Page 58 of The Smart Killer
Ray’s eyes bulged, the chair tilting back from Noah’s force. Ray tried to pry Noah’s hands away, his voice strained. “Whoa, whoa, Noah, Mia is fine.” His brother winced as Noah’s grip tightened, the fury in his eyes unmistakable. Despite the intense anger radiating from Noah, Ray’s expression remained calm, his eyes meeting his with a steely resolve. “We had to, Noah,” Ray said, his voice firm. “We needed eyes and ears on the inside. Mia volunteered. She handled it professionally.”
Noah couldn’t believe it. He shoved his brother away, his anger burning hot. “If it’s not Hugh, it’s you. Alicia was right. I shouldn’t have come back to this place. It has been nothing but hell since I’ve returned.” His voice cracked with despair, the weight of the past bearing down on him. His anger pulsed through him, his chest heaving with every breath as he glared at Ray.
“I think you’re blowing this out of proportion,” Ray said, trying to defuse the tension, though his confusion was evident.
“I’ve lost a brother, I’ve lost my ex-wife, and I nearly lost my son, and you’re saying I’m blowing this…” Noah’s voice trailed off, his jaw clenched, his hands balled up into a fist at his side. It took every ounce of self-control not to let his fury consume him or lash out.
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 anyonethat 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 momentarilyforgotten, 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.
