Page 11 of Craving Sin (Touch of Evil 13)

6

Brooklyn Sloane

June 2025

Tuesday — 7:09 pm

The sun remained stubbornly high in the sky, defying the late hour. It was strange to witness such an odd occurrence when the cityscape of Washington, D.C. would be experiencing sunset in less than two hours. The continuous daylight of the Alaskan summer was due to the region’s high latitude, and this phenomenon gave a surreal sense of time being suspended.It was natural for one’s internal clock to struggle against the prolonged daylight hours.

Brook and Theo walked past the hotel’s front entrance toward a spacious room designated for the complimentary breakfast served every morning from six to nine. A long counter stretched along one side of the disorganized space. At the far end was a small beverage area for guests, a pledge of the hotel’s hospitality. At some point during the day, a staff member had made an effort to restore order to the area, as all the chairs had been neatly tucked into their designated spots at various tables.

Brook’s stomach churned at the lingering smell of grease. It had been over ten hours since the courtesy breakfast had been served, so how was it possible such an odor had hung around for so long?

She had given Graham her word before he left for the airstrip that she would take time to eat something later, but she wasn’t confident that she could follow through with her promise. That one minute she had stolen from the day had drained every shred of energy in her body.

“Brook, I would like to formally introduce you to Alaska’s former governor, Toklo Kalluk,” Nathaniel said the moment he caught sight of her. Brook had spoken to Toklo through multiple video conferences, though Nathaniel had always been present. “Governor Kalluk, this is Brooklyn Sloane and Theo Neville.”

Toklo’s expression was cold, and his resentment of her involvement simmered just beneath the surface. She had noticed it during her calls, and it was difficult to miss now. It was clear that anyone associated with Jacob Walsh left a bad taste in his mouth.

She couldn’t blame him.

She had always carried the weight of her brother’s sins.

“Governor Kalluk,” Brook greeted evenly as she shook the man’s hand. She could only imagine the shock he and his family must have suffered upon hearing the news earlier in the year that Lusa Kalluk was dead. Jacob’s admission had all but cemented the young woman’s fate. “I can understand your frustration over delaying today’s events. I’m sure Mr. Carter has explained that we rescheduled the recovery operation for tomorrow.”

“Does it really surprise you the lengths your brother will go to cause?—”

“Mr. Kalluk,” Theo interrupted firmly as he extended his hand. He intentionally omitted the man’s former title to make his point clear. While Brook appreciated his effort to intervene and assert some authority, they still needed the man’s cooperation. “You're fortunate that Brook will be in attendance tomorrow to help locate your daughter’s remains. Brook’s insight into Jacob Walsh has brought the Bureau this far, and I have no doubt she will see the trial through to the end. It is unfortunate that the death penalty has been taken off the table.”

Eleven years had passed since Lusa Kalluk’s disappearance.

Brook was reminded that time could heal everything…except death.

The damage the Kalluk family carried with them in their day-to-day lives didn’t mean they had forgotten the initial pain of losing Lusa, but the scars left behind allowed them to move forward. Had their wounds been fresh, Theo wouldn’t have been compelled to come to her defense.

Theo's protectiveness came from the knowledge that Brook hadn’t been without suffering of her own. Still, the room itself seemed to hold its breath while waiting for Toklo’s response. Everyone’s attention was on the former governor.

“I realize that the concessions made for my daughter come at the expense of justice for others,” Toklo revealed somewhat grudgingly before dropping his hand. He nodded respectfully toward Theo, indicating that he understood the underlying meaning behind his words. “Lusa deserves a proper burial, though. If there are other victims, then their families deserve to know what happened to their loved ones, as well. With that said, I appreciate the reminder that there are many victims of Jacob Walsh’s crimes.”

The tension in the room seemed to ease as the occupants began to speak with one another in quiet conversations. Theo had mentioned that the former governor had brought what could be considered an entourage, and he hadn’t exaggerated that claim. A quick count revealed nine other individuals present.

“I’d like to reassure you that today’s distraction won’t divert our attention away from recovering your daughter’s remains.” Nathaniel smoothed his tie, just as he was attempting to do with Toklo’s slight irritation. Unfortunately, the federal prosecutor had managed to do just the opposite with Brook and Theo. “Tomorrow morning, we will?—”

“What Mr. Carter is trying to convey is that while we are certain Jacob Walsh did not personally take the life of Special Agent Kate Lin, we can’t rule out a connection with his case.” Brook spoke loud enough for all to hear her. “I’ve just received word that S&E Investigations will be working alongside the FBI as consultants. Once we retrieve the remains of your daughter, Special Agent Houser and my team will continue to investigate Lin’s murder alongside federal agents from the Anchorage field office. Due to the manner in which Special Agent Lin died, we would like to question those individuals who were close to Lusa before her disappearance.”

A few protests arose, but Brook held up a hand to signify she wasn’t done speaking. She even took a step back to view the occupants of the room. The position adjustment was more for her benefit than theirs, as it was beneficial to observe their reactions to her statements. As for Nathaniel, his face was flushed with annoyance, but she wasn’t there to gain political points. He could maneuver the bureaucratic chess pieces around the board another time.

“Special Agent Kate Lin was a cautious agent who never bent the rules,” Brook explained after she once again held everyone’s attention. “Someone was able to lure her here to Alaska, just as someone was able to entice Lusa to leave a local pub where she was enjoying a night out with family and friends. Jacob Walsh has claimed responsibility for Lusa’s disappearance. We will find out tomorrow if there is any truth to his assertion, but it is our responsibility to cover every aspect of this investigation. I ask for your cooperation.”

No one could mistake Brook’s last statement as singular in intention. She meant every single person in the room, but they all still directed their gazes toward Toklo Kalluk. He hesitated for a brief moment as he regarded her intently. His slight nod in her direction signified his acceptance and agreement to her request.

“While my daughter has been missing since 2014, that day will forever be carved into our memories, Ms. Sloane. This is my son, Aputi.” Toklo waited patiently for his son to step forward. Aputi was in his late thirties with a stocky build and short-cropped hair. He didn’t smile, but there didn’t seem to be any hostility in his gaze, either. “Aputi was with his sister that night at the bar.”

While Theo guided Aputi to the other side of the room, Brook noticed Sylvie. She had changed into a dark pair of jeans and a navy-blue sweater. The light sheen of lip gloss signaled that she had regained her composure and was ready to get to work. Given her uncanny ability to recall facts and details, Brook wasn’t concerned that anything would be missed during tonight’s interviews.

“My nephew, Nanuq.”

“Nanuq, I read over the interviews taken during the investigation of Lusa’s disappearance.” Brook noted that Nanuq didn’t view his uncle in the same way as the others. While there was a display of outward respect, the man’s body language suggested otherwise. “You were supposed to join Lusa and Aputi that night, is that right?”

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