Page 15 of In Cold Blood

Stoic and numb, Noah’s father sidled up beside him. There was no welcome. No handshake, hug, or warmth to the exchange. Noah didn’t expect anything else. “We’ll be convening at Peak 46. I gather you’ll be sticking around long enough for that?” It was a jab. Another gut punch. At one time it would have garnered a reaction, now it only amused him. He’d come to understand that some people held onto bitterness their entire life while others could let it go. His father was among the former.

Noah gave a nod and his father walked on, still unsteady on his feet.

As each of them made their way back to the vehicles, Gretchen offered Noah a room at her place instead of him wasting money on a hotel, but he hadn’t decided whether to take Kerri up on her offer. He knew it would give him a foot in the door. A window of insight into Luke and his world. If anyone might know specific details about what happened that night, the cops would have shared it with her.

Noah was about to give Gretchen a reply when he heard the throaty rumble of an engine firing up.

Tearing his eyes away, Noah caught sight of Alicia Michaels in the distance, up on the hill. A beautiful black woman with penetrating dark brown eyes that he’d almost allowed to come between him and Lena. She was straddling a black Ducati motorcycle and just about to put a helmet on. “Uh, Gretchen,you know what, I’ll catch up with you later. I just need to speak to someone…” he trailed off, breaking away and making his way up to her.

“Alicia, hey!” He raised a hand.

Alicia noticed and she flashed a wicked smile.

There was something about her that he found attractive. It wasn’t just her good looks, it was her character, her humor, and the way he felt around her. She was smart, more than most he knew, more than she was willing to admit. “I thought I saw you earlier.”

“Been a while,” she said, looking off toward the grave. “Sorry about Luke.”

“Yeah. Thanks.” There was a pause as he held her gaze. “You… look well.”

“You too. You sticking around?” she asked.

“A week or so. Vacation.”

She gave a warm smile while nodding.

“So, what’s new with you?”

“I work for Fish and Game now. A game warden.”

“Huh. You really went for it in the end?”

She leaned on the handles, her tongue pushing the inside of her cheek. “Surprised?”

When he’d met Alicia, she was bartending at Peak 46, a local tavern that was named after the forty-six high peaks of the Adirondack Mountains.

“Of course not. I always knew you would get out.”

“Is that so?” she replied as if she didn’t believe him.

He smiled. “Yeah, I figured you wouldn’t be pouring drinks for long. I mean, that’s not like that’s a long-term job, right.”

“I still do that.”

“Oh. I…”

She chuckled. “Just they’re usually for me now. How’s Lena?”

Noah shifted his weight from one foot to the next. She hadthis way about her that made him feel comfortably uncomfortable if that was even a thing. “We split. Yeah, I’m surprised you didn’t know, what with her being back here. I still haven’t seen her yet. She returned home to be close to family. I thought you would have bumped into her?”

“Oh, no, the Graysons tend to give High Peaks a wide berth. Their law office is now operating out of Elizabethtown. A lot has changed around here, Noah, since you’ve been gone. It’s not the same town or county. A bad element has moved in.”

He nodded, interested to know more.

Game wardens were fully-fledged peace officers who worked hand in hand with multiple agencies. Their trucks were often their office. Although the Sheriff’s Office dealt with the county, and game wardens mostly handled the protection of wildlife and checking on licenses, it wasn’t uncommon to find them responding to a 911 call and being the first on scene.

“So, you staying with your aunt or will you be staying at Luke’s place?”

“Kerri’s offered a room but I’m undecided right now. The sight of me might be too much.”