Page 16 of In Cold Blood (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #1)

Noah’s brow furrowed. “C’mon, Alicia. I saw the cup with lipstick on it.”

“That’s not mine.”

“You’re telling me that you own this place and he used it but you never asked him why he put a padlock on the attic door?”

“Of course I did. He said it was related to Operation Heat Wave. That I’d already done enough to help and he didn’t want to drag me into anything more. Whatever he was storing in there was private. Police business. It’s not like you can ask a hotel guest what is in the safe.”

Noah nodded. “So you never pressed him on it?”

She lifted an eyebrow. “He’s your brother, a cop, and he was paying good money.

He even offered to throw a few more dollars my way to make it look modern if he decided not to buy it.

You should have seen the state of the place.

It was previously owned by someone from out of town and only used in the summer.

It was beyond rustic. I didn’t have the funds to dump into it.

For me, the agreement with your brother was a win-win situation.

If he didn’t buy it, I ended up with a property that looked better than when he arrived. If he did, I made some coin.”

Noah walked toward the dormer window and looked out.

“What is it?” she asked .

“If he was paying you, surely Kerri would have questioned him about where money was going.”

“Unless he had his own account. You’d have to ask her.”

“How did he pay you?”

“In advance. Six months at a time. All cash. That was a year ago.”

“He’s been using it for a year?”

“Yeah.”

“And you never saw that attic open?”

“I’ve only been in here, what… three times, since the beginning of the year. Maintenance and whatnot.”

“Did you notice any change in him?”

“Sure I did. The week before he died, he was acting different.”

“In what way?”

“Skittish. Worried. He took it upon himself to get a second key cut for the door and told me to hang onto it. Said it was just in case he lost the other. Now though, I figure he must have assumed I would find the attic.” She paused.

“Listen, Noah, your brother told me this place was eventually going to be a surprise for Kerri. I assumed he might use it for work too. I figured that’s all this was.

Confidential police work.” She walked past him and looked at the photos and vast array of paperwork.

“So your guess is as good as mine as to what he was working on in his spare time.”

Noah wasn’t sure what to believe or who was keeping secrets.

“As a game warden, you work this county just like him. Surely he must have mentioned why he was looking into my ex-wife?”

“No. Your brother was very tight-lipped. Stick around in this county long enough and you’ll find most folks are. Drugs. A cover-up. Who knows? He believed that something big was happening in town and that some of the key players he busted in Operation Heat Wave were just the tip of the iceberg.”

“Like who?”

“Look, you want answers I don’t have. But whatever he got himself tangled up in, it didn’t end well for him and it won’t for you. So my advice is to box all of this up and hand it over to State. Let them deal with it. Enjoy your time with your family and leave it at that.”

Alicia turned away from the crazy wall, about to head down.

“Leave it? That’s it? Someone shot him in cold blood, Alicia.”

She whirled around, tapping the bottle of beer against her blue jeans.

“Yeah, and what do you think they will do to you if you go nosing around? Huh? I don’t want to see them bury another Sutherland.

” With that said, she made her way out, leaving him frustrated.

He had to wonder how much of what she’d told him was true.

“C’mon. He must have told you something,” he bellowed.

“Let it go, Noah,” she replied from down below. But that was the problem. He couldn’t. That was the one thing he had in common with Luke. Once they locked onto a target, they were like a dog with a bone. Nothing could sway them.

He looked at the wall for a third time, at that photo of Lena. It would take time to wade through it all and make sense of it. When he went back down, Alicia was standing on the back porch, looking out across the lake. “Why do I get a sense you aren’t telling me everything?” he asked.

Alicia swigged her beer and narrowed her eyes as she breathed in the night air. Fireflies lit up the grass and bushes. “You remember Keith Erikson?”

“Vaguely. Michelle’s brother?”

She nodded, swallowing beer. “He worked as a game warden. Ten months ago, he went missing. They never found him. His truck was found not far from here. Rumor has it that he uncovered or stumbled across the same thing your brother was looking into. Whatever Luke had his nose in, it goes deep. So that’s why I’m telling you to leave it.

Not because I don’t think you could get to the bottom of it but because I know you would.

I think you are stupid enough to keep asking questions until you get answers. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“That sounds vaguely like you care.”

“Don’t be an ass.” She turned and went back inside and set the bottle on the table. “However, I know you won’t listen to me, so I’ll tell you this but you never heard it from me. If anyone in this town knows what happened to your brother, it’s Dax Jameson. I’ll give you his number.”

“Dax. My old friend?”

“Yeah. I saw him with your brother multiple times.”

“He’s still here?”

She collected another beer. As if one wasn’t enough.

“Yeah. A jack of all trades. He has his fingers in a little of everything. When he’s not working in the fishing business, he’s usually at High Peaks Pub and Brewery.

And when he’s not doing that… well, your brother said he helped him out a few times. ”

“And why would he do that?”

“Why do you think?”

He paused for a second, connecting the dots. He hadn’t seen Dax at the funeral.

“He was an informant?”

She tilted her bottle at him and gave a nod as she sank into the seat.

“How else do you think your brother managed to get tipped off to all those drug busts? To nab that kind of fish you need the right bait and someone who has their ears to the ground and a vested interest. Seems your old pal has quite the criminal track record.”

“Hold on… we’re talking about the same guy here? Dax Jameson? ”

“Is there anyone else you know in town by that name?”

“But he was a clean-cut kid.”

“Was. You’ve been gone a long time, Noah.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “Nah, he had aspirations to join the military.”

She swallowed a mouthful of beer and nodded. “And he did until he got a dishonorable discharge then he came right back here and made High Peaks his home. He also did some time in jail. Most businesses aren’t going to hire you with that kind of reputation.”

“So you think he knows about my brother?”

“Do you mind if I smoke?” she asked.

“You smoke?”

“Cigars mostly.”

Noah shrugged. “Whatever, it’s your place.”

He watched her pull out a small tin and flip it open.

It was odd to see her go down that road.

He remembered her as a health-conscious person.

Had the job worn her down? Or maybe this was just the simple pleasures of life.

She tapped one of the short, thin cigars on the case, then lit it.

The end glowed hot before she blew smoke out.

“About my brother. You think Dax knows something?”

“Listen, I can’t say for sure, Noah. Don’t hold me to it or mention I told you. But it would be a good place to start. However, I don’t think you can get involved, can you? Conflict of interest and all.”

He wanted to roll his eyes.

In theory. Yes. However, there was still a chance he might not be barred from investigating but they might ask him to take a back seat.

His knowledge of the area could be seen as valuable.

Ultimately, he would need to get Sheriff Roberts’ approval first and then he would likely have to run it by the State Attorney’s Office for a final decision.

But again, that was if he was operating side by side.

He had a feeling that he would be flying solo on this one.

“I’m planning on seeing Sheriff Roberts tomorrow,” he said, ambling over and taking a seat across from her. “But if all else fails… you can.”

She froze with the beer bottle up to her lips, then lowered it slowly. “Oh no, I’m not getting involved.”

“You already are.”

“I gave you a place to stay. That’s all.”

“You must have known I would open that lock.”

There was a pregnant pause as if she was chewing it over.

“It’s too dangerous, Noah. Okay. Read my lips. Leave it alone.”

He didn’t reply, but obviously, the way he looked at her answered that question.

She scoffed and leaned forward, setting the bottle down. “You are as stubborn as he was when I told him the same thing.”