"So, both victims were people who regularly worked at extreme heights," Miles said slowly."People who were comfortable with altitude."
"It fits Kane's philosophy," Vic said."The killer isn't just obsessed with helium or oxygen consumption.They're targeting people who spend their lives at high elevations.People who breathe thin air, who consume oxygen at altitude."
Miles thought about the manifesto left behind on one of the balloons that had suspended Amanda Parker.The killer saw these victims as thieves, people who had no right to exist at heights where oxygen was scarcer.It was completely stupid in Miles’s estimation, but these disciples weren’t exactly keen masters of logic.
"There's something else," Kim said through the phone."I've been looking into Thompson's background.He participated in a study about altitude adaptation three years ago.Researchers were measuring how window washers and other high-altitude workers adapted to decreased oxygen levels over time.He volunteered for it…his job awarded anyone who took the study a bonus."
"Let me guess," Miles said."Amanda Parker was in the same study."
"Different cohort, but same research team from the looks of it," Kim confirmed."The study was run by UCLA's Department of Physiology.They recruited skydivers, window washers, tower climbers, anyone who spent significant time at altitude."
Miles nodded; Parker’s family may not have known about such a study if it was something she’d enrolled in as part of her job.
The pattern was becoming clear.The killer had access to research data about people who worked at extreme heights.They were using that information to select victims who fit their twisted criteria.
"We need a list of everyone who participated in that study," Vic said."And we need to know who had access to the research data."
"Already working on it," Kim said."I've reached out to UCLA to request the participant list and employment records for anyone associated with the study.Should have something within a few hours."
"Good work," Miles said."Keep us updated."
He ended the call and looked at Newsome with a new and renewed sense of urgency."Is there anything else you can tell us about the balloons you saw?Any detail that might help us identify where they were purchased or how they were prepared?"
Newsome shook his head slowly."I only saw them for a few seconds before they were out of my sight.But standard 72-inch latex balloons are sold by dozens of online retailers.There would be no way to trace them unless you had the actual remnants for analysis."
"The crime scene techs collected some fragments," Vic said."They'll run tests to see if there are any unique markers."
Miles stood, and Vic followed his lead."Thank you for your time, Mr.Newsome.You’ve been a tremendous help.If you think of anything else, please contact us."
Vic handed Newsome a business card from her inner jacket pocket."I will," Newsome said."And I hope you catch whoever is doing this.What I saw that night is something I'll never forget."
They left the meteorology department and took the elevator down to the parking garage.Vic was quiet as they walked to the car, her expression thoughtful.
"What are you thinking?"Miles asked.
Vic unlocked the car and they both got in before she answered."I'm thinking about how the killer chooses the moment to release the victims.Do they just cut them loose and let them drift, or do they time it so the victims land in specific locations?"
"Newsome said the balloons would be affected by wind patterns and atmospheric conditions," Miles said."The killer would need some understanding of weather to predict where the victims would come down.There’s a lot of planning on this guy’s end."
"Which brings us back to someone with meteorological knowledge or access to weather data."Vic started the engine and pulled out of the parking space."Combined with access to the UCLA altitude study data, we're looking at a pretty specific profile."
Miles opened his phone and started typing notes.“Could be a graduate student or research assistant.Someone with technical knowledge but not necessarily an advanced degree.Someone who feels personally connected to the research, who internalized Kane's philosophy about oxygen thieves.Hell…we could be looking at meteorologists themselves."
"And someone strong enough to handle unconscious victims and manage thirty-five or forty inflated balloons," Vic added.“But…you know what's really messed up about this?"
Miles looked at her."What?"
"I'm actually afraid of heights."Vic kept her eyes on the road but there was a slight smile on her face, the kind that came from acknowledging something absurd."Always have been.Can't even go up in glass elevators more than three or four floors without feeling sick."
"You're serious?"
"Completely.I do fine in planes because it’s all enclosed, you know…and I never looked out of the window.But put me on a balcony above the fifth floor and I start getting dizzy."
Miles found himself almost smiling despite the grim circumstances."That's ironic, considering what we're investigating.God, I’m sorry, Vic."
"Eh, don’t be."Vic changed lanes smoothly as she chuckled."I guess it makes me appreciate these victims even more.They weren't afraid.They spent their lives at heights that would paralyze me.And someone killed them for that."
The observation stayed with Miles as they continued driving.The killer hadn't just murdered these people.They had taken something from them, something essential.They had turned the victims' greatest strengths into the vehicle of their deaths.
