Page 50 of In Cold Blood (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #1)

A light rain fell from a gunmetal sky as morning arrived in High Peaks. A somber heaviness hung over him like swollen clouds that might never break.

After dealing with the aftermath, Noah had gotten less than a few hours of sleep. He’d tossed and turned, contemplating all that Dax had told him and that final moment.

As Callie entered the Sheriff’s Office with Noah in tow, the atmosphere was one of jubilation. Firm handshakes. Pats on the back. A collection of job-well-done comments.

Hendrix glanced their way, rising from his desk.

He looked eager to get in on the feeling of achievement if it could even be classed as that.

“We got the ballistic results back from NIBIN early this morning. The bullets in Luke are a match for those fired from the rifles found at Cyrus’ cabin.

His prints are all over them. Also, they found on the computer video footage from the night of Erikson’s murder.

Dax Jameson was there. Seems we managed to get two assholes off the street. ”

“That asshole was my friend,” Noah said as he passed him.

Callie hung back to talk with Hendrix.

Noah got himself a coffee, anything to pry open his eyes and wake him from the nightmare of the previous night. As the Nespresso machine was filling his cup, Callie entered the room. “I know Dax was your friend, Noah, but you heard what he said.”

He nodded.

“A few of the deputies want to head over to Peak 46 tonight. You know, raise a toast to Luke. Did you want to come?”

“I have a few things to deal with.”

“Well, we’ll be there if you change your mind.”

She stepped out of the room and he glanced back.

There was an awkwardness between them now that wasn’t there before.

As he poured milk into his drink, Sheriff Roberts entered with a cup in hand.

He was wearing a crisp white shirt. Noah caught the tail end of a conversation between him and another deputy.

“Just send me a copy of the report.” There was a pause, a moment of registering him. “Noah.”

He strolled in.

“Sheriff.”

“I hear congratulations are in order.”

Noah stepped off to one side. “I suppose,” he replied with a lack of enthusiasm.

Roberts set his cup under the device, popped a capsule in, and hit the button on top before turning around.

“I’m sorry about your friend. There was a time I thought that Dax Jameson could have turned his life around.

I guess some people just aren’t meant to walk the straight and narrow. ” He sniffed hard and grabbed a spoon.

Noah sipped on his coffee, peering out the window as rain wormed down. His mind was still lost in the past few days, replaying conversations.

Roberts continued. “I will say I had my doubts about you. But Callie has nothing but glowing words. And who can deny the results? My apologies. ”

“None needed.”

“I gather you will be heading back home now?”

“Soon. On Monday.” He took a sip.

“I’m sure you’re ready to put this behind you.”

“Yeah.” He paused for a second. “Do you know if they managed to trace the vehicle that was seen on surveillance?”

“What, the white F-150?”

“That’s the one.”

“Not that I know. Though at this moment I don’t think it matters.

We have our guy, we have evidence, and we have a motive and a confession, I’m not sure it would add anything to the case.

Whoever the witness was, I expect they were scared and had their reasons for not wanting to be found.

Happens all the time. That’s why we have Crime Stoppers, right?

So people can report a crime anonymously. ”

“Yeah. I guess. But what if she was involved?”

“What?”

“The woman. I haven’t heard anyone talk about whether or not she was involved. I mean, she was there that night before anyone arrived. She didn’t stick around. What if she saw something? What if she did something?”

Roberts stared at him as Noah continued. “And why weren’t the drugs in the back of the vehicle taken?”

“Maybe no one knew they were there. It’s not like Cyrus would have stuck around after killing a cop.”

“Well, that’s the thing that doesn’t make sense. Why was he there, or Luke for that matter?”

“Noah.” Roberts took hold of his arm. “Sometimes cases have unresolved questions. We don’t always get the answers we want. It’s frustrating, but that’s police work. What matters is getting justice and we have done that.”

“But it makes no sense.”

“Crime doesn’t but that’s why we exist. I know you loved your brother. We all cared for him. But it’s over. We’ve got our guy,” he said reassuringly.

Noah nodded.

Roberts patted him on the arm. “Good work. Your father will be proud. Have you spoken with him yet?”

“No.”

“You should. I think he deserves to hear it from you.” Roberts patted him one more time before turning and heading out.

He waved and gave a thumbs-up to Callie across the room before heading back into his office.

Callie smiled for a second before she noticed Noah was looking at her.

She walked off and he exited, turning right down the corridor.

He made his way through a series of corridors until he arrived outside the tech department.

A deputy of Indian descent was inside, headphones on, staring at a screen full of code.

Not only did he handle any technical problems with computers in the office but he was the go-to for all searches of technology and also handled security cameras.

Rishi Gupta was in his mid-twenties. He was well dressed wearing dark pants, a white shirt, a blue tie, and sporting hipster glasses with frames that were black and far too thick.

Noah knocked on the door with the back of his hand.

He spun in his chair.

“Mr. Sutherland. How can I help?”

“Rishi. Did you manage to get into my brother’s phone and computer?”

“I did.”

Noah stepped inside. “Did you find anything of interest or unusual?”

“Nothing that stood out. Random websites. I don’t search for deleted files unless requested. Everything looked copacetic.”

“Do you mind? ”

“By all means.”

He gestured with a hand. Noah took a seat in a room full of monitors. It felt like he was entering a tiny version of NASA’s control room. An array of screens flickered in the cramped room.

“I was going to get a coffee, you want one?”

Noah lifted a cup.

“Ah. Good. Well.”

Rishi exited the room. Noah browsed through his brother’s files on a MacBook Air.

It was orderly. Every folder had a name.

No junk. No random files. He clicked on photos and numerous ones of Kerri and the kids came up.

Noah felt a lump in his throat. His grief was hard enough to deal with but he couldn’t begin to imagine what it was like for Kerri or his kids.

Eventually, the office would hand Luke’s computer and phone back to the family and they would be faced with staring at the same photos — the same memories.

He brought up his browsing history.

It was mostly sports, local news, and camping gear sites.

Rishi stepped back inside.

“Your brother seemed to like the outdoors.”

“Yes. We all do.”

Noah noticed a few other websites. There was only one that stood out to him.

It was for North Country Community College.

It was a public college in Saranac Lake, a part of the State University of New York system.

It had been in existence since the late 1960s.

Luke had browsed the biology department.

“Seems your brother had an interest in that college. Figured he was making plans for his kids’ future.”

Noah mulled it over.

He was about to ask Rishi a question when he got a phone call.

The caller ID flashed up — Savannah Legacy .

“Hey, thanks, Rishi. I may check back later.”

“Sure thing.”

He exited the room to find a private place to talk. Noah went outside the building, exiting through one of the side doors. “Savannah.”

“Got some good news for you. Are you available for lunch?”

“You’re up here?”

“I got that promotion.”

“Ah, that’s fantastic. Really good news.”

He knew she had been gunning for more responsibility. He’d miss working alongside her as a senior investigator. “Where are you, I’ll pick you up?”

“Over at the Crowne Plaza.”

“Fancy.”

“Figured I would treat myself.”

“Yeah, you’d be amazed at what you can get with an extra $1 pay as supervisor,” he said, letting out a chuckle. The position she’d be holding would pay more but as always, he enjoyed ribbing her as did she.

A few hours later, close to midday, they tucked into some lunch by a large window that offered a breathtaking view of Mirror Lake, Whiteface Mountain, and the High Peaks covered with a blanket of green.

The dining area was bustling with activity.

The clattering of cutlery and dishes filled the air, along with chatter and laughter from patrons. The fresh smells of food wafted through the room, tantalizing the senses with freshly baked rolls, sizzling steak, and simmering soup.

Noah breathed in the scent of spices and herbs coming from his food .

“BCI lieutenant. That’s going to take some time to get used to,” he said.

Savannah grinned, swallowing a mouthful of food. All senior investigators were supervised by them. Noah cut a glance at the staff hurrying by, carrying trays of plates and refilling glasses with ice water and cold beverages. The noise was high but not overwhelming.

“Same county?”

“No.”

Noah cocked his head.

“I was offered State Police Troop B headquarters.”

“That’s here in the Adirondacks.”

“That’s right.”

“Now you get to experience it.”

She nodded with a mouthful of food. “In all its beauty and ugliness.” She glanced out. “Though I have to say, it’s hard not to like what I see.”

“That’s because you haven’t seen it all.”

She understood what he meant. Law enforcement saw the underbelly of society, the darkest side of humanity. It could weigh a person down, and destroy them if they allowed it.

Noah took a sip of Pepsi. “When do you take the position?”

“Hmmm?”

“The position?”

“In two weeks. I have to find a place up here before I begin but I’m sure I’ll find something suitable. A lot of open space, right?”

“For sure.”

Savannah eyed him and Noah could tell she was biting at the bit to say something. “You know there are senior investigator positions available.”

“Me? Working alongside Parish? I think not.”

“Rumor has it Parish won’t be back. With the damage that was done to his body, they don’t think he’ll be back out in the field. However, I got word today that he’s out of the coma, so who knows.”

Noah nodded. “Yeah. I need to swing by and see him.”

Savannah lifted her eyebrows. Noah brought her up to speed on the investigation and all that had been uncovered.

She listened intently, never butting in, never probing deeper.

She looked more concerned for him than for what the outcome would be.

That’s what made her great to work with.

Unlike many, she genuinely enjoyed law enforcement and cared for people.

That’s what would make her a great lieutenant. Someone he would gladly work under.

“So, what news have you got?”

“Right,” she said, dabbing her lips and reaching into a leather briefcase.

She handed it to him.

“Parabon NanoLabs was able to create a raw DNA file and upload it to GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA. From that our genetic genealogist friend was able to get a list of matches of those who shared matching segments. With that, they can determine if it’s a grandparent, cousin, and so on.

You know — someone who shares DNA with our witness.

Anyway, once she found the common ancestor by working backward, she moved forward using census records, social media, birth records, marriage records, and death records to create a tree and locate children and their children and so on until she landed on two women.

One whose DNA is in the database. Now she’s from one state over in Burlington, Vermont, but she matches the gender and age of the witness whose DNA we ran.

We believe it’s her sister. We have a number and address for her.

” She slid it across the table. “Judy Gordon.”

“Thanks, Savannah.”

“I hope it helps.”