Page 38 of Her Final Hours (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #3)

O n the way over to Alicia’s, parental paranoia wanted to override the common sense of Noah’s investigative experience.

This asshole wanted to cloud his judgment and make him reactive instead of active.

It was a form of control. But how much was the abductor really in control?

He wanted Noah to believe he could see and hear everything he did, but even that had limitations.

His home.

His vehicle, perhaps.

The phone he was told to carry. Could he be heard through it when he wasn’t using it and was away from the Bronco and house? He’d seen the new smartphone technology used to eavesdrop on conversations even if a phone wasn’t on.

But was he that clever?

That advanced to have access to it?

Even that was a stretch for him to believe .

His conversation with Mia’s abductor hadn’t given him any indication that he knew where Jane Doe was being kept, which meant that Alicia’s home couldn’t possibly be bugged.

The decision to use her abode as a safe house was made at the last minute.

As an outsider, Alicia was someone he felt no one would consider.

The transfer of Jane Doe from the hospital to her home had occurred late at night.

They’d removed her by ambulance and then transferred her into his vehicle further down the road.

Now he had to alert Callie and McKenzie through Alicia.

Of course, he’d have to ditch the cell to be sure the abductor wasn’t listening, but that could be done. He could be set down in another room while he spoke with Alicia elsewhere.

As hope rose, so did fear. The two battled it out, fighting for control of his decisions. There was so much that could go wrong. For Mia’s sake, he couldn’t afford any mistakes.

Noah arrived at Alicia’s home, carefully maneuvering through the snowy conditions.

As he parked the vehicle, he glanced at the state troopers stationed outside, their patrol car parked nearby.

He knew they were there to keep watch and provide backup if needed, but after what happened at the hospital, he couldn’t help but wonder if they were still alive.

After getting out, he trudged through the snow over to their cruiser.

As he approached, the biting cold seeped through his jacket.

Before he got within two feet, one of the troopers rolled down his frost-covered window.

“Noah,” he said, greeting him, his breath visible in the frigid air. “No coffee for us?”

Noah managed to break a small smile, trying to mask the worry gnawing at him. “Not this time, guys. Things are a little… complicated.”

The troopers exchanged concerned glances, realizing there was more going on. “How did it go last night?” Noah asked.

“Quiet. ”

Noah patted the car. “I’ll see if Alicia can wrestle you up a warm drink. Stay alert,” he said. With a final nod of acknowledgment, Noah left the troopers and approached Alicia’s front door. He knew time was of the essence, and every second counted.

A quick knock and she opened, her expression mirroring his. He entered, his eyes scanning, looking for the girl. “You’re early,” Alicia said, surprise evident in her voice. He could tell she sensed the urgency in his actions and wondered what had transpired since their last communication.

“How was she last night?” he asked, wasting no time getting to the point.

“Good. She was talking in her sleep. I wrote some of it down. I’m unsure if any of it will be useful or make sense, but I figured it was worth a shot.”

Noah took out the phone the abductor had left with him; he set it down on a nearby surface and looked at Alicia. She could tell that something was bothering him. “Any coffee? The guys want some,” he said, trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy despite the growing weight of the situation.

He entered the kitchen, turned the faucet on, and let the water gush out. Alicia noticed his strange behavior. “What is it, Noah?” she asked.

Noah took a second before speaking, gathering his cluttered throughs. “You remember telling me about the darkness that still exists in this county, the bad element lurking beneath the surface?” he asked, his voice low.

She nodded, her expression serious.

“It’s shown up again,” he replied, his voice filled with anger. “He has Mia.”

Alicia’s eyes widened in shock. “Mia’s gone?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Noah nodded as he sat at the kitchen table, feeling his daughter’s absence pressing down on him, and his inability to control the situation. “I’m being watched, listened to,” he explained, glancing over at the cell phone. “He wants Payton’s daughter in exchange for Mia.”

Alicia sat down, understanding the magnitude of the predicament. She crossed the room and turned off the faucet. “Milk and sugar?”

“Yeah, sure,” he replied. Alicia filled the kettle and began making noise. “I was thinking of having a shake,” she said, taking some milk and putting it into a blender. She switched it on, and the noise filled the air again.

Alicia sat back down again. “Exchange where?”

“Athena’s farm.”

She frowned. “How’s that going to work? You have state troopers with you.”

Noah nodded, glancing out the window at their cruiser. “I know. I tried to tell him, but he hung up before I could…” He groaned, and Alicia shifted her seat in closer and placed a hand on his arm in a gesture of support.

“Noah, you know it won’t be a clean exchange,” she said, her voice brimming with concern and logic.

“I’m aware. But right now, Mia’s safety is all that matters.”

“What can I do?” she asked.

Noah paused for a second, contemplating their next moves. “I need to alert Callie and McKenzie,” he said, his voice grave. “But...” he trailed off.

“You think they could blow it if they know?”

He nodded but then shrugged. “If they did, it wouldn’t be because of them.

” He glanced back out to the cell on the counter in the living room, hoping that their conversation was private and the abductor wasn’t monitoring them too closely.

He figured whoever was behind it had already made one big mistake letting the girl get away; they couldn’t possibly be smart enough to be using tech that could allow them to eavesdrop while it was off.

Still, if any mistake were made, it would likely be because he did not follow the rules.

“So you drop the girl off, and then what?” Alicia asked.

“He said he would call.”

She looked confused. “I don’t get it. Why does he want her?”

Noah shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe there’s something else. Something we’ve overlooked. Something that she knows. Is she awake?” he asked.

“Not yet. Wait here.” Alicia exited the room only to return a moment later with a pad of paper in her hands. “It’s not much, but the girl was talking in her sleep,” she explained, handing it to him. “I wrote down some of what I could make out.”

Noah took the pad of paper, his eyes scanning the mixture of words, a date, and other fragments. He furrowed his brow, trying to make sense of the disjointed phrases.

“Thanks,” Noah replied. He realized the paper could include crucial information that could lead to saving Mia, but right now, it was just more noise in the chaos.

“Once I’m gone, alert Callie and McKenzie.

But be careful. We can’t afford any mistakes or slip-ups.

” He paused. “Do you have your phone?” She gave it to him, and he took a photo of the paper.

“Send this to them.” She nodded. He tucked the paper into his pocket, hoping to analyze it later. Maybe it would offer a valuable clue.

She then placed a comforting hand on his arm.

She knew the pain and confusion he was experiencing and wished she could offer more than just words of support.

“You’ll get her back, Noah,” she said. He nodded, appreciating the words, even if his mind remained uncertain.

He looked out at the whiteout conditions, the storm raging outside.

The severity of it all amplified his determination to bring an end to this.

Changing gears, Noah focused on the task at hand. “Are you good with a rifle from a long distance?” he asked.

Alicia met his gaze. “I’m a game warden. What do you think?” she replied, confidence seeping into her voice. She knew that her skills would be put to the test.

Noah nodded approvingly. “Good. I may need your expertise. But first, let’s wake the girl. It’s time to leave.”

Together they returned to the spare room where the girl was still sleeping, unaware of the turmoil unfolding. Alicia crouched and gently shook her shoulder, urging her to wake. The girl stirred, her eyes fluttering open; the confusion was evident in her expression.

“Hey, it’s time to go. You’re going to Dr. Blake’s home today.”

The girl blinked and glanced at Noah waiting in the doorway. There was a mixture of fear and trust in her eyes. “Why do I have to leave?” she asked softly.

Noah took a second to choose his words carefully.

He knew every decision he made from here on out would impact their chance of success.

“You’ll be protected there,” he replied, his words holding compassion yet at the same time, a sense of betrayal.

Her life mattered as much as Mia’s. The thought of turning her over and walking away, trusting these animals to follow through on their end, had plagued him since leaving that morning.

He’d wanted to do a different exchange. Something that would place the abductor at risk.

Something that would draw him out but one wrong word, and it could mean the end of Mia.

He didn’t think he could come back from that.

Alicia extended her hand. “You trust me, yes?” she asked. The girl nodded. “Then you can trust him. He’s going to do everything he can to keep you safe.”

The girl studied his face, searching for sincerity. After a brief pause, she got out of bed. Alicia’s words cut through him. Negotiating with criminals never ended well. Noah felt like he was about to lead a lamb to the slaughter.