Page 126 of Silent Bones

"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.