Page 44 of Silent Bones (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #7)
Two days later.
T he Ford Bronco sat loaded with camping gear outside the Daily Grind Café, its roof rack strapped down with tents and sleeping bags, coolers secured in the back. Noah adjusted his sunglasses against the morning glare as Callie climbed out of the vehicle, stretching after the drive from the house.
"Ed's really going to meet us at the campsite?" Ethan asked from the rear.
"That's what he said."
Mia glanced in the side mirror toward the back of the Bronco where Callie was adjusting the tie-downs on their gear. "Does this mean you're officially dating now?"
Noah grinned despite himself. "No, and I don't want you making any of your comments. She's still working through a relationship ending."
"Why didn't that work out?" Ethan asked with the blunt curiosity of a teenage boy.
"It's because she has feelings for Dad," Mia said matter-of-factly.
“Mia.”
She smiled.
Noah shook his head and climbed out of the driver's seat. "I'll get the drinks. You two behave yourselves."
The Daily Grind was busy with the usual morning crowd, locals grabbing coffee before work, tourists planning their day in the mountains.
The smell of fresh-ground beans and baked goods filled the air, a comfortable contrast to the institutional coffee and harsh fluorescent lights of interview rooms.
Lucy, one of the young baristas, with purple streaks in her hair and multiple ear piercings, smiled as Noah approached the counter.
"The usual?"
"Yep."
As he waited for his order, a familiar voice spoke behind him.
"I thought you were cutting back on caffeine."
Noah turned to find Natalie Ashford standing beside him, looking polished and professional even in casual weekend clothes.
"I am," he replied with a slight smile. "This is me cutting back. You should have seen me before, I was basically mainlining espresso. What are you doing here so early?" he asked.
"Meeting with my father, actually. He likes to start business discussions before the day gets too chaotic."
Noah raised an eyebrow. "He still frequents places like this?"
"You might be surprised to know that my father came from nothing, Noah. He wasn't always wealthy."
"No, that’s right, it takes a lot of sales of drugs to get there."
Natalie's expression hardened. "Whatever grievance you have with my father is between you and him, but he's still my father. I'd appreciate it if?—"
The café door opened with a soft chime, and Callie walked in, scanning the room until she spotted Noah.
"Oh, Noah, Ethan asked if he can get a muffin with his drink."
There was an awkward beat as the three of them stood there, the history between Noah and Natalie suddenly thick in the air.
"Callie," Natalie said with cool politeness.
"Natalie," Callie replied, equally reserved.
Noah was quick to fill the silence. "Callie's camping with us."
"Oh, nice," Natalie said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "I'm surprised you didn't ask me to go."
Noah felt the trap in the question. "And why would I do that?"
"Ah, that's right," Natalie said, winking at him but making it obvious to Callie that there was history between them. "Well, nice to see you both again."
She took her coffee from Lucy and headed toward a corner table where she'd been waiting. Callie watched her go, then looked at Noah with a questioning expression.
"I'll explain later," Noah said quietly, handing Callie the coffee carrier Lucy had prepared.
As Callie headed back toward the door, she nearly collided with a man entering the café. Luther Ashford stepped aside with exaggerated courtesy, his eyes moving from Callie to Noah with calculating interest.
"Mr. Sutherland," Luther said, approaching the counter with the confidence of a man who owned everything he surveyed. "Congratulations are in order, I hear."
"For what?"
"Your work on the Saranac Slayings case. Outstanding police work. I also heard you took down a leader of a rather extensive drug network at the same time. Impressive."
Noah took his coffee from Lucy and handed her some money, not breaking eye contact with Luther. "I wouldn't exactly call Mack the leader. Though don't worry, we're not far from bringing down the whole network. It's just a matter of time."
"Time. Right." Luther's smile was predatory. "Time has a way of working in everyone's favor, doesn't it?"
“Look, Luther, money and power can only buy so many people, cover so many tracks. Eventually mistakes are made, and when they are, I'll be there to follow those crumbs."
"I look forward to reading about it in the papers."
Noah snorted and turned to leave, but Luther's voice stopped him.
"Oh Noah, I forgot to thank you."
"For what?"
"For what you did for my daughter back on the Catcher case. Just know that it never went unnoticed. My daughter has become quite fond of you." Luther's smile widened, showing too many teeth. "Who knows, maybe one day you might become my son-in-law. Wouldn't that be something?"
“As would hell freezing over,” Noah shot back,
Noah could see the smirk dancing on Luther's lips, the power play disguised as friendly conversation. He glanced toward Natalie, who was watching their interaction with obvious discomfort, then back at Luther.
"Have a good day, Detective."
Noah walked out without another word, gritting his teeth at the games Luther played. That man thought he was untouchable.
Yet in many ways, he was.
Outside, Mia and Ethan were in the Bronco, Callie adjusting something in the passenger seat.
As Noah climbed behind the wheel, he could see Luther through the café windows, settling in across from his daughter, already deep in conversation about whatever business had brought them together. He had to wonder how much Natalie knew.
"Everything okay?" Callie asked quietly.
"Yeah," Noah said, starting the engine. "Everything's fine."
But as they pulled away from the curb, Noah couldn't shake the image of Luther's confident smile or the casual way he'd suggested Noah might someday be family.
The man who'd ordered at least two murders was sitting in a coffee shop on a Saturday morning, conducting business with his daughter, untouched by any consequences for his actions.
Mack was dead. The drug network would continue operating elsewhere. Luther Ashford remained protected by wealth, influence, and a system that valued power over justice.
Some battles were won. Others were simply survived.
As they drove toward the mountains and a weekend away from the corruption that poisoned everything it touched, Noah tried to focus on what he could control: his kids, their safety, the simple pleasure of camping under stars that didn't care about human failings.
But Luther's words echoed in his mind like a threat and a promise combined.
The institutional corruption had prevailed, just as it always did when the powerful were threatened. The system protected its own, and Luther Ashford was very much its own.