Chapter 9 Chapter nine

Tyler strode over to a small man in a white suit who was standing in the cordon, holding a camera and speaking into a microphone with his earphones on. "Hey, Fireman, the best people in Scotland Yard are standing in front of you, here to help you solve everything. What's the matter?" The forensic officer beckoned Taylor to the London Fire Brigade's car. "You should be looking for Royston, he's over there." Taylor looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a big police officer walking towards him.The closer he got, the bigger his figure became.Tyler's eyes caught on to the red London Fire Brigade crest pinned to the guy's chest, his huge pecs covered under his cotton navy T-shirt.His agate-like skin was shiny with sweat, and there was a gray mark on his arm.

"You're Royston?" Taylor asked. "This is Winston, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, my friend. What can you do?" "I'm Agent Taylor, Metropolitan Police." Taylor wiped his hands on his trousers and reached out to him. "And this one?" Winston nodded towards Harris, ignoring Taylor's extended hand. "Agent Harris," Taylor said, "he came with me." Winston glanced at them both back and forth. "Do you rely on him to speak for you when you pick up girls, Harris? Or do you only speak for yourself once in a while?"

"He only talks when I tell him to," Taylor said with a smirk. "Really?" Winston looked at Harris, but said to Taylor. "Then ask him to show his ID. I remember this is the most basic training of the Metropolitan Police Department. Who knows who you two are." Taylor and Harris frantically turned out the police badge, and Winston glanced at it briefly, and waved them to follow. Harris took a deep breath and said, "Can we see your ID too, buddy." Winston stared at him, then at Taylor, and finally back at Harris. "What did you say?" Harris mustered up the courage to meet the other's stern gaze, but his voice couldn't help trembling. "Then you could be someone else."

Winston's eyes narrowed. "You want to see my ID?" "If you don't mind," Harris whispered. "That's what you're looking at, boy," said Winston. Harris stared at his large, shovel-like hands, empty.He glanced doubtfully at Taylor, then at Winston. "You think I'm dressed like this for fun?" Winston pointed down at his protective boots and trousers, then at the badge of the London Fire Brigade on his chest. "Or do you think the London Fire Brigade car was rented? You just put a rusty piece of iron next to it." Taylor looked away, bit his lip when he realized that the "rusty piece of iron" was referring to his car.

"Did we do anything to upset you, man?" Winston heaved a long sigh. "Where do you think I start? I received a notice that two policemen will come to see me at half past ten." He tapped his watch with a finger as thick as beef sausage, "It's already eleven o'clock Forty-five." "We're stuck in traffic." "From Battersea Police Station? Even if you walk against the wind for fifteen minutes, you should be there." "We were delayed on the road," Taylor said. "The police are unpredictable." "Yes, well said," Winston pointed to Taylor's car. "There's a ticket floating on your windshield. What kind of police is it? A late breakfast or an early lunch?"

Now Taylor and Harris are staring at the floor. "Best in London is bullshit," laughed Winston under his breath. "Forget it, girls, since you're all here... what do you want to see?" Taylor winked at Harris. Taylor shrugged. "Of course it's a crime scene." Winston waved his arms in an inviting gesture, "Please do yourself a favor and take a good look." Taylor looked around, and Harris looked around.But apart from a building that was burned down to its skeleton, nothing was visible.The windows and doors had been burned away along with the roof, but part of the outer wall was still standing.

"Fortunately this time we heard the shouts early and came all the way, so most of the buildings survived." "It doesn't look like there's much left," Harris said. Winston showed displeasure and stared at Harris, "Once it is confirmed that there are no people in distress inside, our first priority is to preserve as much of the building as possible so that we can confirm the cause of the crime." He turned to Taylor, "You are right , It's safer for him not to speak." At this time, Taylor could hardly hide his pride. "So how do you think it happened, Royston? What are we going to search for? The same modus operandi as the other cases, or..."

Winston glanced back and forth between Taylor and Harris again. "While this may be a dumb question, has any of you actually read my report?" Taylor and Harris looked at each other, and then looked at Winston together: "What report?"