Vanessa looked down.
“Cleaning solution.”
Marcus's expression changed.
“For what?”
She snapped:
“Don't interrogate me.”
Rachel answered:
“He asked a reasonable question.”
Vanessa turned to her.
“I brought it to demonstrate something.”
Rachel became visibly more alert.
“What?”
Vanessa looked at the trampoline.
Marcus did not like that.
“Vanessa.”
She ignored him.
Rachel stepped forward.
“Ms. Whitmore, don't do anything with that container.”
Vanessa looked toward her.
“Why?”
“Because I don't know what's in it.”
“I just told you.”
“A cleaning solution.”
“Yes.”
“What kind?”
Vanessa hesitated.
Marcus felt the air shift.
Rachel did too.
“Keep the lid on.”
Vanessa laughed.
“You're all being ridiculous.”
Officer Bell said:
“Ma'am, just set it on the ground for a second.”
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
Then at the trampoline.
Then at the gate.
Something hard appeared in her expression.
She seemed to make a decision.
A bad one.
Marcus saw it before anyone else.
“Vanessa.”
She pulled the side gate.
Locked.
Then she stepped toward the shorter decorative fence section where the yard met the neighbor’s hedge.
Marcus realized what she was doing.
“Do not climb that fence.”
Vanessa placed the folder on the ground.
Officer Bell moved immediately.
“Ma'am, stop.”
She stepped onto the low landscaping border.
Reached one leg over.
Rachel's voice became firm.
“Vanessa. Do not enter that yard.”
Vanessa dropped onto Marcus's grass.
For half a second everyone froze.
She had crossed the boundary in front of two police officers.
Marcus stared.
Danielle whispered:
“Oh, wow.”
Vanessa picked up the tumbler.
Rachel reached the gate.
“Mr. Cole, can you open this?”
Marcus moved quickly toward it from inside.
Vanessa was already walking toward the trampoline.
“Vanessa, stop.”
She turned.
“Stay away from me.”
Marcus stopped.
Rachel called:
“Ms. Whitmore, put the container down.”
Vanessa ignored her.
Marcus unlocked the gate.
Rachel and Bell entered.
Both body cameras were active.
Rachel held one palm forward.
“Vanessa, nobody is touching you. Set the cup down.”
Vanessa looked around.
Four people.
Two officers.
Marcus.
Danielle near the patio.
Cameras.
Every sensible path was still available.
She chose none of them.
“You all want proof?”
Marcus frowned.
“Proof of what?”
“That this thing is dangerous.”
Rachel said:
“You are not conducting a demonstration.”
Vanessa moved toward the trampoline.
Marcus stepped sideways but stayed at least ten feet away.
“What are you planning to do?”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“You'll see.”
She twisted the tumbler lid.
Rachel moved closer.
“Do not pour anything.”
Vanessa looked directly at Marcus.
“This neighborhood is going to see what you've been putting children next to.”
Then she tilted the tumbler.
A stream of clear liquid splashed across part of the empty trampoline mat.
Marcus immediately moved backward.
He did not know what the liquid was.
Neither did the officers.
Rachel shouted:
“Back up!”
Vanessa stepped away.
For one second, nothing happened.
Then came a sudden flash.
Fast.
Bright.
A sheet of fire raced over the wet section of the trampoline and climbed briefly along part of the safety padding.
Vanessa screamed.
Officer Bell pulled her backward by the arm.
Rachel pushed Marcus farther away.
Danielle retreated toward the patio door.
The flames rose for several seconds and then settled into a smaller burning patch.
Marcus stared.
Nobody had touched a lighter.
Nobody had expected ignition.
The cause was not immediately visible.
Rachel shouted toward Bell:
“Extinguisher!”
Marcus pointed.
“Garage!”
Danielle was already moving.
“Got it!”
She returned with the household extinguisher.
Bell took it.
Pulled the pin.
Covered the burning section with suppressant.
Within seconds the visible flames disappeared.
Smoke drifted upward.
The backyard became painfully quiet.
Vanessa stood near the fence.
Her face was pale.
Her tumbler lay on the grass.
Rachel turned toward her.
“What was in that container?”
Vanessa breathed hard.
“I told you.”
“What exactly?”
“Cleaner.”
“What cleaner?”
“It wasn't supposed to do that.”
Rachel's expression hardened.
“What was it?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“The trampoline did it.”
Marcus stared.
“What?”
She pointed.
“You saw it!”
Rachel said:
“We saw you pour something on it.”
“And then it caught fire!”
Vanessa looked almost triumphant now that the first shock had passed.
“Exactly!”
Marcus could not believe what he was hearing.
Vanessa continued.
“That proves what I've been saying.”
Officer Bell looked toward the charred mat.
Then toward Vanessa.
“No.”
She turned.
“What?”
“That proves it caught fire after you poured something onto it.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“You don't understand the materials.”
Rachel stepped toward the tumbler.
“Don't touch that.”
Nobody did.
She used her radio.
“Dispatch, start fire investigation and supervisor. Possible intentional property damage with unknown liquid. No injuries.”
Vanessa's head snapped toward her.
“Intentional?”
Rachel looked at her.
“You intentionally poured the liquid.”
“I did not intentionally start a fire.”
“I didn't say you did.”
“You're implying it.”
“I’m describing what I personally observed.”
Vanessa looked toward Marcus.
“This is his fault.”
Marcus laughed once from sheer disbelief.
“My fault?”
“You installed something unsafe.”
“It was sitting there.”
“You knew the material could burn.”
“Almost everything can burn under the right conditions.”
“Exactly.”
Marcus stopped.
That sentence was too revealing to chase.
Rachel noticed too.
She looked toward Officer Bell.
“Separate everyone.”
Vanessa's face changed.
“What?”
“We're going to document statements individually.”
“I’m not a suspect.”
Rachel remained neutral.
“I didn't call you one.”
“Then let me leave.”
“Not yet.”
“Am I detained?”
Rachel considered.
“Yes.”
Vanessa froze.
“For what?”
“Right now, while we investigate potential property damage and the unknown substance.”
“I want a lawyer.”
“That's your right.”
“Then I’m saying nothing.”
“Also your right.”
Rachel pointed toward the patio chair.
“Please sit there while we secure the scene.”
Vanessa looked toward the street.
Then the fence.
Officer Bell moved slightly into her path without touching her.
She sat.
Marcus walked to the far end of the yard with Rachel.
She spoke quietly.
“Anybody hurt?”
“No.”
“Your sister?”
“Fine.”
“Kids?”
“None here.”
“Good.”
Rachel looked toward the trampoline.
“What ignition sources are near it?”
Marcus scanned.
“None that I know of.”
“Electrical cord?”
“No.”
“Lights?”
“Solar yard lights.”
“Grill?”
“Patio.”
“Fire pit?”
“Gas fire bowl on the patio. Off.”
“How long?”
“Since last weekend.”
Rachel nodded.
“Security cameras cover the area?”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“Two backyard angles.”