Page 35 of Fatal Fame
He leaned forward. "We're not asking for anything that would compromise ongoing investigations or violate legal protocols," Pierce said quickly. "Just access to information that could help us understand what was done, what wasn't done, and what everyone said at the time. Right now, we're working blind."
"And if my father says no?"
Pierce exchanged glances with his team, and Mia caught the silent communication that passed between them. They'd discussed this possibility and had backup plans that they weren't sharing with her.
"Then we'll respect his decision and find other ways to get the information we need," Pierce said. "But honestly, Mia, you might be our last and best hope for getting to the truth about what happened to Rebecca and Jacob Hale."
The appeal to her sense of justice was carefully calculated, and Mia recognized the manipulation even as she felt its emotional pull. Landry was good at his job, which included knowing how to motivate sources to take risks they might not otherwise consider.
"I'll try," she said finally. "But I can't guarantee anything. I'm already having my own issues with my father about this case. He doesn't want me involved or anywhere near the investigation."
"Why do you think that is?"
Mia considered the question, thinking about her father's protective instincts and his fear of losing another family member to violence. "He thinks it's too dangerous. And after Keith's death, maybe he's right."
"Or maybe he knows something about the case that he doesn't want exposed," Camila suggested. "Small-town law enforcement can be very protective of their own."
The implication that her father might be part of a cover-up made Mia's temper flare. "My father is one of the most honest cops I know. If he's not sharing information, it's because he'sprotecting people, not hiding crimes. Heck, he wasn’t even here ten years ago."
"I didn't mean to suggest otherwise," Camila said quickly. "Just that there might be professional or personal relationships that complicate his willingness to cooperate with outside investigators."
“But your grandfather was,” Sienna added. Mia met her gaze. “He was sheriff at the time.”
Pierce stood up, signaling the end of the meeting. "Mia, we understand this is asking a lot, but you did ask if you could help. I’d appreciate anything you can do. Even ifyoucan't get access to the files, maybe someone else can?”
As Mia prepared to leave, she felt the weight of the decision she was being asked to make. Approaching her father about the BCI files would mean openly defying his instructions about staying away from the case. But it might also mean finally getting answers about a crime that had haunted her community for ten years.
"I'll be in touch," she said, pocketing her car keys and heading for the door.
Pierce watched her leave, already planning his next moves regardless of whether she could deliver the files they needed. Mia was a valuable asset, but she wasn't his only option for accessing the information that could crack the case wide open.
Pierce's phonerang twenty minutes after Mia left, displaying a number he didn't recognize with a local area code. He almost let it go to voicemail; unknown numbers had been bringing nothing but hostility for the past week, but something made him answer.
"Hello?"
Silence for several seconds, then a voice that had been electronically distorted beyond recognition. "You need to stop digging, Mr. Landry."
Pierce felt his pulse spike, but years of media training kept his voice steady. "Who is this?"
"Someone who knows you've been asking questions about things that could get you killed. Keith Dwyer learned that lesson the hard way."
"Are you saying Keith was murdered?"
"I'm saying that people who won't take hints about staying out of other people's business sometimes find themselves in situations they can't get out of." The distorted voice had a mechanical quality that made it impossible to determine gender, age, or emotional state. "You've got forty-eight hours to pack up your cameras and your theories and go back to California."
"And if I don't?"
"Then you'll find out why this case has stayed unsolved for ten years."
The line went dead.
Pierce stared at his phone, adrenaline surging through his system as he processed the explicit nature of the threat. Someone in High Peaks was scared enough of his investigation to risk making direct contact, which meant he was getting close to something that powerful people wanted to keep hidden.
"Everything okay?" Marcus asked, noting Pierce's expression.
“Another threat.”
“Maybe we should just call it a day, Pierce.”
