoritative, belying her relative inexperience. "As you know, the Greyson Investment Group fires have been escalating, and my preliminary investigation suggests a level of sophistication that demands immediate attention before the situation escalates further. Therefore, the main purpose of today's presentation will be to ask for more manpower, resources, and a specialist."
She tapped the screen, bringing up the old textile factory. "With GIG's full cooperation, we've gained access to two sites that I believe were used to test different burn methods: the old textile factory, which belonged to Alex Greyson's family, and a vacant warehouse. Based on the evidence, the warehouse fire likely occurred more recently than the factory. However, the factory appeared to have been accessed several times, spanning multiple months—if not years."
Vivian zoomed in on the factory's schematic. "At the factory, we found evidence of highly controlled, experimental burns. I've included a hard copy schematic marking all of the locations where we found evidence."
Both Davies and Garcia flipped through the papers, scanning the pages thoughtfully.
"In the locations marked in red, the charring patterns were deeper and more concentrated than typical accidental fires, indicating deliberate ignition. More significantly, we discovered signs of Alkali-Aggregate Reaction, or AAR, in the concrete. This chemical process causes internal expansion and structural compromise, mimicking natural decay, and requires a precise understanding of material science and chemistry to induce."
She paused, letting the information sink in, then advanced to another image. "Even more alarming was the presence of vitrified metal and fused concrete, consistent with the use of thermite. As you know, thermite burns at extremely high temperatures, far hotter than conventional fires, and is used in industrial applications like welding or cutting thick metals. Its controlled use here suggests a deliberate attempt to cause maximum structural damage, making the property entirely unrecoverable."
Garcia's brow furrowed. "Thermite? That's not something your average arsonist gets their hands on."
"Precisely, Detective," Vivian affirmed. "Which gives us a vital metric to cross-reference and narrow down our pool of suspects. This individual or group possesses a deep knowledge of chemical reactions, particularly industrial chemistry. The use of thermite strongly suggests they are either licensed by the ATF for explosive materials, or they possess the expertise, resources, and connections to acquire the necessary metal powder and metal oxide to create the exothermic redox reaction themselves."
Davies interjected, "So, we are looking for more than a mere pyromaniac—someone with a legitimate scientific background? And access to the resources they need?"
"Yes," Vivian agreed. "The placement of the burn sites also demonstrates a keen understanding of structural weaknesses, showing an ability to pinpoint exactly where a fire would cause the most damage. This meticulous approach is evident in their testing of multiple methods, refining their technique over time. There may also be a tie to structural engineering and blueprint acquisition as a reference lead. Furthermore, the discarded striker we found at the factory—a common lab tool—indicates lab access or at least easy access to specialized equipment."
"And there's another crucial piece of the puzzle. The old textile factory was originally owned by Greyson's family. The test burns there occurred less than three years ago, but more than a year ago, according to Alex's recollection of when he reacquired the property. He agreed to provide us with the inspection report he contracted before the purchase. But if what he says is true, it indicates that the factory was likely the site of the earliest test burns. Given that there have been multiple fires aimed at GIG, it strongly suggests a familiarity with Alex's family history, possibly knowing that the factory had been in his family for generations before it went bankrupt."
Vivian looked at both of them, her expression grave. "Given this timeline, it's starting to look like Alex Greyson, alongside or instead of GIG, is the primary target."
Garcia leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face. "That changes things. A personal vendetta, perhaps?"
"Or a calculated attack on his business empire through a personal connection," Davies added. "Either way, it elevates the threat level significantly."
Vivian nodded. "I completely agree. Which brings me to the resources we need," Vivian continued, switching to a new slide outlining her requests. "First, we need a comprehensive list of all ATF license holders for explosive materials within a 100-mile radius of the affected properties. This could provide a crucial lead."
"That's a big ask, but doable," Garcia murmured, making a note.
"Second, we need to conduct detailed site visits to all known fire locations on GIG's properties, specifically looking for evidence of AAR and thermite indicators. My initial investigations were limited in scope, but now we know exactly what to look for."
"Third, I recommend expanding our search to all disused GIG properties, including those without officially reported fires. The arsonist clearly utilized unreported sites for their testing phase, and there may be more out there.
"Fourth, we absolutely need a forensic chemist to analyze any residual samples from these sites, particularly for the AAR and thermite indicators. This will provide irrefutable scientific proof of the methods used."
"And finally, we need analysts to collate this additional information, cross-reference everything, and follow up by interviewing. Given that we don't want to narrow our focus too quickly in case there is involvement by a third party, I recommend a tight team of three. Three vetted analysts will reduce possible information leaks without overtaxing the department."
Davies nodded. "That's standard procedure for complex arson, but the early sites make it more challenging."
"I might know someone we can call in as an expert alongside the usual contractor. It would be beneficial to have the labs verify each other's findings anyway." Vivian made a note on her phone to reach out to an old college professor.
Vivian continued, "Fifth, we need to conduct additional interviews with garbage collectors. Ideally, we would have the manpower to interview anyone who passed by the properties on a regular basis, but I know that is too much to ask. We do, however, need to find out if there are other properties, not necessarily owned by GIG, that match the 'test site' profile. This could broaden our understanding of the arsonist's scope beyond GIG, or solidify the theory of a specific target. I don't want to rule out the possibility that we are so focused on GIG that we miss other properties with similar scenes."
"And finally, I've asked for some help directly from GIG itself. They have agreed to add more security around previous fire scenes to avoid the loss of new evidence as we re-examine them. They are also looking into Alex's personal holdings to see if some minor incidents happened on those that weren't reported. This could clarify whether GIG or Alex specifically is the intended target. GIG will also help with cross-referencing ATF licenses against a list of entities with a potential for animus."
Davies raised an eyebrow. "He's been cooperative so far. Will he agree to open up his personal properties?"
"He offered to have his own team look into them and share the findings directly, stating it would streamline the process," Vivian admitted, choosing her words carefully. "We can't force him to give us access to properties if we don't have cause. However, I believe he will cooperate if he understands the necessity for the investigation."
Garcia tapped his pen on the table. "Alright, Ms. Lorenson. This is a lot to digest, but your findings are compelling. Obviously, some of this won't get through strictly from budget constraints. But we'll get the ball rolling on these requests and start with what we can get."
"One more thing regarding logistics," Vivian added. "I'll be on my fire rotation starting in three days, staying at the fire station for ten days before going off rotation. During that time, we can conduct virtual meetings, as long as there isn't an emergency call that requires my immediate attention."
Davies looked at Garcia, then back at Vivian, a new respect evident in her gaze. "Understood, Ms. Lorenson. Although you've created a lot more work for us," she said with a hint of good-natured warning, "this investigation has certainly become a lot more interesting."