Bloodhound #8 is an issue of the series Bloodhound (Volume 1) with a cover date of April, 2005. It was published on February 9, 2005.
Synopsis for "Slow Burn"
In St. Christopher, Georgia, an elderly woman hears a young man's voice crying out from her kitchen. She walks downstairs and sees a glow emanating from her kitchen. The woman looks into the kitchen and sees two figures ablaze. One figure looks like a man lying on the floor begging while the other figure resembles the Devil with a whip. All of a sudden, the two figures explode and the entire home is engulfed in flames.
In Atlanta, Patricia visits Travis who is living at a welfare arms until the FBI finds him a more suitable place to live. Patricia notices that Travis is wearing a new collar and a bulletproof T-shirt. Patricia asks if Travis would consider living with her and the girls in order to give him a better living conditions but also to be a father figure for her girls. Travis doesn't think it would be a good idea because he is unsure how Michelle will take it since he is her father and not Vincent. Patricia understands Travis' reluctance but gives him a parting gift. Travis opens it and it's his brass knuckles that he used while on the job.
Travis and Saffron meet with Jerry Bryce at his office. Jerry relays that Kogney is still in charge but Jerry has assignment that can make Travis indispensable to the bureau. There have been random cases of arson reported in St. Christopher which is between the state line of Georgia and Alabama. The arson reports have been kept out of the news until fire chief Winford Turner in St. Christopher reported demonic manifestations being seen while putting out the fires.
As Saffron and Travis make their way to St. Christopher, Saffron asks why Travis turned down Jerry's initial offer back at Red Clay. Travis answers Saffron's question with another question. Travis asks how old Saffron was when she was kidnapped. Saffron can't understand how Travis managed to make that deduction. Travis made an educated guess based on Saffron's emotional reaction when Rachel was being held captive by Morris. Travis figures the kidnapping must have inspired to Saffron to join the bureau rather than live off of her family's inheritance. Saffron tells Travis to drop it.
Travis and Saffron meet with the local sheriff Ted Nichols in St. Christopher. Nichols tells Saffron and Travis that this arson case is fire chief Turner's problem. Nichols has his assistant Carrie introduce them to the fire chief and tells them to conclude their case in St. Christopher fast because he doesn't appreciate Feds in his town. Saffron and Travis arrive at the latest arson site where Sgt. Winford Turner is waiting for them.
Sgt. Turner suspects that a metahuman maybe involved in this string of arson because with most cases, fire marshals are usually able to determine the point of origin depending on how the electrical wiring melted and the type of accelerant used to start the fire but Turner hasn't been able to make any logical determinations. As far as Turner can figure, each home was the point of origin for the fire. In average cases, fires would spread from the point of origin like to the trees or grass but once these particular fires destroyed the homes, they began to die down. Turner has counted 5 peculiar cases of arson so far in the last 3 weeks with 8 dead.
Travis and Saffron head to city hall for records in order to dig up any connections between the homes but they don't realize that they are being observed by Zeiss. Travis is handed a few more records by Tammy, the city hall librarian before heading to the Stop and Shop in Kestrel, Alabama to meet with her boyfriend Jay. Tammy tells Jay that two FBI agents have been called in to investigate the arson cases to which Jay reacts with a certain interest. Saffron and Travis head back to the local motel where Travis is considering a theory that ties these homes together. Saffron tells Travis to stay inside his room but Travis takes a walk to think things over like Patricia's offer.
As Travis walks down an alley, he senses someone is following him so he charges a nearby garbage barrel and the barrel rams into the wall of an adjacent building. Zeiss pops up from behind the barrel and attacks Travis with his mechanical hands. Zeiss' agility gives him an advantage over Travis' powerful build. All of a sudden, another fire breaks out nearby. Zeiss drop kicks Travis and heads toward the fire. Travis pursues Zeiss but when he reaches the fire, he couldn't find Zeiss. Saffron arrives in the scene with Sheriff Nichols. The house that caught fire was Sheriff Nichols' home. Travis tries to break into the house in order to save the sheriff's wife Heidi but the house finally explodes which sends Travis flying through the air.
Appearing in "Slow Burn"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Jerry Bryce (Final appearance)
- Saffron Bell
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Carrie
- Heidi Nichols (Single appearance; dies)
- Jay Stone
- Tammy
- Ted Nichols
- Trish Crosby (Final appearance)
- Win Turner
Locations:
- Georgia
- St. Christopher
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- Although he is referenced in Bloodhound #9, this is Jerry Bryce's last appearance in the series.
- Zeiss appeared last in Catwoman (Volume 3) #36.