Page 33 of In Cold Blood (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #1)

“ T hanks for the ride, sis,” Noah said, eyeing his side mirror to see if anyone was following.

He’d told his sister to take a longer, different route just in case.

At least that way he could monitor if anyone was tailing them.

The car wound its way through the dark, heavily forested mountains, its headlights cutting through the thick mist that clung to the trees.

Maddie drove the narrow, winding back roads with a skill developed over years of living in the Adirondacks.

“Ah, don’t mention it. How often do I get to have my big brother back or see Axel?”

She smiled, glancing in her rearview mirror at the dog in the back.

He was panting. He leaned forward and licked the side of her face.

Maddie laughed and reached back to rub his jowls.

The rental company wasn’t going to be able to get one of their tow trucks out there until the following day and the local company they worked with wouldn’t be open until nine in the morning, so he’d called Maddie.

His oversized truck was blocking the way, which was a blessing as it gave him a reason to legitimately turn down his father’s offer to use one of his vehicles.

Her black Lexus snaked around the dark roads as a heavy mist fell over the town.

“Did you have a chance to see the kids yet?”

“Saturday.”

“So, Lena finally picked up?”

“No. I saw her today… and her fella.”

“Oh.” She nodded slowly. “Aiden.”

“You should have just told me.”

“Didn’t want to upset you.”

“It’s been two years, Madeline. Lena and I are adults. We’ve moved on,” he said, glancing out. He caught his reflection in the window as rain trailed down the outside, his thoughts pondering how he truly felt.

“Have you?” she asked, eyeing him in amusement.

He cut his sister a sideways glance. “Of course. Yes,” he answered, a smile lingering at the corner of his mouth.

“So, it didn’t bother you in the slightest?”

“Being a pastor. A little. Him. No.”

She chuckled. Noah had always had a good relationship with his sister. She was outspoken like him. A person who liked to pave her own path. She’d looked up to the three of them because they shielded her from the brunt of their father’s mood swings.

“Speaking of relationships. Who was the uh… tattooed guy at the funeral?”

“Oh. That’s right. I didn’t introduce you. I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right. We’ve had a lot on our minds.”

“His name’s Jake Randall.”

“Never heard of him. What was he, a client?”

She roared with laughter. “That’s a little bigoted.”

“What is?” He smiled back .

“Because he has tattoos. That’s what you’re about to say, isn’t it?”

“No.”

“Well, you make it sound as if he’s a criminal.”

“Please.” Noah pulled up his sleeve to show her his own ink. “He just looked a little… rough around the edges to be your type.”

“Oh, so I have a type?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“Really? And what’s yours?”

“Don’t switch this back to me,” he said playfully. “Come on. Where did you meet? At a greasy biker bar?” He added that at the end in jest. Noah owned a motorcycle but enjoyed teasing her.

Madeline slapped him on the arm. “Actually no. I…” She breathed in and he caught the hesitation.

“Yeah?”

The smile faded. “I met him through a friend of a friend.”

“Is he treating you right?”

“Of course. But it’s still early. It’s only been a couple of months.”

“But he knows about your past.”

“Um…”

“Maddie.”

“Look, I haven’t told him yet. Okay. I mean it’s not like you throw that shit out there. Hey, I was in an abusive relationship with an alcoholic. Are you liable to slap me around? If so, tell me now.”

She blew out her cheeks.

“But you plan on telling him, right? Before things get serious.”

She looked at him. “Yes. Of course.”

Maddie accelerated. The engine growled as they took each turn at high speed. The headlights flickered as they passed through dense clusters of trees casting shadows on the rough asphalt.

She worried Noah to no end. He knew the statistics on the cycle of battered women either returning to their abuser or entering another volatile relationship. He could still remember the phone call he received from Luke telling him about the incident.

Ray had gone nuts when he heard the news.

He had to be restrained by officers who had shown up after a neighbor heard Maddie’s cries.

Noah hopped on the first flight back to find his sister in the hospital, hooked up to a slew of tubes.

Her face was unrecognizable. If anything could have pushed him over the edge, it was that moment.

He detested violence against women. Despite his father’s flaws, that was not one of them.

His parents had argued. Everyone did. But hitting your partner, well, that was a one-and-done situation.

There was no going back after that, whether it was by a man or woman.

Tommy was lucky they arrested him before Ray reached him, otherwise, Ray would have done time, that was for sure.

Instead, Maddie’s partner ended up in the pen, charged with domestic violence.

The penalty varied in New York depending on whether it was a class B, C, D, or E felony charge.

Tommy’s was deemed assault in the second degree and he was given seven years in prison.

But with good behavior, he could be out in three. Thankfully, he was still inside.

Madeline was quick to change the subject, asking him where he went on vacation before this, how Savannah was doing, and if their father had convinced him to return home.

She didn’t like talking about her ex and for good reason.

It brought up too many wounds. Although she’d healed externally, Madeline was aware of how it had rocked her confidence and trust. Still, despite all she’d been through, it wasn’t long after his incarceration that she made attorney and took charge of prosecuting people like Tommy.

In some ways, it was satisfying to know she was helping those who had walked in her shoes.

As the Lexus crawled up toward the cabin, Maddie stared. “It’s so odd that he never told me about this.”

“Yeah, well, it seems Luke never told a lot of people about what he was doing. The Adirondack Sheriff’s Office might be gunning to pin him as someone involved in illicit behavior, but I think they are way off base.

” He looked past the cabin toward the lake.

Noah sighed as he climbed out. He shut the door and then leaned in through the window.

“Remember what I said. Be sure to tell him. The sooner the better, Maddie.”

She gave a pained smile. “It’s good to have you back, Noah. I know you and dad have your issues but I would love to see you back here.”

“Yeah. Never say never, right?”

He slapped the top of her car and Maddie raised the window, honked her horn, and reversed out, leaving him and Axel standing in the dark.

After going inside and before turning on the lights, Noah waited in the dark, peering out to look for movement.

Had someone followed him to his father’s? What if they showed up here?

Satisfied, Noah flipped on the lights.

He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and slid open the rear French doors that led out to the back porch.

The fresh evening air was invigorating. Noah leaned against the porch post and took a sip of his drink while Axel headed off to relieve himself.

He eyed the silhouette of the islands across the lake that separated him from the town.

His gaze drifted to his nearest and only neighbor, Ed Baxter.

Lights were on in his property. The drone of light jazz music was making its way over. Noah stepped off his porch and headed down to the end of the dock. Axel followed. The rain had let up. The only illumination came from a few flickering tiki torches on Ed’s property and his cabin light.

Moored to the dock, a small white fishing boat bobbed gently; its thick rope tied around a post. Inside were rowing paddles. There was a black outboard motor on the back.

Across the water. Noah eyed Hawk Island.

“Tempting isn’t it,” Ed cried out.

Noah turned to find him strolling down, looking every bit as good as he did the last time. Fortunately, this time he was wearing more than shorts. He had on dark brown slacks, suspenders, and well-worn boots. He had a pipe in the corner of his mouth.

“How are you, Ed?”

“Oh, you know, still above ground.”

“Did you see much happening tonight?”

“No. Whoever was there must have left this morning. No fires. No loud music. The water is as calm as can be. A good time to explore, if I don’t mind saying so myself.”

Noah grinned. “Great minds think alike.”

“I can keep an eye on fuzzball if you like.” Axel let out a low growl and Ed took that as disapproval. “All right. All right. No need to get salty.”

“Would you? I wouldn’t be long.”

“You sound like your brother the first time he asked the same.”

“He went over?”

“Many times. Not just that island either. The other two.”

“Did he ever find anything?”

“He came back one night with a bag from Hawk Island. He never showed me what was in it. I never asked.”

He set his drink down. “Axel. Stay here. Be good.”

Noah stepped into the boat and felt it sink ever so slightly. Ed untethered the rope and tossed it in. After he fired up the small motor on the back, Ed gave him the thumbs-up and the boat glided smoothly away from the dock.