Page 56 of The Smart Killer
“Are you suspending me?”
“No, Noah. We’ve already been down that road. You’re dealing with a lot right now.”
“And you aren’t?” he asked, referring to Cora’s cancer.
She sighed. “We’ll take it from here.”
As she turned to walk away, Savannah said over her shoulder, “By the way, great job with Porter. I appreciate it.”
He nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and defeat.
As he walked back to his Bronco, Porter and McKenzie observed him. McKenzie broke away and approached Noah’s vehicle, his expression empathetic.
“Hey, so I updated Callie. Figured she ought to know.”
Noah glanced at him, his exhaustion evident. “Don’t you think you’re jumping the gun?”
McKenzie groaned. “Shit. What more do you need, Noah? I’d be the first to admit that the rookie could be wrong, but he called this. He’s right. Those letters were sent by Alejandro. Now, Iwouldn’t be surprised if they sifted through our guy’s belongings and found some laptop, tablet, or phone that allowed him to access the internet and enter those homes. The guy was an A-class weirdo. You’ll see.”
Noah scoffed weakly, a shadow of a smile forming on his lips. “I hope so,” he said, his voice carrying a thread of uncertainty.
McKenzie patted the side of Noah’s vehicle, offering a reassuring gesture. “Keep us in the loop about Ethan. Let me know if there is anything I can do,” he said before stepping back.
“Thanks.”
As Noah reversed out of the driveway, the world around him seemed to blur. Tiredness, worry, and the complexities of the case had entangled him, making him question his judgment. Maybe Porter was right. Perhaps he had let his ego cloud his perspective. It wouldn’t have been the first time a Sutherland had been guilty of that. The weight of the unresolved case lay heavy on his shoulders as he drove away, leaving behind a shattered family and a town steeped in questions.
19
The last person Noah expected to see in his bedroom was Ray. A sudden thud jolted Noah from his sleep; his heart raced as he sat up in bed. Confused and disoriented, he blinked against the dim light filtering through the curtains, his eyes searching the room for the source of the disturbance. It took a moment for his senses to catch up with his surroundings, and when they did, he found himself staring at a newspaper that had landed on his chest.
Blinking away the remnants of sleep, he looked off to his right to find Ray standing nearby. Ray pushed back the curtains, revealing the early morning sky painted in hues of orange and pink, with the tranquil lake shimmering in the distance. The room, bathed in the soft morning light, blended rustic charm and modern simplicity. Weathered with age, wooden furniture stood against the walls, complemented by muted tones of blue and green in the curtains and bedspread. A faint scent of the earth blew in from the window, a testament to the wilderness surrounding the lakeside cabin.
“Wake up. We’ve got a lot to talk about,” Ray said, his tone grave yet oddly composed. His gaze lingered on the newspaperbefore meeting Noah’s eyes. “By the way, good job.” He gestured toward the front page, where a headline screamed the news of Alejandro’s demise and showed a house consumed by flames in the accompanying photograph. The article was written by Carl McNeal.
FAMILY MURDERER KILLED IN SHOOTOUT WITH POLICE
“How many cases is that now in the bag?” Before Noah could say anything, he waved him off. “Forget it. Come on. Get up. I brought you coffee.”
Ray turned and walked toward the door without saying another word, leaving Noah bewildered. The clock on the bedside table taunted him with the time — just after seven in the morning. Groaning, he sank back onto the bed, his mind flooded with the events of the previous day: Alejandro, the church, his death, and the invasive search of his home. And yet, all of it paled when compared to his time at the hospital with Ethan.
With a sigh, Noah picked up the folded newspaper, fingers trembling slightly as he unfolded it. The front page held a chilling juxtaposition of images: Alejandro’s stern face staring back. A mugshot from when he was arrested for spying on families. Juxtaposed with the raging inferno that had consumed one of the homes and its inhabitants. Carl McNeal’s byline mocked him from the corner of the page, a reminder of the journalist who had documented the gruesome events.
Noah shook his head, casting aside the lack of sleep, and tossed back the covers. He draped his legs off the edge of the bed, his bare feet meeting the cool wooden floor. As he stood, he felt a surge of energy course through him from finally getting a good night’s sleep. He sauntered into the adjoining bathroom, took a shower, and then got dressed quickly, readying himself to face what news Ray had brought.
The kitchen, done up in warm tones of beige and brown, emanated a cozy atmosphere as Noah came out. The granite counter gleamed under soft overhead lights. Shelves lined with neatly organized spices and kitchenware framed the area, and a subtle aroma of fresh coffee hung in the air.
Ray sat at the breakfast counter, his tall frame relaxed on a stool, while the sunlight streamed through the window, highlighting the faint lines etched on his face.
His brother motioned toward a cup on the counter. “That’s yours. So, when did Alicia move in?” he asked, his voice laced with curiosity. “She has moved in, right?” He paused, a playful glint in his eyes.
Taking a sip of his coffee, Noah nodded in response. “About a month ago. She still has her place. Just easier to be here.”
Ray looked at him. “I see.”
His gaze shifted toward the French doors, and he followed Noah as he walked into the sunroom. The sunroom offered a panoramic view of the tranquil surroundings. The glass panes framed a picturesque scene: the glistening lake stretched before them, the water mirroring the azure sky above. Only two cabins, Noah’s and his neighbor Ed’s, stood near the water’s edge, offering a sense of seclusion and privacy. In the distance, homes were dotted around the lake, nestled amidst the lush greenery, their chimneys releasing thin tendrils of smoke into the clear morning air.
“You mind telling me why you’re here at this ungodly hour and how you got in?” Noah asked, his tone laced with amusement. Ray’s smile widened.
