Page 102 of In Cold Blood

“That’s what I said.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Noah caught sight of Calliepulling up. She got out with the same wide-eyed look the others had when they arrived on scene.

“And you didn’t touch anything?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re certain?”

“Again, I arrived, and I observed the deceased through the window. I then placed a call.”

He’d had the good sense to make sure he hadn’t stepped inside. The last thing he wanted was to be blamed or prosecuted for breaking in.

Callie overheard the last part. “Parker, I’ll take over from here.”

The kid looked relieved. Callie swept a hand over her face to push aside a strand of hair. She brought her hand down and rested it on her duty belt. The two of them stared at each other as if they were thinking the same thing.

“I got your message. At least part of it,” she said.

“Phone died.”

“Yeah. So, what are your thoughts?”

He blew out his cheeks. “Obviously looks like suicide, the wound is close contact, and the spray is what you would expect. But… I don’t know. From what information we have on him, he didn’t seem like the take your life type of individual.”

She nodded. “Forensics will run UV and check for gunpowder residue on his hands. I’m sure they’ll let us know if there are any inconsistencies. People do a lot of things under duress. He shot at us. He probably knew that the entire county and local PD would be searching for him. Whatever chance he had of escaping went out the window. Not even the Graysons could dig him out. By the number of empty alcohol bottles and cans, it would be easy to assume he got drunk and decided to off himself.”

“But why?”

“I just told you.”

“I heard you but is that all?”

“He was facing hard time, Noah. Shooting at us, running from the law, a hit and run, along with narcotics found. I don’t think he needed his day in court to hear his fate. A second ding on his record. No judge in this county would let him walk. Some people just can’t face the music.”

“Perhaps.”

“You been inside the cabin yet?”

“No. In light of what happened, I would suggest you don’t go in there either. If you get my drift.” He looked over to the house. “Seems they’ve got a handle on it.”

Deputy Hendrix came out wearing blue latex gloves and carrying multiple hunting rifles and a couple of AR-15s.

“Hendrix!” Callie called out. “What have we got so far?”

“Multiple firearms. A shitload of narcotics, paraphernalia, and cash. Computers also. Seems our fella wasn’t just using this place as a hunting cabin. We’ll check for ballistics and cross-check them with Luke. We should hear back in twenty-four to forty-eight hours from NIBIN whether we have a match. Though based on what we’ve found so far, it looks promising,” he said with confidence. He strolled over to a police van and placed the guns in the back along with other brown boxes they had hauled out.

“Could it be that straightforward?” Noah muttered under his breath.

Callie caught it. “I mean, we know he held a grudge against Luke. Not every case is drawn out and complex, Noah. If he is the one responsible, well… at least your family would have closure. Which reminds me. You said in your message before it cut off that you got this tip from Jack Grayson, yes?”

“That’s right,” he said, distracted with other thoughts.

“With all they’re bringing out, I wouldn’t be surprised if hisprints are all over this. If they pin down a timeline of when this happened, he’ll have to account for his whereabouts. Where did you see him today?”

He glanced at her. “Coming out of a motel in Saranac with a ‘friend.’” He made quote signs in the air. She understood what that meant.

“Hmm. Isn’t he married?”