The exchange continued for several more rounds, growing increasingly heated with each reply.Other users had joined in, taking sides in what appeared to be an ongoing battle between environmental preservation and economic necessity.
"Michael Brennan," Isla murmured, already typing his name into a new search."Ice fishing guide, based on his profile.Let's see what else we can find."
Brennan's online presence painted a picture of a man whose livelihood was intimately connected to Lake Superior's winter recreation industry.His business, Superior Ice Adventures, offered guided ice fishing tours, equipment rentals, and what he advertised as "authentic Northwoods experiences for serious anglers."His website featured testimonials from satisfied customers and detailed explanations of his safety protocols, emphasizing his twenty-plus years of experience on the lake.
But it was his recent blog posts that caught Isla's attention.Three weeks earlier, he'd published a lengthy piece titled "Environmental Extremism vs.Common Sense," which read like a direct response to Sarah's activism.
"The lake has supported fishing communities for generations,"she read aloud."Now outside agitators with fancy degrees want to shut down access based on theoretical risks to birds nobody's seen in decades.They talk about 'ecosystem preservation' while ignoring the real ecosystem—the families and businesses that depend on reasonable lake access for survival."
Sullivan had pulled up Brennan's business registration and licensing information."Guy's been operating his guide service for twelve years.Clean record with the DNR, no safety violations, current on all his permits.But look at this—" He pointed to a section of the screen showing recent permit applications."He applied for expanded winter operation permits last fall.Wants to extend his season and increase his group sizes."
"Which Sarah's environmental impact research could have blocked," Isla said, the pieces beginning to connect."If her data showed that increased winter recreation was damaging critical habitat areas, it could have shut down his expansion plans."
They spent the next hour building a comprehensive picture of the conflict between Sarah Quinn and Michael Brennan.The digital trail revealed months of escalating tension, played out across social media platforms, local newspaper comment sections, and community forums.Sarah had been methodical in her approach, presenting scientific data and peer-reviewed research to support her positions.Brennan had been equally persistent, but his arguments focused on economic impact and what he characterized as overreach by environmental groups.
"Here's something interesting," Sullivan said, pulling up a local news article from two months earlier."Public hearing about proposed restrictions on winter recreation activities in designated habitat zones.Both Sarah and Brennan testified."
Isla read the article, noting the reporter's description of the heated exchange between the two.Sarah had presented detailed findings about the impact of ice fishing on lake trout spawning areas, while Brennan had argued that such restrictions would devastate Duluth's winter tourism industry.The article mentioned that the hearing had grown contentious, with several audience members voicing support for Brennan's position.
"Ms.Quinn's research may be academically sound," Isla read from Brennan's quoted testimony, " but it ignores the human cost of these restrictions.She's asking working families to sacrifice their livelihoods for theoretical benefits to bird populations that may or may not exist.'"
The reporter had noted that Sarah had appeared visibly frustrated by Brennan's characterization of her work, responding with what was described as "unusually sharp language for a scientific presentation."
"Look at the date," Sullivan said, pointing to the article's timestamp."January fifteenth.Just two weeks before Sarah died."
Isla felt the familiar tingle of a case beginning to take shape, the sensation of seemingly random facts aligning into a pattern that told a story.Michael Brennan had motive—Sarah's environmental activism directly threatened his business expansion.He had means—as an ice fishing guide, he would possess intimate knowledge of lake conditions and the technical skills needed to sabotage ice integrity.And he had been publicly hostile toward the victim in the weeks leading up to her death.
"We need to dig deeper into his background," she said, already pulling up databases that would give them access to Brennan's criminal history, financial records, and employment background."See if he's ever worked at the shipyard, if there are any connections to Alex Novak."
The search results painted a picture of a man whose entire adult life had been built around Lake Superior.Brennan had grown up in Duluth, graduated from the local high school, and had worked various jobs in the marine and recreation industries before starting his guide service.His employment history included stints at several marinas, a brief period with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and seasonal work with the Duluth Parks Department maintaining ice fishing facilities.
But no connection to Northern Star Shipyard.
"He's never worked there," Sullivan said, echoing Isla's thoughts."Which doesn't fit the pattern we've been tracking."
Isla leaned back in her chair, staring at the timeline they'd constructed on the whiteboard beside their desks.Sarah Quinn's murder had all the hallmarks of their serial killer—another apparent accident on Lake Superior, another death involving artificially manipulated conditions.But Brennan's lack of connection to the shipyard troubled her.Alex Novak, Sarah Sanchez, and Marcus Webb—all her previous victims had been linked to the port community in some way.
"This could be our killer adapting his methods," she said slowly."Using Sarah's conflict with Brennan as cover for another murder.Make it look like it's about environmental disputes when it's really part of the same pattern."
Sullivan nodded, but she could see the same uncertainty in his eyes.They had a suspect with clear motive and obvious means, but the larger questions remained unanswered.Either Michael Brennan was their killer, or Sarah's murder was part of something more complex—possibly connected to the serial killer they'd been hunting, or possibly an entirely separate crime that happened to use similar methods.
"Let's go talk to him," Isla said, closing her laptop and reaching for her coat."See what his story looks like under direct questioning.Even if he's not our serial killer, he might still be Sarah's murderer."
As they prepared to leave, she caught Sullivan watching her with an expression that had become increasingly familiar over the past few months—professional concern mixed with something deeper, more personal.The attraction between them was becoming harder to ignore, especially during long days spent working closely together, sharing the intensity of investigation that bound partners together in ways that went beyond mere professional collaboration.
But Miami had taught her the dangers of mixing personal feelings with professional judgment.Alicia Mendez had died partly because Isla had trusted her instincts, had let her emotional response to the case override her analytical training.She couldn't afford to make that mistake again, especially not when the lives of other potential victims might depend on her ability to think clearly.
"You okay?"Sullivan asked, noticing her hesitation.
"Just thinking through the approach," she replied, though it wasn't entirely true."Brennan's going to be defensive.Guys like him, they see federal agents as just another form of outside interference."
"Then we let him talk," Sullivan said, holding the door open for her."Sometimes the best way to catch someone in a lie is to give them enough rope to hang themselves."
As they walked through the federal building's lobby toward the parking garage, Isla found herself hoping that Michael Brennan would prove to be their killer.Not because she wanted him to be guilty, but because she needed this case to have a resolution that made sense.
But as they drove through Duluth's snow-covered streets toward Brennan's equipment rental shop, she couldn't shake the feeling that the case was about to become much more complicated than either of them anticipated.
CHAPTER EIGHT
