Page 46 of Craving Sin (Touch of Evil 13)
“Thanks, Bit.”
Brook ended the transmission, lowering the radio slowly as she processed another piece of the puzzle. She was confident she had enough edge pieces in place to bluff Jacob into making a couple of admissions.
“You need to follow my lead,” Brook murmured, meeting his gaze with a significance that conveyed more than her words. “Please.”
Russell slowly nodded once again, and she didn’t hesitate to pick up the duffel bag. She noticed Jacob's subtle shift in posture as he monitored the reason for their delay. She sensed that he was relieved to see the necessary items to enter the ice cave.
His expression was very familiar.
It was the same one he had worn as a teenager when he had convinced their parents that Ben Pearson was the last person to be seen with Pamela Murray. The same satisfied angle of his jaw, the similar shadows that played at the corners of his mouth. He believed she would escort him into the ice cave due to her need for closure.
“Bit just reached out,” Brook announced as they finally approached Jacob. She kept her tone conversational, dropping the duffel bag next to the ones Russell had already placed on the ground. The soft impact sent up a small puff of dirt, causing the contents to shuffle around inside. “Nanuq has been taken into custody.”
To his credit, Russell didn't display any surprise at her lie. He maintained a neutral expression, with his stance relaxed yet alert as he positioned himself slightly to her right. He was close enough to intervene if necessary, yet far enough away to give her room to work.
“Fortunately for us,” Brook continued, making no move to retrieve the equipment from the duffel bags, “Nanuq didn't take long to start talking.”
Brook continued to study Jacob's expression as she spoke, noting the slight shifts in his expression. Most people wouldn't have noticed the subtle tightening around his eyes, the almost imperceptible flex of his jaw.
Brook had spent most of her teenage years learning to read them.
“Nanuq admitted to murdering Lusa because she figured out that he was skimming off the donations to the wildlife center.” The words flowed easily, a blend of fact and fabrication woven together. “He is even hinting at killing Kate, but he wants to know what he’ll get in exchange for turning on you.”
Jacob remained silent, his gaze steady on hers.
“This is my theory—Mitch alerted Nanuq to the recovery mission. No amount of reassurance could ease his fear that you were going to throw him under the bus. Nanuq wanted to create a distraction from the recovery mission. He lured Kate to Alaska, attempted to kill her using your signature method, and then left her body at the end of the tarmac. He believed that would be enough cause for us to call off the recovery mission. You had no idea he would go that far, did you?”
Brook tsked her disappointment. Victor maintained his position beside Jacob and Justin while resting his hand casually near his holstered weapon. She had also caught the way Jacob shifted away from the mountain wall.
“Kavik probably figured out that Nanuq has been lying all along after we started re-questioning everyone. Kavik never thought Nanuq would murder his own cousin, so he provided an alibi for his friend. Kavik fixed that fence alone. Nanuq was already in Blackpeak before Mitch’s hit-and-run, wasn’t he? Nanuq abducted Lusa, and you were in the right place and time to notice. As for Mitch, he reached out to you at some point, believing that you could help him.”
Brook waved her hand dismissively. She was already taking chances by making too many assumptions. If she were mistaken about the specifics, the overall framework of her plan wouldn’t hold.
“We’ll figure it out, I’m sure. Between Nanuq and Mitch, we’ll get our answers.” Brook lifted a hand and signaled that everyone should start packing up. “But this is the end of the road, Jacob. We don’t need your help anymore.”
Not once had she broken script.
Her delivery had remained measured, her posture comfortable but alert, and her gaze direct. She had learned long ago that the best lies contained kernels of truth, and the reality here was that Jacob had manipulated everyone around him.
“Why would Nanuq Kalluk admit to killing someone whose murder I already took credit for, dear sister?” Jacob tilted his head in curiosity. Brook had anticipated his attempt to trip her up. Her brother always deflected when cornered, redirecting attention to weaknesses in others' arguments rather than addressing the flaws in his own position. “Does that make sense to you, Special Agent Houser?”
“Both men were mere puppets,” Brook said before Russell could reply to Jacob’s question. “You made sure they owed you favors, and they knew you could destroy their lives if they didn't help when the time came.”
Brook decided it was time to play her ace.
She turned slightly and called out to the two forensic technicians who remained nearby. They sat with their backs against a cluster of wind-stunted pines, fully engaged in conversation.
“Do you recall the last place we took a break?” Brook asked, her voice carrying clearly across the space between them. “The area with the large boulders and some fallen trees?”
“Yes.” Both techs stood, brushing the debris from their pants as they responded with synchronized nods. “Yes, ma'am.”
Brook's eyes shifted back to Jacob, recognizing the faint tension in his posture after her request. She had reviewed each moment of their hike in her mind, analyzing Jacob’s body language. He had maintained a steady pace without faltering—until they arrived at that small clearing.
The way he had used the soles of his boots to brush away debris on the ground while sitting on the rough bark of the fallen log hadn’t gone unnoticed, either.The action had resembled the tender way a man stroked a woman’s hair.
“Go ahead and start back to that area,” Brook instructed with a small smile. Jacob’s carefully controlled expression cracked, and he could no longer contain his hatred for her. “That’s where you’ll discover Lusa Kalluk’s remains.”
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