Page 62 of In Cold Blood

It was only a matter of time before Hugh would segue into who was to blame for something that was out of their control. Surprisingly though, Hugh sidestepped it. “But that’s passed. Though I do miss her.” He went over to a photo of the two of them from back when they were in their forties. “You, uh, found a lady friend yet? Since Lena, I mean.”

Noah swallowed a mouthful of his drink. “Not so far.”

“Have you seen her since you’ve been back?”

“Today actually.”

“How was she?” Hugh turned, leaning back against the counter, regarding him through sober eyes. It was a new look. He genuinely looked interested. Maybe retirement was doing him good. Of course, he didn’t drink while he worked but his interactions with Hugh outside of work when he was younger almost always came off the back of two fingers of bourbon.

“She’s engaged to a pastor.”

“That’s right. To Aiden West. I know his father well.”

“She looked good. Happy.”

Noah set his drink down.

“Does it bother you?”

“No. I would rather she be happy, especially for Ethan and Mia’s sake.”

“No. I meant that he’s a pastor?”

Noah glanced at his father but didn’t reply. The answer was obvious. How could he not see it for what it was? He walked over to the back door and watched Axel zooming around the backyard, getting all that pent-up energy out of his system. Kerri and the kids may have formed a bond but Axel was a working dog, through and through. He needed something to do. What would become of him now that Luke was gone was anyone’s guess.

“Did you hear they found Keith Erikson’s body?” Noah asked.

“I read the newspaper today. Yeah.”

“Jack Grayson. That’s who found him.”

“Doesn’t surprise me in the least.”

“Why do you say that?”

Hugh set his drink down and pulled some steaks out and walked by him, making his way over to the BBQ. “Luke was very vocal with me about Grayson’s’ involvement in the Cyrus Keller case. If he was alive now, he would probably be gunning to pull Jack in for questioning. You know — with his close friendship with Cyrus.” He sparked up the BBQ and flames burst to life.

“Do you know this Cyrus fella?”

“All the cops do. A nasty piece of work from a family that’s been around these parts for longer than we have. And that’s saying something.”

A warm summer breeze blew in off the lake, bringing with it the aroma of the wild. Their home had always had a great view of the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness and the small and giant peaks. The rolling landscape looked like a blanket of green for as far as the eye could see with all the fir, spruce, and hemlocks.

Out on the shimmering lake, several rowboats and kayaks bobbed in the water as the final rays of daylight melted into the horizon.

“Did he tell you much about what he was looking into in the final months?”

“A little,” Hugh replied.

“And the cabin with the?—”

“Wall of crazy?” his father said, cutting him off and looking over at him. “It’s not crazy, Noah, just incomplete. It was my suggestion. A way to keep his work and family separate. You know — for Kerri and the kids’ sake. Though, I didn’t expect him to rent a place.”

“So, you know about it.”

“Ray told me.”

“Ah.” Noah rocked his head back. “To be expected, I guess. So you haven’t said anything to Kerri or Roberts yet?”