"Did she mention that I made excuses for not getting more involved?That I told her I had other commitments, other responsibilities?"James's voice carried a bitter edge."I've been telling myself for months that I did the right thing, that getting entangled in a case this dangerous would only make things worse.But the truth is, I was afraid.Afraid of what we might find, afraid of what it might mean for Anna's death, afraid of—" He stopped, shook his head."Afraid of failing again."
Paul had known James Blackhorse for thirty years.They'd worked cases together that had tested every skill they possessed, had seen each other at their best and worst, had developed the kind of professional respect that came from surviving the trenches together.But he'd rarely seen James this raw, this openly vulnerable.
"Anna reached out to me too," Paul said quietly."Before she died.She wanted help accessing federal records, and I told her I'd call her back when I had time.I never did."
"I know.You told me at the funeral."
"We both failed her, James.The question is whether we're going to keep failing her, or whether we're going to do something about it."
James was quiet for a long moment, staring at the documents spread across his desk.Paul let the silence stretch, knowing that James needed time to process, to weigh the risks against the obligations, to find his own path to the decision.
"What exactly are you asking me to do?"James finally said.
"Analyze.That's what you're good at—finding patterns, identifying connections, seeing the shape of things that other people miss."Paul leaned forward."I can't investigate this officially anymore.My superiors have made it clear that my interest in Devco is unwelcome, and every move I make is potentially being monitored by whoever's leaking information.But you're outside the system.You have no current ties to the Bureau, no access that would raise flags.You can dig into this without triggering the same alarms."
James picked up Anna's notes again, leafing through pages covered in her careful handwriting.Paul watched him read, watched the emotions play across his face—grief, regret, and something else that looked almost like hope.
"She was right," James said softly."All those years I thought she was chasing shadows, seeing conspiracies where there were just coincidences.And she was right."
"She was."
"Which means her death—"
"Fits the pattern.Experienced person dies in terrain she knew intimately, investigation closes quickly with minimal follow-up."Paul held James's gaze."I can't prove it was murder.Not yet.But if you help me with this, if we can find what Anna was looking for..."
James set down the notes and straightened in his chair.He nodded to himself, as if coming to a decision."All right.I'm in.But I have conditions."
"Name them."
"First, everything goes through you.I don't contact Kari directly unless she reaches out to me first.She needs to come to this on her own terms, not because her father inserted himself into her investigation."
Paul nodded.This aligned with what he'd been thinking—Kari needed to feel in control of any reconciliation, not have it forced upon her.
"Second," James continued, "I need access to everything.Not just what you've shown me today, but anything new that comes up.If I'm going to analyze this properly, I can't be working with incomplete information."
"Agreed.With the caveat that some things may need to stay compartmentalized for security reasons."
"Understood."James paused."And third...I need you to tell me the truth about Kari.How bad is it?How much does she hate me?"
Paul considered the question carefully.He owed James honesty, but he also owed Kari loyalty.Finding the balance between those obligations was never easy.
"She doesn't hate you," he said finally."But she doesn't trust you either.You hurt her, James—not by leaving, but by checking out.By building a new life while Anna was still fighting, still trying to expose the people who eventually killed her.By making excuses when Kari asked for your help."He paused, letting the words land."She's not looking for an apology.She's looking for proof that you'll show up when it matters.That you won't bail when things get hard or complicated or inconvenient."
"I deserve that."
"Yeah.You do."Paul softened his tone."But you also have a chance to change it.Not by grand gestures or emotional conversations—Kari doesn't trust those.By doing the work.By being reliable.By proving through actions that you're committed to this, whatever it costs."
James nodded slowly, absorbing the advice."She's so much like Anna.That same stubbornness, that same refusal to let anything go once she's got her teeth in it."
"She's like both of you.Anna's passion, your analytical mind.It's a powerful combination."Paul stood, gathering the documents he'd brought."I'll leave copies of everything with you.Take a few days to go through it, see what patterns emerge.And James—be careful.These people have killed before, and they'll kill again if they feel threatened.The moment you start digging, you become a potential target."
James snorted."I spent twenty years at the Bureau.I know how to watch my back."
"I know you do.Just don't get so focused on the puzzle that you forget someone might be watching you solve it."
CHAPTER TEN
Kari had seen plenty of autopsies in her career, but she never got used to the acrid, chemical smell.
