Page 126 of In Cold Blood

“And that’s all. I swear.”

Noah glanced at Mary-Lynne.

“I know where you can find Trinity. C’mon up.” She turned and yelled at Jacob – the one Axel had been chewing on— to head on up to her apartment so she could treat his leg. The other two ambled back to the folding chairs and cracked open beers.

Noah took Axel with him. He followed her and Jacob up into a cramped apartment. The walls were dingy and the ceiling was yellow from smoking. The floors were creaky and old. A tiny kitchen was off to the right with a mini fridge and aged stove.The living room beyond that had furniture that was sparse and worn. Two doors fissured off from the living room, and one contained a narrow twin bed pushed up against a wall. The other was the bathroom.

Mary-Lynne set her rifle against the wall.

Jacob took a seat while she gathered up peroxide, bandages, and a pair of scissors. Jacob glanced at Noah but he was more focused on Axel who hadn’t taken his eyes off the guy.

“Is Trinity in trouble?” Mary-Lynne asked.

“I just need to speak to her,” Noah replied.

Mary-Lynne dropped to a crouch and tore open Jacob’s jeans to reveal a few bite marks. They weren’t deep but would need treatment. He winced as she doused his leg with peroxide. “Oh stop, you’re a grown-ass man. Maybe next time you’ll rethink being a jackass,” she said to him.

“You look like you know what you’re doing,” Noah said.

“Sure hope so. I’m a nurse,” she said without cracking a smile.

Noah watched her treat his leg and patch it up before sending him on his way.

When he was gone, she continued. “I saw the news about your brother. It was plastered all over the media. I had to do a double-take when I saw you. Sorry for your loss. Not a lot of folks around here understand what a tough gig you all do. You’re hated by most, and praised by few. It’s a thankless job.”

“As is nursing.”

She nodded in agreement. Mary-Lynne went into the living room and collected a handful of envelopes. “Jerry, the landlord, is an asshole. I told Trinity I would collect her mail and forward it on until she managed to get a place. I drop it off to her in town twice a week. She plans to pay him when she has the money, but that whole thing with finding your brother unnerved her. She didn’t feel comfortable sticking around.”

“Did she say much?”

“Only that she found him. If you know anything about her lifestyle, you’ll understand why she didn’t wait for the cops.” Mary-Lynne handed over the envelopes. “You’ll find her at the Pourman’s Taphouse. It’s a bar and restaurant just off the main stretch. She works there twice a week when she’s not doing her other job. She’ll be getting to the end of her shift. She’s staying at Whiteface Corners. Room 8.”

“Thank you.” He took the mail and turned to leave.

“Trinity’s not a bad woman. She’s trying. Just life hasn’t exactly worked in her favor.”

He nodded. Quite often that was the case. People were doing the best they could. Addiction could take down the strongest. It showed no preference. It was merciless.

33

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

The white F-150 stood out among the many vehicles, the license plate even more so. FAE 3249. He finally had the other half of the plate. It matched the videos and the same one he’d seen the day after he arrived speeding away from the camp area.

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.