Page 30 of Her Final Hours (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #3)

L ater that evening, Mia sat in her bedroom, surrounded by a scene shrouded in darkness.

The waterfront property stood in solitude, only faintly illuminated by the soft glow of distant streetlights.

The moon was partially veiled by wispy clouds casting a gentle light, lending an otherworldly ambiance to an area transformed into a winter wonderland, blanketed in a delicate layer of falling snow.

Flakes danced gracefully in the air, swirling and twirling like ethereal ballerinas.

The room was dimly lit, her desk cluttered with books and papers, as she pretended to do her homework. Her eyes kept glancing at the clock as she anxiously waited for it to strike eight. The restrictions imposed by her father had become suffocating, and her longing to be free had intensified.

Though she had been stripped of her phone, she had managed to sneak a call to her boyfriend on the landline. He had begged her to go out with him that evening.

At first, she refused, knowing it would only lead to even more problems at home, and she’d dug herself a grave already.

But he was very convincing. He won’t know, he’d argued.

There was a chance she could get away with it. She knew her father wouldn’t be around as much because he was working a new case. Gretchen had already taken over in the evenings, and as long as she played it cool, she wouldn’t have a clue.

Hours later, as tiny pebbles struck her window, Mia’s heart raced.

She hurried to the window and looked down, spotting him waiting under the glow of the backlights.

He waved her down. With a sense of rebellion, she made up her mind and decided to seize the moment.

Opening the window, she called down in a whisper, “Give me a minute. I’m coming. ”

She snatched up a thin coat. Her thick one was downstairs. She couldn’t risk getting into a conversation with Gretchen.

Mia climbed out without hesitation; her nimble movement ensured a swift descent. She landed gracefully on the ground, her adrenaline pumping. The snow-covered tree line beckoned her, and she darted through it, feeling the thrill of each step.

“You didn’t tell anyone, did you?”

“No, Teddy, I told everyone.”

“What?”

She slapped him on the arm. “You’re so gullible.”

He grinned. “You think your old man will check?” Teddy asked.

“No. He’s not home yet. Besides, I’ve stuffed my bed with pillows. He’ll think I’m asleep.”

He laughed. “Smart girl.”

Mia glanced back at the house one last time. Guilt was trying to steal what little joy she had. She pushed it down. She was ignoring her father’s words and ignoring the rules .

A sleek Jeep awaited on the other side of the tree line, its engine purring with anticipation. Inside, she was greeted by her friends, who were equally eager for the night’s adventure. The engine roared to life, and they tore away, leaving tracks in the snow.

Inside the Jeep, the atmosphere was charged with excitement.

Mia glanced around, counting the familiar faces of friends.

The lively music pulsating through the speakers only fueled their anticipation for an evening of fun.

Laughter abounded as they swapped stories and bonded over their rebellious act.

A bottle full of God knows what was passed around.

At first, she declined it, but urged by her friends, she gave into the peer pressure and took a few sips. Mia began coughing hard, and the others laughed.

“Lightweight.”

Their destination that night was a house nestled in the quiet town of Saranac Lake.

A party had been arranged — one of many she’d attended since entering high school.

Music seeped out as they pushed open the doors.

Inside, the energy shifted as everyone settled in.

Every room was alive with chatter and laughter, and the aroma of food filled the air.

Platters of finger foods adorned the tables, tempting the hungry guests, while an array of alcohol awaited to quench their thirst and loosen them up.

She watched in amusement as teens took turns holding up a bong full of beer and chugging it down while across the room, others did Jell-O shots off guys’ stomachs. Nearby, others played beer pong.

Time seemed to blur with each drink she had.

As the party progressed, Mia found herself drawn to her boyfriend’s company. He was older than her by two years. She understood her father’s hesitation, but with all that had happened to her mother, she no longer cared. All she wanted to do was bury the past beneath alcohol.

“Come on…” he said, taking her hand and leading her upstairs into a room.

He closed the door behind him and moved close.

She felt her nerves spike but found solace in the connection.

The music became a seductive backdrop for an intimate moment.

Amid the intoxicating atmosphere, however, his advances grew forceful, his intentions crossing the boundaries she had set.

“Teddy, no.”

“Come on; we’ve been waiting to be alone.”

“Not like this.”

“Is there any other way?”

Determined to assert her autonomy, Mia reacted instinctively, delivering a swift knee to his groin. He recoiled in pain, collapsing on the floor.

“When I say no, I mean no,” Mia barked, her voice laced with strength and defiance. “Now, take me home.”

“Take yourself home!” he said, writhing in agony.

Mia left, undeterred by the cold night air that chilled her exposed skin.

She adjusted her handbag over her shoulder.

The short coat she wore offered little protection.

Her determination to distance herself from the situation led her to decide — she would seek refuge at the home of Aiden West, her mother’s fiancé.

He still resided in Saranac and had told her father that he could send them to him if he ever needed a break.

A growing sense of unease crept over her as she made her way through the familiar streets.

Glancing over her shoulder, Mia noticed a white van dragging behind her; its speed sent shivers down her spine.

Fear propelled her into a desperate sprint, maneuvering through alleyways to shake off her pursuers.

In a moment of relief, she emerged into a seemingly empty parking lot, believing she had evaded the van .

Unbeknownst to her, danger lurked nearby.

Out of breath, she took a second or two to catch her breath before pressing on.

As she passed by a row of parked cars, one of them sprang to life.

A side door opened and a figure darted out, grabbing her forcefully and placing a cloth over her mouth to mute her cries.

The overpowering scent of chloroform overwhelmed her senses as she was tossed like a rag doll into the van. The door slammed. Darkness enveloped her, and everything in her mind faded to black.

The protection of a potential witness was common practice. What was not was this. It was an unconventional approach, certainly outside the scope of typical small-town police procedure, but then everything in High Peaks seemed to push the boundaries of what should or shouldn’t be done.

Noah had requested changing Jane Doe’s location after her near-abduction at the hospital. Savannah had wanted to increase the number of deputies at the hospital or put her into the custody of child services.

Both were too risky in light of the recent murder of a deputy.

They’d already drawn enough attention from the media, and the Adirondack Sheriff’s Office had fallen under scrutiny.

No, something different had to be done.

He would have taken her to his home, but the instability and his need to work the case made it impossible. Ed was out of the question, Madeline was dealing with her own situation, Hugh was knee-deep in the sale of a house, and there was no way he would put this on Kerri.

More often than not, if the situation called for protection, another agency, such as the U.S.

Marshals, was assigned the task. However, that was typical before, during, and after a trial when the witness had an association with the government.

As it stood, the girl was still being considered a potential runaway in the eyes of the Sheriff’s Office.

With nothing tangible to attach her to the other missing girl cases, other than the words carved into her body, they decided on a solution.

Of course, the psychologist’s opinion heavily swayed their decision.

“You know I don’t like this arrangement, Noah,” Savannah said.

“It’s temporary. She can be trusted. Besides, if someone is intent on getting their hands on her — for whatever reasons — they may be watching the news about the case.

The media has already connected the deputy’s death at the hospital to a girl found wandering on the tracks.

Thanks to someone at the hospital leaking that out.

No, the fewer people who know where she is, the better.

It’s just one night; then she’ll be taken to Dr. Athena Blake’s farm to begin the trauma program. ”

“All right, but I am posting two deputies outside her place.”

He wasn’t going to argue. The fact that Savannah even considered his suggestion was a miracle. Since she had taken the position of lieutenant, their relationship, though good, had been strained as she tried to draw the line between old friend and supervisor.

Noah gripped the steering wheel tightly as he maneuvered the Bronco through the treacherous snow-covered roads.

The storm had arrived earlier than expected, casting a white blanket over the town and making each mile difficult.

His heart pounded in his chest, both from the adrenaline of the situation and the weight of responsibility resting on his shoulders.