Page 90 of The Smart Killer
“Alicia!” he screamed, racing towards the door, which stood defiantly locked. Through the sidelight glass, he caught a glimpse of the danger within. The water had risen to at least waist level, and furniture floated in the murky flood. His eyes darted, searching for Alicia, hidden from view.
“I’ll try the rear,” Porter shouted, grabbing a deputy and sprinting around the back.
“Don’t just stand there. Try the windows!” he commanded the remaining officers.
Frustration and urgency fueled Noah as he stepped back, gaze fixed on the large windows. Officers attempted to kick down the door, but it held firm. Undeterred, Noah raised his Glock, firing at the window. The bullet bounced off, leaving the glass unbroken. Bewilderment washed over the officers.
“Why didn’t it shatter?” one asked, staring in disbelief.
Drawing from grim experience, Noah muttered, “It’s a security measure,” realizing the deadly design that had trapped families inside at the other crime scenes. He hadn’t tested it before, but now he understood.
“Noah, we can’t get in!” Porter’s voice crackled over the radio, desperation evident.
Panic gripped Noah, his mind racing for a solution. Without a moment’s hesitation, he sprinted back to the cruiser. “Get out of the way!” he bellowed as he climbed behind the wheel. Ignoring protests, he buckled up, using the cruiser as his makeshift battering ram.
Backing up, he crushed the accelerator, hurtling towards the largest window. The impact reverberated through the vehicle but it penetrated, sending a rush of water cascading like a breached dam. Pain coursed through Noah’s body as the seatbelt dug into his chest, but he unbuckled and stumbled out.
“Alicia! Alicia!” he shouted, scanning the chaotic scene. Officers streamed in behind him, spreading out to assess the situation. His heart sank as he spotted her lifeless body among the debris. “No!” he cried, rushing toward her. He slipped and slid on the water-soaked floor until he dropped to his knees beside her.
Performing CPR with desperate urgency, Noah fought against the rising tide of panic. The echoes of rushing water and the distant sounds of police radios mingled with his labored breaths. In the haunting moment, time seemed suspended, as if the world held its breath, waiting for a sign of life from the woman he loved.
The deputy’s words hung in the air like a desperate plea. “Medics are two minutes out.” Time seemed both frozen and merciless as Noah continued chest compressions on Alicia’s lifeless form. His hands worked with mechanical precision,every compression driven by a desperate need for her to draw breath again.
“Come on. Come on, baby.” He muttered a rhythmic chant that matched the urgency in his heart.
The wailing siren of an approaching ambulance cut through the tension. Moments later, two EMTs, clad in blue, appeared beside him. “We’ll take it from here,” they said, their voices calm yet tinged with the gravity of the situation.
Reluctantly, Noah rocked back to his knees, his eyes fixed on the professionals working to save Alicia’s life. The EMTs swiftly set up their equipment, and the harsh fluorescent lights of the ambulance cast an unsettling glow on the scene, flashing constantly. One flashed a light into Alicia’s unresponsive eyes, assessing her pupils. Medical jargon filled the air, a language foreign to Noah but carrying the weight of a grim diagnosis.
As they connected monitors and electrodes, the EMTs continued their resuscitation efforts. The hum of machinery and the beeping of monitors created a dissonant soundtrack to the unfolding tragedy. They administered chest compressions, checked her airway, and delivered breaths; each motion was executed with urgency.
Hope flickered in Noah’s eyes as they worked, but the EMTs exchanged glances that betrayed a growing realization. Despite their tireless efforts, the monitors showed no signs of life. The atmosphere shifted, the air heavy with sorrow.
“We’re calling it,” one of the EMTs declared; the weight of those words crashed down on Noah. “No signs of life.”
In the wake of devastating silence, Noah’s world crumbled. The walls felt like they were closing in, suffocating him with the unbearable loss. In the background, he heard Porter’s voice over the radio, conveying news about the survival of Noah’s father, Luther Ashford, and Michael Taylor.
As the EMTs stepped back, Noah, his voice choked with grief, ordered them to leave Alicia. He slid over, cradling her lifeless form, pushing strands of dark hair away from her face. Sobbing into her neck, he clung to the reality that she was gone, lost to a world that moments ago held a sliver of hope.
34
Three days later
High Peaks Cemetery in upstate New York cradled a somber scene under a gunmetal sky that wept. Rain fell in a rhythmic dance, a symphony of sorrow accentuating the 20-acre expanse of tombstones and graves. The air carried the scent of wet earth and dampened flowers, a melancholy aroma that mingled with palpable grief.
Tombstones stood like silent sentinels, marching into the distance, each telling a story of a life now stilled. Black cars lined the road, a solemn procession leading to the final resting place of Alicia Michaels. Mourners, faces etched by sorrow, held umbrellas aloft, a shield against the downpour that mirrored the tears of family.
Among the crowd were people from all facets of Alicia’s life. Some were familiar with Noah, but many faces remained strangers. The Fish and Wildlife Service were there to support one of their fallen, and colleagues from the Sheriff’s Office and State Police formed a united front, bound by loss.
And what a loss it was.
Noah swallowed hard, unable to believe it had happened.
It was his worst nightmare.
“In the face of tragedy, we find solace in the lingering memories. A beacon of light extinguished too soon, Alicia Michaels left behind a legacy of love and laughter that will not long be forgotten.” The reverend’s voice resonated through the rain-soaked air, offering comfort and hope to those mourning.
Before them, a cherrywood casket adorned with a wreath of flowers lay as a poignant centerpiece. The vibrant blooms starkly contrasted with the muted surroundings, a final tribute to a life lost.
