Page 6 of Her Final Hours

“The guy?”

“How old are you, Teddy?”

“Eighteen. Why?”

Noah took out his badge.

His jaw dropped. His gaze bounced to Mia. It was clear she hadn’t told him.

“And that matters because?”

“If I have to explain it to you, we’ll do it at the department.” Noah summoned a smile before brushing past him and crossing to where the music was playing. He switched it off, and silence fell over the group. “Party is over. Go home!” He took out his badge and lifted it. Multiple teens dropped their drinks and took off into the forest like it was some raid. Others remained, grumbling, a few throwing out curse words. Noah made his way back to Teddy.

“I’m going to cut you a break. But next time, Teddy. It won’t just be me rolling up here. If I catch you around my daughter again, you and I will have more than words.”

He heard Mia say something, but he didn’t catch it. He turned and took hold of her arm to lead her out. “Dad. Get off me. You’re embarrassing me.”

“You’ve already embarrassed yourself. Now let’s go.”

They marched through the forest back to the vehicle without another word spoken. He was fuming. He could understand now why Lena was struggling to deal with Mia. As Mia climbed in, she cursed.

“Why did you lie to me?” he asked as he fired up the engine, and it growled to life.

“You lied first,” she shot back.

“What are you talking about?”

“You said that things were going to be the same.”

“And they are.”

“You pulled me out of school and put me in High Peaks. I don’t want to be there. My friends are here.”

“I did it to make life easier.”

“For you. Not for me.”

He clenched his jaw as he reversed out, trying to heed the words of Gretchen and remain calm. The drive back to town was quiet. Mia glared at her phone, texting her friends, no doubt telling them how unfair life was and how she’d see them soon. It couldn’t be further from the truth.

As they swung into the driveway, Mia went to get out, but he locked the door.

He put out his hand. “Phone.”

“What?”

“Give me your phone.”

“Why?”

“Mia.”

Reluctantly she handed it over. “You’ll get it back in a week.”

“No. No. You can’t do that.”

“And you’re grounded for two weeks.”

“This is bullshit. If Mom were here, she wouldn’t do this.”