Tso grew visibly uncomfortable."Would you have believed me?A tour guide claiming spiritual insight into ritualistic murders?I needed proof—concrete evidence connecting the current killer to the historical case—before approaching authorities."
"So you conducted unauthorized ceremonies, kept evidence that didn't belong to you, and generally obstructed an official investigation," Ben said, making no effort to hide his skepticism.
"I was trying to help," Tso insisted."The killer is following a specific pattern, creating connections between worlds that shouldn't be bridged.The ceremonial elements aren't just symbolic—they're functional.They're creating openings."
"Openings to what?"Kari asked.
Tso met her gaze directly."To whatever came through fifty years ago.To whatever has returned now to complete what was started then."
The room fell silent as his words hung in the air.
"I need a minute," Kari said, standing abruptly."Ben, let's step outside."
In the hallway, she leaned against the wall, processing Tso's claims.Ben stood beside her, his expression troubled.
"You can't possibly believe him," he said quietly.
"I don't know what to believe," Kari admitted."His story is outlandish, but something about his embarrassment when explaining his motives rings true.People lie to make themselves look better, not worse.And his alibi for Haskie's murder should be easy to verify."
"Even if he has an alibi for Haskie, he doesn't for Reynolds or Holbrook," Ben said."And he has everything we'd expect our killer to have—knowledge, opportunity, ceremonial expertise, access to historical cases."
"I know," Kari said."But my instincts say he's not our killer.Misguided, possibly delusional, definitely tampering with evidence—but not our Shadow Walker."
Ben sighed, running a hand through his hair."Either way, we've got the two remaining historical sites under heavy surveillance.Whipple Creek and Echo Cave each have a full tactical team in position, along with undercover officers.If our killer attempts to complete the pattern, we'll be waiting."
Kari nodded, though uncertainty still nagged at her."We need those translations from Silver.His father's journals might contain insights even Joseph missed."
"We'll have them tomorrow," Ben reminded her."In the meantime, we've finally got your grandfather's notes.That's a breakthrough in itself."
"True," Kari agreed."I want to review them before deciding whether to charge Tso formally.Maybe they'll give us a clearer idea who could and could not have committed the murders."
They returned to the evidence room where Joseph's journals remained spread across the table.Kari lifted the first notebook, running her finger along the worn spine before carefully opening it.The pages, yellowed with age and filled with her grandfather's precise handwriting, crackled as they bent.
"I'll start with the earliest entries," she said, glancing at Ben across the table."You take the later notebooks."
Ben nodded, pulling a lined notepad closer."I'll document anything that seems relevant to our current case."
Kari turned pages slowly, absorbed in her grandfather's methodical documentation of the first murder."'Witness statements inconsistent,'" she read aloud."'Tribal elder initially reported seeing someone near the site at dusk, then recanted claim during formal interview.Possible cultural reluctance to involve outsiders.'"She made a note on her own pad.
"Listen to this," Ben said, eyes scanning a page in the second journal."'Silver suggests spiritual elements should be documented separately from official reports.FBI liaison dismissive of ceremonial aspects, focused exclusively on physical evidence.'"He looked up."Your grandfather and Silver were keeping dual records."
Kari nodded, turning to the next entry in her notebook."'Suspect Martin Wilson's alibi confirmed by bartender at Trading Post.Three witnesses place him in Gallup during estimated time of death.'"She sighed."More leads that went nowhere."
They continued to compile the names of suspects investigated and cleared, potential witnesses who refused to cooperate, and theories that ultimately proved false.Joseph had pursued each possibility with rigorous attention to detail, only to encounter dead ends and jurisdictional barriers.
"Your grandfather was getting frustrated here," Ben said, pointing to an entry from the second year of investigation."'Department resources redirected to highway accidents.Investigation time limited to four hours weekly.Silver suggests continuing unofficially.'"
Kari rubbed her eyes, feeling the strain of reading the faded handwriting under fluorescent lights."He never gave up.Even when the department wanted to move on."
"He believed the murders would continue if the killer wasn't caught," Ben said, reading from another page."'Pattern suggests ceremonial purpose incomplete.Fifth point necessary to complete configuration.Additional victims likely if perpetrator remains free.'"
"And then the murders stopped after the fifth victim," Kari said, looking through her own notes."Joseph never understood why."She flipped back through some of the pages she'd already reviewed."Joseph interviewed dozens of people, but physical evidence was minimal.No fingerprints, no footprints clear enough to cast, no witnesses willing to testify."
She turned another page and paused."Wait.Here's something about a suspicious vehicle seen near the second crime scene.'Green truck with Flagstaff registration plates observed by multiple witnesses day before body discovered.Vehicle linked to anthropology department at Northern Arizona University.'"
"Any follow-up?"Ben asked.
"Investigation blocked," Kari said, continuing to read."'University administration required formal subpoena for vehicle logs.By time documentation received, all potential evidence compromised.'"She shook her head."Another dead end."
