Play with Fire

chapter Forty-Four

SGT. NATHAN EISINGER was holding down the desk at the Sixth Precinct when the phone rang at nine twenty-two.

“Sixth Precinct. Sergeant Eisinger speaking.”

“Sergeant, this is Harry Crenshaw at HomeGard Security.”

“Yeah, hi. What’s up?”

“One of our clients, the Sikh Temple on East Twelfth Street, just had the silent alarm go off.”

“Somebody broke into this Sick Temple?”

“I think it’s pronounced Seek.”

“Whatever – you got a break-in, or not?”

“Yeah, somebody broke in, or tried to. I just double-checked the alarm, and it’s not malfunctioning. I already sent one of our cars over there, but procedure says to notify A.P.D. as well – so, that’s what I’m doin’.”

“You got an address?”

“It’s 134 East Twelfth, out near where it intersects with Springdale.”

“Okay, we’ll check it out, thanks.”

Eisinger broke the connection, then switched to a dispatcher. He told her to send a car to check out a possible 412 in progress at the Sikh temple. Then he remembered something else he was supposed to do. He looked up a number and called it.

“Whalen.”

“Lieutenant, it’s Sergeant Nate Eisinger, at the Sixth.”

“Yeah, hi.”

“Hi, uh, sir. Sorry to bother you at home, but I got a note here says I’m supposed to call you if we get something hinky goin’ on at any church tonight.”

“That’s right. What’ve you got?”

“A 412 in progress at the Sikh temple on East Twelfth. I don’t know if that counts as a church, but I figured I better let you know.”

“You did right, Sergeant. Somebody’s broken into this Sikh place?”

“That’s what the alarm company says. I got a car on the way over. So do they.”

“What’s the full address?”

“It’s 134 East Twelfth, out near Springdale.”

“Okay, thanks.”