Page 98 of In Cold Blood

“Erikson. My brother. That asshole you hang around with. Cyrus Keller.”

“Whatever beef you have with him, take it up with him,” he said, turning to get in his vehicle.

“Oh, I would except we can’t find him. But I did see him last night when he shot at me and a deputy before bolting and crashing his car.” Noah took hold of Jack’s arm. “Cut the crap.”

“I don’t know anything about that.”

“Then what do you know? Huh? I mean. From what I’ve heard, you and Cyrus are like this,” he said, holding up two fingers twisted together.

“We’ve hung out a few times. Had a beer. Gone hunting. Is that a crime?”

“Depends. You see, I started wondering. What is a clean-cut guy like you, with a reputation to protect, doing in a known area for drug deals?” Noah moved toward him, and Jack backed up, his body arching against the vehicle. Before he could do anything, Noah reached into Jack’s pockets.

“Get off!” He shouted.

Noah pulled out a small bag of white powder from the inner pocket.

“Well, well, what do we have here? That sure as hell looks like the same bag your buddy Cyrus had in his vehicle yesterday. Now I wonder?” Noah pried it open and took out a little and touched it on the tip of his tongue. “It looks like coke, smells like coke.” He slapped his lips together. “Well spank me and call me Nancy… that sure as hell tastes like coke.” Noah tossed it against Jack’s chest and the powder spilled out, emptying all over the ground. The wind blew it, spreading it far. The look of horror on Jack was priceless.

“Don’t worry, Jack. I’m sure you get an endless supply for keeping your mouth closed and bailing out your buddy when he lands in hot water.”

“You’re a fucking lunatic. You know that!? My sister should have never married you.”

“And you should have been kicked out by Gloria years ago, so I guess you and I are alike.”

“I’m nothing like you or your psycho brother.”

“Huh. Okay. Well let’s go there, shall we? What do you know about Luke? Huh? Where were you on that Friday?”

“You have no jurisdiction here.”

“Ah, see that’s where you’re wrong. Funnily enough, there’s been a shift change. I’m not too sure if you got the memo. But, hey, let me bring you up to speed. The BCI investigator who was handling Luke’s case ended up in the hospital. You know anything about that?”

“Screw you.”

Noah shoved him again. “Where were you on Friday?”

“I don’t have to answer to you.”

“No. No, you don’t, but you will to Gloria.”

Jack sneered.

Noah had him by the balls. He waited for an answer. Jack was slow to give one but eventually, he came clean.

“Where do you think?” Jack replied.

Noah glanced over his shoulder toward the motel door. It would be easy to confirm his alibi. “Huh. You have been a busy little bee. And Cyrus Keller?”

“What about him?”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know.”

“Um.” Noah rolled his lips in tightly. “You see, I think you do. I think you weren’t the only one that was out there when you found Erikson. I think Cyrus was too. That’s who you get your shit from, isn’t it? ISN’T IT!” he said, jabbing him against the car again.

“Dad?!” Mia called out. Noah glanced back, extending a hand.