Page 5 of The Catcher

She scooped it up, then shook her head, disappointment tugging at her features. Squinting into the distance, she could make out her sister’s gravesite over the headstones.

Losing her had torn her apart, but nothing like the grief and guilt that had eaten away at Noah since losing Alicia. His temporary suspension from the State Police hadn’t helped. It had only encouraged him to withdraw and lose himself in the vices of his past.

“Noah,” she called out, hoping he might hear her. When he didn’t respond, she frowned and crouched beside him, gently shaking his shoulder. “Hey, Noah. Wake up.”

Noah groaned and rolled over, blinking hard as heraised a forearm to shield his eyes from the glare of sunlight. He was dressed in jeans and a thick white sweater layered beneath a sheepskin shearling jacket. He looked disheveled, his usually well-kept appearance marred by stubble and wild hair.

“Please tell me you’re not resorting to sleeping here every night,” Callie said.

Noah groaned in response. “No, and it wasn’t intentional,” he muttered, wiping drool from his jaw.

“Clearly,” Callie remarked dryly, dropping the empty bourbon bottle onto his lap.

“That’s not mine,” Noah protested.

“Really? We’re going to do that?” Callie countered, even as he pulled a silver flask out of his pocket.

“Go on. See. Check for yourself. It’s full. Didn’t take one swig.”

“Of that one,” Callie retorted, shaking her head as she caught a whiff of alcohol mingled with the stench of vomit emanating from him. “You know, Noah, if you’re going to get wasted, at least do it at home.”

Noah cleared his throat and spat on the ground, his movements sluggish as he got to his feet and brushed leaves from his clothing. “You almost sound like you care,” he muttered.

“Don’t be an ass,” Callie replied sharply, her concern masked by a veil of frustration.

“Ugh. What time is it?”

“Eight forty. Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere?”

“No. State decided to drag out my suspension.However, I’m glad to see the Sheriff’s Office reinstated you.”

She rested a hand on her duty belt. “I have Mckenzie to thank for that.”

“Helps to know the right people,” he said, pawing at his eyes.

“Come on, let’s go.”

“Where?”

“To the meeting at Mia’s school.”

“What meeting?”

“Parent-teacher meeting.”

“That’s today?”

“Noah. It was at eight-fifteen. Mia’s been calling you. She ended up calling me to find out where you were.”

“Shit!” he said, trying to get up fast but then he gripped his head. “Oh, geez, Louise. I feel like a Mack Truck has hit me.”

“Yeah, alcohol will do that.”

“I had one drink.”

“One long drink. Seriously, Noah. Do you really want to go back down that road again?”

He waved her off. “Please. I know the bottle wasn’t far from you after….” He stopped short of saying it.