"Chayton?" I was reading the report Maureen generated on Haloke's last known movements. Working remote from the cabin, I now had my own office. He spared no expense and I had state of the art equipment including a printer/scanner combo and another huge printer capable of spitting out photos right up to 36 x 36 inch matte and gloss finishes.

He already had a Starlink connection and I was pleasantly surprised at the speeds and consistent connectivity. The door to his office must be closed. Usually he responded almost immediately. That could only mean he was on an information sensitive call. I hoped it was the one to confirm Spunky's up coming onboarding.

I still couldn't believe her full legal name. Hera Aphrodite Johnston was quite the mouthful. Tapping through the tabs I had open I brought up the forms I already had completed. All we needed was a signature, electronic or in person, I didn't much care.

In any case, Haloke's movements coincided with Olathe McPheters. Interesting, both of them were students at University of Nevada Reno. Reno Police Department wasn't known as a sloppy department. More questions there. I sent an email to Maureen, assigning her to the three younger Meadow victims. I was wondering if she would find them in the student records there as well. Was it possible Haloke was our younger killer's first victim? The way the crime scene read, it indicated panic and haste. Smudged bloody footprints were our only clue as to their identity and even a hint of a description.

Time to look for similar weapons in like crimes databases. Did our killer hone their skills?

The undeniable reason for putting her in with the others was the distinctive serration pattern and placement of the wound that killed her. It matched all of the Meadow victims perfectly. Our most recent victim was only three weeks post death. Maybe we could find our killer on campus? A student, maintenance type or even a professor? It was an important clue because Haloke was on a scholarship there.

Another question, were the others on grants or scholarships as well? I needed to talk to Chayton and as I pushed my chair back, he stepped through my open door.

"What's up? Just got off the phone with Spunky. She'll be here to sign paperwork and get the appropriate PI license in a couple of days. I also spoke to Mooch. His team is coming home for a couple of weeks of time off. Sparky is getting married."

"I'll make sure we send a gift and a card to the lucky couple, or maybe you should? I don't want to expose their info by accident."

"Already taken care of, I'll send you a picture of the artwork. She's a realist. Her work is amazing. I should take the hint and buy a couple of prints for myself."

"Is that the one who does all the palms?" I asked. "Deborah M.G. Cassolis?" I remembered a quick conversation when we were discussing my Navajo pottery collection.

"Hmmm, yes. She's the one. She's on exhibit in Rome and the Vatican again this year."

"Good choice. I've started getting her newsletter."

"If you see something you like, let me know. I'm thinking about getting one of her paintings myself. Katilynn had it on her wish list at the gallery where the artist sells her work."

I opened my notepad and reminded myself to see if one of her smaller paintings was still available.

"What did you want me for?" Chayton prompted.

"Sorry. Have you had a chance to compare Haloke's autopsy report to the ones from the Meadow Murders?"

"Not yet. I've been catching up on what's going on in my home office. I'm not sure yet, but I think I might quit and put my full time energy into Seeking Hozho."

"Well now, that's news."

"I just started thinking about it. Not a done deal yet."

"We'll talk about it later. I'll be good which ever way you decide to go. Just make sure it's right for you," I said. "But the autopsy reports match exactly on the weapon type, and the serration pattern. Even the gap the killer chose between the ribs is the same and the location on the rib bone. I don't think it's a coincidence."

Chayton's eyebrows shot straight up. "Oh really? Isn't that interesting?"

"It is, isn't it? I'm going to have to turn Haloke over to the BAU as well, I think."

"By rights, yes, but didn't they assign the background work to us? And as I recall they are there to assist us in our investigation rather than making the arrest themselves. They might turn up here to ask questions if we don't answer them as quickly as possible."

He lowered himself into the single other chair I had in the office.

"I've got Maureen working on the University angle for the two other younger victims. Joey and Meixing gave us their names, I'm wondering if we have a significant piece of the killer's pattern here."

"Probably, but best to get the whole picture before we send it off to BAU."

"We're on the same page then."

He nodded. "Reno or Las Vegas?"

"For what?"

"The school the women were attending."

"Reno. Why?"

"I didn't think either of them were this sloppy with following evidence trails."

"That's another issue. I'll be digging into it further." I clicked my to do list open as I spoke. It was getting a lot longer.

"On another topic," Chayton continued, "I got the name and phone number for the medicine man from the Arizona archeology team. Turns out my mother knows him."

I chuckled. "Why am I not surprised? The world is a much smaller place than you might think."

"He wants to speak to us as soon as we set a date for the wedding," my fiancé winced as he spoke. "I don't want to pressure you, so let's put that on the talk about it later list too."

I shook my head.

"I've got a tentative date I wanted to ask you about. Toward the end of September. It was my Grandmother's birthday. The twenty-eighth to be exact."

"That's a little close isn't it?"

"Four and a half months? I don't need an expensive white dress. I've already got the one I want. Do you need anything special to wear made?"

Chayton pulled himself straighter in the chair. "No. If you can make it work with Malia, then let's go for it."

"I'll check with her. As long a shearing doesn't interfere, it's a go. She's already experimenting with the Mush recipe. Turns out Madelene knows how to make it too."

I got up to walk around the desk and stand in front of him, and he stood up, looking down into my eyes. I reached up to frame his face with my hands, and he dipped his head to kiss me.

When his lips left mine, I sighed. How could he express such tenderness and care with a simple touch? "It's getting real now, isn't it?" I asked.

"No turning back once we announce the date."

I smiled. Cold feet weren't a problem for either of us. Getting everything together in time was.

"Just a second," I said. "Need to talk to your Mother about getting your family down here to meet Malia."

"Memorial Day?" Chayton suggested. "The whole family usually gets together for some sort of camping road trip anyway. Are you going to announce the date now or after we tell Mom?"

"You can message Aponi right now, and then let's start with our offices. Let Edith know and I'll let Edison know. Even though this is my company, he's still my boss in many ways. And I want him to be there as my choice of "father"."  I made the air quotes with my fingers as I spoke.

"Good choice."

I knew he would approve.

"When do we want the civil ceremony?"

"The week before? Say on the solstice? The twenty-first?"

"Agreed, with a small party/reception after for everyone who wants to celebrate with us. I'm asking Judge Craymore to do it." My turn to surprise him.

He didn't even blink.

"I can't think of a better choice. He's scheduled the sentencing for Whitcomb at the end of August. Is Malia giving a victim impact statement?"

"She is. It's giving her a rough time writing it, but she'll be ready. Ella figured out what she was working on and wants to do one too."

"Good for her. I'm not sure what Craymore will do about scheduling and who gets to hear it though," Chayton said.

"Not our problem, thank goodness. What do you say about some lunch?"

"Shelby has some things to go over too. I already scheduled time with her. I'm meeting her there in about five minutes."

I made a face. "Work never stops when you run a business, does it?"

Chayton laughed. "But would you have it any other way?"

He had a point. I took his hand and tugged him out into the hall. Lunch was a good place to start informing people about the wedding date. I was absolutely sure shearing wasn't going to happen until the first week of October.