Kari followed, her Jeep bouncing violently as she left even the minimal track behind.But within seconds, she realized her mistake.What had looked like solid ground was actually a maze of shallow washes and hidden erosion channels, the kind of terrain that could swallow a vehicle's wheel and break an axle.
The SUV navigated it with confidence, clearly knowing exactly where the firm ground was.Kari had to slow down, unable to see the hazards in the dark, unwilling to risk destroying her vehicle and stranding herself miles from help.
She watched helplessly as the SUV pulled away, its taillights growing smaller.Then they disappeared entirely, either around a rock formation or over a rise.Gone.
Kari stopped, slamming her hand against the steering wheel in frustration.She'd been so close.So damn close.
She carefully turned her Jeep around, navigating back to the actual road, and drove back to where she'd left Polacca and Jake.Her radio crackled with Polacca's voice.
"Kari, Jake's alive.Unconscious but breathing.I've called for medical.What's your status?"
"Lost him," Kari said, the words bitter in her mouth."He knew the terrain, took me through a wash system I couldn't follow in the dark.By the time I figured out what he was doing, he was gone."
She pulled up to the site and found Polacca kneeling beside Jake Honanie, who was lying on a blanket Polacca had pulled from her vehicle.His face was bruised, his clothing torn, but his chest rose and fell with steady breaths.
"He's stable," Polacca said."Whatever the killer did to him, he's alive.But why not kill him earlier?"
Kari knelt beside Jake, checking his pulse—strong and steady—and looking for obvious injuries.Bruising on his face and arms, consistent with a struggle.His hands showed defensive wounds.But no knife wounds, no bruising around his neck.
"The unsub probably wanted Jake alive so he'd be easier to move," Kari said."He knew he didn't have much time, and he figured everything would take longer if Jake was already dead."
Kari looked at Jake's unconscious face, thinking about how he'd been taken in a panic, in broad view of witnesses."The bigger question is, why target Jake at all?He wasn't involved in the genealogical project."
"Maybe," Polacca said, "we don't have as clear an idea of the killer's goals as we thought we did.Which means—"
"He could target anyone, for all we know," Kari said grimly."Anyone at all."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Kari sat in an uncomfortable plastic chair early the following morning, her third cup of terrible vending machine coffee growing cold in her hands, watching the hallway for any sign of the doctor who'd promised an update on Jake Honanie's condition.
Polacca paced near the window, restless after the adrenaline of the chase and the frustration of losing their suspect.It was nearly two in the morning, and exhaustion pressed down on both of them, but neither suggested leaving.
Finally, a doctor emerged from the restricted area—a Hopi woman in her forties with tired eyes."Detective Blackhorse?Officer Polacca?"
They both stood."How is he?"Kari asked, rising.
"Mr.Honanie is stable.He suffered a concussion from blunt force trauma to the back of the head—struck from behind, likely with a heavy object.He has bruising and some lacerations, but nothing life-threatening.We're keeping him overnight for observation, but I expect he'll make a full recovery."
"Can we speak with him?"Polacca asked.
The doctor shook her head."Not yet.He's sleeping and shouldn't be disturbed."
"This is very important," Kari said."We're investigating a series of murders."
"And Mr.Honanie's health is very important, too.He's stable, but the less stress he experiences now, the better.I really can't let anyone disturb him until tomorrow."
Kari wanted to argue, but the expression on the doctor's face made it clear that she’d lose.She thanked the doctor and sat back down.
As the doctor walked away, Kari pulled out her phone and called Lucas Saufkie, the tech who'd been working on Patricia's encrypted files.He answered on the third ring, sounding like he'd been asleep.
"Lucas, it's Detective Blackhorse.Sorry to wake you, but I need to know—have you made any progress on those encrypted files?"
There was rustling on the other end, the sound of someone sitting up."Actually, yeah.I cracked it about an hour ago.Was going to call you in the morning.The password was a phrase in Hopi combined with her late husband's birth date.Took forever to figure out the pattern, but I'm in."
Kari felt a surge of hope."Can you search the files for a specific name?Jake Honanie."
"Hold on."The sound of typing, then a pause."Nothing.No Jake Honanie mentioned anywhere in the genealogical research files."
