Page 58 of Her Final Hours
She slapped him on the arm. “You’re so gullible.”
He grinned. “You think your old man will check?” Teddy asked.
“No. He’s not home yet. Besides, I’ve stuffed my bed with pillows. He’ll think I’m asleep.”
He laughed. “Smart girl.”
Mia glanced back at the house one last time. Guilt was trying to steal what little joy she had. She pushed it down. She was ignoring her father’s words and ignoring the rules.
A sleek Jeep awaited on the other side of the tree line, its engine purring with anticipation. Inside, she was greeted by her friends, who were equally eager for the night’s adventure. The engine roared to life, and they tore away, leaving tracks in the snow.
Inside the Jeep, the atmosphere was charged with excitement. Mia glanced around, counting the familiar faces of friends. The lively music pulsating through the speakers only fueled their anticipation for an evening of fun. Laughter abounded as they swapped stories and bonded over their rebellious act.
A bottle full of God knows what was passed around.
At first, she declined it, but urged by her friends, she gave into the peer pressure and took a few sips. Mia began coughing hard, and the others laughed.
“Lightweight.”
Their destination that night was a house nestled in the quiet town of Saranac Lake. A party had been arranged — one of many she’d attended since entering high school. Music seeped out as they pushed open the doors. Inside, the energy shifted as everyone settled in. Every room was alive with chatter and laughter, and the aroma of food filled the air. Platters of finger foods adorned the tables, tempting the hungry guests, while an array of alcohol awaited to quench their thirst and loosen them up.
She watched in amusement as teens took turns holding up a bong full of beer and chugging it down while across the room, others did Jell-O shots off guys’ stomachs. Nearby, others played beer pong.
Time seemed to blur with each drink she had.
As the party progressed, Mia found herself drawn to her boyfriend’s company. He was older than her by two years. She understood her father’s hesitation, but with all that hadhappened to her mother, she no longer cared. All she wanted to do was bury the past beneath alcohol.
“Come on…” he said, taking her hand and leading her upstairs into a room. He closed the door behind him and moved close. She felt her nerves spike but found solace in the connection. The music became a seductive backdrop for an intimate moment. Amid the intoxicating atmosphere, however, his advances grew forceful, his intentions crossing the boundaries she had set.
“Teddy, no.”
“Come on; we’ve been waiting to be alone.”
“Not like this.”
“Is there any other way?”
Determined to assert her autonomy, Mia reacted instinctively, delivering a swift knee to his groin. He recoiled in pain, collapsing on the floor.
“When I say no, I mean no,” Mia barked, her voice laced with strength and defiance. “Now, take me home.”
“Take yourself home!” he said, writhing in agony.
Mia left, undeterred by the cold night air that chilled her exposed skin. She adjusted her handbag over her shoulder. The short coat she wore offered little protection. Her determination to distance herself from the situation led her to decide — she would seek refuge at the home of Aiden West, her mother’s fiancé. He still resided in Saranac and had told her father that he could send them to him if he ever needed a break.
A growing sense of unease crept over her as she made her way through the familiar streets. Glancing over her shoulder, Mia noticed a white van dragging behind her; its speed sent shivers down her spine. Fear propelled her into a desperate sprint, maneuvering through alleyways to shake off her pursuers. In a moment of relief, she emerged into a seemingly empty parking lot, believing she had evaded the van.
Unbeknownst to her, danger lurked nearby. Out of breath, she took a second or two to catch her breath before pressing on. As she passed by a row of parked cars, one of them sprang to life. A side door opened and a figure darted out, grabbing her forcefully and placing a cloth over her mouth to mute her cries.
The overpowering scent of chloroform overwhelmed her senses as she was tossed like a rag doll into the van. The door slammed. Darkness enveloped her, and everything in her mind faded to black.
The protectionof a potential witness was common practice. What was not was this. It was an unconventional approach, certainly outside the scope of typical small-town police procedure, but then everything in High Peaks seemed to push the boundaries of what should or shouldn’t be done.
Noah had requested changing Jane Doe’s location after her near-abduction at the hospital. Savannah had wanted to increase the number of deputies at the hospital or put her into the custody of child services.
Both were too risky in light of the recent murder of a deputy.
They’d already drawn enough attention from the media, and the Adirondack Sheriff’s Office had fallen under scrutiny.
