Page 51 of Her Final Hours (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #3)

Dr. Blake took a sip of water, her thoughtful gaze meeting his troubled eyes.

She paused, gathering her thoughts before providing an answer that would further unravel the enigma surrounding their harrowing ordeal.

“She earned his trust,” she began. “From my experience as a therapist, a form of Stockholm syndrome developed at some point — a means of survival. From my work with other survivors who escaped their captors, they had told me that there were times when they were left alone and had the opportunity to leave, but they didn’t.

It’s hard for any of us to understand, but it happens.

I believe the push for Payton to move beyond her deep-rooted fear of Joseph came from a greater fear of what would happen to Chloe. ”

Noah squinted, trying to comprehend the complexities. “And Chloe? How did she learn so much without school?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Dr. Blake nodded. “Payton taught her. They also had access to a TV, and Joseph managed to obtain educational material. It’s difficult for us to grasp the bond that can be created between an abductee and their captor, but as strange as it is, it exists.

It’s a form of coping with an extreme situation. ”

Noah’s gaze drifted outside, where Mia sat by the dock. The thought of what could have happened to her had he not managed to bring her back safely had plagued him with sleepless nights since her return. He refocused, wanting to know more.

“And then?” he asked.

“They didn’t get far. It seems Payton decided to take the money.

She must have known the others would punish Joseph.

Maybe it was some form of payback. Anyway, Joseph caught up with them in a cemetery.

There was a confrontation between him and Payton.

Chloe, in an act of desperation to protect her mother from his assault, stabbed him.

While still being strangled by Joseph, Payton screamed for Chloe to run.

The details after that are still a blur for Chloe.

She only remembers being found on the tracks, that’s it. ”

“So, she doesn’t know if her mother is dead?” he questioned.

Dr. Blake shook her head. “No, she doesn’t. That’s why I reached out to Detective McKenzie and Lieutenant Legacy. We hope to gather more information about the cemetery and the events that transpired there.”

“What about the names etched into her skin? Do you think she did that or Joseph?”

“She hasn’t told me but if I was to take a stab in the dark, I think she did it herself so that every time Joseph or any other man looked at her, they would be faced with those they have murdered.”

“You think they’re all dead?” Noah asked.

“Don’t you?”

There was a pause.

“Yes, however, I thought Payton was dead all these years. Until we know otherwise, we’ll continue to search.” Noah paused before continuing, “And the money?”

“No idea. Again. We’re still working with her.

” Athena breathed in, collecting her thoughts.

“Anyway,” she continued, “the emotions are raw right now. In a few days, I will take Chloe to meet Esther, Payton’s mother, to prepare her for her transition from the farm back to some semblance of a normal life. ”

Noah nodded, grateful for the information she’d shared. “Thank you, doctor, for telling me,” he said.

“Oh, before I go. I meant to say that… with all that Mia has gone through, if you would like to bring her to the farm, even if it’s just for the weekend, I would be happy to talk to her. These events can leave quite the imprint on a person’s psyche.”

Gratitude swelled, and appreciation for the support and understanding she offered. Noah thanked her again before ending the call, his mind swirling with the weight of the revelations and the need to protect and heal those he cared about most.

Noah looked out at Mia, then turned and walked into another room, heading straight to the closet where he retrieved his jacket.

Opening it, he reached inside and pulled out the pad of paper that contained the fragmented words Chloe had muttered in her sleep.

At the time, the words had seemed nonsensical, but now, with the revelations he had just learned, perhaps they held some meaning .

Just as his thoughts swirled, the doorbell rang, interrupting his concentration.

“Noah!” Ed’s voice echoed through the house.

“I’ll get it,” he replied, still engrossed, scanning the words on the paper. He reached the main door, opening it to find Callie standing on the porch, out of uniform. Behind her, McKenzie juggled several plates of food, making his way over.

“Hurry up, McKenzie,” Callie urged, a wry smile dancing across her face. She looked back. “Noah, I hope we aren’t late. We were waiting on some baked goods. Did you know that our Scotsman here is quite the chef?”

Noah grinned.

“Aye, and she’s quite the slave master,” McKenzie playfully teased. Stepping forward, Noah offered his help.

“Here, let me give you a hand with those.”

McKenzie continued. “See, Thorne? That’s called helping someone out.”

She turned her gaze toward him. “Oh, stop, McKenzie. You’re such a drama queen,” Callie retorted.

“I helped you out by bringing you here. If it weren’t for me, you would be eating alone today.

I had to drag him here,” she gestured toward the Scotsman.

“Go on, William Wallace, get those inside,” she added.

Noah chuckled, enjoying their banter.

“You hear that, Noah? You’re my witness. Abuse. Ordering me around like I’m her lap dog. You should hear her mouth when we’re in the cruiser. She’d make a sailor blush,” he quipped. With that, he strode inside, leaving Noah on the porch with two plates in hand.

Callie took one of the plates, playfully remarking, “I guess I should do my part. It’s just that he’s so easy to wind up.” She chuckled, walking in.

After setting down the food, McKenzie ventured outside, where Ed greeted him. Noah offered Callie a drink.

“Sure,” she replied, accepting the cold beer while he took one for himself.

“Started drinking again?” she asked.

“Only one,” Noah replied.

“Well, I’m pretty sure that’s how it begins. Anyway, I won’t hound you over it. Lord knows you’ve had reason to drink lately. How’s Mia doing?” she inquired, sitting at the kitchen counter.

Noah leaned forward, twisting the cap off his beer. “Better than I expected.” He glanced out to where she was. Callie followed his gaze.

“That’s good. And the shoulder?”

Noah rolled it, wincing slightly. “Still achy,” he admitted, feeling the discomfort.

As they settled in, the afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. The aroma of food filled the air, mingling with laughter and conversation. Silence stretched between them as they gazed out at the picturesque views.

It was as if they could sense what the other was thinking as they both moved to speak simultaneously.

“Oh, no, you first,” Callie offered, breaking the silence.

Noah leaned in, ready to share the news he was sure she knew. “I spoke with Dr. Blake this morning, just before you arrived,” he began. Callie nodded, taking a sip of her beer.

“I guess she told you?”

Noah affirmed with a nod. “Why didn’t you call me?” he asked.

Callie looked away briefly before meeting his gaze. “Because I know you’ve had a lot on your plate recently, and I figured you’d eventually find out from Savannah.”

He scoffed. “You didn’t want to tell me,” he realized.

Callie lowered her chin, acknowledging his observation.

“We found her, Noah,” she finally said, her voice taut with sadness and resolution.

A pause filled the air. “Payton. We recovered her body from Merriam Cemetery.” Her words sank in.

She described the location, emphasizing its remoteness and proximity to Joseph Collins’ home.

Noah nodded slowly, a pained smile forming as he absorbed the weight of the news.

Internally he had already concluded she wasn’t alive, but he had hoped that wasn’t the case.

Gathering his thoughts, he asked, “And so no luck with the money?”

“Actually, yes. That wasn’t as quick to locate… but I was looking at the photo Alicia sent over.” Noah reached into his pocket and retrieved the pad. “Yeah, that one.”

“It’s from a headstone, isn’t it?” Noah asked, his intuition leading him to a conclusion.

Callie smiled and nodded. “Yes, an inscription on the outside of a mausoleum. It took me and McKenzie a few hours to find it. The partial date was the year the person was born; the word ‘angel’ indicated the angel sculpture that adorned the tomb. The rest of the words were items left behind, gifts from the family or friends,” she explained before sipping her beer.

“The money was inside the stone coffin. It was cracked, and a section could be moved. Payton must have placed the bags inside, covered it up, and then she ran into Joseph on the way out,” she continued.

She took another sip, pausing for a moment.

“Anyway, the money has been donated to an organization that fights trafficking. So, I guess that’s a win, right?

” she concluded, attempting to find solace in the outcome.

Noah exhaled deeply. There was closure, but it couldn’t erase the pain entirely. “She came so close. God, what I would have given to have seen her alive again,” Noah murmured with a mixture of longing and regret.He swallowed his emotion.

“In some ways, you have, in Chloe,” Callie responded empathetically, gripping his hand and coming around to hug him. At that moment, McKenzie entered the room, breaking the solemn atmosphere.

“Oh, I see how it is,” he chimed in.

Callie turned to face him, grinning mischievously. “Are you feeling left out, McKenzie? Come on. I’ll hug you too,” she teased.