Page 19 of Twice Missing
Daniel shook his head. "The last time you agreed with me, you went behind my back."
"You gave me no other choice," Noah said, his voice tight. He glanced out the window at the yard, trying to gather his thoughts. "Look, no matter what happened in the past, at one time you weren't involved in corruption, you weren't a murdering asshole — you actually thought you could make a difference. I'm giving you the opportunity to do so. One last chance to bring closure to a case you were involved in."
"You think I care?" Daniel's voice was cold.
"I do, or I wouldn't be here," Noah insisted. "But maybe I should handle it. Maybe you don't think you're smarter than whoever is behind Emily's death."
Daniel stopped walking abruptly, turning to face Noah. His demeanor shifted from casual to intense in an instant. "And by that, you mean you are?"
"I never said that," Noah backpedaled.
"But you implied it," Daniel pressed. “Let’s face it, it was you who found out I was behind your brother's murder. How?"
"I already told you on the night of your arrest."
"Oh, I know the details," Daniel said, his voice low and dangerous. "I want to know why you were able to look beyond the badge."
Noah met Daniel's gaze steadily. "You were like anyone else."
"How so?"
"Capable of making mistakes."
Daniel's jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists. ACO noticed and moved closer, causing Daniel to visibly force himself to relax.
"Mistakes. Yes," Daniel said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Like returning to High Peaks. Do you wish you never returned, Noah? Do your children wish you never returned? I mean, their mother would still be alive if you hadn't returned. Alicia too."
The words hit Noah like a physical blow. He felt the old guilt and pain rising up, threatening to overwhelm him. But he forced it down, recognizing Daniel's tactics for what they were — a desperate attempt to regain some semblance of control.
"Your attempt to get me to help won't come at the end of a back-handed insult," Daniel continued, twisting the emotional knife. "You want me to give you credit, then give me some respect. It will get you much farther."
Noah took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Either you want to help or you don't."
"I would need to refresh my memory of the case."
"Anything you need to know, I will tell you."
Daniel shook his head. "That's not a mutual agreement."
"It's how this will play out," Noah insisted.
A slow smile spread across Daniel's face. "Play out. Yes. How do you like what is playing out in High Peaks so far?"
Noah could feel his patience wearing thin. It was clear that Daniel was toying with him, dangling the promise of information like a carrot on a stick, only to snatch it away. He'd had enough.
"Good day, Daniel," Noah said, turning to leave.
"And we were just beginning to bond," Daniel called after him, his tone mocking.
Noah had barely taken a step when Daniel's voice rang out again. "I will help."
Noah stopped, looking back skeptically.
"But I'm not joking when I say I need to see the file," Daniel continued. "My memory isn't what it used to be, and my answers cannot be provided from you shooting questions at me. It's been ten years. I've worked many cases in that time. They all blur into the next."
Noah walked back, his curiosity piqued despite his better judgment. "And yet you seemed clear about this extending beyond Emily. What did you mean by 'one woman'?"
Daniel's demeanor changed, becoming more serious. "They would have you believe that Emily's disappearance was the result of her running away, suicide, or being murdered by her husband. That might have held some weight initially, but after some digging, another theory came to the surface involving more than Emily."
