American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

“No problem, I’ll arrange for an investigation right away,” Thompson promised. “However, the Adirondack Mountains are vast, and it was a weekday, so there aren’t many people in the mountains that day. It might not be easy to find witnesses.”

“Do your best,” Lynn said. “Any information could be important.”

After hanging up the phone, Sarah had made a new discovery.

“Lynn, you need to see this,” her tone indicated it was an important discovery, “I found someone in Martin’s Facebook friends list—Michael Chen, 34, a freelance pilot.”

"What's their relationship like?" Lynn asked.

“It seems they met through a skydiving club,” Sarah continued her investigation. “They frequently comment on each other’s posts, mainly discussing topics related to flying and skydiving. And most importantly,” she paused, making sure Lynn noticed the next detail, “Michael owns a small Cessna, a Model 172.”

"Is this kind of plane suitable for skydiving?" Lynn asked.

“Perfect fit,” Sarah confirmed. “The Cessna 172 is one of the most commonly used aircraft in skydiving. It can accommodate the pilot and two to three skydivers.”

Lynn felt the puzzle was slowly taking shape. "Check Michael Chen's itinerary on the day Sarah was murdered. Does his plane have flight logs?"

“Checking,” Sarah’s fingers flew across the keyboard. “The flight records need to be retrieved from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), which will take some time.”

“Then submit a formal request,” Lynn instructed. “In the meantime, I’d like to meet with Martin in person. But before that, I need to be fully prepared.”

Over the next few hours, Lynn and Sarah continued their investigation into Martin's background. They uncovered more interesting details: three months prior, Martin had purchased a high-end GPS navigation system, the kind typically used by mountaineers and extreme sports enthusiasts. He had also ordered some specialized outdoor gear online, including a high-performance thermal suit and a foldable backpack.

“This combination of equipment is quite interesting,” Lynn analyzed. “If you plan to reach the mountains by skydiving and then hike away, these are the things you’ll need. Advanced GPS ensures you land accurately in your target area, cold-weather clothing copes with the low temperatures in the mountains, and a foldable backpack carries equipment like the parachute.”

“But these are all only circumstantial evidence,” Sarah cautioned, “there’s no direct proof that he actually did it.”

“I know,” Lynn nodded, “that’s why we need to investigate further. Now, let’s organize the information we have.”

Lynn walked to the whiteboard and began to draw up the timeline:

Sarah was murdered at approximately 10:00 AM last Thursday.

Martin booked a skydive last Wednesday at 4 p.m., but it was cancelled due to 'weather conditions'.

Martin's phone location: It was displayed in Albany for the entire time period.

Martin's skills include skydiving and hang gliding.

Martin's friend, Michael Chen, owns a private jet suitable for skydiving.

“If our theory is correct,” Lynn continued, “then the possible scenario is this: Martin met with Michael on Wednesday afternoon and used Michael’s plane for an unrecorded flight. He parachuted to a predetermined location in the Adirondack Mountains, possibly near the filming location Sarah planned to visit. He then waited there for Sarah’s arrival and carried out the attack. After the attack, he left the mountains by gliding or on foot, possibly returning to Albany on Thursday night or Friday morning. His cell phone remained somewhere in Albany, simulating normal activity through automated programs to create an alibi.”

“This plan is indeed feasible,” Sarah admitted, “but it requires extremely meticulous planning and execution. And the risks are significant—changes in weather, deviations in landing location, being witnessed—any one of these factors could cause the plan to fail.”

“But for someone who is deeply troubled by the breakup and might have extreme psychological issues,” Lynn said, “these risks might be worthwhile. Especially if he has spent months or even years planning and preparing.”

"So what do we do now?" Sarah asked. "Go straight to Martin?"

“It’s not the right time,” Lynn shook his head. “Our evidence isn’t sufficient yet. Acting rashly might alert them. I need more substantial evidence.”

"Then what do we need?"

Lynn thought for a moment. “First, I need the FAA’s flight logs for Michael’s aircraft. If he had any unreported flights during that period, that would be a major breakthrough. Second, I need to know where Martin’s hang glider and parachute equipment is now. If he did use that equipment, there would likely be traces of the mountainous environment on it—soil, plant fibers, or other physical evidence. Third, I need to find possible witnesses who could attest to seeing parachuting or hang gliding activity during that time.”

“This will require a lot of work,” Sarah assessed.

“I know,” Lynn agreed, “but it’s necessary. Murder cases aren’t things to be handled carelessly; we need to ensure the chain of evidence is complete and that we can stand up to scrutiny in court.”

“I’ll get started on the arrangements right away,” Sarah said. “I’ll contact the FAA while continuing my investigation into Michael Chen’s background.”

“Very good,” Lynn nodded, “but I need to do some fieldwork.”

The next morning, Lynn drove to the Free Sky Club. It was a small, private club located in a rural area, with a simple runway and several buildings used as offices and equipment storage. When Lynn arrived, several skydivers were preparing for their morning training session.

The club's manager was a middle-aged man named Jeff, who seemed friendly and showed a willingness to cooperate fully with Lynn's FBI identity.

“Martin Reynolds? Of course I know him,” Jeff recalled. “He’s a long-time member here, very skilled, and a very cautious skydiver.”

"Cautious?" Lynn asked. "What do you mean?"

“He always checks all his equipment beforehand, carefully studies the weather conditions, and never takes risks,” Jeff explained. “That’s a great quality in skydiving. Some people are too confident, which makes them more prone to accidents.”

When was the last time he was here?

Jeff checked the logbook. "About a week ago, he booked a skydive, but then canceled."

"Why was it canceled?" Lynn asked knowingly.

“The log says the weather was bad,” Jeff replied, then added, somewhat puzzled, “but to be honest, I remember the weather was pretty good that day. Maybe he had other reasons.”

Does he frequently cancel bookings?

“That’s unusual,” Jeff shook his head. “Martin is a very reliable person. This is the first time he’s canceled at the last minute.”

"Does he have private skydiving equipment?" Lynn continued to ask.

“Yes, he has his own parachute and other equipment,” Jeff confirmed. “Many long-time members have their own gear. He usually stores it in a locker here.”

This information intrigued Lynn. "Can I see his locker?" "Well..." Jeff hesitated, "I need Martin's permission. It's a member's privacy."

Lynn produced a search warrant. "I have legal authorization. This is a murder investigation, and Martin may be involved."

Jeff's expression turned serious. "Murder? You mean Martin? No, that's impossible. He's a good man. I've known him for two years. He couldn't possibly do something like that."

“I’m just investigating,” Lynn said calmly. “Please cooperate with my work.”

Jeff hesitated for a moment, but ultimately led Lynn to the locker area. Martin's locker was number 17 and was locked with a combination lock.

“We don’t have the passwords for the member lockers,” Jeff said. “That’s our privacy policy.”

“It’s alright,” Lynn said, taking out his tools. “I can handle it.”

A few minutes later, the locker was opened. Inside, various parachuting equipment were neatly stored: a parachute pack, helmet, goggles, gloves, and a jumpsuit. Lynn carefully examined each piece of equipment, looking for any signs that they might have been used recently.

“These pieces of equipment look very well maintained,” Lynn commented.

“Martin is very meticulous about equipment maintenance,” Jeff said. “That’s why I said he’s cautious.”

Lynn noticed some minor scratches on the surface of the parachute pack, which was normal. But upon closer inspection, he found some tiny pine needles at the bottom of the pack.

"Are there pine trees around here?" Lynn asked.

Jeff glanced out the window. "No, it's mostly grass and some broadleaf trees. The nearest pine forest is a few miles away."

Lynn carefully collected the pine needles with tweezers and placed them in an evidence bag. This could be an important discovery—the Adirondack Mountains are known for their pine forests.

Upon further inspection, Lynn found a folded map in the pocket of his parachute suit. Unfolding it, he discovered it was a topographical map of the Adirondack Mountains, with several locations marked in red. The location of one of the marked points made Lynn's heart race—it was roughly the area where Sarah had been murdered.

"Is this map part of the equipment?" Lynn asked Jeff.

“No,” Jeff said, looking at the map, “topographical maps are usually not needed in skydiving equipment. Our skydiving activities all take place near the club.”

Lynn also put the map into the evidence bag. "I need to take these pieces of evidence for further examination."

“Of course,” Jeff agreed, though he still seemed somewhat skeptical that Martin was involved in the murder.

Before leaving the club, Lynn also inquired about Michael Chen.

“Michael? He’s also a member,” Jeff said, “but he’s more involved as a pilot, using his private plane to take our members skydiving.”

"Are he and Martin on good terms?"

“It seemed so,” Jeff recalled. “They often came together and sometimes discussed flight routes and jump sites.”

Has Michael been flying recently?

“Let me check the records,” Jeff said, flipping through the logbook. “There was a record from last Wednesday; he booked parking, but there’s no official flight schedule.”

“What does the lack of flight plan records mean?” Lynn pressed.

“This means he may have taken a private flight, not for an official club event,” Jeff explained. “That’s legally permissible, as long as he complies with FAA flight regulations. But we don’t record details of private flights.”

This information further supports Lynn's theory. Martin and Michael may have made an unrecorded flight last Wednesday, with their destination being the Adirondack Mountains.

Upon leaving the club, Lynn immediately contacted the laboratory, requesting an urgent analysis of the collected evidence—particularly the pine needles. If their species and characteristics matched those of pine trees in the Adirondack Mountains, it would be crucial evidence.

Meanwhile, Sarah also sent some new news.

“Lynn, the FAA records have arrived,” she reported over the phone. “Michael Chen’s plane did have a flight record from Wednesday afternoon last week, but…”

“But what?” Lynn asked.

“The flight plan showed the destination as a small local airport, only thirty miles from the club,” Sarah said. “But strangely, there’s no landing record. The plane took off, but the official records don’t show it landing at that airport.”

“This is highly suspicious,” Lynn said. “A plane took off but there’s no official landing record?”

“Yes, and what’s even stranger is that the plane reappeared at the same airport the next morning,” Sarah continued, “as if it had never left.”

“This suggests that Michael made an unreported flight,” Lynn analyzed. “He may have flown to somewhere else—like the Adirondack Mountains—and then returned.”

“But why do that?” Sarah asked. “It violates FAA regulations and will cause a lot of trouble.”

“Unless someone pays him enough money, or there’s some other relationship between them,” Lynn said, “we need to investigate Michael’s financial records to see if he’s had any unexplained income recently. We also need to find out the actual flight path of that plane.”

"How do we find it? The plane doesn't have any official flight records."

“But the aircraft has a transponder,” Lynn reminded him. “Even without a formal flight plan, the radar system records the aircraft’s path. Contact the FAA and request the radar data for that time period.”

“Understood, I’ll take care of it right away,” Sarah promised.

That evening, Lynn received the lab's preliminary analysis report. The pine needles collected from the parachute packs were identified as those of the Eastern White Pine, a type of pine very common in the Adirondack Mountains but not found in the area where the club was located.

More importantly, small amounts of soil particles were also found in the fibers of the parachute suit. Analysis revealed that the mineral composition of this soil closely matched the characteristics of soil from the Adirondack mountains. (End of Chapter)