James Hibbard (Reporter)

After all those false leads, countless dead ends, and who knows how many sleepless nights, Rob feels like things are really starting to fall apart.

After all those false leads, countless dead ends, and who knows how many sleepless nights, Rob feels like things are really starting to fall apart.

The team takes a couple days to recover, and then they regroup. They're hopeful that with a few adjustments, they can lure the arsonist back to the construction site again. So the cameras stay up, and now they're pointing in the direction of the fake construction site.

The team takes a couple days to recover, and then they regroup. They're hopeful that with a few adjustments, they can lure the arsonist back to the construction site again. So the cameras stay up, and now they're pointing in the direction of the fake construction site.

After monitoring the cameras for weeks, at considerable expense, Rob and his team are beginning to lose hope. They're just about ready to take the whole operation down and try something else. But before they move on, they've got one last idea up their sleeve.

After monitoring the cameras for weeks, at considerable expense, Rob and his team are beginning to lose hope. They're just about ready to take the whole operation down and try something else. But before they move on, they've got one last idea up their sleeve.

a sign with a big colorful drawing of a gaudy mansion, just to make it super clear exactly what type of house would be going up on this property.

a sign with a big colorful drawing of a gaudy mansion, just to make it super clear exactly what type of house would be going up on this property.

And right below the mock-up of the house, they put a message addressed specifically to the arsonist. It says, We promise to live here in harmony with all the wildlife, nature, plants, and you. They mount the sign on the fence, right in view of the camera.

And right below the mock-up of the house, they put a message addressed specifically to the arsonist. It says, We promise to live here in harmony with all the wildlife, nature, plants, and you. They mount the sign on the fence, right in view of the camera.

It's late at night, and rookie police officer Carrie Miaso is crouched over a tiny desk inside a repurposed shipping container in the desert.

It's late at night, and rookie police officer Carrie Miaso is crouched over a tiny desk inside a repurposed shipping container in the desert.

It's April 20th, 2001, and it's not Carrie's first shift in the shipping container. She's actually been doing this for weeks.

It's April 20th, 2001, and it's not Carrie's first shift in the shipping container. She's actually been doing this for weeks.

Outside, the desert is quiet. But inside, she's sharing the cramped space with another officer, John. John is a former Marine-turned-cop, more senior than Carrie, who just finished her probation. Hour after hour, Carrie and John stare at the screen, showing the fake construction site with its fancy new sign.

Outside, the desert is quiet. But inside, she's sharing the cramped space with another officer, John. John is a former Marine-turned-cop, more senior than Carrie, who just finished her probation. Hour after hour, Carrie and John stare at the screen, showing the fake construction site with its fancy new sign.

Carrie squints at the grainy monitor as the shape of a person comes into view.

Carrie squints at the grainy monitor as the shape of a person comes into view.

Carrie knows she cannot miss this opportunity. Everything the task force has been doing for over a year has all built up to this one single moment. This is it. John leaps into action, dialing headquarters to let them know what's happening. Meanwhile, hands shaking, Carrie reaches for the police radio, her old nemesis.

Carrie knows she cannot miss this opportunity. Everything the task force has been doing for over a year has all built up to this one single moment. This is it. John leaps into action, dialing headquarters to let them know what's happening. Meanwhile, hands shaking, Carrie reaches for the police radio, her old nemesis.