Page 41 of Fatal Fame
"That's what I was hoping you might know. Pierce mentioned working with you on the Hale case. I was wondering if you might know what he discovered before he disappeared."
Evelyn was quiet for a moment, studying Mia with the kind of careful attention that made her feel like she was being evaluated for something important. "How much do you know about the original investigation?"
“Only what's in the public record. The newspaper coverage, the basic timeline, the fact that it went cold despite having what seemed like solid leads."
"What Pierce was investigating," Evelyn said carefully, "was why those leads were never followed up on. Why evidence disappeared, why witnesses stopped talking, why a case that should have been solvable turned into a decade-old mystery."
She moved to her desk and returned with a thick file folder that she placed on the coffee table between them.
“Are those the files?”
“The originals. I gave Pierce copies. He told me you were helping. Didn’t he show you these?”
“No. Pierce was... protective of the information. Personally, I think he thought I might scoop the case out from underneath him if he shared too much. But given what's happened, I think those concerns are no longer relevant,” Mia said.
Mia leaned forward as Evelyn opened the folder, revealing photographs, documents, and handwritten notes that represented years of investigation into the Hale murders. The material was organized neatly.
"This is a goldmine," Mia breathed, taking in the scope of information that Pierce had apparently only scratched the surface of.
"The question is where to begin," Evelyn said. "The case has more suspects since Keith, more motives, and more cover-upthan most people realize. Pierce was just starting to understand how deep the corruption goes."
She pulled out a page covered with names and connecting lines that looked like a conspiracy theorist's fever dream. "Local law enforcement, business leaders, political figures, all connected to either the original investigation or the subsequent cover-up."
"You think that's why Pierce has vanished? Because he was getting too close to exposing a conspiracy?"
"I think Pierce made the mistake of underestimating how far certain people would go to protect secrets they've been hiding for ten years," Evelyn said. "The question is whether you're going to make the same mistake."
“My father thinks so.” Mia felt a chill at the implication, but also a thrill of excitement at finally being treated like an adult capable of understanding the real stakes involved. "Anyway, what do you mean?"
"I mean that continuing this investigation could get you killed. It seems your father understands that, which is why he's trying to keep you away from it. But I also understand that telling an intelligent young woman to stay away from something that interests her is usually counterproductive."
Evelyn leaned back in her chair, studying Mia with the kind of assessment that felt like a job interview. "So the question becomes: Are you going to pursue this investigation regardless of the risks, or are you going to be smart enough to back away before you become the next victim?"
"If you thought I was going to back away, you wouldn't be showing me this file."
"True. Which brings us to the next question: How serious are you about learning to conduct investigations safely rather than getting yourself killed through amateur enthusiasm?"
Mia felt her pulse quicken as she realized Evelyn was offering something more than just information, she was offering mentorship from someone with decades of professional experience.
"What would that involve?"
"Learning to think like a criminologist rather than a true crime enthusiast. There are enough of those folks online. You would be understanding how to develop sources without compromising them, how to verify information without alerting suspects, how to protect yourself when asking dangerous questions about dangerous people."
They spent the next two hours going through Evelyn's files, with her providing context and analysis that transformed scattered facts into coherent patterns. Mia learned about evidence chains that had been broken, witnesses who'd been intimidated into silence, and connections between the Hale murders and other suspicious deaths in the region.
“So, what made you step away from the case?” Mia asked.
“I didn’t. I return to it from time to time, but cold cases are cold for a reason. It’s a little like fishing, Mia. Sometimes you get a bite, other times you can be out there for days, weeks, even months without catching anything. My line is still out there. People know where I am if they want to give a tip. Patience breaks cases, not impulsivity or obsession.” She closed the case file. "Look, I shouldn’t do this but I know you’re going to investigate no matter what I say. I have a friend. You should meet him," Evelyn said as they prepared to wrap up their conversation. “He’s a blogger over in Tupper Lake who's been working this case since the beginning. He's... unconventional, but he has sources and insights that you won't find anywhere else."
"What's his name?"
"Gideon Marks.”
“You got an address?”
Evelyn grinned.
As Mia gathered her things and prepared to leave, she felt like she'd crossed some invisible threshold from observer to participant. The information Evelyn had shared was both exciting and terrifying, opening possibilities for real investigation while making clear the genuine dangers involved.
