Mark Bannister watched Detective Holt's house from a safe distance in the middle of the darkened street. Through his high-powered binoculars he saw a light on in a rear room of the structure. Many times Bannister had observed the Detective's home. He knew lots of things about what occurred there.

Bannister remembered how good of friends he and Holt were when they were young boys. As well as the escapades they shared. They had been best friends through the good times and the bad. Until the fateful day of their high school State Championship baseball game. That changed everything.

Slotted to be the starting pitcher for his team, Mark Bannister was completely wound up the night before the big game. Finally, a dream had come true for him. Then, just before the game began, his bubble burst.

Coach Meathead, as Bannister has since called him, inserted Wyatt Holt as the starting pitcher instead. Why? That fiery question has haunted Mark Bannister since the day of the game.

"Because Wyatt has a much better curveball than you do, Mark," Bannister remembered Coach Meathead telling him. The words were burned into his brain forever. He would never forget them.

The coach's decision shattered the friendship Mark Bannister and Wyatt Holt shared. Tired of playing Second Banana, Mark Bannister turned away from Wyatt Holt. Even though their team won the game. Bannister wrote that off as so much collateral damage.

Then life left him behind. Now approaching thirty, all Bannister cared about was playing video games. Particularly Mobile Strike and Game Of Thrones. Occasionally he worked as a Freelance Writer for the Portland Gazette. Mostly he watched Wyatt Holt. And plotted.

Sitting in his rusted-out VW, Bannister wondered what Detective Holt was doing? Should he bust through the door of the house? His snub-nosed .45 in hand. Blasting away! Like he wanted to. Or should he wait?

Mark Bannister had plans. Big plans that would rock Downtown Portland. And, give Wyatt Holt plenty to think about.

Bannister had learned a few tricks since his high school days. Ones that took him ten years to perfect. But, he was good at them. Real good. With the help of his prized collection of disguises, Mark Bannister could be anybody he wanted to be. Any time he wanted to. He also taught himself to speak in four different voices.

Detective Holt did not know about Bannister's special talents. He had not even crossed paths with him for a dozen years or more. However, the good Detective would soon find out all about Mark Bannister's dirty little secrets.

Oh, and there was one other thing Detective Holt did not know about either. Earlier that evening, Mark Bannister had struck a match. He really liked things that went KER-BOOM!

In his workroom, Detective Holt picked up the black and silver remote control. Rummaging through the channels he stopped on Batman Versus Superman: Dawn Of Justice. The movie starred Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill in the title roles.

Tossing the remote back down on the top of his desk, Detective Holt picked up a manila folder. He was researching details about The Phoenix. That was the code name the Police Task Force dubbed the madman they pursued. Given because he always seemed to be rising.

Suddenly, a live cut-in appeared on the television screen interrupting the movie Detective Holt tuned in. The noise broke his concentration from the file he was reading.

Channel KPOR Anchorman, Rod Gabon, grimly appeared on the screen solemnly saying, "We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming for this special news report."

The announcement grabbed Detective Holt's attention and Gabon continued speaking, "Police are reporting three employees of Portland's oldest paper mill died tonight when a fire ravaged a store room containing several flammable liquids and assorted paper products."

Gabon drew a deep breath. He continued his report with, "The fire rapidly spread through an elevator shaft and consumed a car with three workers trapped inside. The confirmed dead include Miranda Simmons, the Night Manager of the unit. Alison Carmichael, and Leslie Alexander, two long time employees of the company, also perished in the blaze."

Detective Holt downed the last contents of the drink in his glass. Then heard Gabon add what he already suspected.

"Fire Captain Darius Robbins confirms the fire that claimed the lives of these three women was arson. He went on to say that it is also quite possibly the work of the terrorist stalking our fair city."

Pausing briefly to catch his breath, he completed his news flash with, "This has been Anchorman Rod Gabon reporting from our KPOR studios. We now return to our regularly scheduled programming."

Mark Bannister watched Detective Holt rise from his chair. He knew where Holt was going and could almost hear the lawman ask himself, "What will this madman do next?"

Bannister thought to himself, "You ain't seen nothing yet, Dweeb-Face!"

Another long night awaited the Detective. With the Phoenix on the loose they occurred regularly. The notion brought a smile to Bannister's face. He knew this fire was only a dress rehearsal for the major event he planned.

The question remained: did he have the cojones to pull off the caper?