"Sarah Quinn," Isla began without preamble."The environmental scientist who went through the ice this morning.Forensics confirms artificial manipulation—wire saw cuts, deliberate weakening.It's the same methodology I've been tracking."
Kate set down the file she'd been reading and fixed Isla with her full attention.The SAC had been briefed on Isla's theory about connected homicides months ago, had authorized preliminary investigation while remaining cautious about committing full resources to what might be pattern recognition rather than actual serial activity.
"You're certain it's connected to your other cases?"Kate asked.
"The MO is similar to some of the deaths—artificially weakened ice designed to cause failure under normal loading conditions.Technical sophistication that suggests experience and planning.Some of the deaths I suspect are linked are indistinguishable from accidents—some might even have been actual accidents, but this one was no accident.That much is certain.”
Kate was quiet for a long moment, her fingers steepled as she processed the information.Through the office windows, snow continued to fall, adding another layer to the white landscape that had become the backdrop for multiple murders.
"The boot print from the Novak scene," Kate said, her memory for case details as sharp as ever."Any connection to Quinn?"
"Different location, but same general methodology.Someone who understands Lake Superior's winter conditions and knows how to exploit them."Isla paused, meeting Kate's gaze directly."I need authorization to treat Quinn's murder as part of the serial investigation.Full resources, expanded scope."
"You've been building this case for some time," Kate observed, her tone neutral but her eyes sharp with assessment."Some might say you're too invested to see it objectively."
The criticism stung because it echoed Isla's own doubts—Miami had taught her the dangers of trusting theories over evidence, of letting personal investment override analytical judgment.But the forensics from Sarah Quinn's scene weren't theoretical.They were concrete proof that someone was deliberately killing people and making it look like accidents.
"I am invested," Isla admitted."But the evidence speaks for itself.Artificially weakened ice, victims with connections to the port community, a timeline that suggests patience and methodical planning.Either we have a serial killer who's been operating successfully for years, or we have the most unlikely series of coincidental murders in Bureau history."
Sullivan, who'd remained quiet during the exchange, spoke up."Kate, I've reviewed Isla's work on this.The connections are solid.And now with Quinn's death showing identical methodology, we'd be negligent not to pursue it as a connected series."
Kate studied them both for another long moment, her expression revealing nothing of the calculations happening behind her eyes.Then she nodded, the movement decisive and final.
"Full investigative resources," she said, her voice carrying the authority that had made her a natural leader."You'll have access to additional cold case files, expanded team if you need it, and authorization to treat these as connected homicides.But I want regular briefings, and I want you to keep the local PD fully informed.The last thing we need is a jurisdictional dispute while there's a serial killer operating."
"Understood," Isla replied, feeling the satisfaction of validation mixed with the weight of responsibility.Kate's authorization transformed her year-long suspicion into official Bureau investigation, but it also meant that failure would be more public and more consequential than before.
"One more thing," Kate added as they prepared to leave."I'm trusting your instincts on this, Isla.I know Miami shook your confidence, but you're a good investigator.Don't second-guess yourself into paralysis, but don't let theory override evidence either.Follow where the facts lead, even if it's somewhere you didn't expect."
The advice was exactly what Isla needed to hear—permission to trust her analytical abilities while remaining open to possibilities that might challenge her assumptions.Kate understood the balance between confidence and humility that effective investigation required, and she was giving Isla room to find that balance on her own terms.
As they left Kate's office and headed back toward their desks, Isla felt the familiar excitement of a case finally breaking open after months of patient development.Sarah Quinn's murder had provided the concrete evidence that transformed theory into action, suspicion into investigation.
Somewhere in Duluth's frozen landscape, a killer was going about his routine, confident that his crimes would continue to be mistaken for accidents.But that confidence was about to be challenged by the full weight of federal investigative resources.
The hunt had officially begun.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The FBI field office felt cramped after the expansive crime scene at the lake, its fluorescent lighting harsh against Isla's eyes that had grown accustomed to the gray winter sky.She and Sullivan had claimed a corner of the bullpen, spreading Sarah Quinn's preliminary files across two desks like pieces of a puzzle they were just beginning to understand.The coffee was bitter and had been sitting too long, but Isla drank it anyway, needing the caffeine to sharpen her focus after the morning's revelations.
"Environmental scientist with the Nature Conservancy," Sullivan read from his laptop screen, scrolling through search results."Twenty-eight years old, originally from Minneapolis.Moved to Duluth three years ago specifically to work on Great Lakes ecosystem preservation."
Isla pulled up Sarah's social media profiles on her computer, scanning through months of posts that painted a picture of someone passionate about her work to the point of obsession.Photos of Lake Superior in all seasons, detailed explanations of migration patterns and water quality measurements, earnest appeals for environmental protection that had garnered hundreds of likes and shares.
"Look at this," she said, clicking on a post from six weeks earlier.The image showed Sarah standing on the frozen lake, her face flushed with cold and excitement, holding up what appeared to be a water quality testing kit.The caption read: "Even in winter, Superior needs our protection.New data shows ice fishing and recreational activities are disrupting critical habitat restoration zones.Time to have some hard conversations about access vs.preservation."
Sullivan leaned over her shoulder to read the post, and Isla caught the familiar scent of his aftershave mixed with the coffee on his breath.The proximity sent an unwelcome flutter through her chest—a reminder of the attraction that had been building between them over the past year, despite her best efforts to maintain professional boundaries.
"Check the comments," he said, his voice close to her ear.
Isla scrolled down, her eyes widening as she read the responses.What had started as supportive environmental advocacy had devolved into increasingly hostile exchanges between Sarah and members of Duluth's outdoor recreation community.
Michael Brennan: Easy for someone with a government paycheck to talk about shutting down access.Some of us actually depend on the lake for our living.
Sarah Quinn: The lake's ecosystem doesn't care about your profit margins, Michael.We're talking about permanent damage to spawning grounds.
Michael Brennan: Permanent damage to working families is what you're talking about.But I guess that doesn't matter when you can afford to treat the lake like your personal research lab.
