Chapter 30: Evidence

Smoke was still rising from the charred floorboards, and ashes buffeted here and there, hot, mournful snowflakes. Agent Sokolov kicked another chunk of debris to the side and was disappointed to find that there was a recognizable helmet on the corpse beneath it. An intentional demolition crew could scarcely have done a better job on the large central stairwell in the apartment building where, until last night, Sarah Humphreys had been living. What was left would probably need to be razed. Hands poked out from beneath scorched segments of landing, burnt and broken chunks of drywall obscured dismembered legs. Everything was charred. Broken. Barely anything could be recognized for what it had been.

“If there are any dental records on file, it will not be them,” said Pietr, “Anyway, I have reason to believe that every one of those charred corpses is a police officer from the SWAT team.”

“Strange that he’d just fry them like that,” said Tager. “Doesn’t really fit his MO.”