Page 5

5

Brooklyn Sloane

June 2025

Tuesday — 5:58 pm

T he anguished ambiance in the hotel room was suffocating, heavy with unspoken grief. The low hum of the heating system wasn’t enough to mask the occasional sniffle and the struggle to remain composed in light of recent circumstances. Not even the warm air that trickled through the vents in the ceiling above could dispel the bone-chilling reality of death.

Although the hotel was old and worn, its layout was adequate for surveillance. The rooms weren’t luxurious by any means, but they were the most decent option in Blackpeak. The location also meant they were roughly an hour’s hike from the general area Jacob had provided them last week. Unfortunately, he was keeping the exact coordinates to himself to ensure he was included in the trek.

Brook observed Sylvie and Bit at the table in the corner. Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t hide the aftermath of their reactions to the news of Kate’s death. Sylvie had readjusted the tight bun at the base of her neck several times, giving her hands something to do. The blonde strands were taut enough now to lift the temples on her black-rimmed glasses.She would no doubt have a severe headache by evening, if she didn’t already.

As for Bit, he had taken the news the hardest. His face seemed gaunter, and the pallor of his skin accentuated the redness of his bloodshot eyes. He had been the one who had consistently remained in close contact with Kate over the past few years, and his lighthearted wit had been noticeably absent since he had learned of her death.

Across the room, Theo stood silently next to the window overlooking the small parking lot. Unlike Bit and Sylvie, Theo had turned inward and hadn’t uttered a word that didn’t have to do with proper procedure.

“Has someone notified Mr. Lin?” Bit asked before removing his signature grey beanie that had seen better days. The same could be said for his hair. No matter how many times he washed the blond strands, he couldn’t get rid of their oily sheen. “He shouldn’t hear it from?—”

“Mr. Lin is giving a lecture as a guest speaker at a healthcare conference in New York.” Brook held onto the coffee mug that Theo had given her a few minutes ago, not that she could swallow any of the contents at the moment. “I have a local officer there who will call me when Kate’s father steps off the stage.”

Bit shifted his focus from Brook to the three screens on the table. One displayed Jacob's room, another the adjacent bathroom, and the third the hallway outside. Bit’s chair was at an angle so he could view both the monitors and those inside the room, while Sylvie’s back was toward the screens.

Kate’s death hit home for a completely different reason for Sylvie. She had almost been a victim of one of Jacob’s disciples herself over a year ago. It was unfortunate that serial killers could be viewed as misunderstood, and there were sick individuals who would do anything for them. Sylvie had suffered at the hands of such an individual. With Kate’s death, there was a possibility they were dealing with the same type of situation.

The one question that kept rising to the surface was why Kate had been in Alaska in the first place. That unanswered inquiry was where they would begin their investigation.

Brook’s gaze lingered on the screen that displayed Jacob lying supine on the bed. He had his fingers laced, both hands resting on his abdomen as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Only she could detect from the way his index fingers flexed every now and then that he was anything but comfortable.

There was no denying that Kate’s death was related to his presence in Alaska, but Brook wasn’t confident that he was at the center of her murder. Jacob’s own plans had been thrown off, which could give them an open opportunity to get out a step ahead of him.

On the same display, Special Agent Justin Genedet could be seen at a small table across the room, shuffling cards with precision while periodically glancing up to check on his prisoner. Special Agent Victor Brall rested on the other double bed in order to take over the midnight shift. Considering the two agents had been thoroughly vetted, the only concern at this point was her brother’s defense attorney.

The other two monitors displayed the connecting bathroom at such an angle that it allowed for privacy while also ensuring that they didn’t miss anything of significance and the outer hallway directly in front of Jacob’s room.

No one would be able to make contact with him without the team’s knowledge.

The click of the door captured everyone’s attention. Graham had secured a connecting room, along with three additional ones so each team member could have their privacy. He met her gaze and gave a slight nod of acknowledgment to indicate that everything was okay. Some matters had arisen back home unrelated to their case, and Graham had specifically requested that she keep the news to herself for the time being.

“Russell just got back from the airstrip,” Graham advised them all as he made his way to the room service tray that held two carafes of coffee, some bottles of water, and an electric tea kettle for Sylvie. “He was able to rearrange the recovery mission to tomorrow morning at eleven o’clock.”

“Wait,” Bit exclaimed as he leaned forward in agitation. “We’re not heading back to D.C. afterward, are we? We can’t just?—”

“I have a call into the Bureau. Normally, we wouldn’t be able to touch the investigation into Kate’s death. Given the publicity, though, I feel I can convince the upper brass that it would be to their benefit to bring us on as consultants.” Brook noticed that while Theo was listening to every word, something or someone had caught his attention in the parking lot. “It comes down to the fallout. If the case goes South, we go along with it.”

“I’m willing to take that chance,” Bit impulsively replied in his need for answers. He peered over at Sylvie for some support. “Little T?”

“Yes.”

Sylvie hadn’t hesitated at all. Her immediate reaction indicated that she wasn’t in the right headspace. Usually analytical and cautious, she didn't seem to consider the risk of losing their consulting agreement with the Bureau if the situation escalated. Brook, on the other hand, had weighed the pros and cons, and the advantages outweighed the drawbacks.

“Emotions are running high right now,” Brook warned anyway, needing them to understand the consequences. She cleared her throat when it began to restrict in reaction to Kate’s death. “Right now, we wait for clearance.”

Given that the remote area at the far end of the runway had no security cameras or surveillance features, it wasn’t like time was of the essence. Russell had already spoken to what staff members had been inside the hangar, and no one had noticed anything out of the ordinary. At least, not until one of the local federal agents who arrived on scene had alerted all those involved about a potential problem.

While such a delay almost certainly came across to Bit and Sylvie like a betrayal to Kate, it was imperative they follow the letter of the law. Fortunately, no one questioned the decision to wait until they received word from the Bureau. They were all too familiar with the favors Brook had collected over the years during her time with the FBI as a criminal profiler.

“You said Russell is back from the airstrip?” Theo asked, steering the discussion back to their current situation.

“Yes,” Graham responded as he carried his coffee cup over to the king-sized bed. He took a seat on the end, next to the chair that Brook occupied. “I ran into him in the lobby. He’ll be here shortly, but he wanted to touch base with Nathaniel first.”

“Toklo Kalluk just arrived at the hotel, and it looks like he has his own personal entourage,” Theo murmured, keeping his focus on the parking lot. “Looks like Nathanial and Russell are going to have their hands full.”

“We should be downstairs, as well.” Brook set her mug on the nightstand. She had managed to hold herself together this long. She could do so for another hour or so. “If we receive the go-ahead from the Bureau to a joint investigation into Kate’s death, I'll profile the unsub. Until then, we focus on locating Lusa Kalluk’s remains. I’ll join Russell and the others tomorrow for the hike. Theo and Sylvie, I want the two of you to drive to Silverton. Mekhi Hale doesn’t want to discuss Jacob, but he’ll change his mind if you start asking questions in town. Be loud so everyone can hear. Start at the diner. Trust me, someone will eventually reach out to Mekhi that we aren’t letting this go.”

Given their knowledge of Jacob working with Mekhi under the table all those years ago, the older man would have had to pick up something. Where had Jacob stayed when he helped out on the boat? Had Mekhi ever noticed Jacob talk to anyone in particular, mention anyone specific, or even possibly overhear him on a phone call?

Mekhi might not even know he possessed such vital information.

“I don’t believe Mr. Hale was lying to us.” Sylvie glanced toward Bit for affirmation, who was in the process of blowing his nose. “Hale lives about ten miles outside of Silverton. I highly doubt that a cable or internet company runs lines that far outside of town. Hale is basically off-grid. I’m almost certain he didn’t know who Jacob was until recently.”

“I’m with Little T on this one.” Bit tossed the used tissue into a small wastebasket next to the table. “I think there is a really good chance he is telling the truth about not knowing who Jacob was when he was hired. If Big T and Little T head back to Silverton tomorrow, where do you need me?”

“Here, at the hotel. Mitch will be with the group tomorrow on the hike. Whether or not we’re a part of the investigation into Kate, not even Nathaniel can deny that Mitch is the only avenue Jacob could have used to target?—”

Brook wasn’t able to finish her sentence.

A friend?

A former colleague?

Someone they highly respected?

They shouldn’t be in such a horrible position where they had to give Kate a label.

“Nathaniel can convince the judge to sign a warrant to search Mitch’s room.” Kate’s death had changed Brook’s mind about bringing the federal prosecutor on board. She also had a backup plan in place should he display any reluctance. “A local agent can conduct the search, but I want you present when it takes place.”

“Brook, you don’t believe Jacob had anything to do with Kate’s death.” Theo had finally given the group his full attention. He faced them as he leaned against the wall beside the window. “I don’t, either. If anything, he appeared surprised to hear the news. We all know what happens if a judge signs off on such a warrant. A mistrial will be called, charges will need to be refiled, and everything we’re doing here comes to a halt.”

“Let me worry about how we can keep things on track. Right now, we need to use the situation to our advantage.” Brook wasn’t going to sugarcoat their situation. “We’ve had our suspicions about Norona from the beginning. Nathaniel will take this to the judge, but if we time things right, Jacob can still lead us to Lusa Kalluk’s remains. Bit, would you please go through the footage taken at the federal prison during the meetings between Jacob and Mitch? Just in case we missed anything.”

“I can do that,” Bit replied, his eagerness to do something in light of the tragic events evident.

“I take it you’re going with Brook tomorrow?” Sylvie asked Graham, who had been silent for the most part. Given what Brook understood about his situation, she couldn’t blame him. She had wanted him to head back to D.C. earlier today, but he had been adamant about waiting until things had settled before leaving for the airstrip. “Am I missing something?”

Graham settled his gaze on Brook, waiting for her to take the lead on a response. There hadn’t been one moment between them in the past five months that she could criticize. There was a small part of her that desperately begged for him to say or do something wrong, but even she could rationalize that such an appalling reaction was due to fear.

“I’m flying back to D.C. in the next hour.” Graham paused long enough to take a drink of his coffee and allow the full weight of his decision to sink in. “If Kate was targeted, there's nothing to say that others close to us wouldn't be.”

There was more to Graham’s return to D.C., but he had spared them the details. The team had enough to deal with on their plate. They had absorbed the announcement in rather shocked silence, each processing the implications in their own way.

They each had someone special in their lives.

Theo was dating Mia Williams, and Bit was dating Zoey Collins. Sylvie, on the other hand, had been unusually quiet about her personal life. Well, with everyone except Bit. The two of them were best friends, and they shared everything with one another. But it wasn’t just significant others they needed to be concerned about—mothers, fathers, and siblings could be targeted, as well.

“I've already arranged for Zoey and Mia to have surveillance teams in place. Bit, I have someone monitoring your sister’s safety.” Graham checked the face of his Tag Heuer watch before continuing. “Arden…well, let’s just say that he wasn’t too happy to find two individuals outside the glass doors of S&E Investigations around an hour ago.”

Arden wouldn’t appreciate being referred to as an old grandfather clock ticking away in the corner of a room, but that was sometimes how Brook thought of him. He was reliable, steadfast, and so much more. He had taken over for Kate, though no one could replace her. He had brought with him years of experience and wisdom, while she had been eager and willing to learn.

At sixty-nine years of age, Arden had become a father figure to the team. While he had never met Kate in person, he had spoken to her over video conference several times. He had taken the news of her death hard over the phone. While Graham had been the one to alert Arden of his personal protection detail, Brook couldn’t imagine that conversation had gone over well.

“Theo, you should call your parents,” Graham directed as he collected Brook’s mug. He stood and took both over to the cart. “Considering that your father is the Commissioner of the New York Police Department, it’s best that you give him the choice of how to handle his own security and that of your mother’s. With that said, is there anyone else we need to include in our security protocols?”

Sylvie claimed that Derek Haze was merely a friend, though Brook suspected there was more to their relationship. As CEO of Haze Innovations Group, Derek was usually front and center in the healthcare industry. There had been no coverage of his personal life in the local papers or news, so no one should think to pay him any attention. Still, they had no idea who they were dealing with at the moment. It was for the best that Sylvie made him aware of what had taken place.

“I’ll make a call,” Sylvie murmured discreetly as she reached for her cell phone. She had set it on the table next to the monitors, which displayed no change in the room next door. “I’ll be right back.”

“Brook," Graham said suddenly, his tone serious, "may I speak with you in private, please?”

Theo already had his phone pressed to his ear, while Bit was reaching for another tissue. Brook masked her apprehension as she stood from the chair. She wasn’t certain she could handle any demonstrations of compassion or pity. Maybe it was because she was getting older, or maybe it was because her brother was so near, or perhaps it had to do with how close she had become with her team over the years, but separating her emotions from work was becoming increasingly challenging. There was no time for weakness, and walking into the connecting room took every ounce of strength she had after such an aftermath.

Graham quietly closed the door behind them. The soft click seemed to magnify the painful ache in her heart. A surge of emotions threatened to overwhelm her, and she fought against the tightening of her throat. To prevent a breakdown, she forced herself to stare at the hideous bedside lamp.

It was he whom she should be comforting right now.

“One minute,” Graham murmured as his arms closed around her from behind. She was being selfish. The roles should be reversed. He was going through a difficult time, and she should have had him leave the second she discovered what had taken place back in D.C. “You’re allowed a minute to grieve, Brooklyn.”

His voice was just a gentle murmur against her hair, while his warm embrace offered her the solace she so greatly needed and the safety she so desperately craved.

A solitary tear slipped free, taking her resolve with it.

She instinctively reached up and curled her fingers tightly around his forearms. He had become her stability in the midst of her spiraling emotions. His body heat grounded her as his warmth seeped through the fabric of his dress shirt.

She had been responsible for Kate’s safety.

Others would argue that Brook wasn’t to blame, but no one could alleviate her guilt. Sobs racked her body until her legs began to give out, but Graham held firm. He wouldn’t allow her to fall. He was the anchor that she never had before, and she finally gave herself permission to rely on him. To trust him.

So, she would take the one minute offered to her.

The sixty seconds to grieve.

To mourn.

To say goodbye.

To ask for forgiveness.