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Brooklyn Sloane

June 2025

Wednesday — 10:12 am

A s the scent of pine gradually replaced the lingering odor of gasoline, Brook quietly observed the organized chaos surrounding her. Various SUVs, government vehicles, and two forensic vans were parked in a secluded clearing at the base of the mountain just outside the town of Blackpeak. The initial team would include her, Special Agent Russell Houser, Mitch Norona, Jacob, Special Agents Brall and Genedet, and two forensic technicians. Once the location of the remains was confirmed, seven additional forensic technicians would be dispatched to the site.

There was no denying that the atmosphere was charged with anticipation as the small group finished preparing for the hike to the location of Lusa Kalluk's remains. Brook was only half-listening to Russell as he spoke on the phone, his voice tense and urgent. He was engaged in a conversation with a local federal agent who was trying to determine what had happened to Kate Lin after her vehicle had been abandoned on the side of a back road in the dead of night. Security footage showed her arriving at an airport, renting a car, and then driving away to an unknown destination.

Brook had worked on both profiles last night, and she was confident that whoever abducted Lusa Kalluk was also responsible for Kate's death. Unfortunately, the characteristics of the unsub didn’t match Jacob in the least. Adjusting her posture, Brook straightened her shoulders and tilted her head slightly, trying to catch fragments of the conversation.

“…in Kate Lin’s rental car. There were vast amounts of blood near…”

Russell's words faded into the background. Brook had already received the update that Kate had been killed just feet away from her vehicle. Everything following that moment until her body was dumped at the end of the runway was subjective, which led Brook back to Lusa Kalluk.

The first victim usually held all the answers.

Considering that Brook didn’t believe Jacob had anything to do with Lusa’s abduction or Kate’s death, it was best to categorize Lusa as the first victim.

The distant ringing of a cell phone caught her attention. She tensed and cast a quick glance in Nathaniel’s direction. The judge would be reaching out with his decision soon, but it was imperative that such a call didn’t happen now.

The group needed to be farther up the mountain, where Mitch didn’t have reception. Fortunately, the chime hadn’t come from Nathaniel’s phone. The sound, however, prompted Brook to move forward toward Mitch Norona.

The pine trees towered high towards the sky, their extended forms casting lengthy shadows beneath the bright rays of the sun. The clear skies wouldn’t last long, as the meteorologist predicted incoming cloud coverage.

“Brook, what’s this I hear about Carter remaining behind?” Special Agent Victor Brall asked while double-checking the contents of his backpack. He was kneeling on the ground while Justin stood watch over Jacob. “Is there anything we need to know?”

“Doubtful,” Brook replied, stopping a few feet away. Nathaniel had changed their plan without her consent. She figured it was his way of asserting control over a situation he disagreed with. “I heard him mention a deposition for another upcoming trial. Russell is going to take the lead. Once we have confirmation of the remains, he’ll use the satellite radio to alert the rest of the forensics team. No point in everyone going at once in case this recovery mission doesn’t pan out.”

Russell and Nathaniel had close to five months to prepare for this search. Aerial coverage had been secured, even though most of the view would be obscured by tree coverage. Depending on how far and the exact location of where Jacob led them in the next hour or so, there was a possibility that the forensics team could approach the site from an alternate route.

When she didn’t move or engage in further conversation, Victor shifted his focus from the contents of his backpack to her. She nodded discreetly toward the front of the SUV. He picked up on her cue and made sure Justin followed the silent directive.

It wasn’t long before both men stepped away just far enough to give her space while remaining close enough to intervene if necessary. After all, their sole task of this excursion was to monitor the movements of their prisoner.

“Mitch, why don’t you go check in with Russell?” Brook proposed, noticing his defiance right away. “He brought a few additional essentials that might come in handy during our hike.”

“No one speaks with my client during this trip without me being present,” Mitch replied, crossing his arms and widening his stance. “We’ve been over this, Miss Sloane.”

Brook simply averted her gaze from him to Jacob. Although she was technically pressed for time due to the anticipated phone call from Judge Colletti, she gave the impression that she could delay the hike for as long as necessary.

Her brother’s expression was unreadable as he studied her. Victor and Justin had ensured Jacob wore his orange jumpsuit. The bright color made it easy to spot him in the dense foliage should he try to escape. Although Brook didn’t doubt that Jacob would attempt to flee at some point, she also believed he had brought them out here for an entirely different reason.

“Mitch, it might be best for you to check in with Special Agent Houser,” Jacob replied wryly as he leaned back against the side of the SUV. “I assure you that I will be mindful of my words.”

Mitch frowned in displeasure and slowly lowered his arms. For a brief moment, she thought he might ignore the suggestion and stand his ground. Instead, he disappointed her by walking away, leaving her alone with her brother.

“Quite the power move,” Brook replied as she maintained some distance between them.

“I am the client, after all.”

“No,” Brook countered, slipping her hands into the pockets of her jacket. She was about to show some of her cards, and she hoped like hell she wasn’t about to play them too soon. “I think it's more than that, Jacob. You see, I've been racking my brain trying to figure out why you left breadcrumbs for me to follow Mitch’s past trips to Alaska. The summers of 2014 and 2015, to be exact. Oddly coincidental, don’t you think?”

“Very,” Jacob said with feigned concern. “Does Special Agent Houser know about this…coincidence? Or the federal prosecutor? One would think a judge wouldn’t allow a defense attorney to represent a defendant after such a discovery…coincidental as it may be.”

Brook didn’t like how laid-back Jacob seemed considering the topic.

“Were you expecting a mistrial? The federal government would just refile the charges, and the plea deal would be off the table. So why the breadcrumbs, Jacob?”

The tension between them began to build as Brook shifted her gaze from him to the dense forest. Jacob had spent a lot of time in this area. Theo and Sylvie were currently on their way to the cabin where Jacob had lived back then, unaware of what was unfolding on the other side of the mountain.

The air grew slightly colder as a thin cloud gradually obstructed the sun’s rays. She was grateful for the second layer of clothing she had opted to wear before leaving the hotel.

“Tell me, dear sister, wouldn’t you be violating your consulting agreement with the FBI by not sharing that information? I must emphasize that I’m extremely disappointed by the accusation that I would be involved in...what did you call it? A breadcrumb trail?”

Brook slowly smiled.

“What's the fun in that, Jacob?”

A slight twitch appeared near the far-right corner of his eye.

“You’re in an awfully good mood for someone who just lost a friend,” Jacob replied with a tilt of his head.

The malicious glint in his eyes told of his pleasure at the jab. Her smile threatened to crack, and she fought to keep the contents of the protein bar she had eaten on the way over in her stomach.

“About that,” Brook said as casually as possible so as not to give him any satisfaction. “I worked on several profiles last night, and I keep coming back to the same conclusion—whoever killed Lusa Kalluk killed Kate Lin.”

Brook noticed movement in her peripheral vision. Mitch had collected a prepared backpack from Russell and was making his way back toward them. Despite her increased nausea at being so close to her brother, she closed the distance between them.

“I know you didn't have anything to do with their deaths,” Brook murmured so that only he could hear her words. She held his gaze, unyielding. “You're losing control of the situation, which is why I'm going to use you as bait. No matter how much you wanted Mitch Norona to take the blame, I'm not falling for a fake trail of breadcrumbs when the entire loaf is but an hour's hike away."

Jacob studied her intently, but he was unable to respond when the loud roar of several engines pierced the morning air. Nonetheless, it was evident that she had left him somewhat off-balance.

By the time Mitch reached them, she had already turned away from her brother. Both Victor and Justin quickly flanked him as she shifted her focus to the three vehicles stirring up dust while they entered the clearing.

Russell, now off his phone, didn’t hold back his expletives towards the unexpected visitors. He also made it clear to the others that a former governor shouldn't receive special privileges. Brook seized the opportunity created by the distraction to speak with Mitch.

“Do you mind if I borrow your cell phone? I left mine in my backpack in the back of the SUV. I need to make a quick call to my colleague back at the hotel.”

She held his gaze, silently urging him to comply.

Mitch hesitated, his reluctance to engage with her evident. Finally, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He unlocked the display before handing it over. Brook couldn't help but notice Jacob observing her intently from the corner of her eye.

“Thanks,” Brook said with forced cordiality before stepping aside to make the call. After dialing Bit's number, she forced herself to exhale slowly. Fortunately, he answered on the first ring. “Remember our earlier conversation about the Kalluk family members and friends? Those of interest have just arrived at the clearing. I assume they want to be the first to know if any remains are found, which means they plan to stay put until we contact the additional forensic techs.”

“I'm on my way, Boss.”

Brook disconnected the call, fully aware of the potential consequences of her actions. She lowered the phone, and its weight seemed to increase as the seconds ticked away. Keeping her back to Mitch and Jacob, she swiped her thumb down in an arc to quickly access the phone settings.

Without hesitation, she toggled the device into airplane mode.

Any incoming calls from this moment on would go straight to voicemail.

In a few minutes, Mitch Norona would be too far away from Nathaniel Carter to receive any information about any warrants. The events of the day could unfold until Brook had the chance to discover why being in Alaska in June was so important to her brother.

“Thanks,” Brook said, casually handing the phone back to Mitch. “It looks like Nathaniel will take care of the Kalluk family before heading back to the hotel. We should probably get moving.”

From this point forward, there was no room for error.