Page 12 of Fatal Fame
"Mia Sutherland."
Evelyn's eyebrows rose slightly. "Sutherland? That's a family name with deep roots in local law enforcement. Her father's probably Noah Sutherland, BCI investigator, good reputation. Her grandfather is Hugh Sutherland, retired sheriff."
"Think that'll be helpful or problematic?"
"Depends on what you're looking for and how careful you are about finding it. Hugh was the sheriff on the Hale case at the time of the murders." Evelyn stood, signaling the end of their meeting. "Just remember what I said about assumptions. In a place like this, family connections can open doors or slam them shut, sometimes both at the same time."
The roadto High Peaks wound through dense forest broken by occasional glimpses of farms and small communities, each turn revealing another postcard vista of mountains and lakes that looked too perfect to be real.
"So what do you think?" Marcus asked as they approached the High Peaks town line.
"I think Dr. Cross just told us everything we need to know about why this case went cold," Pierce replied. "Question is whether we're walking into incompetence or conspiracy."
"Does it matter?" Camila asked from the back seat. "Either way, it's a story."
"It matters if we want to stay healthy long enough to tell it," Pierce said, though his tone suggested he found the possibility of danger more exciting than concerning.
TheAdirondack Daily Enterpriseoccupied a converted Victorian house on Main Street, its gingerbread trim painted in colors that suggested someone had tried very hard to make journalism look quaint and approachable. Pierce parked the van in the small lot beside the building and surveyed the scene, a handful of other vehicles, including a newer Subaru that probably belonged to their contact.
"There," Sienna said, pointing toward a young woman standing near the building's entrance. "Dark hair in a ponytail, just like she said."
Pierce studied the figure through the van's windshield. Even from a distance, he could see the nervous energy in her posture, the way she checked her phone and looked around like she was afraid someone might see her. "Finally, we get to put a face to the username ADKLawGirl."
They gathered their equipment and approached the building, Pierce leading. The young woman—Mia Sutherland, he reminded himself—spotted them immediately and broke into a smile that managed to be both enthusiastic and anxious.
"Mr. Landry? I'm Mia." She extended her hand, and Pierce noted the firm handshake, and the direct eye contact. "This really is one of those pinch-me moments. I've been listening to your podcast since you started a few years back. I can't believe you're actually here."
"Neither can I," Theo muttered under his breath, earning a sharp look from Pierce.
"Please, call me Pierce. And thank you for reaching out. Local perspective is exactly what we need. Out of curiosity what does ADKLawGirl mean?”
“ADK. It’s short for Adirondacks. Law because I’m about to study law, and…"
“Girl, right,” Theo added. “We get it."
She smiled.
Pierce gestured toward the building. “Well, lead the way."
Mia led them through the front entrance of theDaily Enterpriseand into a building that smelled of newsprint and coffee, with the underlying mustiness that came from decades of absorbing the stories and secrets of a small community. The main floor had been converted into a modern newsroom, but Pierce could see traces of the building's residential past in the crown molding and hardwood floors.
"So you work here full-time?" Pierce asked, noting the shelves lined with bound newspaper archives that suggested the paper took its role as community historian seriously.
"Not exactly," Mia replied, leading them down a corridor lined with framed front pages from significant local events. "I’m interning here. My mother used to be a reporter for the paper until... well, she died."
The casual way she mentioned her mother's death caught Pierce's attention, but before he could respond, Mia continued.
"Actually, she was murdered. The guy she was dating did it, but my father believes someone pushed him to do it."
Pierce stopped walking. "Pushed him?"
Mia glanced back at him, and Pierce caught a glimpse of the steel beneath her youthful enthusiasm. "You'll learn fast here in High Peaks, there's more going on under the surface than people want to admit. My father could tell you more, but..." She shrugged, as if family complications were just another fact of life.
"Speaking of investigations," Mia continued, "I've actually been going through the case myself."
"Your mother's death?"
"No, I mean the Rebecca and Jacob Hale murders. My father's a State Police investigator, and as I said, I’m looking to get into law enforcement myself." Pierce sensed she was tryingto prove herself, to demonstrate that she belonged in their world of professional investigation rather than amateur speculation.
