Page 53 of In Cold Blood (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #1)

P atience was not a strong point of his but in an investigation it was crucial.

With her history in hand, Noah didn’t want to cause a scene inside the restaurant which could lead to her getting fired, so he waited in the Whiteface Corners parking lot for her shift to be over.

The establishment closed at eight on Sundays.

He’d arrived a little after six and had been sharing a burrito with Axel.

“You know, you really went to bat for me today,” he said.

The dog was sitting up front in the passenger seat.

“I appreciate it. Maybe one day I’ll repay the favor,” he said, scratching under his chin before handing him the leftovers.

One by one, staff exited the building. Most retreated to their cars and drove away, others juggled bags and ambled off down the road into town .

Holding the photo Judy had given him, Noah surveyed each face.

Sure enough, five minutes later, Trinity exited with another woman.

She was wearing a black pencil dress with a white blouse.

The other woman hugged Trinity and they parted ways.

Under the glow of the parking lot lights and with makeup on, she looked attractive, a far cry from the snapshot taken many years earlier.

But it was her, of that he was sure.

“C’mon boy,” he said, attaching a leash and hopping out.

He’d hoped to catch her before she entered the lodge.

Trinity was cupping a hand over a cigarette when he approached. She blew out smoke and glanced off to her right then looked back again as if she’d seen a ghost. She picked up her pace but her heels were challenging to walk in.

“You’re not in trouble. I just need to talk.”

She slowed her pace before turning.

“A moment of your time. That’s all.”

Trinity sighed. She nodded and led him toward her suite which was accessible from the outside.

All the suites were on ground level. She swiped a key and entered, flipped a light on, and tossed her bag onto a white duvet.

The room was spacious, and clean, with sleek, modern furnishings and large windows that let in plenty of natural light.

The walls had a calm shade and were sporting abstract artwork, giving the space a contemporary and sophisticated feel.

Certainly not what he expected her to be staying in.

The queen-sized bed was made with crisp white linens and fluffy pillows.

“I believe these are yours,” he said, handing her the mail.

She scoffed. “Should have known.”

“She cares.”

“Not enough to keep her mouth shut.”

Noah surveyed the room. It was equipped with the latest amenities, a flat-screen TV, and a fully stocked minibar.

The bathroom had gleaming black marble countertops, a walk-in shower, and premium toiletries.

Trinity opened the sliding doors to a small balcony that provided a picturesque view of the town, then returned and sat on the edge of the bed, twitching.

“So, you work for the restaurant?”

“A few times a week.”

“And this place?”

“Temporary. I have an agreement with the owner.”

He nodded but didn’t probe on what kind of agreement. She didn’t look him in the eye. She bit down on the corner of her lip, glancing up a few times.

“Friday, June the third. What were you doing out there?”

“What do you think?” She took a breath and released it, then reached into her bag and took out a pack of Marlboro Lights and lit one.

He knew the place was nonsmoking, but she didn’t seem to care.

“Cops had moved me on from some of the regular spots I used to meet clients. I started using Route 73 because it was remote. You rarely get anyone out there. Especially the law. I would park at Chapel Pond Trailhead. It’s set back from the road.

Close to the water. It offers enough privacy. ”

Noah had seen it. He’d been up and down that road multiple times.

“And so?”

She shrugged. “I was with a client. He got a little too heavy-handed with me. I had to deal with it.”

He gave her a puzzled look. She reached into her handbag and tossed a canister on the bed. “Pepper spray. I don’t have to use it a lot but it’s gotten me out of a few sticky situations.”

“Smart woman. Go on.”

Trinity lifted her eyes, taken aback by his words as if she’d never been paid a compliment. “Anyway, I kicked his ass out of my truck and tore off heading southeast. ”

“Do you remember the time?”

“I don’t know exactly. I remember I met the guy a little before midnight.

We were there maybe ten minutes before I drove off.

” She tapped ash into an empty coffee cup on the side table.

“Then I saw it. The cruiser. The lights were on. I was going to turn around and go back but I did that once and was pulled over. Cops seem to watch for things like that. And at night. That late. I figured I would just drive on but…”

“You saw him.”

She nodded. Looking at Noah. “You are the spitting image.” She shook her head. Her hands trembled hard. He could see the emotion surface. A few tears welled in her eyes. Noah reached for a tissue and gave it to her. She thanked him and dabbed at the corners of her eyes.

“Was he dead when you reached him?”

“Yeah.”

“Was there anyone else around?”

“No. Or if there was, they were hiding in the brush. I was scared. After I called it in, I just left. Well, you know how it would have looked. I didn’t want to do jail and I didn’t think anyone would believe me.”

“Did you see another vehicle drive off before you arrived?”

“No. No one. The road was….” She paused.

“What is it?”

“Um.” She hesitated. “I did pass a vehicle on my way out. I mean. It was heading northwest toward High Peaks when I was heading southeast.”

“Can you remember it?”

“I don’t know. It was dark. It flew by fast. I was panicking from having pulled out of the… the…” She struggled to find the words, her hands shaking now.

“It’s okay. Take your time.”

Trinity took another hit on her cigarette and Noah pulled up a chair. Axel was wandering the suite, smelling everything. “I didn’t get a good look. If I had to guess it was a… a… van. A large van.”

“The color?”

“Silver. I think.”

“And you’re sure it was coming from the direction of the scene?”

She nodded. “I don’t know if they passed the cruiser and were as freaked out as I was or if they were involved.

I couldn’t tell you. I just know that all that was there was the cruiser.

” Noah contemplated what Dax had told him about Cyrus.

Could that have been him? Were both of them together that night?

Had Cyrus wrangled Dax into helping? It would have been easy.

Luke already had a vested interest in Dax and was using him as an informant.

He probably didn’t want to be seen in High Peaks talking with him.

Had they used Route 73 as a location to talk?

Still, from what Noah could recall, the photos and video footage of the cruiser placed it parked at an angle as if Luke had tried to stop someone from passing.

Noah had hoped Trinity had seen more.

“Nothing else stands out?”

“No. I mean nearby there was uh… glass. A lot of it.”

“Glass?”

“Yeah, like smashed glass. It was odd, there was liquid all over the ground near where your brother was.”

Noah tried to recall the photos he’d seen. The report hadn’t mentioned any glass. He rose from his seat and went over to the window and looked out.

“Will I have to testify in court?”

“Probably.”

“You can’t prove I was there.”

Noah looked back at her. “How do you think I found you?” He paused. “Not only do we have your voice on a dispatch recording but we have your DNA on the radio that you called in on. That places you there. By the way, your sister sends her regards.”

“You spoke to her?”

“I did. Today.”

Trinity shook her head. “I didn’t kill your brother. I swear. I didn’t,” she said as if she needed to make that clear. “I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Noah studied her. “Maybe not. I noticed your truck has a dashboard camera inside.”

She nodded. “It points inward. I know it seems odd. I use it for my protection. You know, if I have to take someone to court and prove they beat me up. I got it after the last time a guy put me in the hospital. That’s when I got the pepper spray.

I figured clients wouldn’t realize if I turned the camera around. ”

“Do you still have that guy that attacked you on the SD card?”

“Yeah. I haven’t been out since. Not sure I will again. Been too scared.”

Noah had her go down and collect the card. He didn’t expect much but he wanted to check something. He took his laptop from his vehicle and brought it in. They slotted the SD into an Apple USB-C to SD card and loaded the contents.

He stood behind Trinity at the desk in the room as she navigated the footage back to that night. For the first time since he’d lost his brother, he was going to get a window into that fateful night. “As I said, I don’t think it will be much use.”

Noah wanted to see the angle.

Trinity hit play and he watched the moment between her and the client play out.

She looked embarrassed. Noah didn’t recognize the guy.

He could have been a local, or a tourist looking to get his jollies before returning to a mundane life.

Trinity turned away as the video got violent.

She was a fighter. Before anything could take place, she pepper sprayed him, and within minutes she had him out of the truck, hacking and grasping at his throat as she sped off.

As Trinity drove on down the road, he saw it.

Although the camera was facing inward, it was at an angle that still caught traffic through the rear window. The front dashboard camera caught the van passing her.

“Stop right there!”

She tapped pause. Noah had her take it back just a few seconds.

“Right there,” he said, tapping the screen.

Now her comment about the glass on the road made sense.

“Got you.”