Page 50 of Her Final Hours (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #3)
S pring brought with it a sense of new beginnings.
Inside Ed’s waterfront property, set back from the rippling surface of High Peaks Lake, Noah found himself preoccupied in the kitchen.
His attention was fixated on a recent news update of abduction and sex trafficking that had made headlines seven weeks earlier.
The weight of the investigation still lingered, mingling now with the subtleness of spring that permeated the Adirondacks.
As Noah leaned over the breakfast counter and scanned the article on a tablet, his eyes occasionally glanced up from the screen, catching glimpses of the vibrant scenery moving beyond the cabin’s window.
Outside, he watched Mia and Ethan down by the dock; a smile danced on her face, an expression he hadn’t seen in a long while.
While news of Aiden’s involvement in the death of Lena had been a shock, it had brought them closure as a family, though it failed to take away the hole that only time could heal.
Mia had been through so much in her abduction; fortunately, none involved abuse.
Lessons were learned through decisions made.
Regret was realigning her. The desire to grow up too fast vanished, and with it, her interest in older guys like Teddy.
It gave him a smidgen of hope for the future.
Beyond his children, nature unveiled its seasonal transformation, the snow-capped peaks now kissed by gentle warmth from the sun, breathing life into the surrounding wilderness.
The tranquil melody of chirping birds and the soothing rustle of leaves blended harmoniously as water lapped against the dock.
It wouldn’t be long before the lake was crowded with visitors boating and swimming.
A gentle breeze carried in the scent of fresh earth, mingling with the tantalizing aroma of a nearby barbecue.
“Noah. Where have you gone?” Ed, the old and forever quirky guy they were staying with until Noah’s prefabricated home was built, stepped into the cabin. Caught off guard, Noah lifted his gaze from the news update. The sound of his voice drew his attention.
“What?”
“I’ll have you know I have burgers and sausages as black as the ace of spades out there. I sent you in ten minutes ago to get the steaks. Where are they?” he said with a mixture of annoyance and amusement.
Noah replied, still distracted, “Yeah, I was just giving them a little longer to marinate.”
Ed’s eyes narrowed, scrutinizing his actions. “You marinated them three days ago. Any longer, and we’ll be drinking them through a straw.”
Realizing his absentmindedness, Ed shook his head and refocused.
“Oh no, don’t rush to help. I’ll get them myself.
Even though this was your bright idea,” he said, pulling open the fridge and extracting the tub of meat.
“With all the people you invited, I’m pretty sure you should be the one out there cooking. ”
“I offered, but you wouldn’t let me near your BBQ.”
Ed scoffed, his gruff exterior softening with a hint of a smile. “Damn right, liable to blow us all to kingdom come.” With a determined stride, he marched out, ready to retake control of the grilling situation.
As abrupt as he could be, his generosity overshadowed it all. After the initial shock wore off when Noah told Ed they were about to become neighbors and that he needed a temporary place, Ed welcomed them in with open arms.
Noah couldn’t help but wonder if his brashness was all an act and if he didn’t appreciate the company. Gretchen was more than willing to have them, as was Kerri, and even his father, but Noah had told them he wanted to be onsite for the build.
Noah smiled, returning to the article, his gaze fixed on the headline, boldly displaying the progress made by multiple agencies in a combined effort that crossed state lines.
Camp Counselor and Teacher Among 63 Arrested in New York Abduction and Sex Trafficking Bust
He quickly scanned the article, absorbing the intricate details that unraveled a web of deceit hidden behind the local fishing and hunting club but spreading far and wide.
As the narrative unfolded, the mouthwatering smell of steak drifted through the open window, blending with the cabin’s atmosphere.
Then Noah received a Facetime call.
His eyes were glued to the tablet’s screen as the familiar face of Dr. Athena Blake materialized before him. The video call connected, revealing her in the comfort of her home office. Soft sunlight streamed through the window, giving her surroundings a warm glow.
“Hi, Dr. Blake,” Noah greeted her. He studied her face, searching for any signs of distress or urgency. He wondered if there was a problem with Payton’s daughter, who had been under her care and therapy since being found on the tracks.
Athena’s expression softened as she returned his greeting. The gentle arch of her brows framed her eyes. There was something about her that exuded calmness and professionalism.
“Noah, I just wanted to apologize that we won’t be there for the BBQ, unfortunately.
I would have contacted you sooner, but the last few days have been a whirlwind,” she began, her voice carrying regret.
Noah’s heart sank. He knew Mia had been looking forward to seeing Payton’s daughter again.
The two girls had formed a unique bond, their connection deepened by the shared experience, even though Payton’s daughter’s ordeal had been far more extreme.
“That’s too bad. Everything okay?” he asked. Athena leaned back in her chair, her delicate hand reaching up to remove stylish glasses, which now dangled around her neck like an accessory of knowledge.
“Couldn’t be better,” she replied, a smile gracing her lips. “As you’re aware, we’ve made some substantial progress in the last seventy-two hours and…” Her voice trailed off as she noticed Noah’s confused expression, causing his brow to furrow. “You’re not aware?” she inquired, surprised.
He raised an eyebrow, confusion playing on his features. He shook his head in response. “No. Sorry. What progress?” His words tumbled out as his mind tried to catch up with the conversation. Dr. Blake’s statement piqued his interest.
She nodded. “I contacted your colleagues at the Sheriff’s Office and your lieutenant,” she began. Noah rocked his head back, his mind connecting the dots.
“Ah, okay. I’ve been taking some time off to get settled with the kids. We just moved out of the waterfront property. What’s the update? ”
Athena observed him intently, her fingers lacing together as she prepared to share the news. “Where do I begin?” she mused. “If you recall, I said these things can take time, but it can sometimes have a domino effect when it does happen. That’s what happened. She remembered her name.”
Noah’s eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat momentarily. The significance reverberated through his being. Payton’s daughter, the girl they had all been tirelessly supporting, had regained a crucial piece of her identity.
“Her name is Chloe,” Dr. Blake continued. “And she told me what happened in her final hours with her mother.”
Noah breathed deeply, his mind swimming with relief and lingering anguish. The memories of the past resurfaced, intertwining with the discoveries they had made during the long and arduous investigation. Decades had passed since the fateful day when Payton had gone missing at Heart Lake.
Noah had been haunted by the mystery through that time, enduring the scrutiny and suspicion that had fallen upon him and Jenna Moulton. Many had believed, for years, that they had done something and covered it up.
But the truth they had unraveled told a different story. Fibers found in Otis Lee’s truck, retrieved from Aiden West’s home, revealed that Payton had been abducted to be trafficked.
She had been held captive at the farm for some time, her name etched among the others on the wall — a chilling testament to the horrors she had endured.
Eventually, she was moved, and the pieces of the puzzle came together through Patrick Bromide, who had disclosed to Callie that Joseph Collins had been the one who held Payton captive in his home, subjecting her to regular abuse and isolating her from society.
Chloe, their daughter, was the tragic outcome of that captivity.
In an ironic twist, Noah discovered that Payton had been held mere miles away from High Peaks on the outskirts of Westport, New York.
While he had pursued his career in the military, then with the Sheriff’s Office, and finally made a move to the state level — Payton had been locked away like an animal, enduring unimaginable atrocities.
Yet, somewhere within that darkness, her spirit had remained unbroken.
Noah’s voice trembled with dread as he asked, “What happened?”
Dr. Blake glanced off momentarily, her gaze distant, before raising a finger and excusing herself from the screen. Noah could hear the faint sound of a door closing, creating a privacy barrier. Moments later, she returned, her expression weighted with the burden of the new trauma she had unraveled.
“Sorry about that. It’s still fresh for her,” she said.
“It was a trauma for her to relive it in her mind. From what I’ve been able to extract, Joseph Collins — her father — decided to profit from Chloe, selling her off to someone within the trafficking ring.
Before he could follow through on that promise, Payton became aware of this, and in an attempt to save her daughter, she devised a plan to escape with Chloe. ”
Noah’s brow knitted together, his mind grappling with the situation’s complexity. “Escape? But how, if he had held them both captive all these years?”