Page 9

9

Theo Neville

June 2025

Wednesday — 8:37 am

T he clatter of silverware and the occasional awkward cough from the patrons created a rather tense atmosphere inside the Silverton diner. There was a collective unease, which had only grown as a few more residents trickled in during the last hour. Word had already spread that two individuals linked to law enforcement were inquiring about Mekhi Hale and his possible connection to a serial killer.

It was only a matter of time before the fisherman came out of hiding.

“You would think Beth would have given us our check by now,” Theo murmured behind his mug. He drained the last of the contents. “They all might be curious, but they also all seem to be on edge. I say we give it five more minutes, and then we start questioning them one by one.”

Theo and Sylvie had finished their meals a while ago. Time had dwindled to a point where they couldn’t continue to sit in the booth and twiddle their thumbs. Besides, he preferred not to be idle. Sitting still for too long allowed images of Mia to take Kate’s place on the tarmac, and it was all he could do to keep his breakfast down.

Mia had become a significant part of his life. His grounding force, in a way. She was untouched by the harsh realities he and the team experienced on a daily basis. Her optimism and innocence were the reasons behind his sense of responsibility for her well-being.

How many times had he emphasized to Brook that she wasn’t responsible for her brother’s sins? Yesterday, as he stared down at what remained of Kate, he realized just how hollow his words must have sounded.

That level of culpability was utterly soul-crushing.

“It’s like they are all waiting for something to happen.” Sylvie glanced over at the counter, tucking some blonde strands that had escaped her bun behind her ear. “I genuinely thought Mekhi would take the bait.”

Theo finally noticed some movement outside the display window.

The distraction allowed him to push aside his thoughts and focus on a beat-up old truck that had rumbled to a stop in front of the diner. The faded paint and rusted edges were evidence of its hard labor. Although the side window was covered in a film of dust, he could still make out the older gentleman just fine.

“Jackpot,” Theo muttered as he monitored the man’s movements.

Mekhi Hale took his time getting out of the driver’s seat. His weathered skin reflected decades spent in the harsh sun and unforgiving Alaskan waters. A slight limp suggested that his body had endured the toll of such a life. Though the most recent picture they had of Hale was from a few years ago, he was easy to recognize.

A knitted cap protected his silver hair, and his worn work clothes hung loosely on his lean frame.While he clipped his truck keys to his belt loop, he met Theo’s stare. Mekhi’s eyes narrowed in agitation, but it was the sneer on his thin lips that expressed the severity.

He wasn’t pleased that his dirty laundry was being aired for all to see.

Thinking about Brook all morning had Theo dismissing the fisherman’s ire. At some point, Hale had figured out that the man who worked for him years ago was a serial killer. He should have come forward immediately.

Before too long, the bell above the door jingled, causing Mekhi’s arrival to stir the room. Though he was one of them, that knowledge didn’t stop the whispers and watchful stares as he stood there glaring back at them.

“Mind your own damn business,” Mekhi exclaimed gruffly to the other diners before he began to make his way across the tiled floor with annoyance. He didn’t speak again until he grabbed a chair from a nearby table and swung it around to face the booth. “Well, you got me here. Ask your damn questions, and then be on your way.”

Theo and Sylvie exchanged knowing glances, and her slight nod indicated that she was leaving the approach method to him. She and Bit hadn’t gotten far with their strategy yesterday. Theo waited until Mekhi was settled in the seat, then got directly to the point, as requested.

“You hired a murderer to work for you eleven years ago, Mr. Hale. Why?”

Mekhi's jaw tightened at the accusation and follow-up question. His mouth pressed into a thin line of frustration.

“I didn't know at the time that the man had killed someone.”

“Multiple someones,” Theo corrected somewhat casually. He had made his point, and that was all that was needed in this situation. “When did you know? When Lusa Kalluk went missing in 2014? A year later? When?”

“Not until a few months ago,” Mekhi finally admitted, his voice rather hoarse. His index finger and thumb on his right hand were tinged yellow, indicating he was a heavy smoker. “Look, I like my privacy. I prefer peace and quiet. I get my news either on the radio or when I come into town once or twice a month.”

Mekhi gestured toward the counter over his shoulder. Tucked into the corner, a small television set was tuned to a local channel.

“I saw Walsh’s face on the news, but it wasn’t like I could add anything else that the police didn’t already know,” Mekhi explained before crossing his arms. “He worked for me on some private fishing charters a couple of summers. I paid him under the table. I haven’t thought about the guy since.”

Theo subtly tapped the table.

Sylvie would understand his signal that she should take over.

“Mr. Hale,” Sylvie said softly, “you’re right, in a way. We figured out that Jacob Walsh was here in 2014 and 2015, but there are still many unanswered questions. You may feel as if too much time has passed to recall anything of significance, but you might know more than you realize.”

Mekhi’s gaze slid toward the display window. He stared out toward the dense forest in the distance before giving a slight nod of concession.

“Ask your questions so that I can be on my way.”

“How did Jacob come to work for you? How did he approach you?”

“I used to work for a large fishing charter in Whittier, but I would take the weekends for myself and bring tourists out on my fishing boat for some extra cash.” Mekhi raised his left hand to rub his right shoulder, as if he were recalling the consequences of such strenuous work. “Anyway, I hit a local bar one night. Jacob was there. He asked if anyone knew of some private charters that might pay under the table. A larger company had just folded, and he was out of work. I said that I could use a hand, and that was that.”

Theo was certain that Bit had covered all the large fishing charters. Jacob had clearly lied about being laid off, but it had been a genius way to take advantage of the situation.

“Did you check his references?” Sylvie asked, only to be met with a cynical stare.

“We do things differently around here,” Mekhi finally said as he let his hand drop. “Jacob kept to himself. Did his job, got paid under the table, and didn’t cause any trouble. Hell, I didn’t even know that Walsh was his last name.”

“He had to eat, right?” Theo inquired before Mekhi could shut down any more questions. “Did Jacob come to the diner with you? Make any friends that you know of?”

Theo already had a photograph of Mitch Norona on his phone in anticipation of Mekhi’s arrival. He tapped the screen, entered his password, and then slid the phone across the table.

“Maybe this man?”

Mekhi leaned forward, squinting as he attempted to study the man in the picture.

“Looks familiar, but I can’t place him. He isn’t from around these parts.”

“No, he isn’t,” Theo replied in agreement as he retrieved his phone. “But he rented out your boat for a day in the summer of 2014. He?—”

“…was the only son of a bitch who didn’t pay under the table.” Mekhi was nodding in remembrance. “I remember him now. He showed up with a fishing pole that wasn’t worth shit, too. I made an exception, but only because he was willing to pay double. Can’t recall his name.”

“Mitch.” Theo didn’t bother mentioning a surname. “Did Jacob seem overly friendly with him?”

“Like I said, Jacob kept to himself. He helped out when it was needed, prepared the fishing equipment, kept the boat clean, things like that.” Mekhi shrugged, and it was obvious his patience was running this. “I answered your questions. I don’t see why?—”

“Where did Jacob stay when he worked for you?” Sylvie asked before Mekhi could stand from the chair. “If he worked weekends, then where did he reside in Silverton?”

“Some cabin off Pines Trail. A fella by the name of Atka owned a large portion of the land to the north of here. He’s passed on some years now. Truth be told, no one has been up in that area for years. The place is probably rubble by now, especially given the elements around these parts.”

Theo managed to refrain from pointing out that Mekhi had been in possession of vital information regarding Jacob, but doing so would only irritate the older man.

“So, no one lives up there now?” Sylvie asked as she pushed away her empty teacup. “Would it be possible for us to contact whoever bought or inherited the land?”

“Atka’s son, but he lives somewhere on the East Coast. Word has it that he plans to hold onto the land until the value goes up, but that won’t be happening anytime soon. The land extends too far into the mountains. No one would ever be granted permits to build a fancy resort or condo community. The land is too unforgiving out here for that.”

Mekhi finally stood and pushed the chair back into its place at a nearby table. He ignored those who were still eavesdropping on their conversation. Beth pretended to wipe the counter with a rag.

“I answered your questions. I had nothing to do with the Kalluk girl going missing,” Mekhi said defensively. “I would appreciate you leaving my name out of those conversations. I don’t want that family in my personal business. Hear me?”

“Is that why no one will acknowledge that Walsh was here that summer? Are they afraid of the Kalluk family?”

“As far as I know, Jacob didn’t come into town. He kept to himself.”

“He had to eat.”

“Convenience store, I guess,” Mekhi answered with a shrug. “Are we done here?”

“Not yet, Mr. Hale. Is there any way for us to take a look at the cabin for ourselves?” Theo asked, not willing to leave Silverton without having explored the structure that kept a roof over Jacob’s head for two summers, if not the entire two years. “The more information we can take back to the supervisory special agent in charge, the less likely we’ll have to bother you again.”

Mekhi sneered at the not-so-veiled threat, but it was Sylvie who intervened to soften the warning.

“Please, Mr. Hale.” Sylvie shifted slightly in the booth, making it impossible for Mekhi to avoid her stare. “Eleven years is a long time, and you’re probably right about the cabin's condition. Still, we need to check it off our list. All we need are a few photos to document our findings, and then we can leave.”

Mekhi considered her request in silence. Theo noticed one of the men at the counter had turned his head at the mention of Atka. If Mekhi decided not to give them directions or help lead them to the cabin, Theo was betting the other man just might.

“Ed, you got a spare four-wheeler these folks could use for the rest of the morning?” Mekhi called out over his shoulder. “They’ll pay you.”

“Sure do,” Ed said before draining his coffee. “One hundred ought to suffice.”

“Hand me one of those napkins,” Mekhi directed with impatience, waving his hand toward the napkin dispenser. “And a pen.”

Theo grabbed his jacket. He always carried a small notebook and a tiny pencil. It was a lesson he had learned from his father. After all, the man hadn’t become the New York Police Commissioner without knowing a thing or two.

“Is there a reason we can’t drive there?” Theo asked as he slid both items to the edge of the table.

“The only way up the side of that mountain is either to hike or to take an ATV. Even then, an ATV will only get you so far.”

Mekhi leaned down and picked up the writing utensil with his callused fingers.

He grimaced at the size of the pencil.

“And how did Jacob get to the cabin?” Sylvie asked as they both examined the sketch being put to paper. “Did he hike or have access to an ATV?”

“Don’t know. Didn’t ask, didn’t care. I already told you that no one asks questions around here. I paid Jacob under the table, and he paid Atka under the table. Simple exchanges that benefited everyone involved.”

Theo was beginning to understand why Jacob had targeted Mekhi Hale in the first place. When Jacob had arrived in Silverton with the fisherman, no one had questioned his arrival. He kept his head down, accomplished what he was paid to do, and didn’t socialize with the residents.

Silverton had been the perfect place to disappear.

Mekhi’s drawing was shaky yet precise. Theo could easily make out certain landmarks as the pencil was slapped down on the table with finality.

“You see this spot? Blocked by downed trees, debris, and basically a lot of undergrowth. Happened many years ago, and I haven’t been up there since then. Before you ask why, I used to hunt a lot. Anyway, there used to be a small path to the left, right about here, wide enough for a four-wheeler. You should be able to navigate through it just fine. You’ll find the cabin about two klicks from that point.” Mekhi gave them both a pointed stare. “I trust I won’t hear from either of you after today.”

Without another word or even a brief glance at the other patrons, Mekhi exited the diner. The piercing noise of the bell overhead accurately conveyed his frustration throughout the establishment.

“Let’s get a move on,” Ed exclaimed, the toothpick in between his thin lips barely moving. He didn’t have a limp like Mekhi, but the older man still seemed to shuffle toward the door. “I keep an ATV in my shed. I live right down the road, so you can follow me. Remember to park around the side so you’re not in my way. If you aren’t back by dark, I’ll make sure to send someone after you.”

“That’s comforting,” Sylvie murmured as she stood from the booth. “It’s a good thing I brought a jacket.”

Sylvie might have tossed a jacket into the back of the SUV, but they still weren’t fully prepared to take a four-wheeler into the mountains.

“Ed, you don’t happen to have a backpack that we can borrow, do you?” Theo asked as they stepped out into the gravel parking area out front. “We’re going to need to take some essentials with us, which means we’ll need to stop in at the convenience store.”

“I might have a spare you can borrow,” Ed said with a slow smile.

Once again, the toothpick in the man’s mouth barely moved. Theo got the sense that he would be paying more than a hundred dollars for the upcoming excursion.

“Do you know what this means, Theo?” Sylvie had waited to pose the question until Ed was out of earshot. Theo came to a stop in front of the SUV. “We literally just discovered where Jacob stayed during his time here. I get that Mekhi and the other residents want their privacy, but at some point, forensics is going to need access to this place. What if…well, what if he hunted here? Jacob could have buried his victims’ remains on that mountain, Theo.”

Theo monitored Ed as he settled in behind the steering wheel of his truck, which was in no better shape than the one Mekhi drove around town. The engine purred to life as if the vehicle were brand-new, though.

“Why don’t we check out the site before making any decisions?” Theo noticed when Sylvie got the meaning behind his suggestion. She adjusted her black-rimmed glasses and waited for him to finish his thought. “If Brook believes that Jacob didn’t kill Lusa Kalluk, I trust her judgment. Only that would mean Jacob has ulterior motives, which has been par for the course. I doubt he would bring us here if there was even the slightest chance we could discover more victims. Maybe, just maybe, his reasons are tied to whatever is inside that cabin.”