• As I drove up, I saw the firefighters putting out the flames. I looked at the people surrounding the scene. Most likely the suspect is hanging around, admiring his or her work. The only guy that stood out was a tall, dark-haired man in a trench coat. He gave me this creepy grin as I parked my car. I blew my bangs out of my face in frustration.

    'Weirdo.' I mumbled in my head. The firefighters sat on the side since the fire was doused out.

    I spoke in an interrogating tone, "So what happened here?"

    "It's routine. Don't know why the police are here." One of them spoke up.

    "Well, it's not that often that bricks are set on fire." I commented back, rolling my eyes. Was I the only person noticing this?

    Another one of the firefighters stood up, "It is unusual. Maybe the police should look into it..."

    Idiots. The building was pretty much gone. Then I noticed something strange. I walked up to investigate and saw a tiny piece of paper flapping in the ash. It was completely untouched by the flames. I read it aloud:

    'Building two down. I might take another person, too. Find me if you can.

    XO,

    someone you'll never find'


    Okay, this proves it. The fires are related. And the victim was connected too. And this guy is just gloating... He's going down!

    The song 'Bad Reputation' by Joan Jett started to play on my cell phone. "So what's the situation, Kat?" the chief's voice asked in my ear.

    "Oh, you know same old same old. Bizarre fire which included someone learning how to set fire to bricks. I was right about the fire and the victim being connected, by the way."

    "How is that?" I read him the note and you could hear him 'hmph' into the phone.

    "Well, that doesn't necessarily mean anything." he said, "He's probably just trying to confuse us. Try to find out more information." The phone clicked in my ear before I could argue. Great. Just great.

    I turned on my heel, looking at the still-looming crowd. Might as well ask some questions. Starting with that creepy guy in the trench coat. He was still standing there, smiling. When I got closer I could hear him humming some sort of jazz song.

    He grinned even wider when he saw me walk towards him, "Hey, cop. Hows it going?" This was the only guy I've ever met who I actually had to look up to talk to him. Man, he was tall. I could feel my eyebrow raise up as he said 'cop.'

    I spoke in a smart-alack tone, "Good. Hey, jazz boy, did you see what happened here?"

    He chuckled, "No. Just a work of art. It could've been better."

    "Since when did arson become art?" I asked.

    He laughed even harder, "Sorry. That's just my opinion, cop."

    "I have a name, you know."

    "I do, too. Tell me yours and I'll tell you mine."

    "Fine. My name's Katleen." I said.

    He grinned, "Adrian. Nice to meet you, cop."

    Then he bent over next to my ear, "People also call you Rebel, don't they?" No one ever called me that outside the station. How could he know that? Cree-py. Adrian started to walk away, pulling shades over his eyes.

    I started to yell, "Wait! I'm not done asking you questions yet." It was then that he stopped, turned and blew a kiss. I ran after him, hoping to get more information. Something's fishy about him.

    Before I knew it, I lost him in the crowd. I think I found my guy. But, like always, no one at the office will believe me until the very end of the case. Then, also like all the times before, I get to say 'I told you so' right in their faces.

    ****


    I was right. Laughter filled the room after I told them my theories.

    "And then he blew a kiss?! Wow, Rebel... you meet some weird dudes!"

    "Ha... Rebel, you have such an imagination!"

    It was no secret that I was one of the youngest cops there, so I was treated like the baby sometimes. It really pissed me off.

    ****


    [Meanwhile, somewhere else.]

    Adrian hummed another tune as he walked away.

    'That cop sure was cute.' he thought to himself. But she knows. That's the only problem. But, by the look of other cases she took on, no one believed her.

    For the first time in his plans, someone knows on the second gig. And no one believes her!

    The mysterious man laughed as he walked away.