Page 114 of In Cold Blood

He took the leash off a hook and opened the crate. He latched it to the dog’s collar and took him out the side door, around to the back of the house. As Axel relieved himself, Noah eyed the tree line and every shadow. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck and arms lifting. “Axel. C’mon.”

He led the dog back in and put him back in his crate.

The dog whined. “It’s late. Sleep.”

He shut off the light, made sure the rear door was locked again, and made his way back to the hallway. As he passed the doorway that led into the kitchen, his eyes caught the same silhouettes as before except something was different. His brain only registered the difference a few seconds after he walked past.

Noah froze.

His hand clutched his Glock tightly.

He whirled around and entered the kitchen, slapping the light on the wall.

The bulb at the center of the kitchen illuminated him.

Dax was sitting on the counter, tapping a gun against his thigh.

“I slipped in while you were outside.”

Axel didn’t just want to go to the washroom. He’d heard movement.

“Why, Dax? Why did you have to attack Ed?”

“That was an accident.”

“Like the cabin?”

Dax slipped off the counter. He continued to tap his gun against his leg. “That wasn’t me. Why the hell would I destroy Alicia’s cabin? They’re trying to make it look like it’s me.”

“Don’t bullshit me, Dax.”

“I’m telling the truth. When I got there, the cabin was on fire. I thought you were inside. The neighbor came out and thought I’d started it. I tried to tell him it wasn’t me. But he wouldn’t listen. Kept rambling on about drug deals and how he’d seen me over at the island. He was going to call the cops. I tried to stop him. He swung at me… and…” He lifted the gun to his head and tapped it gently against his temple. But it was clear he was indicating that he’d pistol-whipped him. Dax’s dreadlocks hung low; his eyes looked sunken from a lack of sleep. “Is he okay?”

“I don’t know. Doctors said he might not pull through,” Noah replied.

Dax brought his head back and got this painful expression on his face. “Oh, God!”

Noah took a step forward. “How about you put the gun down.”

Dax eyed him, his gun still in hand. He shook his head. “I can’t do it.”

“Dax.”

“I’m sorry, Noah.”

“Listen, how did you know I was here?”

“I remember you telling me that Kerri had offered her place. I figured you’d come here.”

“Why didn’t you just call me?”

“Because.”

“Because what?”

“Because they’re after me now. Don’t you understand? Just like they took out Cyrus. They couldn’t let him get caught. The Graysons wouldn’t have been able to get him out of that. He would have talked.”

Noah offered back a confused expression.