Page 4 of In Cold Blood (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #1)
Now as he stood before the touching memorial and gazed at his brother’s photo, it brought a lump to his throat for the first time.
It was like staring at himself in the mirror.
It could have easily been him. Years ago, he’d contemplated staying in High Peaks to appease his father when the grief of his mother’s death was raw, but he figured working under his father would have been hellish.
Being told to leave had only made it easier.
Still, his words had cut deep.
Noah’s gaze drifted. Despite what some believed about identical twins, he didn’t feel anything on the day Luke was gunned down.
His friendship with his brother was the only thing special about their bond.
Although he hadn’t been back in years, he had been in communication.
How could he not? Lena Grayson, his ex, and their children were here.
The marriage had lasted longer than it should have.
She gave birth to a beautiful girl and boy but even that joy couldn’t save their doomed relationship. Contrary to the statistics, it wasn’t their work, or even infidelity, that drove them apart, it was just life.
The mundane. The hours between.
One day they were close, the next they were worlds apart, nothing but ships passing each other in the night.
They’d tried. They really had. They’d gone to see a counselor multiple times but eventually, they realized it wasn’t working.
If he had to put his finger on it, they’d rushed into marriage without really getting to know each other.
So, the parting was amicable. In many ways, he still loved her.
How could he not? She was the mother of his children.
But she deserved better. Both of them did.
Lena had returned to High Peaks two years ago, taking Ethan and Mia with her.
Noah crouched and picked up some of the cards.
Who were all these people? Condolences, touching words about heaven, and angels, and finding justice, were scrawled inside. Kids had sketched out police vehicles in crayon, others had left a photo of him and his K-9 from a local school he’d visited, thanking him.
“We’ll always remember you and Axel.”
That was the first moment he’d gotten a name.
The last time he’d spoken with Luke, he’d said he was training to be a K-9 officer, the first and only one in the county.
He admired that. It took a lot of heart and determination.
Training a dog to serve wasn’t easy. Yet it was just the way Luke was.
He never recalled him saying much about his day-to-day work as a deputy.
He’d always opted to keep his personal and work life separate.
And, well, because they were both working in law enforcement, it was the last thing they wanted to discuss when they got on the phone.
As an avid outdoorsman, Luke was more eager to tell him about snowboarding, camping, or fishing, and how when he visited next time, maybe they could take the kids out to Whiteface Mountain.
Next time.
They both thought there would be a next time.
The weight of his brother’s death bore down hard.
Whoever had done this had given it a lot of thought.
It was methodical. But who? A local angry at cops?
A group trying to send a message to the Sheriff’s Office?
The media had received an anonymous threat to the office that more officers would be shot. No reason was given.
Would the killer attend the funeral?
His phone jangled in his pocket. Distracted, he peeled his eyes away from the photo of his brother in full uniform as he fished the iPhone out. It was his sister Maddie.
He tapped accept.
“Hey, sis,” he said before she said anything.
“How far out are you?”
“About thirty minutes.”
“Look, they pushed up the time of the funeral.”
“What?”
“It’s changed.”
“You meant he changed it.”
There was a pregnant pause. She knew he was referring to their father. Maddie was like their mother, a peacemaker, never wanting to rock the boat in the family, though if given the chance — like the phone call she was making — she was always first to be the one to smooth things out.
“You know how he is, Noah. Impatient. To be fair though, I think it was something to do with the large crowds. He wants to get it over with.”
“Over with… You’re joking, right?”
“No. I tried to reason with him, heck, even the funeral officiant tried, but…”
“He knows I’m coming, doesn’t he?”
Another pause. “I did tell him. Yes.”
“And let me guess, that’s when he decided to change the time.”
“Noah, I really don’t want to get between you and him today so I’m not saying anything. I’m just the messenger. But, well, with his sway in town and it being a police funeral, it is what it is.”
He sighed. “Well then when does it start?”
“It’s already begun.” He heard what sounded like his eldest brother Ray call out, telling her to come quickly. “Burial is after. Just hurry,” she muttered .
Noah ground his teeth as she hung up.
It was just like Hugh to pull something like this.
This was just a way to make him look bad.
To give him another reason to hold a grudge.
Had the funeral started at the time he’d been given, Noah wouldn’t have been late.
In fact, he would have been early. He was always on time.
But no, this was just another jab, a way to get back and show him he shouldn’t have returned.
Petty. Sure. But that had been the history of his relationship with his father.
Then again, maybe his father was uncomfortable.
Even when their mother passed, the whole thing seemed rushed.
They’d wanted to have a wake before the funeral, but he said no, they wanted to gather at the family home after, but his father refused.
Instead, they had to arrange it at his auntie’s.
Of course, his father wasn’t in attendance.
As soon as the funeral was over, he’d gone straight home.
It wasn’t like anyone could argue with him.
Funerals at the best of times were awkward.
No one wanted to say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, or offend anyone.
And once again, Hugh Sutherland would have his way.
Noah bowed his head and spoke quietly, a few words that he hoped Luke would hear, before returning to the truck. Noah slammed the stick into drive. A surge of panic, fueled by the possibility that he might miss the funeral, caused him to spin the tires as he peeled away.