Page 31 of Close

Daniels nodded, seemingly satisfied with her cooperation.“I’ll coordinate with my office.But Kari,” he added, lowering his voice, “the media will be all over this once it breaks.Two ritualistic killings near sacred sites?The narrative writes itself.”

“All the more reason to work methodically and avoid speculation,” she replied.

As they prepared to leave the scene, Kari took one last look at the place where Rachel Delgado had died.The environmental activist had come seeking evidence of corporate wrongdoing but had instead become evidence herself—of something Kari wasn’t yet ready to name.

The sound from the recording lingered in her mind, inhuman and angry.She recalled her dream from the previous night—her mother pointing to something at the base of Monster’s Hand, trying to communicate something urgent.

Two deaths, both near sacred sites.Both victims arranged with misunderstood ceremonial elements.Both present during times when boundaries were said to thin—the full moon for Harrington, the pre-dawn hours for Delgado.

Kari shook herself from these thoughts as they returned to their vehicles.Mystical speculation wouldn’t solve these murders.Evidence would.Methodology would.The careful application of investigative technique would.

At least, that’s what she’d been trained to believe.

“Ready for the department briefing?”Tsosie asked as they reached the SUV.

“No,” Kari admitted.“But we don’t have a choice.If there’s a killer targeting people in this area, everyone needs to know what we’re dealing with.”

“And what exactlyarewe dealing with?”Tsosie asked, his voice carefully neutral.

Kari met his gaze over the roof of the vehicle.“A human killer with knowledge of Navajo ceremonies but not enough understanding to perform them correctly.Someone who’s studied our traditions but doesn’t practice them, maybe an academic.”

Tsosie held her gaze for a long moment.“If you say so, Detective.”

CHAPTER TEN

Names had power.Every culture knew this truth, but the Diné lived it.

As Kari arranged her case notes on the conference room table, she thought about what to call their suspect.“Killer” was clinical, detached.“Murderer” acknowledged the moral dimension.“Perpetrator” was bureaucratic jargon that wouldn’t resonate with the officers gathering outside.“Monster” would be emotionally honest but professionally suspect.

The label she chose would shape how the department approached the investigation, what details they prioritized, what shadows they searched.Kari had learned this lesson in Phoenix, where naming conventions often determined which cases received resources and which languished in filing cabinets.

“Ready?”Tsosie asked, interrupting her thoughts as he set up the digital projector.

“Almost,” Kari said, organizing crime scene photos in a deliberate sequence—first Harrington, then Delgado, emphasizing similarities while acknowledging differences.“I want to focus on the ritualistic elements without sensationalizing them.”

“Smart,” Tsosie agreed.“Last thing we need is panic about supernatural killers.”

Outside the conference room windows, Kari could see the department assembling—patrol officers in khaki uniforms, detectives in button-downs and casual slacks, administrative staff curious about the emergency meeting.Captain Yazzie stood near the door, talking quietly with his senior lieutenant.

Kari had just arranged the final photographs when the door swung open with unnecessary force.Paul Daniels strode in, followed by two agents Kari didn’t recognize—a tall woman with cropped blonde hair and a younger man carrying a laptop case.

“Good, you’ve got the room set up,” Daniels said, as if he’d assigned the task.“We need to make a few adjustments before the briefing.”

Kari straightened.“We’re ready to start, Agent Daniels.I was about to call everyone in.”

“I’ve taken the liberty of preparing a comprehensive profile,” Daniels continued, either missing or ignoring her tone.The female agent moved to the laptop, disconnecting Tsosie’s flash drive and inserting her own.“Bureau resources give us certain advantages in these situations.”

“This is our department briefing,” Kari said, fighting to keep her voice level.“Detective Tsosie and I have prepared—”

“Captain Yazzie and I have discussed this,” Daniels interrupted with the smooth confidence of someone accustomed to taking control.“Given the potential for a serial killer operating on reservation land, the Bureau’s Behavioral Analysis expertise takes priority.”

Kari glanced at Tsosie, who stood with his arms crossed, jaw tight.Before either could respond, Captain Yazzie entered, followed by the assembled officers and staff.

“Everyone take a seat,” Yazzie instructed, his weathered face revealing nothing of whatever arrangement he’d made with Daniels.“We need to move efficiently.There’s a killer on our land, and time is critical.”

Kari stared at him, trying to convey an unspoken question:You gave the green light on this?The captain met her eyes and gave her a brief nod.

Realizing she had no other choice, Kari stepped aside as Daniels positioned himself at the head of the conference table.She took a seat beside Tsosie, acutely aware of the power dynamics playing out before her colleagues.To challenge Daniels now would create division precisely when unity was needed.

---