Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Annika

A nnika sat in a quiet, dimly lit, small office of the Kodiak Police Department, surrounded by stacks of old case files. The scent of aged paper and ink filled the room, a smell she had come to associate with unsolved mysteries and the long-forgotten lives entangled within them. Following up on cold cases had become a hobby of hers, and she’d found she was quite good at it. She had been at it for hours, combing through every report and every piece of evidence, hoping to find something—anything—that might shed new light on the decades-old murder that had brought her back to this town. But so far, it felt like she was trying to squeeze water from a stone.

Frustration gnawed at her as she scanned yet another interview transcript, her eyes aching from the strain. The words blurred together, a jumble of meaningless text that did nothing to bring her closer to the truth. Annika sighed and leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples in a futile attempt to ward off the headache building behind her eyes. This case was a mess—disjointed and incomplete, with too many dead ends and not enough solid leads. It was no wonder it had remained unsolved for so long.

And then there was Trace. Annika couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment every time she thought about him. She had known, intellectually, that seeing him again after all these years would be difficult. But she hadn’t expected the cold, professional distance he had put between them. There was nothing overtly hostile about his behavior—he was polite, courteous, even helpful—but there was a wall there, one she couldn’t seem to breach.

Maybe it was for the best, she told herself for the hundredth time. Maybe she was better off not getting too close to him again. After all, wasn’t this the reason she hadn’t waited for him all those years ago? She had known even then that their paths were diverging, that the life she wanted to build for herself wasn’t one that could be easily intertwined with his. Trace had his military career, his future as a soldier, and she had known she couldn’t ask him to give that up for her.

But that wasn’t the whole truth, was it? The real reason she had left wasn’t just about Trace. It was about her. She had wanted to become a cop, to make a difference in a way that wasn’t possible for her in Kodiak. Her uncle had been the police chief at the time, and she had known that he would never allow her to join the force. He was protective, almost to a fault, and the idea of his niece becoming a cop in a small, isolated town like Kodiak was something he would never have supported. So, she had left, pursuing her dreams elsewhere and carving out a life for herself in Seattle where she didn’t have to answer to anyone.

And yet, now that she was back with the badge she had earned through hard work and determination, Annika couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss. She had gained everything she thought she wanted, but at what cost? The man she had loved was a stranger to her now, and the town that had once been her home felt like a place filled with ghosts.

The door to the records room creaked open, and Annika looked up to see Dr. Trevor Billingsly standing in the doorway, a small smile on his face. The new medical examiner had been a recent addition to the town, and though she didn’t know him, she had found his insights into the case surprisingly valuable. He was young, sharp, with a curiosity that matched her own, and he seemed genuinely interested in helping her solve this mystery.

“Thought I might find you here,” Trevor said, stepping into the room. “Mind if I join you?”

“Please,” Annika replied, gesturing to the chair across from her. “I could use the company. These files are starting to blend together.”

Trevor sat down and placed a folder on the table between them. “I’ve been going over the victim’s autopsy report again. I know it’s old, but I think there are a few things that were missed in the initial examination. Maybe not intentionally, but...”

Annika raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What did you find?”

He opened the folder, revealing the yellowed pages of the autopsy report. “It’s subtle, but there are signs that the victim might have been involved in something... unusual before he died. There’s some bruising here,” he pointed to a faded photograph, “that doesn’t match the supposed cause of death. It could suggest he was restrained or involved in some kind of struggle that wasn’t documented.”

Annika leaned forward, studying the photo closely. “So, you’re saying there’s more to this than what’s in the official report?”

“That’s my theory,” Trevor said, his tone thoughtful. “But it’s just a hunch at this point. I’d need more evidence to be sure. Unfortunately, most of the physical evidence has either been lost or degraded over time, so it’s hard to say for certain.”

“Still, it’s something,” Annika said, feeling a flicker of hope. “It’s more than we’ve had in a long time. If we can find a way to corroborate this...”

“I’m already looking into it,” Trevor assured her. “There’s a lot of interest in unsolved cases like this, and sometimes, fresh eyes can make all the difference.”

Annika nodded, grateful for his help. It was nice to have someone else invested in the case, someone who wasn’t weighed down by the personal history that clouded her every interaction with Trace. “Thank you, Trevor. I really appreciate you taking the time to go over this.”

He smiled warmly. “Just doing my job. Besides, I find these kinds of cases fascinating. There’s always something hidden, something that was missed the first time around. It’s like a puzzle, and I’ve always loved puzzles.”

Annika smiled back, feeling a bit of the tension in her shoulders ease. “Well, here’s hoping we can piece this one together. It’s been hanging over this town for too long.”

As they continued discussing the case, Annika’s phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen and felt a chill run down her spine when she saw the message. It was from an unknown number, and the text was short and to the point.

Drop the investigation or you’ll regret it.

Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at the message, a sense of unease creeping into her chest. This wasn’t the first time she had received threats in her line of work, but this felt different. More personal. More immediate.

Trevor noticed her sudden change in demeanor and frowned. “Annika? Everything okay?”

She swallowed hard, her mind racing. “I... I’m not sure,” she admitted, showing him the message.

He read it quickly, his expression darkening. “That’s not something to take lightly. Do you have any idea who it could be?”

“No,” she replied, her voice shaky despite her efforts to keep it steady. “But whoever it is, they don’t want us digging into this case.”

Trevor leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing in thought. “You’re sure this is connected to the case?”

“I don’t see how it could be anything else,” Annika said, her mind spinning. “I’ve only been back in town for a few days. The only thing I’m working on is this cold case. Whoever sent this message knows what we’re doing, and they don’t want us to continue.”

Trevor was silent for a moment, then he nodded, his expression resolute. “We can’t let this scare us off. If anything, it means we’re on the right track. But you should tell Trace about this. He needs to know.”

Annika hesitated; her emotions in turmoil. The idea of confiding in Trace, of revealing that she was being threatened, made her feel vulnerable in a way she hadn’t in years. But Trevor was right. She couldn’t keep this to herself, not for long any way, not if it meant putting the investigation—and herself—in danger.

“You’re right,” she finally said, her voice firmer. “I’ll tell him, but not right now—not when we’re just getting started.”

“I don’t know that I think waiting is a good idea, Annika,” Trevor said, standing up.

“I can understand where you’re coming from. But I’d like to keep this between us at least for a few days. I don’t want to cause any unnecessary worry, and I’d like to see if keeping it quiet provokes anything. Just a day or two.”

“Well…” he hedged. Annika could tell he was weakening.

“Trevor, I know you don’t know me, but I’m a good cop. I’ll tell Trace, but I just want to see what happens.”

“All right, but be careful, Annika. Whoever sent that message isn’t messing around.”

“Agreed. I’ll be careful,” she promised, though the knot of fear in her stomach remained. “Thanks, Trevor.”

With a nod, he left the room, leaving Annika alone with her thoughts. She stared at the message again, her mind racing with possibilities. Who could have sent this? And why were they so desperate to keep the past buried?

Shaking off her unease, Annika grabbed her phone and headed for Trace’s office. She’d asked Trevor for a day or two, but she knew in her heart she could trust Trace. She’d only asked for time because she didn’t want to face Trace—didn’t want to admit, even to herself, that nothing had really changed for her. She had to tell him about the threat, no matter how much it pained her to admit that she needed his help.

Deep in her heart, she knew there was no way he could be a part of whatever was going on. Regardless of their inability to make a go of it, she knew he was one of the best and most honorable people she’d ever known. As she walked through the station, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her, that unseen eyes were tracking her every move.

Trace was sitting at his desk when she knocked on the doorframe. He looked up, his expression unreadable, though she thought she saw a flicker of concern in his eyes when he saw her. “Annika,” he said, standing up. “What’s wrong?”

She took a deep breath, steeling herself and handing him her phone. “I just received a threat. Someone doesn’t want us looking into the case.”

His eyes narrowed as he took the phone from her hand, reading the message. The muscles in his jaw tightened as he handed it back to her. “Did you recognize the number?”

“No,” she said, her voice steadier now that she had made the decision to involve him. “It’s anonymous, and they knew what they were doing.”

Trace exhaled slowly; his gaze locked on hers. “We need to take this seriously, Annika. If someone’s willing to threaten you, they might be willing to do more.”

“I know,” she replied, a shiver running down her spine at the thought. “But I’m not going to be scared off. Whoever this is, they’re scared, which means we’re getting close to something important.”

He studied her for a moment, then nodded, his expression determined. “We’ll keep this quiet for now. Does anyone else know?”

“Just Trevor.”

Trace nodded. “Trevor is good people, and he wasn’t here when the original murder occurred. No need to alert the whole town until we know more. But I’m increasing security measures. I’ll have someone watching you at all times, and we’ll keep a closer eye on anyone connected to the case.”

Annika nodded, grateful for his support even as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. She wasn’t used to feeling this vulnerable, this exposed. But with Trace by her side, she felt a little more secure, a little less alone.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, meeting his gaze. “I’m not used to asking for help, but... I’m glad you’re here.”

For a moment, the tension between them seemed to melt away, replaced by something softer, something that reminded her of the connection they had once shared. But then Trace nodded, his professional demeanor slipping back into place. “We’ll get through this,” he said, his voice steady. “And we’ll find out who’s behind that message.”

Annika nodded, though the unease in her chest remained. She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust that they could handle whatever was coming. But the shadows of the past were closing in around them, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.

As she left Trace’s office, Annika couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder, half-expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows. The station was quiet; the hum of activity from earlier in the day had died down as the evening shift took over. But the sense of being watched, of being hunted, wouldn’t leave her.

Annika shook off the feeling as she headed back to the records room, determined to stay focused on the case. She wouldn’t let fear control her. She had faced worse threats in her career, and she had always come out on top. This would be no different.

But as she settled back into her chair, trying to concentrate on the files in front of her, her mind kept drifting back to the message on her phone and to the man who had once been her whole world. The investigation was heating up, and the closer they got to the truth, the more dangerous it would become.

Annika knew she couldn’t do this alone. She needed Trace, not just for his skills as a cop, but for the strength he gave her, the sense of safety she hadn’t realized she craved until now. And as much as she tried to deny it, she couldn’t ignore the pull she still felt toward him, the longing for the connection they had lost.

But the past was a minefield, and one wrong step could blow everything apart.

As the hours ticked by and the darkness outside deepened, Annika worked on, her determination fueled by the knowledge that she was getting closer to the truth. The threat loomed over her, a constant reminder of the danger she was in, but she refused to let it stop her.

She was here for a reason, and she would see this through to the end, no matter the cost.

And as she dug deeper into the case, Annika couldn’t shake the feeling that the answers she sought were tied to more than just the murder she was investigating. The shadows of her past were closing in, and the only way out was to press on.

But she wasn’t the same girl who had left Kodiak all those years ago. She was stronger now, more resilient. And with Trace by her side, she knew they could face whatever was coming, together.

As long as they didn’t let the past destroy them first.