"You said you were working on katsina dolls," Kari said."For a specific ceremony.Who commissioned them?"
"It's for a healing ceremony.The family asked me not to share details—it's private."Jake looked apologetic."But Icantell you the dolls I was making are traditional designs.Nothing unusual about them."
They asked more questions—about whether Jake had noticed anyone watching his workshop, whether he'd received any threats, whether he had any connection to Patricia's genealogical project.Jake's answers were consistent: he had no idea why he'd been targeted, no connection to the research, no conflicts with anyone.
"Why me?"Jake asked finally, his voice strained."Patricia and Robert were working on that genealogy project.Emma coordinated it.But I refused to participate.I thought the whole thing was dangerous.So why would the killer come after me?"
It was the question Kari had been asking herself.Jake didn't fit the pattern.Unless the pattern was different than they'd thought, or the killer was expanding his targets beyond people directly connected to the research.
Or unless Jake had seen something.Known something.Without realizing it.
"Mr.Honanie," Kari said, leaning forward."I want you to think back over the past few days.Not just the night you were attacked, but the days leading up to it.Did you notice anyone watching you?Following you?Anyone who seemed out of place near your workshop?"
Jake's brow furrowed with concentration."No, nothing like that.I mean, I wasn't really paying attention.I've been so focused on finishing those katsina dolls on deadline."
"What about earlier that evening, before you were attacked?Walk me through your whole evening, starting from when you opened the workshop that morning."
"It was just a normal day," Jake said slowly."I worked all morning, took a lunch break around noon.Worked through the afternoon.Around nine, I realized I was out of coffee, so I drove to that convenience store over on—" He paused, thinking."On Pima Road.The one near the residential area on the east side."
Kari felt something click in her mind.That would be near Emma Talayesva's neighborhood.
Jake rubbed his temples."I got coffee, some snacks.I was in the store maybe ten minutes.When I came out and got back in my truck, I saw this SUV—dark colored, maybe black or navy—come flying out of one of the side streets.I mean, really fast, like they were in a hurry or upset about something.Almost ran a stop sign."
"What time was this?"
"Maybe nine-fifteen, nine-thirty?"Jake shrugged."I remember thinking it was reckless driving, but I didn't think much of it beyond that."
Kari's pulse quickened.That was right around the time Emma had been attacked.
"Did you see the driver?"Polacca asked.
"Not clearly.The sun was setting, and the windshield had some glare.I got the impression of someone in dark clothing, but that's it."Jake's expression shifted as he realized where this was going."Wait, what's this about?"
"What did you do after that?"Kari asked."Did you drive straight back to your workshop?"
"Yeah."Jake frowned, thinking."I parked in front of my workshop.My truck was visible from the road.Do you think you know why someone attacked me?"
"It's conceivable that you saw the person who attacked Emma Talayesva," Kari said.“If they thought you'd seen them—"
"They might've followed me back to my workshop, then waited to ambush me."He shook his head in wonder."But the crazy thing is, I didn't even see anything.I barely noticed the vehicle, and I definitely didn't see the driver's face."
"But the person who attacked Emma wouldn't know that," Polacca said."All they'd know is that you were in the area, that you might have seen them leaving Emma's neighborhood right around the time of the attack.That would be enough to make you a threat."
Jake slumped back against his pillows, looking shaken."So I was grabbed because I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?Because I needed coffee?"
"It's a theory," Kari said, not wanting to state it as definitive fact when they couldn't prove it yet."But it would explain why you were targeted when you had no connection to the genealogical project.The killer saw you as a potential witness, even if you didn't realize what you'd witnessed."
"Can the store provide surveillance footage?"Jake asked, suddenly hopeful."If I was there, if that vehicle was there, wouldn't the cameras have caught it?"
"We'll check," Kari said, though she wasn't optimistic.Small convenience stores often had minimal or poorly maintained security systems.But it was worth pursuing."Can you remember anything else about the SUV?Any distinguishing marks, damage, bumper stickers?"
Jake closed his eyes, trying to reconstruct the memory."It was clean, well-maintained.Newer model, I think.But I only saw it for a few seconds."He opened his eyes."I'm sorry.If I'd known it was important, I would have paid more attention."
"You couldn't have known," Polacca said gently."You thought you were just seeing someone driving recklessly."
"But it means the killer saw you," Kari said."Saw your truck, maybe even your face.And decided you were a threat that needed to be eliminated before you could connect what you'd seen to Emma's attack."
"Which means I'm still a target," Jake said quietly."If they know I survived..."
