Page 12 of Silent Bones (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #7)

Noah half-smiled. “Search and rescue guys always want you to remember they’re heroes. Even when they’re just blocking trails and handing out citations.”

When Bill returned, he handed each of them a paper cup and sat back down.

“Appreciate it,” Noah said.

Bill leaned back in his chair. He drummed the desk with his fingers. “It’s a damn shame about those kids. Just awful.”

“It is,” Callie said. “One of the worst scenes I’ve been part of.”

“You did good work last month, by the way,” he added, glancing at her. “Jake was telling me how sharp you’ve been. Said you helped the team more than once.”

Callie blinked. “He said that?”

“Sure did. That’s why it’s going to be a loss to the team when he leaves us.”

Something shifted in her expression. “Leaves?”

“Oh, you didn’t know?” Bill asked, surprised. “Jake’s been reassigned. Region 1. Long Island.”

“Since when?”

“Since a week ago. He requested it. Said he needed a change. A fresh start, I believe were his words.”

Noah sipped his coffee and watched her closely. A crack in the armor, just for a second.

“But… Long Island’s six hours away,” Callie said. “That’s… that’s not just a transfer. That’s a relocation.”

Bill gave a shrug. “You’d have to ask him.”

Before the air could tighten further, a soft knock sounded at the door.

Bill rose from his chair and opened the door.

“Avery, come on in, dear.”

She stepped into the room, eyes darting from Noah to Callie and back again.

She looked younger than her age, which had to be around seventeen or eighteen.

She had long dark hair pulled into a ponytail, tan skin, and a fitted green DEC hoodie over black leggings.

Her posture was perfect. Her expression was anything but.

She looked guarded. It was clear she’d been crying.

Her eyes were puffy and red and she had balled-up tissue in one hand.

“Detective Sutherland,” Bill said, “wants to ask you a few questions.”

“Am I in trouble?” she asked, glancing at her father.

“No,” Noah said, gesturing to the seat across from him. “Just looking for some clarity.”

She sat slowly. Callie remained quiet, letting Noah take the lead.

“How long did you know the victims?” he asked.

Avery folded her hands in her lap. “Since high school. Some earlier. Stephen and I were close… closest, I guess.”

“You appear in a lot of photos with them. Camping trips, bonfires, that sort of thing. But you weren’t with them the night they died.”

“No,” she said.

“Why not?”

She looked to her father. He gave a tight nod, encouraging but firm.

“I’m focusing on my future,” she said carefully. “I graduate this spring. I’m trying to get into the DEC’s wildlife conservation internship.”

“Well, that is, after she’s been to college for a couple of years,” Bill added. “She needs to keep her head down. That friend group… wasn’t the best influence. Isn’t that right, hon?”

Avery didn’t answer, and Noah noted the flicker of tension between them.

Noah leaned forward slightly. “Can you tell me where you were that night?”

“At home. With my mom.”

“She’ll confirm that?”

“She already did,” Bill cut in. “When Detective McKenzie called her today.”

“Oh, he’s called already.”

“Yeah, I’ve already been through numerous questions. He said he was speaking to all of the parents.”

Noah nodded. “Alright. Well, I’d like to show you something, if that’s okay. Something that came from Stephen’s phone. I thought you might be able to shed some light on it.”

He reached into his folder and pulled out a printed screenshot, the still frame of a video showing Avery outside a tent, shirtless, but in a bra. She was straddling Stephen and laughing as she gestured at someone off-screen.

Bill furrowed his brow. “What’s this?”

Avery’s face turned a shade paler. “That was nothing,” she said quickly. “It was a joke. We were just playing around.”

“With just your bra on?” her father said sharply.

“Dad…”

Noah waited, letting the silence tighten.

“I’ve known Stephen for years,” Avery said. “We were all playing a game that night. Truth or dare. Jesse dared me to try to give Stephen an erection… to prove he wasn’t gay.”

Bill’s face stiffened. “Stephen was gay?”

Avery shrugged. “Yeah, everyone knew. Except you, apparently.”

She crossed her arms and looked back at Noah. “He didn’t get an erection, by the way. It was harmless fun.”

“Was Stephen okay with it?”

She shrugged. “He laughed it off.”

Callie leaned forward now. “Did you ever hear Stephen mention someone named Theresa? Theresa Voss?”

Avery blinked. “No. I mean… I know who she is. Or should I say, he? Terry ran us off his campground last summer. We had to find somewhere else to camp. Said we were too loud. It was bullshit.”

“Watch your mouth,” Bill warned.

Avery rolled her eyes.

“You’ve known Stephen a long time,” Noah said. “And he never once mentioned Theresa to you?”

“No. Why would he?”

“Did you ever see him chatting with Theresa?”

“No.”

“What about enemies or bullies? Any idea if someone had it out for the group?”

“Besides Theresa?” Avery asked.

Noah gave her a look. “Why do you say that?”

She sat up straighter. “He—she, whatever you want to call it—was unhinged. If looks could kill… That night, he was acting insane. Screaming at us. Swearing at us. Acting like we were criminals.”

“You never told me about this?” Bill asked, his voice sharp again.

“Because I knew how you’d react.”

Another pause. Noah saw it now, the layers of control and quiet rebellion between father and daughter. She was toeing a line.

“Okay,” Bill said, standing. “I think that’s enough. My daughter has things to do, and I’ve got work to get back to. If there are final questions, ask them now.”

Noah didn’t move. “Did you have feelings for Stephen?”

“Stephen? No. I loved him as a friend, that’s it.”

“And the others? What was Stephen’s relationship with them like?”

She hesitated. “Normal, I guess.”

“I wonder if you can clear up one last matter. There were only two tents at the site. There were five of them. And the others were paired up. Dating from what I’ve been able to establish. So, where would Stephen have slept?” Noah asked.

“In Jesse’s tent,” she said. “He always did. They were close friends. Jesse wanted him close.”

Noah nodded slowly.

“That must have been uncomfortable for Jesse’s girlfriend, Rachel.”

“She just accepted Stephen as some kind of third wheel.”

“So were you dating anyone?”

“No.”

Bill opened the door, making it clear the conversation was over.

“Okay, thank you, Avery.”

“Bill,” Noah added. “Much appreciated.”

“My door is always open. Send your father my regards.”

As they stepped into the hallway, and walked away, Callie turned to Noah and said quietly, “You get the sense some of that was rehearsed?”

“That, or not fully explained.”

They walked in silence for a beat.

Then Callie added, “For someone worried about influence over her… he sure has a lot of it.”