"I can look into credit card purchases, but that tends to take a while" Kim said.Her fingers moved across the keyboard as she accessed credit card databases and retail records."Give me a few minutes."
While Kim worked, Miles walked back to the whiteboard and stared at the photos of Amanda Parker and Robert Thompson.Two victims who had died, and one who had survived.All of them worked at extreme heights in their professions.It seemed so simple, but something nagged at him about a detail he should have remembered.
"The study," Miles said suddenly."Parker and Thompson both participated in a high-altitude performance study, remember?For work.We need to check if Anderson was in it, too."
Vic looked up from her laptop, looking just as disappointed as Miles felt."We didn't ask her."
"I know."Miles felt frustration and guilt twist in his stomach."I should have thought of it at the hospital.If Bradford is selecting victims based on that study, Anderson would have been in the database, too.It would be another link."
“Well, she said she was training for a climb, right?And she was at a gym, which makes me think her actual job may have nothing to do with heights.Shit.Hold on…Kim, can you—”
Kim chuckled, starting at a screen and saying, “Already doing it.Hold, please…”
Kim opened another search window and accessed the UCLA research database.It took her less than three minutes to locate the high-altitude performance study and download the participant list.She scanned through the names quickly.
"Lisa Anderson participated two years ago," Kim said."She's listed in the rock climbing category.And there’s apparently a few different categories here.Much of it is indeed a work-study sort of thing but there were non-work volunteers, too.There’s a category listed as recreation.”
“And rock-climbing would fit in perfectly,” Miles said.“I think we have to assume the killer has this list.I mean, itcouldbe a coincidence, but..”He shrugged, not quite ready to make such an all-encompassing statement.
"So,ifBradford has access to the study participants," Vic said, "how would he get that information?The university wouldn't just hand over personal data."
"He could have hacked the database," Kim suggested."Or someone with legitimate access could have shared it.Let me check if Bradford has any connection to UCLA or the researchers who conducted the study."
Miles watched Kim work through the databases, searching for any link between Michael Bradford and the university.She checked employment records, enrollment histories, and known associates.After ten minutes of searching, she shook her head.
"No direct connection that I can find.If he accessed the study data, it was either through hacking or an intermediary.Andalso,” she said, now looking at her smart pad screen, “I got the results from Bradford’s purchase history.I’m not seeing anything here that screams out ‘weather balloons’.”
"Maybe that doesn’t even matter," Miles said."What matters is that we can place all three victims in the same database, and Bradford fits the profile of someone who would target them."
Vic stood and walked to the window, looking out at the dark Los Angeles streets."We have a name, a photo, and an address.We need to move on this before he selects his next victim."
“I think so, too," Miles said."But do we feel certain enough about this to go knocking on this man’s door at three in the morning?”
“No,” Vic said.“But we’re far too deep into this Elementalist nightmare to let that stop us.Hayes would almost certainly allow it.”
“Then let’s get going,” Miles said.“Kim…do you want to come along?”
She took less than a second to consider it."Absolutely.I need to get out of this damn chair for a bit."She grabbed up one of her laptops, slid it into a small shoulder bag, and joined them at the door.
They had a suspect that fit.And as Miles dared to hope this might be the end of yet another of Kane’s disciples, it almost felt too easy.And if he’d learned anything about Kane, there was nothing simple about the man at all.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Glendale was quiet at 4:10 in the morning, and the apartment building the GPS had led them to was equally so.Miles led the trio of agents through the hallways toward 12B as the silence fell on them like a blanket.The only sound breaking the stillness came from somewhere down the hall—a rhythmic thumping accompanied by muffled voices and occasional laughter and stifled moans.Someone was having an enthusiastic encounter, completely oblivious to the federal agents standing in their building.
Miles glanced at Vic, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing.Kim looked determinedly at the floor, her cheeks slightly flushed.It was clear that she was excited but doing her best to contain it.
When they came to the door of Apartment 12B, Miles knocked with three firm raps that echoed in the quiet hallway.If Bradford was indeed inside, the knocks would have been loud enough for him to hear even if he was dead asleep.
Nothing happened for several seconds.Then Miles could hear shuffling footsteps on the other side of the door.These were followed by a voice from inside, rough with sleep and irritation.
"Who the hell is it?"
"FBI," Miles called out."We need to speak with you, Mr.Bradford."
There was a pause, followed by the sound of movement inside the apartment.Locks turned and the door opened just a few inches.Michael Bradford stood on the other side, wearing sweatpants and a wrinkled t-shirt.His sandy hair stuck up at odd angles and his eyes were bloodshot from having just been jerked awake.He looked exactly like his driver's license photo, just older and more worn down.
"FBI?"Bradford said.His voice carried confusion mixed with anger."It's four in the morning.What the hell do you want?Is the world ending or something?God…”
