(4 days before the switch)
Alex pushed open the door to his father's old office, and a wave of stale air and the scent of something metallic greeted them. Unlike the main factory floor, this room was relatively untouched by the ravages of time, save for a thick layer of dust that coated every surface. A large, sturdy wooden desk dominated the center, flanked by a worn leather chair. Bookshelves lined one wall, still holding a scattered collection of technical manuals and a few personal effects. The single window looked out into the lab, a silent observer of past industry.
As Alex walked to the desk, his gloved hand hovered over the surface as if he was afraid to touch it. "My mother, Dr. Evelyn Greyson, led the R&D lab here. My father, Robert, was the operations manager. They… they were inseparable. Especially when it came to the factory." A genuine, unburdened smile touched his lips. "He'd always sneak in here during her experiments, just to watch her work. Said it was his favorite show." He chuckled, a warm, nostalgic sound.
Vivian felt a pang of empathy. This was a side of Alex she hadn't seen—vulnerable, open, connected to a past that clearly held deep affection. She gave him some space as she looked around the room.
"I remember him teaching me how to draw schematics here, on this very desk. He'd make me sketch out the flow of materials, the machinery. Said it was important to understand every cog in the machine, even if I was just a kid." His eyes drifted to the lab window. "He always said the factory was more than just a place to make textiles; it was a living, breathing thing. Like us, to him this place was a puzzle to be solved, constantly optimized. Including everything above and below the foundation."
Vivian's gaze swept the room. "I suppose by now, any personal journals or old factory logs are gone. I recall you saying that you looked over all of the books to find out how and why the company went bankrupt when you were just a kid. Were there any… unusual incidents?"
Alex shook his head, a faint frown replacing his smile. "Not that I recall. He was meticulous, but everything was usually filed away in the main archives. After the bankruptcy, most of those records were seized or lost. I only managed to recover a fraction when I bought the factory back. I keep them at my GIG headquarters and some of the more personal ones at home." He paused, then gestured to the bookshelves. "But we can take a quick look just to be thorough. Maybe there's something tucked away."
Together, they systematically searched the office but only found a hollow shell. The binders were mostly bare and the filing cabinets stripped of their drawers.
Vivian turned her attention to the desk. It was a massive, industrial thing, its surface scarred by decades of use. She crouched down, shining her flashlight on the legs, noting that they were bolted to the floor with only an empty cavity where the drawers used to be.
"Everything that could be taken is long gone or stripped clean," she murmured. "Not even the dust is disturbed." She ran her gloved hand inside of the missing side drawer space, feeling around on the slim chance something was accidentally stuck along the underside of a surface.
She repeated the same actions in the center section where the displaced chair would normally fit. After a time, however, she felt a slight irregularity in the wood grain—a circular indentation hidden in a place where only someone with very long arms or someone who crawled beneath the desk would ever find.
"This is weird," she whispered. She crouched beneath the desk surface to better reach the imperfection, her fingers stretching to find it again.
"Vivian!" Alex's voice cracked through the silence, sharp and startling.
Vivian reacted by hitting her head on the bottom side of the desk top. "Ow, ow, ow!" Vivian crawled out from under the desk, rubbing her head. When she almost put her hand on a well-polished shoe, she looked up to find Alex standing over here.
Still rubbing her head she asked "Did you find something?"
Alex offered his hand to help her up. Vivian thought he looked... pale.
"Oh, Ouch. Sorry," he said, recovering his composure instantly. "I thought you said that you found something," he said, continuing to offer his hand despite Vivian not taking it as she stood. Then Alex asked, "Shall we exchange places?"
Vivian looked at him, then back at the desk.
"I used to play under this thing a lot as a kid. I can probably tell quickly if something is off," Alex said with haste. He ended the declaration half under the desk already, his phone light casting an eerie glow as he repositioned himself like an auto mechanic.
After a moment, Vivian heard him exclaim, "Ah! I see."
"You found something?" Vivian started to bend back down, but Alex sat up unexpectedly.
"Uhm… promise you won't get mad?" Alex asked sheepishly.
"The answer to that question is always 'Of course, I can't make that promise.'"
Alex chuckled softly. "Well, it's kind of embarrassing, but when I was a kid, I noticed there was a wood knot hole there, and uhm… thought it was a good idea to fill it with the gum I was chewing."
"So what I was feeling was…"
"Really old gum? Yeah."
Vivian let out a sigh. "I'm wearing gloves, and I've had to put my hands on a lot worse than gum. So, I'm not mad."
"Well it is a bit embarrassing," he said pretending he couldn't face her. "And I was hoping you'd see me as kind of cool," Alex said, running his fingers through his hair like a character in a reverse-harem anime.
"It's fine. I mean, what kid hasn't stuck gum somewhere they shouldn't?"
Alex stood, now looking down at Vivian. "I'm not sure this is fair. How do I know you won't sell this story to the tabloids?" Alex asked with his smile settling back on his face.
Vivian looked up at him.
"This only works with mutually assured destruction," Alex declared. "You know where I stuck mine. So where did you stick yours?"
"Okay, then…" She walked past him into the hallway before looking back. "How much do you think those tabloids would pay for it?"
Alex laughed as she walked on. But he didn't follow immediately. He lingered for a fraction of a second, his hand resting on the edge of the desk, right over the hidden indentation. He let out a breath he had been holding and softly knocked on the desk surface. To anyone observing, his knock was to honor his late father.
But, in truth his thoughts momentarily focused on the person who had just left.
I had hope, but still never imagined she would actually find it.
He shook his head slightly, lamenting his assumptions.
And I looked so many times. Her powers of observation should not be underestimated. Thank you, Vivian.
Alex caught up with her quickly and suggested, "Let's clear the floor before we lose the light."
The four visitors made a quick final sweep of the main factory floor and the lab, their eyes trained for any overlooked burn patterns or chemical residues. Thomas and Jae assisted, their movements efficient and thorough. The second turn in the vast, silent spaces offered no new secrets. The broken striker, the AAR-affected concrete, the vitrified metal – these were the only physical clues left by the unknown arsonist.
"Alright," Vivian announced, clapping her gloved hands together. "I think we've exhausted this site for now, but I hope we can return after we get some lab results back. For now, let's head back to the SUV and debrief."
As they walked back to the waiting SUV, the setting sun cast long shadows across the remote landscape, painting even the rusted metal and decaying brick in hues of orange and purple. The air was already cooler and carried the layered sounds of an insect fugue like someone had put it on an infinite repeat setting.
Thomas started the engine, and drove the group back to the city in the comfort of the SUV, the light permeating to the interior fading quickly. Jae, a small notebook in her hand, turned from the front passenger seat to face Alex and Vivian in the back. "So, what's the consensus?" Jae asked, ready to document their findings.
Vivian leaned forward, her tablet open on her lap. "This factory was most likely an arsonist's or multiple arsonists' early test site. I can't definitely say it is the same arsonist that we've been seeking, but it is highly likely."
"Additionally, there were at least three distinct methods of experimentation." She ticked them off on her fingers. "First, the basic accelerant-based burns, similar to what we saw at the warehouse. These were more intense, indicated by the deeper charring and spalling, which may point to lack of control while the arsonist worked out the best ratios."
"The second noticeable method was the use of chemicals to induce an Alkali-Aggregate Reaction (AAR) in the concrete, mimicking structural failure. This shows a sophisticated understanding of both material science and chemistry."
Alex nodded, picking up the thread. "And third, the thermite. That's a whole different level of destructive capability, and it requires specialized knowledge and access to controlled substances."
"Exactly," Vivian affirmed. "The broken striker we found also reinforces the idea of controlled, deliberate ignition, and its disposal suggests a hasty exit or an attempt to obscure the source. I think it is safe to say that these weren't random acts of vandalism. The person or persons are skilled, knowledgeable, and methodical. They are following the scientific method and collecting data to refine their techniques."
"And the timeline you established still holds?" Jae asked while scribbling something in the notebook.
"Even more so," Vivian replied, looking at Alex. "Alex confirmed that the burned sites weren't present when he reacquired the factory around three years ago. This strongly supports the idea that the testing phase began sometime after that and within the 18-24 month window initially identified."
"So, what's next?" Jae inquired, pen poised.
Vivian took a deep breath. "My priority now is to present these findings to Detective Garcia and Prosecutor Davies. The AAR and thermite evidence, especially, will elevate this beyond a simple arson case. It suggests a level of sophistication that demands more resources and a different investigative approach."
Alex interjected, "I'll ensure our internal security team compiles a list of all current and former employees, contractors, and anyone with access to the factory or its chemical supplies for at least the past three years. My team will also be available to cross-reference the information with any individuals who might have had an ATF license."
"That would be incredibly helpful, Alex," Vivian said, genuinely appreciative. "It narrows down our suspect pool significantly. But I'll have to run it by the rest of the investigative team to ensure they are okay with it."
Vivian pauses in thought and then added, "I'll also suggest we bring in a forensic chemist to analyze any residual samples from the sites, particularly for the AAR and thermite indicators. But… we can't rule out the purchase of materials by a third party who may be acting as a supply source. Regardless, I hope the data will lead us to more information we can cross-reference."
"Thomas, let's get some more of our vetted people to secure any of the sites on the list I'm sending to you. We'll need to go back over them and look for some of the things Vivian showed us today," Alex ordered.
The group continued to talk about the next possible steps and dividing tasks until the SUV arrived back in the garage of the apartment building. Vivian thanked Alex, Thomas, and Jae for their assistance and headed inside to hold the elevator while deep in thought. She uttered an affirmative "nnn" in acknowledgement as she bit her lower lip when Alex arrived. They rode up in the elevator for the second time today. Only this time, they were both turning their own thoughts over in their heads, making no room for small talk.
Back in Ben's quiet apartment, Vivian found a fresh pot of coffee and a note from Ben saying he'd gone to the gym. Marmalade greeted her with a demanding purr, winding around her legs until she finally sat down at the kitchen table.
She spread out her notes, her tablet, and the few physical samples she'd collected (carefully bagged and labeled). She reviewed the photos, the data, and the emerging patterns. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit, forming a timeline and chilling picture of a calculated, evolving threat. The upcoming meeting with Garcia and Davies was crucial. She needed to present a clear, compelling narrative, one that would convince them of the urgency and complexity of the case.
She mentally rehearsed her points: the escalating damage, the sophisticated methods, the clear "testing phase" timeline, and the new leads provided by Alex. She also considered how much of Alex's personal involvement she should share, deciding to focus on his cooperation and the valuable access he provided.
However, she would not include the small sample of residue she managed to secure before Alex noticed, handing him the second swab she had used in front of him. She was also not going to include an image she snapped with her phone of a grooved indentation under the desk of Alex's father that was definitely not gum.
Vivian changed into a sharp, professional blazer and slacks, brushing her red hair into a neat, relaxed curl and pulling it partially up like she often wore it at work. She checked her reflection one last time, her green eyes serious and determined.
She was ready.
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Location: District Attorney's Office conference room, San Francisco, California, world of Earth
The conference room at the District Attorney's Office was stark and functional. A large, polished table dominated the center, surrounded by ergonomic chairs. Detective Garcia, a man with a weathered face and keen, observant eyes, was already seated, reviewing a file. Public Prosecutor Davies, sharp and impeccably dressed, stood by the window, sipping her coffee.
Vivian entered, her attaché case in hand, a quiet confidence in her stride. "Detective Garcia, Prosecutor Davies," she greeted, her voice clear and steady. "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me this evening. And my apologies that it is a bit late."
Garcia looked up, a faint smile touching his lips. "I was here, anyway," Garcia said with a wave of his hand. "We've been reviewing your initial report. Quite thorough, Ms. Lorenson. You lay out a clear narrative for your recommendations."
Davies turned from the window, her gaze direct and assessing. "Indeed, Ms. Lorenson. Your insights into the Greyson Investment Group fires have certainly piqued our interest. Please, have a seat. Let's discuss what you've found."
The meeting had begun.