Korra stared at Mako in disbelief. "She's alive?"

"It's the only explanation. From the very beginning something felt off, but we all just assumed it was us grieving for the Chief. But I think this is the answer!" he answered enthusiastically. Korra hesitated and sat down to think over what he had just said.

She, Asami, Opal, Bolin, and Jinora were gathered in a spare room at Air Temple Island. Mako had spent the last ten minutes explaining his theory that Lin had survived the attack and it was really Officer Pari that was dead in her place. She had to admit that the evidence was convincing, but Korra had seen Lin's body at the morgue the afternoon after the attack. It was an image that was hard to banish from her mind.

"Mako, are you sure you aren't just grasping at thin air here? None of us want Lin to be dead-" Asami had cautiously started to speak but was interrupted by Opal.

"If there's a chance she's still alive, we have to find out!"

Korra could hear the desperation in Opal's voice and a part of her agreed. But it had been Lin's solemn face that was pale on that morgue table. For days now, she had been working hard to accept that Lin was gone. But Mako seemed so convinced. A hand came to rest on her own. Asami was looking at her with concerned eyes.

"I saw her, Mako," started Korra. "It was Lin."

Mako shook his head and waved the thin manila folder at them. "This is Pari's file." He pointed at the box on the table in front of them. "That's the Chief's. I'm telling you, that's not the Chief."

"How could that even be possible? Tenzin said she was wearing her armor and I saw her face. I don't think I'll ever forget it!" Korra's voice was rising as the image of Lin on the morgue table continued to float in her mind.

"If she is alive," started Bolin, his hand intertwined with Opal's. "Where is she? I mean, Mako, I want her to be alive as much as you do, but this is Chief Beifong we're talking about here. She wouldn't run away."

"I think she was taken. I think the entire attack on the Station was to take the Chief. Why else would someone go through this much trouble to make us think she was dead?"

"That still leaves two questions," replied Asami. Korra was a bit surprised that Asami thought Lin could still be alive, but a look at her serious face made Korra realize that Asami was simply trying to make the others consider the options. "Why and how? Why take her, but make it look like she was dead? And how did they make Officer Pari look like Lin?"

Jinora cleared her throat from her place in the corner. "I may be able to answer the how."

Korra shouldn't be surprised. If anyone had the knowledge to explain this madness, it would Jinora. She spent most of her time now that she was airbending master traveling to different libraries around the world.

"It's not like they could just take her face and stick it to this Pari person," said Bolin. Korra had to agree. Lin's eyes kept staring at her from the morgue table.

"No, nothing like that. I don't think they took her face at all. I came across a spirit called Kun when I was researching my grandfather's encounter with Koh, the Face Stealer." The others grew silent as Jinora calmly told her story. "Koh was born to the Mother of Faces who has the ability to grant faces to all living creatures. She is known for granting new identities to those who sought her out in the Forgetful Valley. Her son, Koh steals the faces of people who show emotion to add to his collection. What most do not know is that the Mother of Faces had another son, Kun.

"After she and Koh became estranged and she saw how he used his gifts, she was sad. But she still loved her sons. So, when Kun asked for a gift of his own, she granted his wish. But she had learned a lesson with Koh so she only allowed him to change the faces of those who were already dead. Kun saw this as an insult and he too became estranged with the Mother of Faces. Unlike Koh, who seeks out humans to steal their faces, Kun disappeared."

For a moment, no one spoke. Even with the revelation that spirits had been involved in the attack on the Police Station, Korra had never even considered that a spirit had possibly manipulated Lin's body. "Let me see that file again."

Mako handed the autopsy file to her and Asami and Opal gathered close to her to read it for themselves. Korra wouldn't have even thought to look past the notes on the injuries Lin had sustained during the attack. But Mako was right, it seemed every wound had been sustained in the past year or so. That couldn't be right- Lin had been a police officer since her early twenties.

Heart hammering, she swallowed. "We need to tell Tenzin. Present this to him and see what he thinks. I don't want to take it to Su or Kya yet."

"I agree with Korra," said Asami. "I believe you, Mako. And with what Jinora said, it is possible. But we can't get everyone's hopes up. If this really is Officer Pari and not Lin, then we still have a problem. Someone has Chief Beifong and we're almost three days behind them."

"There's one more thing," added Mako, who looked relieved that his friends believed him. "I overheard Soraya talking to someone on the radio this morning. I think she has something to do with all of this. She said something about how we didn't know that the White Lotus was involved and that she would stay close to the Fire Lord when she arrived."

Korra's skin crawled. Everyone had been suspicious of Soraya when the White Lotus had sent her. But the young woman had not tried to push an agenda or overstep in any way, so Korra had been ignoring her. She kicked herself for allowing Lin's death to distract her.

"Are you sure?" asked Bolin, clearly surprised by Mako's revelation.

"She came over to my apartment last night to help me look through all the police files Roan let me take home. I thought…" Mako shifted uncomfortably. Korra tried not to laugh at the thought that Mako had been won over by another pretty face. But that wasn't fair. They had all turned a blind eye to Soraya because they were worried about a bigger problem.

"Don't blame yourself, Mako. I'll get to the bottom of this," decided Korra.

"I'll go with you," offered Asami, but Korra shook her head.

"I don't want her to be suspicious. You should go with Mako and the others to tell Tenzin." She then remembered that Fire Lord Izumi would be arriving any time now. "Opal and Jinora, get Kai and Ikki and fly out to find the Fire Lord and escort her in. If Soraya is targeting her for some reason, I want Izumi to know about it."

So Korra left Mako, Asami, and Bolin to find Tenzin and Opal and Jinora to find Izumi. She had her own person to find. If Soraya was looking for Izumi or trying to stay close to the group to learn more about the case, she should be coming to Air Temple Island. Korra hoped that Soraya didn't know that Mako overheard her and would be sailing over to the Island. That would mean she could meet her coming off the boat.

As she waited by the dock, Korra tried to think of a plan. Instinct told her to force Soraya to confess, but experience told her that probably wasn't the best idea. She did have the element of surprise on her side. Soraya was unaware that Mako had overheard her conversation, which meant Korra may be able to trick part of the truth out of Soraya. Korra had never actually asked what the White Lotus had sent her to do. She could start with that.

She could see the boat approaching in the distance and started to walk down the dock when a voice called out behind her. "Korra!"

"Su?"

Suyin was walking along the edge of the island, alone. Korra hadn't had a chance to talk her one on one since Su had arrived from Zaofu. To be honest, Korra didn't know what to say. Su and Lin's relationship had been so complicated that Korra hadn't known what to say.

"What are you doing down here?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

Su let out a deep breath and shrugged. "The funeral is tomorrow morning and I needed some space. I love Baatar and I know he's trying his best to support me, but he's smothering me."

At first, Korra hesitated to tell Su the truth. Korra knew that Su was looking for someone to blame just as much as she was, but Korra didn't have any actual proof that Soraya was involved. But then again, maybe facing Lin's sister would pressure Soraya to tell the truth. And if worse came to worse, she could certainly use Su's help.

"I'm waiting for Soraya."

"Who?" Su frowned in confusion.

Mentally, Korra slapped herself. Of course, Su wouldn't know who Soraya was. She had been mourning her sister and planning the funeral. "She's a representative from the White Lotus who was assigned to help find out what happened."

"Why would the White Lotus send someone to help with something like this? I mean, I guess I'm glad, but Lin's murder doesn't have anything to do with you or the Avatar cycle. Does it?"

"No, that's why I've decided to have a little face to face with her. Mako overheard a strange conversation and I've got some questions."

Su thought it over for a moment and then asked, "Would you like some back up?"

Korra let out a smirk, "I was hoping you would say that."

Matching each other stride for stride, the two women walked down the dock. Soraya was one of the first off the boat, followed by several Air Acolyte and Airbenders. She held up a hand to greet Korra. Good, she didn't suspect anything. Soraya nodded her head politely to Su and said, "I was just coming to find you."

"That makes two of us. This is Suyin Beifong and we were wondering if we could talk to you."

Soraya's eyes flittered between the two of them before gathering her composure. "I'm sorry for your loss, Mrs. Beifong. The White Lotus sends their regards."

"Thank you." Su turned on her heel to lead them away. Soraya went next and Korra followed in the rear. Su led them off the regular path and soon came to a stop under a tree.

"Is there something I can do for you," Soraya asked Korra, obviously confused about the situation.

At that moment, Korra forgot every clever question and the plan she had come up with. She lashed out and grabbed Soraya but the front of her White Lotus uniform and shoved her back against the tree. Her free hand lit with fire and she growled, "Why are you here?"

"Korra!" called out Su in surprise, but the metalbender did not make a move to stop her.

Soraya didn't fight back, but she also didn't answer. Korra asked again, "Why are you here? What interest does the White Lotus have with the Police Station murders?"

"Korra, maybe we should talk about this calmly," tried Soraya, but stopped speaking when Korra's fire burned at a higher intensity.

"Unless the White Lotus already knew that there were spirits involved and sent you to find out more. But why not tell us? You've been lying since you got here!"

Su's voice came from behind her. "Spirits? Spirits murdered Lin?"

"No! I mean, not really. Or at least we don't think so. I'm sorry she's dead, but she was working for the White Lotus-"

"What!?" shouted Korra and Su at the same time. Metal clamps flew past Korra and wrapped themselves around Soraya's wrists.

"It's time to stop lying and talk," snarled Su as Korra stepped back so they could interrogate Soraya together.

The woman shook her dark hair and protested, "I can't tell you! I shouldn't have even told you that. I told President Raiko the truth. The White Lotus sent me to help with your investigation."

"But you knew that spirits were involved!"

Soraya hesitated, but then admitted, "Yes. But I don't think it was spirits that killed her. The group that is working with them is who killed her. The spirits just helped take the station. I think they killed her trying to get information."

"Lin would never give in to torture. She wouldn't have told them a thing." As the words left Su's lips, the older woman let out a gasp. Korra put a hand on her arm to comfort her. She knew what was playing through her mind- Lin dying as they tortured her.

"Why not tell us all of this from the beginning? Unless you had something to hide!" Korra pressed on. "Is that why you are waiting for the Fire Lord? Is she next?"

Soraya's eyes widened in surprised. Korra felt instant satisfaction. Su's voice dropped an octave as she said, "If you want to get to Izumi, you'll have to go through me first."

"No, wait-" cried Soraya, struggling a bit with Su's metal restraints. "That's not it at all! But I can't tell you, I'm not supposed to say anything! Please, I'm on your side."

"Avatar Korra! Suyin! Stop!" Korra and Su turned around to face the towering slim figure of Fire Lord Azumi. She was flanked by Opal and Jinora. "Su, let her go."

"What?"

"Su, let Soraya go and I will explain everything." Izumi looked down her silver glasses at her childhood friend. Su never broke eye contact with Izumi as she flicked her wrist and the metal fell to the ground. Soraya rubbed her wrists, but otherwise did not move. "She's working for my father. I trust her completely."

"But she-"

Izumi raised her hand to stop Korra. "I understand that you feel she lied to you. She was under strict instructions not to report anything to you until we could gather more information."

Korra felt the heat rising in her face. "I'm the Avatar! The White Lotus is supposed to work with me!"

"The White Lotus was designed to protect the Avatar and the Avatar cycle. I apologize for all of this secrecy. My father did not want to involve the Avatar. So much has happened to you in the past few years and the White Lotus thought they could handle this."

"Lin's dead, Izumi," snapped Su. "I don't think they're handling anything."

Izumi's voice quivered slightly when she spoke again, "I'm sorry, Su. I can't even find the words. But Lin…Lin and I agreed to this risk when my father came to us. He needed someone he could trust to keep a secret, someone outside of the White Lotus. He chose Lin and I."

"Lin was working for the White Lotus," repeated Korra in disbelief.

Izumi nodded, "Well, Lin considered it more working for Father than for the White Lotus. But essentially yes. He thought the Order would not think to look outside of the White Lotus."

Korra was beginning to think Izumi's presence only caused more questions than answers. "The Order?"

"The Order is a fringe group that is searching for a spirit that could change the course of humanity," she explained simply.

"And that's why Lin's dead," murmured Su. This time Izumi paused and took two long strides to Su and wrapped her arms around her. Su let out a little sob, but let her old friend comfort her.

Korra swallowed back the lump in her throat and shifted from foot to foot. Soraya still stood frozen under the tree. With a groan, Korra shuffled over to face her. "I would like to apologize for what just happened."

"It's alright, Avatar Korra. I understand how stressful this has all been." Soraya still looked nervous, but Korra trusted Izumi. Some more explanations were in order, but if Izumi said she was on their side, then Korra believed her.

Izumi touched Korra's shoulder and murmured, "Let's get to the Temple. I can explain more there."

Glancing to Opal and Jinora and then back to Izumi and Su, Korra replied. "Yeah, we have some news too."