"Jason Haskie," she read aloud."Sixty-three.Navajo Nation license, Phoenix address."She continued examining the wallet's contents."Mechanical engineering certification, business card listing him as a 'Mechanical Systems Consultant.'"
Ben, having finished his radio call, frowned."Mechanical engineer?Not an academic like the others?"
Kari shook her head."Strange, isn't it?"
"What did you say the name was again?"
"Haskie.You know him?"
"Not sure.Sounds familiar."
Kari stood, her joints protesting after hours of surveillance followed by their pursuit through the canyon."When will forensics be here?"she asked.
"About twenty minutes," Ben said, joining her beside the body."Captain Yazzie is on his way with Agent Daniels."
"The killer knew we'd be watching Whipple Creek," Kari said."He skipped to the fourth location in the historical sequence rather than risk confrontation at the third."
"And still, he was almost caught here," Ben said.He paused, thinking."If they're following a ritual pattern, wouldn't changing the sequence disrupt whatever they're trying to accomplish?"
Kari had no answer.The recreation of the original murders suggested ritual significance, yet tonight's killing demonstrated adaptability that seemed at odds with rigid ceremonial requirements.Either the pattern was more flexible than they'd assumed, or something else was driving the killer's choices.
The wail of approaching sirens broke the predawn silence.Red and blue lights flashed against the canyon walls as vehicles navigated the access road.Kari stepped back from the body to preserve the scene's integrity.
Dr.Hatathli arrived first, her medical examiner's kit in hand.Her face remained professionally neutral as she surveyed the scene, though her eyes lingered momentarily on the herb bundle.
"Same presentation as the others," she murmured, pulling on latex gloves.She worked methodically, checking for lividity, examining the victim's hands, inspecting the visible portions of the body without disturbing the position.
"Help me turn him," she said to her assistant."Carefully."
They eased the victim onto his side, revealing a dark stain on the back of his shirt.Dr.Hatathli lifted the fabric, exposing a single wound.
"Clean entry between the fourth and fifth ribs," she said, examining the wound with a penlight."Narrow blade, just like Reynolds.Penetrated directly to the heart based on wound trajectory."
"No defensive wounds on the hands," her assistant noted.
"None visible on exposed skin," Dr.Hatathli agreed."Suggesting he didn't see the attack coming or didn't have time to react."She gently returned the body to its original position."The herbs were definitely placed post-mortem.No signs of trauma to the mouth or lips that would indicate they were forced in while he was alive."
"And none of that yellow substance?"Ben asked."The dust found on the second victim's face and hair?"
"None that I see," Dr.Hatathli said, examining Haskie's face."It seems your killer's MO is somewhat flexible."
Just like his choice of victim,Kari thought.It seemed the killer wasn't only targeting academics.
Captain Yazzie arrived as Dr.Hatathli completed her preliminary assessment, his expression grave as he surveyed the scene.Agent Daniels followed close behind, already speaking into his phone to coordinate FBI resources.
"What's your initial time estimate?"Kari asked Dr.Hatathli.
The doctor checked the victim's temperature with a specialized thermometer."Based on body temp, liver temp, and lividity...approximately four to six hours ago.I'll narrow it down after the full examination."
"Which means the killer arranged the body and was gone before we even set up surveillance at Whipple Creek," Ben said, his voice tight with frustration.
"He's adapting," Kari said, surveying the crime scene as forensics technicians photographed the body from multiple angles."Learning our patterns while maintaining his own."
Captain Yazzie joined them, his weathered face grave in the harsh crime scene lighting."We found the victim's vehicle half a mile away at the main trailhead parking.Arizona plates, rental from Phoenix Sky Harbor."
"So Haskie was visiting from Phoenix," Kari said, looking again at the driver's license she'd found."What would bring a mechanical engineer to Cottonwood Wash after dark?"
"Meeting someone, perhaps," Ben said."Or looking for something specific."
