Page 20 of In Cold Blood (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #1)

Dax laughed. “The vehicle. Let me show you around.” He was all wide-eyed and full of wonder.

“The container on the roof slides open, I keep all my outdoor gear and dirty clothes in there until I need to hit up the laundromat. The solar panel's power all my gear inside. It’s a hundred watt.” He went around the rear of the van and popped it open.

“I tore out the old seating. I now have a backward-facing couch that’s holding all my sleeping blankets.

Then we’ve got shelving with containers that hold all of my clothes, and things I need.

I’ve got a stove that slides out here.” He rattled on, taking him through it and showing how he could convert the inside seat into a bed that was big enough for him and one other person.

Noah had seen the high-end Sprinter vans that were converted into a tiny home on wheels but this was a far cry from that.

Nothing fancy. All low end but strangely appealing.

“I have a portable cooler, a Jackery that works hand in hand with the solar panels on the roof. Then I have two five-gallon jugs that use a water bottle pump which operates off a battery.”

He looked as if he was trying hard to make it clear that he wasn’t a bum.

“Impressive.”

“If life gives you lemons…”

“Make lemonade.”

“Exactly.”

“So what do you do in the winter? They close up these parks.”

He leaned against the van with one hand and looked out across the ocean of trees.

A mild wind blew in a warm summer breeze carrying the scent of the earth.

“Yeah, that can get a little tricky, but a friend of mine lets me park on his farm over the winter. I’m not sure I’ll stay there again this season but we’ll see,” he said, closing the door and locking it.

As they turned toward his truck, Dax stepped back and admired it. “This yours?”

“It’s a rental. ”

Axel was panting, his muzzle sticking out of the rear window.

“You brought a dog?”’

“It’s Luke’s.”

“Of course it is. Is he safe?”

“As long as I don’t give him the apprehension command and you aren’t carrying narcotics.”

Dax gave him a wary look and sniffed his own shirt.

Noah laughed. “Don’t worry. He’s fine. Get in.”

“I see you left the Ferrari at home,” Dax said, skirting around and jumping in the passenger side.

He sniffed hard and ran his hands over his pants as Noah slipped behind the wheel and fired it up.

Dax glanced back at Axel who now had his paws perched on the console between.

He really needed a Tahoe with a kennel in the back, like the kind most K-9 officers drove.

“I drive a Jeep Wrangler,” Noah said.

“I bet you do. Let me guess, you’re pulling in over a hundred grand a year, you get two months’ vacation and you only sleep alone when you want to. Luke told me all about your high-flying life as a State investigator.”

Noah laughed. “I think you’ve been watching one too many crime shows. It’s hours of boredom and minutes of sheer terror, the rest is a crap load of paperwork. I’m a glorified pen pusher. I envy you to be honest,” he said as he backed out.

“Me?”

“All that freedom. No one to answer to.”

“That’s what you deduced from my flea-infested chunk of rust on wheels?” Dax laughed. “So, how have you been doing?”

“I’ve seen better days.”

“Look, I’m really sorry about Luke. I was only talking with him a week ago.”

Noah nodded, focusing on the road as he pulled out onto NY-86. “So, where are we heading? ”

“Saranac. I know a good breakfast place.”

“I figured you were a High Peaks man all the way.”

“I only step in that town when I need to, otherwise I give it a wide berth. Too many bad memories, too many bad…” He stopped short and glanced at Noah. It made him wonder what he’d seen and how the town had changed over the years. “Well let’s just say it’s not the old town you left behind.”

“That’s what I’ve heard.”

“Oh, by the way, who gave you my number?”

“Alicia.”

A smile formed. “Ah, I figured. I haven’t spoken with her in a while since she got that gig as a game warden. Keeps her busy at all hours of the day and night.”

Noah accelerated. “And what about yourself?”

“Me? I’ve bounced around the job scene. Right now I’m working at High Peaks Pub and Brewery.

Cleaning dishes out back and helping with food prep but that’s only a few hours a week.

I do some odd jobs around town, but, well, I don’t need much to live off.

As long as I have fuel in the tank and food and water, I’m all good.

” He took out a pack of smokes. “Do you mind?”

“Be my guest.”

Dax cracked the passenger side window and lit one. “What about yourself? I heard you followed through with the military. Marines, right?”

“Eight years.”

Noah focused on the road ahead that snaked north hedged in by a wall of green pines on both sides. A bright baby blue sky stretched out above them with a few puffy white clouds in the distance. They passed a logging truck, a vital part of the economy.

“I heard about you and Lena. Bumped into her a few months ago. She showed up at the pub for lunch with some new fella. Aiden West. You know him?”

“The name is vaguely familiar.”

“He’s an outdoorsy type. Gives tours in the area and takes people on camping retreats. Not a bad guy. However, I didn’t take Lena for that kind of woman.”

“Nor me.”

She’d never been much of an outdoorswoman even though she’d grown up in the area.

“So, you been seeing anyone?”

“It’s only been two years since she left. Work has kept me busy.”

“Right. Well, I’m sure in time you will get back in the saddle again.” The conversation went quiet for a moment or two and Noah could tell he was about to ask him. Everyone did. “So why did you and Lena break up?”

“She was doing her thing; I was doing mine. I guess you could say we just grew apart. We’re still on speaking terms. Well, that is if I can get her to pick up her phone. Been calling her since I arrived. She’s not answering.”

“Probably off the grid.”

“What?”

Dax blew out smoke and drummed his fingers on his thigh. “Well, Aiden’s into that. Disconnecting from technology, heading out into the backcountry. She’s probably turned off her phone.”

“That would explain things.” Noah drove on Lake Flower Avenue, the main stretch which cut through Saranac, a town that was less touristy and had far more of a friendly, community vibe than High Peaks.

Those in High Peaks would dispute it but facts were facts, rent was cheaper here, it had better restaurants and they weren’t tripping over tourists. “How are your parents?” Noah asked.

“Mother passed a few years back. And Gerald, well, let’s just say he and I aren’t on speaking terms. He comes into the bar from time to time but won’t look my way. He thinks I’ve blown my life away with bad choices. You know — after things went wrong in the army.”

“Sorry to hear that. What happened with the military?”

Dax blew out smoke and tossed the remainder of his cigarette out.

“Oh, you know me, Noah. I’ve never been one to listen to authority.

Probably wasn’t a good idea to join in the first place but I figured I’d give it a shot.

Let’s just say me and some stroppy sergeant went toe to toe and after the dust settled, he was on the ground and I was left packing my bags. I got the hell out of there.”

“They discharged you?”

“After they caught me going AWOL.” Dax laughed. “Yeah, then they released me from the stockade.” He shrugged. “Ah, no skin off my nose. They did me a favor. I wasn’t ready for all that yes sir, three bags full sir, bullshit.”

Noah chuckled, thinking back to his time in the Marines. He’d seen many a soldier quit, unable to deal with drill instructors in their face. It was all an act. A means of stripping a person down and then building them back up. It also helped to weed out those who weren’t meant to be there.

“So how long did you last?” Noah asked.

“A year. Worst year of my life. But what about you? Eight years is a long time. You must have been a sucker for punishment.”

Noah stifled a chuckle.

“Then again, once you set your mind to do something, you don’t waver,” Dax said.

“I guess so.”

Dax shot him a sideways glance. “Your brother was the same. At least I got that sense.”

Noah couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Look, Dax. Alicia said you worked with my brother. Your tips contributed to the success of Operation Heat Wave. Is that true?”

“She told you that?”

Noah shot him a sideways glance wondering why he didn’t just admit it.

“Hang a right up here,” Dax said, shifting the conversation away as they got closer to Main Street. “Best place in town for pancakes.”