Page 93 of The Smart Killer

“What did you buy in the end?”

“Girls Night Out.”

Noah laughed.

“Hey, stop it,” McKenzie said, slapping his knees and releasing a chuckle. “I really thought I had nailed it,” he said in almost a whisper, glancing off into the kitchen. “At least it was wine this time. I bought her cooking wine last time.”

Tears from laughter rolled down his cheeks. “McKenzie, you are something else.”

“What is so funny?” Callie asked, rejoining and inquiring about the commotion. Noah smirked, teasing McKenzie.

“Oh, McKenzie here was just saying he would love to buy one of your paintings.”

Her eyes widened, a mix of disbelief and amusement. “Oh, please. You don’t want one of these.”

But McKenzie, undeterred, kept his gaze fixed on Noah, a genuine smile breaking across his face. A lifeline extended to win a few brownie points. “Why wouldn’t I? They are fantastic.” Rising to his feet, he assumed the role of an art critic, framing the imaginary masterpiece with his hands. “The way the light hits it. Marvelous. It invokes such emotion. Joy. Peace. I almost feel choked up.”

Noah stifled a laugh, and McKenzie, in a playful attempt to kick him in the shins, stumbled forward, colliding with her painting. “Ah, bugger!” McKenzie said. Laughter erupted, and Noah, caught in the moment, couldn’t help but join in.

“You’ll have to buy it now,” Callie said, seeing the tear in the canvas.

At that moment, within the confines of Callie’s eclectic apartment, they found solace — a sanctuary where shared laughter became a beacon of light piercing through the shadows of challenges.

The camaraderie among the three continued to fill the room, a brief respite from the weight of recent events. Rising from his seat, Noah approached the window, pushing aside the drapes to reveal the High Peaks in the distance — the silhouette of mountains against the night sky. The Adirondack forest sprawled beneath, and the town’s lights twinkled like stars. Life continued in the ebb and flow of cars and homes, all within a town harboring secrets. For a fleeting moment, beneath the laughter and banter, Noah felt a spark of life and hope again.

“Noah, you should have heard what he just said,” Callie said, laughter erupting.

He released the curtains, shutting out the darkness for a while.