She cross-referenced Ana’s data (paint thinner, soda can shim, stairwell origin) with Marco’s profile (architect, preservationist, angry letters).

“So he burned his own building for insurance?” Laura asked.

At the trial, the prosecutor summed it up perfectly: “Criminalística told us the truth of the flame—where it started, what fed it, and who held the match. Criminología told us the truth of the mind—why he struck the match, why he chose these buildings, and why he stopped caring if someone was inside.

Dr. Reyes arrived first, carrying a metal briefcase like a surgeon’s kit. She was quiet, precise, allergic to opinions.

“I visited Gerardo’s widow,” Marco said, sitting down. “I also interviewed the owner of El Molino , a man named Silvio Herrera. And I pulled the records from the first two fires.”

“No,” Marco said. “That’s the lazy conclusion. Look at the victimology . The first two fires happened at midnight—empty buildings. El Molino burned at 10 PM—the watchman was inside. Why change the time?”

He tapped a psychological profile. “The arsonist isn’t an owner committing fraud. He’s a true believer . He loves old buildings. He sees the condos as a desecration. But he’s not a hero—he’s a purist . In his mind, if he can’t save the buildings, no one will enjoy the land. He’ll burn them as a funeral pyre.”

In two hours, they had a name: . A 48-year-old former architectural historian. He had written seventeen angry letters to the city council. He lived three blocks from the first fire. And his hobby? Restoring antique furniture using… industrial paint thinner.

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