Page 13 of Her Final Hours (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #3)

As he absorbed the information, his gaze drifted towards the bridge further up the river as a train rumbled by.

The bridge was weathered and worn by the passage of time.

It stood as a testament to the history and resilience of the region.

As the train rumbled across the bridge, its haunting sound echoed through the stillness, momentarily punctuating the heavy atmosphere.

“Perhaps he entered the river over there.”

Callie took a few steps forward to follow his gaze. “What?”

“The bridge,” he replied.

Noah couldn’t help but wonder about the connection between this homicide and the mysterious girl found wandering the tracks. Breaking his train of thought, Noah turned to McKenzie and Callie. “Where exactly was Jane Doe found wandering on the tracks?”

McKenzie replied. “About eight minutes south of Westport, not too far from here. You think there is a connection to her?”

“Well, she was found with blood that wasn’t hers on her hands.”

He looked back at the body.

“Which reminds me,” Ozzy said. “Again, I’m not going to give you a firm yes until we hear from the doc on this but take a look,” he said, crouching and pulling back the striped shirt from the deceased.

“These wounds and these wounds are consistent but don’t match the ones here.

These lower ones to the abdomen aren’t as deep as the others and have traces of glass.

The others don’t. I’m no brain scientist—”

“Clearly,” McKenzie said.

Ozzy glared at him. “But from what I can tell based on bruising and the general appearance, these wounds occurred before the chest wounds and throat slashing. I think they were made by—”

“Two weapons,” Noah finished the sentence. “At two different times.”

“Uh-huh. That’s what I’m leaning toward.”

Noah rose. “Good work, Oz. Well, let’s run his prints through CODIS, check dental records, get his mugshot out there, canvass the neighborhood to see if anyone caught anything on cameras, have Addie run a full autopsy, cross-check his blood with what was swabbed from the girl, and see what we can dig up on this guy. ”

As they returned, Alicia pulled Noah aside while the other two walked on.

“Hey, um, I heard about Lena. I’m sorry. That’s got to be hard. I thought you would have invited me to the funeral.”

“Her father wanted to keep it private.”

She nodded. “And the kids, how are they coping?”

“As expected, not well.”

The moment was awkward, as it would be with anyone who had lost a loved one. There was nothing you could say. Sometimes it was just a matter of being present, showing concern. “If you ever need any help. I’d be willing.”

“I appreciate that.”

She took a deep breath. “By the way, the insurance company gave me the cash-out option. But I heard you moved into that fancy property. How did you manage to pull that off?”

“I guess you could say my father has connections,” he replied, reflecting on his discussion with Natalie Ashford.

“Well, I guess you won’t want the land then.”

“I might.”

“Things not working out?”

“Let’s say I think we would be better living elsewhere.”

“Even if it means being neighbors with Ed?” she said with a smile.

“I hate to say it, but yeah.”

She shifted from one foot to the next. “Do you have the funds to build?”

The corner of his lip curled up. “I would need to shift some funds around, but….”

“Noah.”

She knew him a little too well. “All right. No. Not immediately. But I can come up with the money. It’s just going to be slow,” he said, thinking about where his retirement nest egg had gone. He’d have to get a bank loan.

Alicia smiled back. “Well, look. Here’s what I can do. I’ll let you use the land if you pay me back, with interest of course.”

“Sounds fair,” he replied.

“I believe you are good for that. You’ll need to come up with the funds to build a home, but it sounds like your father has the connections.

He can swing you a loan, or the bank can pay for one of those prefab homes.

I hear you can get one of those up in roughly four to eight months.

Alternatively, I’m sure your aunt can put you up briefly at her place.

In fact, I’m surprised she’s still holding on to the place. ”

“Memories are hard to let go.”

“That they are,” she said. Noah sensed that she was referring to what might have been between them. Her response was the perfect segue.

“How’s the new boyfriend?”

“Old, you mean. That was months ago. It didn’t last,” she said. She shrugged as if it didn’t matter, but it did. “Ah, he took off after a couple of weeks. The story of my life. I seem to have a way of pushing people away.” She squeezed out a strained smile.

Noah cocked his head to one side, his brow furrowing. “Alicia.”

She threw a hand up before he could get into it, glancing at her phone.

“Shoot. I should get back to work.” She looked at him as she walked away, jabbing her finger.

“Remember what I said if you need a break. You know, with the case and all. I could… probably swing by and help out with the kids; I’m off now for a week — overdue vacation time.

Just give me a call. You’ve got my number, right? ”

He gave a nod. “Thanks.”

McKenzie was in conversation with the farm owners while Callie’s cruiser was gone. No doubt she had been called away to an incident. Noah made his way over and could hear the conversation was heated.

“Aye, maybe, but I’m just saying it looks suspicious.”

The old-timer brushed McKenzie away like he was nothing but an annoying fly. “You might tell your partner here not to accuse me.”

“I didn’t accuse you. I merely poked holes in your alibi.”

Noah tugged at McKenzie’s arm, pulling him away while at the same time apologizing. “What are you doing?” he then asked.

“My job.”

“They’ve already collected the statements.”

“Aye, I know, but did you read them?”

“No, but I….”

“Then feast and withhold your judgment.”

He handed Noah a notebook. He flipped the pages a few times. “McKenzie, what am I looking for here?”

“Holes. Holes, my friend.”

“There are none.”

“Exactly. No one has an airtight statement. No one has asked what his grandchildren were doing down by the water. Anyone with a lick of sense would know that you don’t let kids that young run by a thrashing river.”

“They’re his grandkids. It’s his property.”

“Aye. Which makes it even more suspicious that the body just happened to get hooked up right behind the farm. You heard what Oz said; the deceased male wasn’t murdered there.

I don’t see anything about a property search being conducted in that statement.

For all we know, he could have hooks up in his barn, Ed Gein style. ”

“McKenzie. Did you work as a detective in the Big Apple?”

“For over a decade. Why?”

“Then I think you need to get your eyes checked,” he said, opening the notebook to a page where it stated that multiple deputies searched the property and found no signs to indicate foul play or anything suspicious other than what had been found.

He handed it over, and McKenzie stared at the pages in confusion.

“I swear those bastards used invisible ink. I looked at this, and it wasn’t there. ”

“Did you think to turn the pages?” Noah asked, shaking his head as he walked away.

Behind him, McKenzie cursed. “My eyes are just fine. Just fine, I tell you.”

Back at his vehicle, he pulled his phone out to check messages.

There was one from Maddie, hoping to meet with him for coffee the next day, and one from Savannah to let him know that the child psychologist — Dr. Athena Blake — had returned to the county.

It came with a phone number. He dialed it, hoping she had gleaned something from Jane Doe.