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Brooklyn Sloane

June 2025

Wednesday — 7:58 am

“I can get a large portable monitor delivered here by this evening.”

Brook shook her head in response to Bit’s offer, having just taken a drink of her coffee. She should have waited for the contents to cool off a bit. Instead, she had practically inhaled a quarter of the amount.

Sleep had been relatively elusive.

The fact that four hours wasn’t enough sleep was evidence of how far she had come in dealing with the emotional trauma of having a brother who just so happened to be a serial killer. There was a time when all she needed was two hours of sleep.

“I’m hoping we won’t need to do that after my conversation with Nathaniel,” Brook replied as she set her coffee back down on the room service tray. She grimaced at the bagels and fruit bowl next to the black carafe. Unfortunately, she was going to need to eat something before hiking up a mountainside. “While having access to our murder board on a larger screen would be beneficial, it would be a pointless expense if our theory pans out.”

Brook really needed their theory to be on point.

Mitch Norona had something to do with Lusa Kalluk’s disappearance, and Jacob was somehow using that knowledge to his advantage. It was the only theory that made sense.

Why, then, had Kate been brutally murdered in Jacob’s signature style?

“Are you okay, Boss?”

Brook hadn’t realized she was rubbing her chest while staring at the cinnamon raisin bagel. Her heartburn had reared its ugly head. She would forgo eating breakfast. A protein bar later would suffice.

“Yes.” Brook turned away from the room service cart and made her way over to the table. She stood behind Bit while observing Jacob’s room. While there was a free breakfast to be had downstairs, it went unspoken that Jacob wouldn’t be leaving his room for anything other than leading the federal authorities to Lusa Kalluk’s remains. “Did you alert Theo and Sylvie about Kate’s rental car being discovered on the side of the road?”

Brook hated to think of Kate flying to Alaska, driven by her belief that she was joining the investigation. Bit discovered that Kate had responded to the email, to which someone had then replied, instructing her not to reveal any details to her supervisory agent. She hadn’t reached out to Brook to confirm any of the details by phone, either.

One simple phone call could have saved her life.

“I did,” Bit replied before pointing toward his laptop, ignoring the monitor that displayed Nathaniel strolling down the hallway toward their room. “Unfortunately, if you look here, you’ll see that whoever sent the email bounced the signal through at least six different relays—Tor nodes, VPN tunnels, and even what looks like a compromised loT device in Singapore.”

Brook barely glanced at Bit’s laptop off to the side, which had numerous lines of code she couldn’t understand. Some appeared to be IP addresses, and others looked like proxy chains. That was about all she could recognize on the screen. She would leave the technological aspect of the investigation to the pro.

“See?” Bit directed, missing the fact that his previous explanation had gone over her head. “The exit node that I just hit is in Iceland, but that will probably change in the next few minutes. I’ll keep trying, but unless the guy screwed up somewhere along the way, there is a chance we might never figure out where the email originated from, Boss.”

There were times when Bit was a realist, other times an optimist. Either way, she had complete faith in him. If the unsub had made a mistake in any way, shape, or form…Bit would be the one to find it.

Like Jacob, Mitch hadn’t been the one to kill Kate. Both had alibis that established their presence in Maryland and Baltimore. That wasn’t to say they didn’t have her blood on their hands.

Still, Brook had detected true surprise in her brother upon hearing the news.

As if on cue, a knock came at the door. Without waiting for an answer, the knob turned, and Nathaniel Carter entered the room. In place of his usual tailored suit, he had opted for a pair of jeans, a long-sleeved black t-shirt, and a matching jacket. She glanced down at his hiking boots, which didn’t have a scuff on them. It was a good thing she was going to change his plans today, because he would have regretted not breaking them in within five minutes of the hike.

“Russell already told me about Kate's rental car being found on the side of the road,” Nathaniel shared as he eyed the room service cart. “May I?”

“Of course,” Brook responded as she switched her focus to the surveillance monitors. “Kate Lin isn’t why I asked you here, Nathaniel.”

“Hey, Russell was in charge of the forensics team. From my understanding, they’ll meet us at the rendezvous point with the proper equipment.” Nathaniel had poured himself a cup of coffee before snagging a poppyseed bagel. He took a large bite before setting it on a plate, not even glancing in her direction. “Between the forensics team, Agents Brall and Genedet, Walsh, Houser, Norona, you, and me…that makes for one hell of a group. Add in the chopper that will be keeping track of our positions, and I’d say we have things covered. Oh, and Houser is supplying the backpacks. We shouldn’t need much, considering Walsh gave us a general idea of the site being an hour from the clearing. I don’t want to?—”

Brook was done wasting time.

“You need to ask Judge Colletti to sign search warrants for Mitch Norona’s home, hotel room, office, all vehicles registered in his name, all devices, and financial records,” Brook instructed without hesitation. Normally, she wouldn’t have interrupted him, but they were short on time. Nathaniel had picked up a butter knife to spread some cream cheese on his bagel, but he slowly lowered it to the plate. “You need to do it now, before we leave the hotel.”

Nathaniel slowly turned to face her, searching her gaze for any indication that she was joking. He shouldn’t be too surprised by her request, considering that she had expressed her concerns earlier this year.

“We’ve been over this, Brook.” Nathaniel crossed his arms and widened his stance. She gritted her teeth in annoyance at his defiance. “How Norona got Walsh’s case isn’t our concern.”

The silence in the room seemed to thicken as Nathaniel's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing when he realized that Brook wasn’t going to back down. He flicked his gaze to Bit, who quietly popped Skittles into his mouth one by one, not masking his interest in the conversation.

“Let me put this another way,” Nathaniel said, taking a deep breath to steady himself. “Do you understand how unprecedented such a request would be? I mean, what reason could you possibly have to believe Judge Colletti would approve a search warrant for a defense attorney?”

“It’s come to our attention that Mitch Norona was in Alaska in 2014 and 2015.”

“Traveling isn’t against the law.” It had taken a moment for Nathaniel to speak, and even then, his tone was cautious. He was right to assume there was more to her statement. “You said yourself that Jacob would have gone someplace remote. What you’re suggesting is that the two of them knew one another for over eleven years, and…”

Nathaniel shook his head at the implication, attempting to keep a level head about this latest development.

“We discovered a photograph of Jacob working on a private fishing charter. Although we aren’t certain about the date the picture was taken, Jacob’s claim that he can guide us to Lusa Kalluk’s remains places him near Silverton in 2014. That same year, Mitch Norona also chartered a private fishing trip. Can you guess which fishing charter out of all of Alaska?”

“I can answer that one for you, King P,” Bit said, tapping on his left wrist even though he wasn’t wearing a watch. It was his way of telling Brook this request was taking longer than it should. “A fishing charter out of Silverton, owned and operated by one Mekhi Hale.”

Nathaniel refrained from commenting on the nickname, but his annoyance was evident. Still, he continued to shift his focus between Brook and Bit until he sank onto the edge of the bed. It was clear that he needed time to process the information. He stared at the worn blue carpet while gathering his thoughts. Meanwhile, Brook continued and finished sharing every detail to date regarding their inquiry into Mitch Norona.

“Let me get this straight,” Nathaniel finally said, holding up a hand when Bit would have given it another attempt. “Or better yet, let me see if I can accurately theorize what you believe to be past events—Mitch Norona was on vacation to celebrate his bar exam, chartered a private fishing boat for a day, struck up a friendship with one of the dockhands, and they…what? Kidnapped and murdered a local woman from a bar? Wait, wait, wait.”

Brook had been about to clarify that she wasn’t entirely sure the two men had formed a friendship. It was likely that Mitch had gotten himself into trouble with Lusa, and Jacob helped him out of it. Brook still wasn’t confident they had an accurate read on the potential timeline. However, she remained silent. Nathaniel was having too much trouble accepting the implications as they stood now.

“You’re going to stand there and tell me you believe it’s plausible that Norona and Walsh buried Kulluk’s body, and…what? Kept in touch for eleven years? That a defense attorney knew about the whereabouts of a serial killer for over a decade, but intentionally didn’t say a word to anyone?” Nathaniel’s disbelief was evident, but he was refusing to comprehend the bigger picture. He then zeroed in on Bit. “How many fucking crimes did you commit to get proof that Norona took some fishing trip?—”

“Watch where you take this conversation, Prosecutor.” Brook stepped forward to ensure Nathaniel’s attention was fully on her. “My team adhered to every letter of the law to link Norona to Walsh. Everything my colleagues have uncovered was through social media, followed by some phone calls to confirm specific details. I authorized them to do this when you refused to even consider for a moment that Norona showing up out of the blue to replace a public defender wasn’t cause for concern.”

“The investigation is done, Brook. Don’t you get that? We’re in the middle of a damned trial,” Nathaniel pointed out in exasperation. “Your role is done. The only reason you are here is because your brother wouldn’t lead us to Kalluk’s remains otherwise.”

“Nathaniel, you’ve seen the photographs of Jacob’s victims. You know that he turned himself into the FBI just so Sarah Evanston would think it was safe to come out of witness protection. You’ve read the reports of his numerous attempted escapes. I stand before you as proof of how cunning and patient he can be in achieving his goals. I have theories about why Mitch Norona began representing Jacob, but Lusa Kalluk does not fit the profile of Jacob’s victims. There’s a chance DNA remains on whatever is left—maybe some fabric or jewelry. We need Norona’s DNA first, so you can either contact Judge Colletti and request a warrant or?—”

“Or what, Brook?” Nathaniel asked quietly, his eyes narrowing in response to such an ultimatum. “Are you really going to stand there and threaten a federal pro?—”

“Or Chris Donovan revokes his offer for you to join his firm. And yes, I know the amount of money he offered you to switch sides. It’s lucrative, and it would certainly set you and your wife up for a really nice retirement when the time comes.”

Brook would never have resorted to such a tactic had Kate Lin’s body not been dumped at the end of an airstrip runway in the middle of nowhere. Since joining—and leaving—the FBI as a consultant criminal profiler, Brook had made many difficult decisions. Too many, in fact, that almost certainly punched her ticket to hell.

She had understood a long time ago that she would pay for her brother’s actions. She had made her peace with her punishment a long time ago. As long as Jacob ended up in the depths of hell with her, it was worth the price.

Nathaniel’s jawline ticked with fury, but he wasn’t a man to react without first thinking through the consequences. It was one of the traits that made him a damn good prosecutor. His brief huff of disgust was audible.

“This is low, Brook. Even for you.” Nathaniel slowly stood, taking time to readjust his windbreaker. “You realize that by placing this call, the entire plea deal goes to shit. A mistrial will be declared, and I’ll have to refile the charges. A year of preparation down the drain.”

“I also know that Judge Colletti won’t issue a warrant without first taking at least an hour or two to review the legal ramifications. In the meantime, we’re moving up the timing of this recovery mission. While you make the call, I’ll notify everyone that we’ll be leaving within the hour. As long as you present the facts the way I’ve already outlined them for you, Judge Colletti will sign the warrant. It should come through just as we’re about to set out from the clearing. When you get the call, excuse yourself from the hike, supervise the handling of the warrants from here, and ensure DNA samples are collected from Norona’s hotel room.”

“Is this Hale guy even still alive?”

“Yes. Theo and Sylvie plan to obtain a statement from him today."

“You know that when I get the call, Norona will be getting one, too,” Nathaniel advised her, even though she was already aware of the legal procedures. “For God’s sake, we’re talking about a mistrial, Brook. This recovery operation is over and done with the second that I?—”

“No, it’s not. Get the warrant, Nathaniel.”

He shot her a look of suspicion, and she couldn’t deny that it was deserved.

“How long have you been sitting on this information?”

“Does it matter?”

There was no need to deny the accusation. Her reasoning for not wanting to tip their hand earlier didn’t matter anyway. Kate’s death had changed everything.

“Fine, I'll make the call. When this blows up in our face, I expect you to call in whatever chip you have with Chris Donovan, because I sure as hell won’t have a job if this goes sideways.”

Nathaniel waited for her nod of agreement before disappearing through the connecting doorway. He didn’t even bother to close it behind him. The room seemed to expand in Nathaniel's absence, as if the very walls had been holding their breath alongside her. She slowly exhaled before turning to find Bit staring at her while slowly swallowing what was left of his candy.

“You're a badass, Boss.”

“You’re not going to think that after I ask you to pay a visit today to those who were with—or supposed to be with—Lusa Kalluk on the night of her disappearance.”

Bit began to jostle his leg up and down with unease. Although she had ensured that he received field training over the past four years, he still preferred being behind his computer. She only ever requested his presence in the field when absolutely necessary, and this was one of those times.

“I thought you and the others questioned the Kalluk family last night, Boss.” Bit shifted in his chair, but he still didn’t seem any more comfortable than before. “You, Little T, Big T, and the others. You all talked to them, even the friend and boyfriend. What makes you think they’ll tell me something they didn’t tell you?”

“Aputi was at the bar the night his sister disappeared, while Nanuq and Kavik said they were held up fixing a fence on the wildlife conservation. Lusa’s friend, Delilah, was waitressing. All their statements match exactly,” Brook said as she closed the distance to one of the beds. “Word for word. Their stories didn’t change last night, either. They all claim not to recognize Jacob, which is probably true. Blackpeak is fifty-some miles from Silverton. We need to start establishing motives now that everything is in motion.”

Brook picked up her jacket and slipped her arms into the sleeves. She zipped up the warm material, then tucked the right side over her holstered firearm. Underneath her jacket, she wore a long-sleeved thermal shirt that hugged her like a second skin. The lightweight fabric trapped her body heat while letting her skin breathe.

“Boss, we couldn’t find any motive for Lusa Kalluk’s disappearance before,” Bit said cautiously, his tone low enough that it wouldn’t travel through the open door connecting the two rooms. “What makes you think I can find someone with motive?”

Brook glanced down at her hiking boots, ones that she had owned for years. They were broken in, comfortable, and high enough around her ankles to conceal the compact firearm she could rely on if needed.

“You can read people, too, Bit.” Brook picked up her phone, which she had set down to grab her jacket, and secured it in her side pocket. The small leather pouch on the back held her driver's license, credit card, and cash. Everything else she needed for the day was stored in a backpack near the door. She had packed her own, not wanting to depend on anyone else. “Everything has been laid out in front of us like a breadcrumb trail. That trail was meant to lead us to Mitch Norona. While I do believe he’s somehow involved in all this, I don’t like how we’re being led by the hand. We’ve been deliberately distracted for the past five months.”

Brook walked over to Bit and patted him on the shoulder in reassurance.

“It’s time we veer off course, Bit. You’ve got this.”