Page 27 of The Smart Killer (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #4)

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Ray rose from his seat and took a few steps back, his eyes wide with understanding.

He knew better than to push Noah further when he was already dealing with so much.

“Look, I’m sorry. But I lost them too, Noah.

You weren’t the only one,” Ray shot back.

“And Ethan is my nephew. If someone in that place gave him those drugs. I want them as badly as you do. But you know better than anyone that getting justice in this town is like trying to extract blood from a stone.”

Noah’s anger began to ebb, replaced by a gnawing sense of helplessness. He knew Ray was right in that regard. High Peaks was plagued with corruption and secrets, making it nearly impossible to root out the truth, but that didn’t excuse what he’d done.

Ray continued, “Now, unless the state or the county has an officer that looks like a teen, do you really think they were going to waltz in there and nail those bastards? You failed to capture them back at that used dealership because someone tipped them off.”

Noah’s confusion deepened at Ray’s words. “What do you mean, someone tipped them off?” he asked, his brow furrowing in suspicion.

Ray hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “I don’t know the full details, but someone on the inside is helping them stay one step ahead of us.”

“In the department?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. But how many people knew about that sting operation?

Think about it. You said to yourself all they wanted was for you to observe.

Now, I’m willing to bet whatever intelligence you would have gleaned from that sting operation would have vanished.

Deep down, I think you know that. That’s why you charged in there.

You and I, we’re not cut from the same cloth.

The Sutherlands never have been. That’s why we are loved and hated in this region.

Because we don’t do shit by the book. Despite what you might think about dad, he taught us all to look below the surface and follow our gut instincts.

It’s not popular. At times, it goes against police procedure, but it’s why the Sutherland name is respected and why we get the job done.

” He exhaled hard. “Now, like it or not, your daughter, my niece, is a Sutherland, and she sees it too.”

“Doesn’t make it right.”

“No, but how old were we when our father took us out to show us the ropes? You were what, ten? I was thirteen?”

“That’s him. I want something better for my kids.”

“And what if they want this life? Are you going to forbid them? You saw how that worked out for you and dad. You took off, joined the military, joined the sheriff’s department in another county, and then opted for a career with State.

You went against the grain. Do you think she’ll be any different? ”

“You should have asked.”

“Would you have said yes?”

“No, but that’s not the point.”

“That is… the point, Noah.”

Noah shook his head. “It doesn’t matter anyway. You know what you have gained will not be admissible as evidence in court. It was unlawfully gathered.”

“Unlawful? Is it unlawful for a teen to walk into a public bowling alley? Is it unlawful for them to record their night? I think they even have a word for it nowadays — vlogging.”

“Don’t be an ass.”

“I’m not. Every kid with a cell phone has a camera. Did you know Ray-Ban even sells Smart Glasses with cameras in them? Anyone can record. It’s the new norm.”

“You know what I mean.”

“All right. But it’s still useful to us, right?

Now we know where it’s kept, what it’s kept in; we just don’t know where they’re getting it from.

We also know why teens aren’t talking. They’re hooking them up for free.

They’re showing them a good time. Now, maybe Ethan can shed some light on the rest.”

“He’s stable, but he hasn’t woken up yet.”

Ray placed a hand on Noah’s shoulder. A heavy silence settled between them; the weight of losses and insurmountable challenges pressed in.

The tension between them momentarily forgotten, Noah turned his attention to Ed, his neighbor, who was peering at them through binoculars.

They’d caused such a scene, he must have come out to see what was happening. Noah brushed past Ray and headed out.

“Morning, Ed!”

“If you two buffoons want to go to war with each other, be my guest, but do it on an island out there. I suggest the one furthest from my cabin,” Ed said, his voice sharp with irritation.

He turned to leave but paused, his gaze narrowing as he added, “Oh, and one last thing. Tell your father not to shine his flashlight into my house when he visits at night.”

Behind Noah, Ray stepped outside, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Who?” Noah asked, seeking clarification.

“I thought I was the one hard of hearing. Your father. Last night,” Ed replied, his tone insistent.

Ray’s eyes widened with realization. “Couldn’t have been Hugh, Ed. He was down in the Big Apple at a Broadway production,” he said, his voice steady.

Ed stepped down off his back porch, his arms crossed skeptically. “I might be deaf, but I’m not blind. I’m pretty sure it was him. Big fella. White hair. Had a mechanic’s toolbox in his hand. I saw his boat. The same one he used the other day when he visited. He went over to Alicia’s truck.”

A chill settled over Noah as he processed Ed’s words. Without another moment’s hesitation, he hurried back inside the house and grabbed his phone. He dialed Alicia’s number, his heart pounding in his chest. The call went straight to voicemail, and a sinking feeling gnawed at his gut.

“Alicia. Pick up,” he pleaded, his voice strained with worry.

He left a quick message, urging her to call him back immediately. Closing his eyes briefly, he tried to shake off the foreboding sense of dread that had settled over him. A moment later, his phone rang.

It was Alicia.

“Hey. Sorry, I left my phone in the vehicle. You rang?”

“Yeah, you okay?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Your vehicle running okay?”

“Yes. Noah, you’re worrying me. What is it?’

He updated her on what Ed had told him. It was then that Alicia chuckled.

“Oh, you are getting paranoid. I loaned my toolbox to your father the other night. Some of his stuff is still in storage from the move. I didn’t even realize he’d dropped it off,” she said. Noah heard her get out of her cab. “Oh. Yep. There it is. He must have returned it last night.”

“Well, that’s the thing. He wasn’t here last night.”

“You sure about that? Have you called him?”

Ray was eavesdropping nearby. He mouthed the words “I’ll phone him” and walked away.

Noah exhaled hard.

“Noah. I know our jobs consume our thoughts, but you’ve been acting differently lately.

You used to drink once in a while. It seems like every night, you’re knocking one back.

I know you’re dealing with Ethan, and I’m not one for telling you what to do, but whatever you’re wrestling with right now, handle it before it handles you. ”

After getting off the phone, Ray ambled back. “Dad got in late last night. He didn’t want Alicia to be without the toolbox, so he came over. He apologized for disturbing Ed.”