Page 40 of Craving Sin (Touch of Evil 13)

“Cut the crap, Brook.” Russell gestured toward the others. “This search has nothing to do with Lusa Kalluk. You want to know why your brother needs to be here. I get it. I do, but we have proof that Norona knew about Kate. It doesn’t seem that he ordered the hit, but he knew about it all the same. The search warrant turned up a burner phone with a string of text messages, and we’re pretty sure we know who was on the other end of it. Norona has been read his rights, but we need to get him back down this mountain. Now.”

“Who killed Kate? Kavik? Nanuq?” Brook figured that with the two men missing, the odds were in her favor. No wonder there had been hesitation marks on Kate’s neck. “Both?”

“Kavik is dead.”

Brook maintained her composure until she could turn away from the others so they wouldn’t witness her frustration. She slowly curled her fingers, digging her nails into the palms of her hands. Being separated from her team meant relying on them to make the necessary calls in her absence. As far as she was aware, Theo and Sylvie were still on the other side of the mountain. This meant Nathaniel was in a position to try to undermine Bit’s position.

“Has Nanuq been detained?”

“The assumption is that Nanuq has access to an ATV. He is either headed our way or has gotten a head start on the manhunt that Carter is about to launch with the Anchorage field office.” Russell sighed in frustration as he leaned against a tree. “Your tech guy is holding his own down there, but we need to call it. It’s over.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Russell.” Brook turned back around, her gaze swinging over the others. While they were somewhat scattered, they were still in a relatively tight space. “I won’t let Kate’s death be in vain. Do I want to know why Jacob went to so much trouble to be here? Yes, but my reasons behind that have changed, and this opportunity will never be available to us again. Radio, please.”

Russell stared back at her for a good twenty seconds before he silently handed her the satellite radio. She lifted the device while observing her brother. His focus was on Mitch, who was currently sitting on the cold ground in defeat.

“I take it the agent standing over Norona is from the chopper?” Brook waited to press the button on the radio until Nathaniel had confirmed her suspicions. “Bit, do you copy?”

“We copy, Sloane.” It wasn’t Bit’s voice that came over the radio. “It’s time to?—”

Brook intentionally pressed the button to cut off Nathaniel’s transmission.

As far as she was concerned, S&E investigations had been given full authority to lead the investigation into Kate’s death. While the plea deal might be off the table, Jacob’s involvement with an ongoing investigation was still relevant.

“A little over an hour ago, a mistrial was declared by Judge Colletti,” Brook reiterated from their previous conversation once Nathaniel had given up on his end. “Your involvement technically ended the moment Jacob signed a waiver regarding relinquishing his right to representation. Russell is the lead agent on this recovery mission now, and S&E Investigations has been brought on as consultants regarding Special Agent Kate Lin’s case. Step back, Nathaniel, and let us do our jobs.”

Russell ran a hand over his face in irritation. She was putting him in a difficult position that he hadn’t asked for, yet they had known each other long enough for her to be certain of his actions.

He would back her all the way.

“Boss?” Bit’s voice finally came through the radio loud and clear. “Kavik is dead, Nanuq is most likely headed your way, and that ice cave goes all the way through the mountain. There are probably several entry and exit points along the way. I pulled up some surveys online, but I'm not sure how much help they'll be since they focus on the main entry points. The one you're at right now isn't even listed.”

Before Brook could respond, Bit transmitted again.

“I have Slick Mitch’s burner, and I’m doing what I can remotely to find out who was on the receiving end of the messages. I believe he tried to delete some, as well. I’ll try to recover what I can.”

“What pushed Nanuq to abduct and kill Lusa?” Brook inquired, wondering if Mitch would turn on his so-called partner. She couldn’t figure out where Jacob came into play, though. “What motive could he possibly have to do that to a family member?”

“Money. When I was speaking with Aputi, he claimed that Lusa thought maybe their cousin was skimming some money off the top of donations. The only thing that makes sense is that Kavik covered for Nanuq back then, believing that the man would never hurt Lusa. Get this—the reason there was a road closure that night was due to a hit-and-run. The man died on impact. I don’t know what that has to do with everything, but it’s connected somehow.”

“You’ll need a search warrant for Nanuq’s financials.”

“Already on it.”

“Have you heard from Theo and Sylvie?” Brook asked while attempting to figure out where the hit-and-run came into play, but she didn’t have enough information on hand. Sylvie might be able to discern the link between the two. “They’ve had plenty of time to return to Silverton.”

Brook had been talking quietly, and she didn’t believe that her voice had carried to the position of the others. Still, the split second that she had mentioned the town, Jacob’s gaze had swung to meet hers with interest.

“No. I’m getting worried, Boss.”

“Just to clarify, you said that the ice cave goes all the way through the mountain? Does that mean there are some entry points near Silverton?”

“Yes.”

“Give me a minute.”

Brook lowered the radio. She considered every scenario available to them, even taking into account Nathaniel’s desire to call everything off. There was a strong possibility that Jacob had spent months, if not years, studying the passageways. Jacob held the upper hand, regardless of how this scenario unfolded.

Unfortunately, there was only one choice to make.

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