Chereads / DC: Astrape, the Golden Gale / Chapter 9 - Always something to be done

Chapter 9 - Always something to be done

It had been a week since Cupid and during that time Jonathan had spent most of his efforts, outside of helping the city, looking for a base of operations. It was hard going until he finally called up Felicity and asked for a list of any decommissioned underground areas in Central City. That was the result of his latest location, an old tornado bunker that hadn't seen any use and was out of date safety wise leading the city no longer maintaining it. It was perfect, roughly the size of an indoor football field with 16 foot tall ceilings, with some work he felt it would be a great home base.

As Jonathan looked around his thoughts turn towards going back to work, because getting his new base fitted with everything he'd need was going to break his bank. He also knew that there was no way he could afford to do it by himself. He needed more people to help him be a hero, not just for funding but also because he didn't have the means to monitor the city and the crimes happening there in a timely manner.

Leaving his new base he headed towards CCPD, it didn't take him long before he was sitting in front of Capt. Singh, having ran to a nearby alley before walking in.

"Mr. Jacobs, what can I do for you?" Capt. Singh asked, with an eyebrow raised. "I was under the impression you were taking a break after yours and Barrys accident."

"I was Captain, but I think a month has been more then enough time for R&R." Jonathan said with a small smile. "I believe I'm ready to get back out there and do some good for this city, plus medical bills and all that."

Capt. Singh laughed, "You'll find you have quite the case load waiting for you." He paused, before saying "We had CSI's from other CCPD station filling in for you and Barry, but there is only so much they can do without working here full time."

"You didn't have to wait for us Captin. I promise we would understand if you brought on new hires to help around here." Jonathan replied with a soft smile. "Thank you though for believing we'd wake. I'm sure Barry will be up and at it sooner than you know.

"I'm glad you think that way. I'll make sure the officers in reception know to update your badge, they'll bring it up to you when they have but until then... You've got a lot of work to catch up on."

"Yes Sir," Jonathan responded as he stood and headed for the door.

"Oh and Jonathan," Capt. Singh paused, "We're glad to have you back with us."

Nodding Jonathan headed out of the office and proceeded to his lab. Slidding open the large metal door he walked in to see someone standing over the central desk looking at a computer screen hooked up to a centrifuge. There were boxes all around and stacked up to knee height, full of what had to be case work.

"Wow, Captain wasn't joking when he said there was work to be done." Jonathan said with a laugh as he looked around.

"Yes, I'm from a neighboring station that was sent over to help the last few days." The man behind the desk sighed. "Very annoying if you ask me as some of the other CSI's have weird processes or start a case before being pulled back to their station. Means some of these cases are half finished or the work is just in a state that I don't understand."

"Man I get that, the other CSI I work with, Barry, is a right genius when it comes to the stuff so his process throws me off every time we work a case together." Jonathan smirked. "Anyways, the name's Jonathan, I hope you stick around for a few days to get me caught up on what you can."

"Hopefully, but my name is Samuel, everyone calls me Sam though so feel free. I heard about what happened to you two, getting struck by lightning is insane, how did it feel?"

"Ah well it hurt and then it was just a really long nap."

"I figured as much, just thought I'd ask." Samuel said before turning back to the computer screen in front of him. "Come here and take a look at this and tell me what you think."

"What is it?" Jonathan asked as he walked over.

"It's something that was left behind at a fire that Astrape guy put out a few days ago."

"Are you thinking arson? If so isn't that a case for the fire department? I haven't worked any fires since I started at CCPD"

"If it is we will report it but both the fire department and CCPD will work it together." Samuel replied. "The problem is, I can't tell what the accelerant is and when I was on the scene looking around, it appears as if the surroundings just spontaneously combusted."

"Really?" Jonathan asked. "Can you show me the photos?"

"Yeah hold on let me pull them up."

Samuel clicked on the files icon on the computer before pulling up the photos of the scene and pointed out a specific photo, "Best I can tell the fire originated here, almost in the center of the room. What's weirder is there are two foot prints there where the floor underneath is completely undamaged."

"That is crazy," Jonathan mused before speaking up, "What if, and hear me out here, someone with abilities, like that Astrape guy, started the fire?"

"That does sound insane, but it would explain the lack of an accelerant... There's no way to prove it though."

"Maybe, are there any security cameras that face the front and rear entrance to the building?" Jonathan asked.

"There are, but case lead still hasn't gotten a warrent to pull footage, and none of the places are willingly giving it up."

"What? Why would they not?"

"Detective Thawne doesn't know, but he has been talking to a judge to get a warrent. The judge won't say yes until CSI, us, say that it is indeed arson." Samuel shook his head as he spoke.

"Well I do believe we have an answer for him." Jonathan smirked. "This was definitely arson, we know it wasn't a bomb as there would be shrapnel. The worst case scenario is that there is someone out there that can start fires without accelerants, best case... someone made an incendiary that burns hot enough to cause surroundings to combust and destroys whatever held it."

"Alright then, I'll write up a report based on best case scenario and tgen I'll be heading out. I've worked a long day today."

"No problem man, you gonna be coming in here tomorrow?" Jonathan asked.

"No tomorrow is my day off. I work again in two days, maybe I'll be here but who knows." Samuel replied with a wave as he walked away. " It was good to meet you though man."

"You too Sam, catch you later man."

Once Samuel was gone Jonathan started speed sorting all the cases in the office into stacks of what could be meta crimes and what for sure wasn't. He was basing his sorting purely on the incidents reported, anything that looked like abilities could have been used was put in the meta pile. Once he was done, he speed through all the cases that required minimal work, whether that be just getting fingerprints off of items or analyzing the way items had been broken.

After just two hours of work Jonathan had already cleared a large amount of the case file that had piled up and written up reports for them. Shaking his head he called it quits before heading out for the day.

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Alright it's a bit short I know but I'm taking it slow so I don't get burnt out like I did before. Let me know what you all thought