Page 27 of Her Final Hours (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #3)

T he day of reckoning was finally here.

It didn’t take long to track down that dirtbag, Tommy Calhoun.

A quick call to the prison to acquire the name of his parole officer, and he soon had an address — of course, he’d had another officer make the call.

Someone inexperienced, wet behind the ears, and still in his first year with the High Peaks Police Department.

It was easier that way — fewer questions and zero roadblocks.

Ray sat in his Chevrolet Silverado with its darkly tinted windows, the weight of anticipation making his breath harder.

Swirling thoughts of revenge and protection consumed his mind as he took occasional swigs from a small steel whiskey flask, hoping it would steady his nerves.

A little liquid courage never harmed anyone, he thought.

Besides, it was his day off. As for drinking and driving, it wasn’t the first time and probably wouldn’t be the last. His moral warning light had flashed for years; he’d just stopped paying attention to it.

Parked in a heavily populated parking lot outside an apartment block in Saranac Lake, he’d been patiently waiting for hours, his eyes fixed on the entrance.

Beside him on the passenger side, a tire iron lay at the ready, a silent reminder of the violence inflicted upon his sister Maddie. In his eyes, the metal weapon represented Justice — a means to make Tommy pay for his past sins.

Like the fucking grim reaper, he was coming to collect and do what he should have done a long time ago.

The atmosphere in the truck was tense, the engine humming softly, mirroring the intensity of his swirling emotions.

The past few months had taken him to a dark place in his mind.

Losing Tanya to another guy, a failed suicide attempt, and the debt he could never pay had been lingering over his shoulder.

That darkness pressed in on him, mirroring his desire for retribution, a passion that had burned fiercely since learning of Maddie’s encounter.

He knew Tommy’s release from prison had unleashed a new wave of fear upon her, and he was determined to end it.

Ray narrowed his gaze as Tommy strolled out of the apartment building.

Mostly he had stayed the same. He still looked like a loser, except now his hair was cropped short, and he was sporting a heavy beard.

Ray’s heart rate ticked up, his grip tightening around the whiskey flask.

Instead of launching a direct attack, Ray planned to follow him discreetly, allowing a few other vehicles to interpose themselves between them.

As Tommy climbed into a beat-up pickup truck and pulled onto the road, Ray maneuvered his Silverado, maintaining a safe distance.

His mind raced with a multitude of scenarios, each one playing out in vivid detail.

Should he confront Tommy head-on and beat the living daylights out of him, showing no mercy?

Or he could call in some favors from less savory connections, letting them deliver the punishment Tommy deserved.

The possibilities whirled in his mind like a storm; each choice weighed with its own set of consequences.

But the obvious pushed through the noise.

Wait until Tommy reveals his true intentions.

Do it by the book. If he caught him red-handed, stalking Maddie, and pounced when he least expected, he could send him back to prison for good.

The notion sent a thrill of adrenaline through his veins.

It was the most logical and sound option to expose his nature in the most damning way possible.

Except where was the fun in that?

As Tommy’s truck weaved through the streets, Ray ensured he kept a safe distance, maintaining a delicate balance between tracking and avoiding detection.

High Peaks seemed to be Tommy’s initial destination, but at the last minute he changed course, taking an unexpected turn.

Doubts crept into Ray’s mind. Had Tommy noticed his presence? Would he return home to the apartment?

Against his better judgment, Ray followed as Tommy drove back into town. To his surprise, Tommy parked his truck and entered a café. Ray stopped across the street, his gaze fixed on the entrance. From his vantage point, he watched Tommy order coffee and sit near the café window.

Their eyes locked momentarily, and Ray could sense the smugness emanating from Tommy’s gaze.

He gritted his teeth, refusing to let his anger consume him.

He knew Tommy wanted to provoke him, to make him lose control and create a scene.

But he was determined to remain patient, to bide his time until the perfect opportunity presented itself.

An hour dragged by; each minute felt like an eternity.

Finally, Tommy left the café, climbed into his truck, and embarked on another journey through the streets.

Ray carefully trailed behind, ensuring he wasn’t noticed, but he was sure he’d been made.

Tommy’s destination this time baffled him.

He stopped outside and entered the Saranac Lake Police Department just on Main Street.

Confusion clouded Ray’s mind. What was he playing at?

Suddenly an officer emerged from the department with Tommy by his side.

Tommy pointed across the street, directly at Ray’s parked truck.

He recognized the officer as Richard Bentley, and Ray’s confusion deepened.

He and Bentley went way back, having worked together closely on multiple investigations in the past, sharing a mutual respect.

Ray’s instincts told him that something was amiss.

He waited until he rapped on the window with his knuckles before he lowered it. “How are you doing, Ray?”

“Could be better.”

Bentley shifted from one foot to the next. “I hate to say this, but we’ve had a complaint. He says you’re stalking him.”

A bitter chuckle escaped Ray’s lips, tinged with frustration. “Stalking him? So, I guess he conveniently omitted the part about him stalking my sister, breaking into her place, or beating her up?”

“He attacked her again?”

“Not again, but he will if…”

“Ray. Stop. As much as I think the guy is an asshole. He’s done his time. He has rights. If anyone should know that, you should.”

“Rights? Are you kidding me? His only right is the right to my fist in his face.”

His voice grew louder, ensuring Tommy could hear the conversation.

Across the street, Tommy stood with a slimy smirk plastered across his face, reveling in the chaos he’d created. The situation infuriated him, but he knew he had to tread carefully. He understood that Bentley had a duty to investigate the complaint, even if it seemed unjust.

“You know the background on this piece of shit,” Ray continued, his voice filled with conviction.

“I do. And if I had my way, I would let you take matters into your own hands. But…” Bentley trailed off, interrupted by Ray.

“You have a job to do,” Ray finished, a hint of remorse in his eyes. Bentley sniffed the air, noticing the faint scent of alcohol emanating from the truck’s interior.

He groaned. “Have you been drinking, Ray?”

Ray sighed, frustration mounting in him. He kept glancing past Bentley at Tommy, who seemed to enjoy the show. “Come on, man. Can’t you see what he’s doing?” Ray gestured towards Tommy, still wearing a smug expression.

Bentley glanced back, then returned to looking at him, caught between sympathy and duty. “How much have you had to drink, Ray?” he inquired, concerned for his colleague.

Realizing that continuing the conversation would only exacerbate the situation, Ray sighed. “Not enough. Now I’m leaving, okay?” he said, starting the Silverado’s engine.

“Ray!” Bentley called out, reaching out to pause his departure. Ray turned his attention back to the officer for a second before hitting the gas and peeling away. “Ray!” he yelled, but his voice was lost in the guttural sound of the exhaust pipe.

Ray gave a final glance in Tommy’s direction before he accelerated away, leaving behind the confrontation with Bentley and the evil presence of Tommy.

As he drove a few miles down the road, frustration coursed through him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Tommy was orchestrating every step, taunting him at every turn.

Then, as if on cue, a police cruiser appeared behind him, lights flashing, signaling him to pull over.

Reluctantly, Ray complied, his frustration mounting with each passing moment. The officer who approached his vehicle was different, but it was clear that he had been informed about the situation. “Sir, turn off the engine and step out of the vehicle,” he instructed.

Ray’s eyes narrowed, his defiance growing. “I’m not drunk,” he stated firmly, his voice tinged with exasperation. The officer persisted, insisting on conducting a breathalyzer test to confirm sobriety.

As Ray blew into the device, his gaze drifted toward the road as Tommy’s beat-up black Ford drove by slowly. Their eyes locked again, Tommy’s grin cutting through the day like a blade. It was a silent challenge, a reminder that Tommy still held the upper hand.

The device beeped, and the breathalyzer results returned under the legal limit, reaffirming his sobriety. “Close. Too close,” the officer said. “You should know better.”

“Yeah, yeah, save your self-righteous bullshit for someone who cares. What is this, your first day on the job?”

The officer scowled as Ray showed him his badge.

“All that means is you should know better.” With that said, he told Ray to wait there as he returned to his cruiser. He called it in, checked his license, and made sure dispatch knew he’d been a good little officer.

Ray leaned against his truck as he watched Tommy’s vehicle disappear into the distance, leaving a lingering sense of unease behind. His determination to protect Maddie and give Tommy a can of whoop ass only intensified, fueled by the brazen provocation he had just witnessed.

As the cruiser lights ceased flickering, the officer made one final comment before returning to his vehicle.

“We received the report, and we have to investigate all complaints. We understand your sister and Tommy’s history, so we’re willing to let this slide.

This time.” He handed him back the license .

Ray nodded, his eyes reflecting frustration. “Well, gee, thanks, officer,” he said sarcastically. “I’ll remember to give you a break the next time you’re breaking the law in High Peaks.”

The officer’s gaze held a glimmer of understanding, except he wasn’t too scared to make it clear that Ray’s position didn’t give him the green light to do whatever he wanted. “We’re held to a higher standard. Or has being a Sutherland made you forget that?”

Ray’s jaw tightened, his resolve hardening like steel. He bit down hard, holding back another sarcastic comment. He thanked the officer and got back into his Silverado. As he pulled back onto the road, adrenaline coursed through his veins reminding him of the danger that Maddie faced.

Law and order was one thing, and he’d shown restraint last time.

This time? Maybe going that route wouldn’t work.