Page 27 of Close

Kari felt her cheeks coloring.“Not yet.”The truth being that trying to navigate the complexities of her relationship with her father alongside this equally complex case was the last thing she wanted to do.

“Be careful when you do talk to him,” Tsosie advised.“Personal connections can cloud judgment.”

Before Kari could respond, a shadow fell across their desks.Paul Daniels stood there, his FBI windbreaker now fully zipped, a tablet computer in hand.

“Detectives,” he said with a nod to Tsosie before focusing on Kari.“Captain Yazzie tells me you’re taking point on the Harrington case.”

“That’s right,” Kari said, straightening in her chair.

“I’ll need full access to your case files, witness statements, and evidence logs.”Daniels’s tone had shifted to pure business.“This falls under federal jurisdiction given the location and victim profile.”

“With respect, Agent Daniels,” Kari said, keeping her voice level, “this is still our investigation.Tribal PD has primary jurisdiction until formally superseded.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Daniels’s face—perhaps at her formality, perhaps at her pushback.For years, he’d been “Uncle Paul,” the man who’d brought her birthday presents and taught her to play poker.Now she was asserting professional boundaries, and it clearly caught him off guard.

“Come on, Kari,” he said, softening his approach.“You know how this works.White academic murdered on federal land—FBI will be taking lead sooner or later.Let’s skip the territorial dance.”

“Canyon de Chelly is co-managed by the Navajo Nation,” she said.“And we’ve already developed significant leads.”

Daniels shook his head.“Kari, we need to be clear here.This isn’t Phoenix PD, where you were making a name for yourself.This is a federal case now.”Daniels’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.“Your father always said you were stubborn.Good quality in a detective, less helpful in interagency cooperation.”

The reference to her father felt deliberately manipulative.“My father isn’t involved in this investigation,” she said coolly.

“Isn’t he?”Daniels raised an eyebrow.“I understand he was consulting on Harrington’s research.That makes him a person of interest at minimum.”

How did he know that?Had he spoken with her father?

Kari felt her jaw tighten.“We’ll interview all relevant witnesses, Agent Daniels.Without prejudice or personal considerations.”

“See that you do.”He held her gaze for a long moment.“I heard that your mother passed recently.I’m sorry to hear that, Kari.Anna was a remarkable woman.”

The shift to personal condolences felt calculated rather than genuine.“Thank you,” she said stiffly.

Daniels studied her a few seconds longer.“Well, I’ll let you two get back to work.I’ll be setting up in the conference room if you need me.”

As he walked away, Tsosie leaned forward.“You two really do go way back, huh?”

“In theory,” Kari said.“I’m not sure it’s going to make any difference in how Daniels approaches this case.It’s certainly not going to make any difference to me.”

“We’ll have to keep an eye on him.”

Kari’s phone rang, offering a welcome distraction.“Detective Blackhorse,” she answered.

The voice on the other end was that of Officer Nez, sounding tense.“Detectives, we’ve got another body.Female, mid-forties.Hiker found her about twenty minutes ago near the boundary of reservation land and a mining claim.It’s… it’s bad.”

“Location?”Kari asked, already reaching for her jacket.

“Red Rock Canyon, north side.About three miles from where you found Harrington.”

Kari felt a chill.“Any ID on the victim?”

“Wallet was still in her pocket.Driver’s license says Rachel Delgado.Some kind of environmental activist, according to the business cards in her wallet.Looks like she was documenting something—camera equipment scattered around.”

“Secure the scene,” Kari instructed.“We’re on our way.And Nez—keep this quiet for now.”

She hung up and met Tsosie’s gaze.“Another body.Three miles from Harrington.”

“Same MO?”

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