Page 112 of In Cold Blood

“As is Axel.”

“I don’t doubt that.”

“I can handle myself.”

“I know. But it would givemepeace of mind.” She emphasized “me” and it was then he understood.

“You’re afraid you’ll be targeted.”

“Well, it’s a possibility, right? First Parish, then you, who’s to say they won’t come after me? Someone is feeling threatened.”

“You mean Dax.”

“Him. Someone else. We don’t know, right?”

He nodded and closed the door behind them. That evening Noah went around to every window and door and made sure they were locked before they settled in. It had been an exhaustive day of discoveries and heartbreak.

Noah put the kettle on to make a hot drink while Callie perused the living room.

“Was this you when you were younger?”

Noah came out. “Yeah. Luke and I used to go camping withRay. Was a long time ago. I think I was eighteen in that photo. One last hurrah before I headed off to the military.” He paused, studying her. “Luke never invited you here for dinner?” he asked.

She glanced at him and lifted an eyebrow.

“I meant as a colleague.”

“Still doesn’t look good, does it?” she replied.

“I guess,” he said, going back into the kitchen. He poured out the hot water and began stirring. “You know, I wonder if that’s what Parish was going to tell me.”

“What?” she asked.

He glanced back to find her standing in the doorway between the living room and kitchen.

“Parish. I wondered if he’d figured out Dax’s involvement.”

“Oh. Yeah. Possibly.”

Noah noticed the edge in her response. “What did you think I was going to say?”

She shrugged.

Noah continued. “I just can’t wrap my head around why Dax would lie to me. I’m usually pretty good at picking up on deception, you know, but… well…” Noah handed her a cup of hot cocoa. The two of them went into the living room and took a seat.

“So, you think Alicia didn’t know anything?”

“I think she’s as baffled as we are.”

“It is a little odd, don’t you think?” Callie said, leaning back.

“In what way?”

“Well, it seems your pal Dax is a good friend of Alicia. Allowing him to use her truck, I mean. He must have known that he might get caught trashing your vehicle or be seen in her truck driving away. Would you do that to a friend who you claim has been nothing but kind?”

“Yeah, it’s odd.”

Noah cocked his head and set his drink down on a side table. He went back into the kitchen and retrieved the folder and opened it again. He looked at the photos that had been printed off, snapshots of the video. “The thing is, you can’t see the driver,” he said, turning a photo around to show her. “So, was it Dax?”