Page 19 of The Smart Killer (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #4)

F or an ex-con, he made a compelling case.

Of course, it wasn’t something Noah hadn’t heard before from countless perps, but there was something genuine in his tone and demeanor.

“See it from our point of view,” Noah said, his voice firm but laced with a hint of empathy.

Alejandro’s eyes darted between Noah and Porter before he spoke, his voice strained.

“I do. I get it. I just didn’t know you were plainclothes detectives.

You aren’t wearing uniforms, you certainly aren’t driving a police cruiser, and I never stuck around long enough to find out who you were.

How the hell was I supposed to know? I swear, I wouldn’t have run. Come on, man, cut me a break here.”

The Bronco idled in the quiet Adirondack subdivision, surrounded by the imposing presence of mountains and dense forest. Noah tapped his fingers as he looked at the sky, which was a uniform, muted grey.

The forest loomed in the background, a silent witness.

Noah glanced at Porter, their unspoken communication conveying suspicion.

Porter’s gaze was sharp, his skepticism evident as Noah continued.

“But you have to admit, it seems odd, Alejandro. Why take the risk? What were you so afraid of?”

Alejandro’s shoulders slumped, and he dropped his head, his dark hair falling to conceal his eyes.

“I panicked, okay? I didn’t know who you were.

I thought someone was after me. It hasn’t been easy since I’ve been out.

You should have seen the letters and phone calls I got while I was inside.

Threats. People said they were waiting for me to get out.

I’ve been looking over my shoulder ever since. ”

“So, it wouldn’t be because you have gotten yourself into trouble again.”

“You’ve got my file in front of you. Does it look as if I have?”

“That’s what is known to your probation officer. Is there anything we should know? Something you want to tell us? Now would be a good time.”

“No. Look, why are you even here?”

“You’re telling me you don’t know?”

Alejandro stared back. “Since I’ve been out. I’ve barely had a moment to myself between my probation officer, work, church, and mother.”

“I doubt that’s true,” Porter muttered.

“You know what, man, I don’t care. If you’re going to arrest me. Just do it. I’m tired of trying to prove myself to people. I made a mistake, okay.”

“There are mistakes and decisions; don’t confuse the two, Alejandro.”

“It’s the same thing.”

Porter continued, “No, putting my foot in the wrong shoe is a mistake; choosing to spy on people's home feeds is a choice.”

The cuffs clinked behind him as he shifted in the seat to get comfortable.

“Like I told the cops back then. The first time, I had just forgotten to take out my user profile from their account. When I went to remove it, I was curious. I clicked on a few links and saw a few of the feeds. You know, people condemn me and call me a pervert, but if they knew what I saw behind closed doors, they would be slapping the cuffs on more people.”

“Like what?”

“Abuse, cheating, rage, drug use, you name it. A lot of it comes from upstanding folks in town. Those we place on a pedestal. The same people who turned me in. But oh, no, the cops didn’t want to listen to that.”

“And I bet that got you really mad, right?” Noah said.

“Of course it would.”

“Enough to want to get back at them.”

Alejandro went to respond. He opened his mouth and then closed it. “Maybe back then, not now. Time inside changes a person. I don’t ever want to go back there. Besides, I’ve changed. I’m doing better. I got a church now.”

“Ah, you found God,” Porter said.

Noah caught the sarcasm in Porter’s reply. He wanted to say something. To speak up on Alejandro’s behalf. They weren’t paid to take a side but to stay neutral. Politics. Religion. Those kinds of things were off the table once they clocked into their shift unless it called for the focus to be there.

“No.” He dipped his head. “He found me.” Alejandro took a deep breath.

“So, you don’t know anything about the recent deaths?”

“Deaths?”

“Homeowners. Lakeridge homeowners,” Noah clarified.

Alejandro’s gaze bounced between them. “No. I ignore the news.”

“You sure about that?” Porter added, turning in his seat toward him. Alejandro's demeanor shifted; a darkness overtook his eyes. Noah saw him clench his jaw.

“My partner is asking, when was the last time you were in High Peaks?”

“The day of my arrest.” He motioned with his head. “If you dig a little deeper into my files, I think you’ll find that one of the conditions is that I’m not allowed to go anywhere near those homes. They are spread out in High Peaks. Roads pass them. I would be breaking the rules.”

“Wasn’t a problem for you before,” Porter added. “Why should we believe it’s a problem now?”

“Screw you,” Alejandro said.

“All right. Calm down.” Noah glared at Porter before looking back at Alejandro. “Are you currently driving?”

“I am. My mother’s gold Chrysler minivan.”

“So, if we happen to come across it in High Peaks in our video canvassing, there would be a good reason?”

“I’m sure my mother could give one. She’s the only one that would be driving there if she has gone there at all.”

Noah knew that trying to place him in the vicinity would be a long shot since they didn’t have an exact time on each of the deaths besides the house fire.

And because all Lakeridge homes were in gated communities, unless the perpetrator had found a way in or was already in the area, chances were slim that he was involved.

“Besides, why would I place myself in a situation that could send me back?”

“You’d be surprised what dumb shit ex-cons do,” Porter said.

Noah studied Alejandro for a moment before speaking. “We’ll have to verify your story. If everything checks out, you’ll be fine. But if we find out you’ve been up to your old tricks, you’ll be in trouble.”

Alejandro nodded vigorously, desperation in his eyes. “I understand. All I want is to put all that behind me and move on with my life.”

Porter exchanged a glance with Noah, communicating his doubts. Neither of them was stupid. They had dealt with their fair share of criminals claiming to have changed, only to fall back into their old habits. But they would have to take him at his word and investigate further.

“Tell me something,” Noah said. “You installed the security systems that are in the Lakeridge homes. You’re familiar with them, right?”

“I am.”

“You hacked into the system because you had access to their accounts. If you didn’t have access, could you have still taken control?”

“It wouldn’t have been as easy, but yeah.” He nodded.

“How?”

Alejandro didn’t immediately reply. He stared back at Noah. “Are you setting me up or something?”

“No. I just want to know how.”

Alejandro grimaced. “I could tell you, but it would be a lot easier if I was more comfortable,” he said, shifting around. Noah studied him for a second, then motioned to Porter.

“Uncuff him.”

“And I could use a smoke, maybe a bite to eat. I haven’t had dinner yet.”

“You’re a pushy little prick, aren’t you,” Porter said.

“And you’re an asshole,” Alejandro said. Porter narrowed his eyes. Noah tapped him and motioned.

“You’re not serious, are you?”

“Uncuff him.”

With a nod, Porter got out, cursing under his breath. He came around reluctantly and removed the cuffs.

Ten minutes later, after letting Alejandro smoke, they sat inside the Deer’s Head Inn, watching him tuck into a 12-ounce New York strip steak, fries, and chimichurri.

His cutlery clattered. Noah sat with a cup of coffee in front of him.

Porter waited outside on the phone, talking to his wife.

Every few minutes, he would look in and glare.

“Your partner sure seems pissed,” Alejandro said through a mouthful of food before he reached for a large glass of Coke to wash it down.

“He likes to do things by the book.”

“And you don’t?”

Noah never replied to that, so Alejandro continued, slopping food in his mouth and taking large swigs of his drink. “These families who died in their homes, why do you believe it’s caused by someone and not just an accident?”

“Let’s say I have my reasons.” Noah leaned forward. “So, how could you take control of someone’s home system without having access to their account?”

He stopped eating. “You ever heard of the phrase — wardriving?”

Noah shook his head.

“It’s when someone exploits a WiFi network from a moving vehicle using a smartphone or a laptop.

You see, that’s the problem with smart homes.

They are fancy, convenient, and full of all these devices that communicate with each other and share data over the internet.

Today, the number of devices and services is increasing by the month, letting folks have locks, security cameras, virtual assistance, thermostats, kitchen appliances, lighting systems, baby monitors — you name it, there is a device that exists — and all of it works through IoT. ”

“IoT?”

“Internet of Things. The fancy word was coined to explain the network of objects that were connected to the internet that gathered and shared information. Smart homes are part of that. Yet the reality is they have been around a long time. Society has been using IoT sensors in roadways to manage traffic and detect floods, earthquakes, and exposure to dangerous materials. Corporations have been using them to monitor shipping container locations, fuel consumption, and vehicle operation. In a home, if there are more than two devices connected to the internet sharing information around the clock, it’s considered a smart home.

A simple one, nothing like what Lakeridge creates, but a smart home, nonetheless.

” He shoveled a few more pieces of steak into his mouth and closed his eyes.

“I’ve always wanted to come here. The steak is out of this world. ”

“You were saying?’