Page 141 of In Cold Blood

“Thirty-five years this November. Goes by in the blink of an eye.”

Roberts led him into a den where he turned off the music and gestured for him to take a seat. He remained standing. The room had a library with musty-smelling old books on dark wood shelves. There was also a black grand piano in the corner overlooking the water.

“And yet you haven’t lived here that long.”

“No. We moved in… um three, maybe four years ago. Janice always wanted a waterfront property. I was quite content to stay where we were. But, what can I say… happy wife, happy life, right?”

“Right. Go big or go home. Hey?”

“That’s the spirit.” He took a swig of his drink.

“No, I meant this place.”

Roberts screwed up his face. “I wouldn’t class this as big.”

“Expensive, though? I expect it cost you a pretty penny.”

Roberts swallowed, nodding with a smile. “Uh-huh. That’s where good investments come in handy. Always wise to be thinking of the future. Do you invest, Noah?”

“I’ve considered it. It’s a little over my head. More risk than I care to take on.”

He roamed the room, gazing at the photos above a stone fireplace.

Roberts opened a drawer and pulled out a cigar box made of dark, polished wood with brass hinges and a brass clasp. He popped the lid open, releasing a rich, earthy aroma. Inside were rows of carefully arranged cigars. Each one was dark and oily with bands of red, gold, and blue around the caps. Roberts offered one to him but he declined.

“You have to take a few risks in life if you want to get ahead,” Roberts said.

“Like being sheriff.”

He gave him a confused expression.

“Well, it’s just I understand you will be running for re-election this year.”

“We’ll see. A lot has changed.”

“Yeah, like Luke and Hendrix running for sheriff. It’s unfortunate, no one will be electing either of them now. Though had Hendrix not been caught, I wonder if he might have had a foot in the door?”

“Not any more than anyone else.”

“Though it would have been easier without Luke in the mix, right?”

Roberts downed the rest of his drink.

Noah continued to talk as he strolled the room, running his fingers over old leather-bound books. Axel remained at his sidethe whole time. “You know, I was a little puzzled as to why Hendrix burned down Alicia Michaels’ cabin and then it dawned on me. The day he visited to collect the boxes of evidence, he kept glancing at Luke’s election yard signs. Then I recalled something he said to me when he visited Kerri’s and brought over Axel. I believe it was… ‘Luke was a great deputy sheriff and would have been elected for sure.’ For someone who was also running for office, he seemed strangely convinced that Luke would be elected.”

“Well, it’s because of Luke’s background. Your family history, I mean. He had a better chance of being elected.”

Noah cocked his head from side to side. “Possibly. But like you said. Not any more than anyone else, right?” He smiled. Noah let his words linger before he continued.

Roberts poured himself another glass while Noah continued, “Certainly, if Hendrix had been elected to office, he would have had a lot of sway in the community and the county. Especially in how people perceived him and those he favored. He could focus his attention on one area of policing but not on another. Like giving people a heads-up before a search warrant was enacted. Or heck, changing reports or the internal tracking system of narcotics entered in and out of evidence.”

“That’s an awful lot of risk even for him.”

“Sure. But you have to take some risks to get ahead, right?” Noah tossed his own words back at him. “Then again, if Luke had been elected, wow, the things he might have exposed, the people he might have taken down, the changes he might have made in policing and the community.” He paused. “But now without either of them in the running, it should make getting re-elected a walk in the park for you. Even at your age.”

“It’s unfortunate. Luke would have done a fine job. And as for Hendrix, well, we don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

“You are right. The good community no longer has to worry, but you might.”