Bodie headed back to the board, tapped the photo that had haunted her for the past two years. “At the beginning. According to the files, our vic — initials A.S. — was conducting research in the park when he fell off a cliff, likely as the result of a spontaneous rockslide. Except where Buck’s confirmed the fault line was triggered with some sort of explosive device as evidenced by the metal particles and blast residue on the rocks.” Bodie paused for a moment. “Seems odd your superiors ruled it accidental.”
“They didn’t even investigate the ledge with more than a cursory inspection. Claimed it was obvious the man fell.” She tapped her chest. “I took those photos, but by then, they’d closed the case. Said I couldn’t prove the shrapnel didn’t occur after-the-fact.”
“They did find a few belongings on the rocks below, and the blast evidence requires a trained eye.” He arched a brow. “Makes me wonder why you dug deeper?”
“Because the man in question wouldn’t just fall. He was a doctor and a former-Army Ranger. After ten years in the service, he moved to Doctors Without Borders and not the relatively stable areas. We’re talking South Sudan. The Congo. Central African Republic. Missions few volunteered for. Then, about nine years ago, he took a job at the Oregon Health and Science University, combining treatment with in-depth research. But he stayed active. Climbed Denali every year to decompress. Yet, I’m supposed to believe he simply fell on some nondescript trail in Lewis and Clark?” She shook her head. “Sorry, that’s a leap I can’t make.”
Bodie glanced at Greer, some kind of message passing silently between them before he inched closer. “Sounds like you know a lot about him.”
Rowan drew herself up. This was the part where everything broke down. Where everyone assumed her personal connection had colored her views. And hell, maybe it had. “I should. His name’s Alister Scott.”
Bodie’s mouth quirked, another silent message passing between him and Greer before he reached out, brushed his thumb along her cheek. “He’s your father.”
“I know what you’re thinking. I’m too close. That I’m seeing conspiracies where there aren’t any. And you’re right. I probably am, but it doesn’t explain all these other seemingly random incidents.” She broke contact and moved over to the board. “We’ve got disabled geological equipment, a military-style leg-hold trap, near-fatal landslides, kayakers who’ve been rammed by blacked-out RIBs. And the two hikers who vanished?” She crossed her arms. “They were former-marines.”
“That’s why you installed trail cams.”
“Thought I could document the source, especially if it was some survivalist group. I started off with fairly standard ones, then moved to some high-level spy hardware. Yet every time, the memory cards were either missing or wiped.” She pointed to a couple photos of men dressed identical to the ones who’d hunted them that first night. “These two, grainy images that were half-erased were the only ones that survived, and all they prove is that someone’s out there in black tactical gear. Not enough to sway the special-agent-in-charge.”
Bodie studied the images in question for a moment, an awkward silence settling over the room.
Rowan reached into her pocket, removed her cell. “I also got this from my dad the day he disappeared.”
She handed him the phone, her father’s last truncated text on the screen.
Bodie accepted, read the short message out loud. “Someone’s been shadowing my transects. V Bi—” He frowned. “Any idea what V Bi means?”
“None. The name of a person. Or a company. Maybe this PMO we know’s patrolling that area for someone. Regardless, he knew someone was following him, that they were concerned enough with his research that they’d been tampering with it.”
“This is what he’d been investigating, right?” Greer drew her finger under two words Bodie had scribbled on the board. “Something called Mycena noctiluca.”
Rowan nodded. “Loosely translated it means night-light fungus. It’s a rare, bioluminescent species found only in the unique microclimate of the sea caves and ancient spruce forests in this region. My father encountered a similar species being used for cognitive therapy during his time with Doctors Without Borders in a one of the rainforest outreach clinics. He’d been studying this local species for years. Had high hopes for a medical breakthrough in the treatment of everything from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to traumatic brain injuries. He mentioned some clinical trials, though, that’s way outside my area of expertise. All I know is that the only remaining sources are located within the park, in the same area where all these incidents have taken place.”
Bodie whistled. “If we’re talking about a possible cure, it’d be worth billions to whatever pharmaceutical company got the rights. That, alone, is more than enough to justify silencing people.”
He paused, studying her like he had the intel. As if she were a puzzle he hadn’t quite put together.
He leaned against the wall. “But it’s more than that, isn’t it?” He sighed when she simply stared at him. “The bridge of your nose crinkles when you’re holding something back, so…”
The corner of her mouth twitched. “Good to know. And you’re right. My dad mentioned that during the refinement process, a second, far more potent compound was isolated. Now, he didn’t elaborate, but I know him. And this second compound wasn’t any kind of cure.”
Greer groaned. “You think it’s some kind of toxin.”
Rowan placed the coffee mug on the desk before she gave in to the urge and tossed it across the room. “The term bioweapon comes to mind.”
“Jesus.” Greer raked her fingers through her hair. “And your superiors aren’t at all concerned?”
Rowan tamped down the hurt and frustration. “They think it’s the grief talking, which is why I wanted you to mull it over, first. I’ll admit, where my dad’s concerned, I’m blind. Have a hard time believing what’s written in that report.” She shoved her hands in her pockets to hide the slight tremble. “I know he’s likely dead, and I’ve done my best to make peace with that. But I won’t stop until whoever’s responsible is rotting in jail. The only question is whether it’s officially or off-the-books.”
Bodie moved back over to her. “No more lone-wolf investigating. You’ve got a team, now. Whether your superiors eventually close this case as another accident or simply leave it unaddressed, we’re with you until the end. You’d best make peace with that, too.” He glanced over at Greer. “Though, this seems like the kind of situation that could benefit from some deeper intel because if there is a darker motivation at work, I guarantee certain agencies are privy to it. Might be funding some of the research.”
Rowan scoffed. “Agreed. And it’s not as if I haven’t called in more than a few favors, but if it’s on someone’s books, it’s way up the food chain because no one’s talking.”
“We might…” He drifted off when his phone chirped before he glanced at the screen. “Looks like my algorithms broke the encryption. Let’s head over to my office. I’ll call a friend from there, and we can all see if there’s anything damning on that camera.”
“All I need is a single lead…”
“Easy there, sweetheart. Let’s not go rogue just yet.”
