Page 16 of The Catcher (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #5)

“The place used to belong to a Wall Street broker from the Big Apple. It was his summer cottage for more than 28 years. Every year, he would travel up with his wife and kids for two months and then rent it out for the rest of the year. My father’s company bought out the place that was dealing with rentals.

He offered the owner a price he couldn’t refuse, and that’s how we ended up with it.

” She glanced at him as if gauging his reaction before continuing to lead the way, talking as if she was looking to sell him on the place.

“All custom log work. Built here in High Peaks. Multiple stone fireplaces, seven bedrooms, eight baths with a gorgeous two-story great room. There’s an elevator to get to the floor above,” she said, pointing to it with her beer bottle.

” They reached an area that offered a clear view of the rear property.

“There’s a two-bedroom guest house out there, a five-slip boat house with an entertainment area above it — the pool, of course, and a multi-vehicle garage. ”

“Extravagant. Twenty acres?”

“Close. Twenty-three.”

“Enough room to build multiple homes.”

“Sure is. Takes up 2,500 feet of shoreline. My father is considering building a few more homes.”

“Huh. Won’t you find having neighbors a little infringing?”

“Do you?”

He smiled. “Ed is an acquired taste. Not your typical neighbor.”

“I’ve heard,” she said. He didn’t probe her for how but assumed that his father had been flapping his gums. She smiled and asked, “So, what do you think he paid for it?”

“Six million?”

“Higher.”

“Ten?”

She raised a thumb. “Fourteen million,” she said.

Noah shook his head. “See, that’s the thing. I can’t see myself feeling good living in an expensive place when people can barely rub two nickels together. I mean, some of the homes I’ve been in, you could fit ten, maybe twenty of them in this place.”

“Please, don’t tell me you are one of them.”

“One of who?” he asked as she led him into the kitchen where a chef was preparing their food. He didn’t even comment on that. She sat at a long table; he sat across from her.

“You know, those who say that the wealthy are greedy. ”

“I never said that.”

“But you implied it.”

“No. I just have a hard time living in a house that’s too large.

“And yet you took the rental we offered when you moved here.”

“Because I was out of pocket. I could say I have my brother to thank for that, but that wouldn’t be true now, would it?” He’d already told her about his brother’s run-in with Gabriel Ironwood, the manager of the Ashford Royale Casino.

“He wouldn’t have owed them money had he not gambled.”

“No, I understand, but there are ways to recover a debt owed. Holding a gun to someone’s head isn’t one of them.”

“I told you. I wasn’t aware of that.”

“Look, maybe we can change the subject.”

“Or I can answer your question,” she replied before taking a swig.

Her eyes sparkled as if she was enjoying their conversation.

“What I mean is everyone is rich to someone. Of course, there are those who can’t afford a place like this, but it’s no different than someone who can afford a $200,000 home.

There is always going to be someone who can’t.

Does that make your typical homeowner greedy? ”

“No.”

“It’s all a matter of perspective,” she said as a server came over with two plates of food and placed it before them. “Thank you, Sheila,” Natalie said, leaning back as Sheila finished pouring a glass of red wine to go with her meal.

“Wine, sir?” she asked. He hadn’t even finished his beer.

“No. Thank you. I’m good.”

“Will that be all, Ms. Ashford?”

“Yeah, I think so,” she said, not taking her eyes off Noah. “Anything else you want, Noah?”

He smirked, shaking his head.

“You can head home, Sheila. Thank you,” she said politely, acknowledging her service before turning her attention back to Noah.

Once they were alone, Noah couldn’t resist addressing the topic lingering in his mind. “Don’t you find that odd, people serving you?” he asked.

Natalie raised an eyebrow, her expression thoughtful. “Do you, when you go to a restaurant?” she countered, her voice calm and measured.

“It’s not the same,” Noah insisted, needing to explain himself.

Natalie leaned back in her chair, considering his words before responding.

“You sure about that?” she challenged gently.

“You pay for the food. You tip the waitress. What’s the difference between whether they are here or there?

Understand that we pay our staff very well, Noah.

We take good care of them. It is far better than the chump change offered at restaurants in this town.

They work fewer hours, too, but make more. I’ve yet to see one complain or leave.”

Noah scoffed, realizing that this was an argument he wouldn’t win. As he lifted the cover off the silver platter in front of him, he saw a massive hamburger with a side of fries. He looked up at Natalie in surprise.

“I might live in a fancy place, Noah, but I’m still old school.” She smiled. “That’s your favorite, right? Blue cheese on top.”

The aroma was familiar and pleasing.

Noah’s smile widened at the unexpected gesture. “How did you know?” he asked, genuinely curious.

“Asked the restaurant owner whose place you frequent,” Natalie replied casually, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Noah chuckled, impressed by Natalie’s attention to detail. As he dug into the meal before him, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort and familiarity in her presence despite the surroundings.

Conversation flowed during supper. There was no awkwardness to it.

She was keen to know his background and understand his choices for the direction he’d taken that seemed so opposed to his father’s wishes yet still in line with the family’s lineage of law enforcement.

In many ways, she was a mirror image of him, except instead of her father having a reputation for helping the community, he had agitated it with new builds, buying out businesses, and getting those in the city to agree with plans.

“You think my father is a criminal, right?”

“I never said that.”

“C’mon, Noah, you’re not being recorded here. That I can assure you.”

His eyes drifted at the mention of it, even more so after the last case revealed Luther Ashford’s partnership with a home security company.

What better way to control the town than to play big brother, eavesdrop on conversations, and at any moment be able to see where people were and what they were up to?

There were multiple upsides to the arrest of Landon Emmett, a man who had gone on a rampage through High Peaks, killing families in homes. One of these was Lakeridge Homes, which soon went under, as did its use of its smart security system. The same company Luther had aligned himself with.

“It doesn’t matter what I think of your father. Eventually, a person reveals their true colors.”

“Did your father?”

Noah considered the question. “There was a time I would have said yes. Lately, not so much. Look, not to shift gears, but I was told that Tyler Ashford is a family member.”

“He’s my nephew. My brother’s boy. Why?”

“His name came up in an investigation.”

“Has he done something wrong?”

Noah waved her off. “Oh, no. I was told he hung around with the guy who was recently found deceased, Pete Landry.”

“Um,” she said after swallowing a mouthful of beer. “Yes, that was very unfortunate. I caught the headlines on local TV. Have there been any leads so far?”

“A few, though it’s still early. No sign of the Matthews girl.”

“If you want to speak to Tyler, I’m sure I could arrange for my brother to bring him by the department. ”

“No need. We're doing the rounds with families.”

She nodded thoughtfully before rising. “Did you want to sit out back? It’s enclosed and just offers a nicer view.”

“Sure, though I didn’t mind the view in here,” he said flirtatiously now that the alcohol was flowing through him and liquid courage was taking over.

Almost as quickly as it came out, he scolded himself.

I didn’t mind the view in here? What the hell are you talking about, Noah?

She smiled but said nothing as she went out.

He followed, squeezing his eyes shut and shaking his head.

“So, how are things with you now since Alicia's death? If… you don’t mind me asking?”

He shrugged. “Not at all. Uh. As well as can be, I guess.”

“She was living with you, right?”

He nodded, gulping down more beer. “She was.”

“I met her a few times. Nice woman. A real shame.”

“Yeah. Yeah, it is,” he said, his mind returning to memories of better times.

He still hadn’t figured out how she’d gotten tied up with her father and Luther Ashford, but it was clear that her warnings to him before he returned to High Peaks came with some weight.

Her suggestion for them to move to Florida hadn’t been said on a whim.

Now, he understood it for what it was: a quiet plea, a hope of being drawn away from whatever quicksand she’d found herself in.