Page 31 of Fatal Fame
Evelyn smirked. "You could say that. Amazing how many unsolved cases get blamed on satanism when investigators can't find rational explanations. Usually means they didn't look hard enough at the rational suspects."
"Or someone didn't want them looking too hard."
"Exactly." Evelyn's expression shifted to something more serious. "Speaking of people not wanting investigations to proceed, I heard about the excitement at your town hall meeting the other night."
Noah took a sip of his coffee. "That’s news to me. What about it?"
"Pierce Landry contacted me after the incident. Apparently, things got rather heated between him and some locals. I saw the video someone posted online, your brother handled the situation well."
Noah made a mental note to watch that video later. Ray hadn't mentioned anything about online footage, which suggested the incident was getting more attention than the local authorities wanted. "Landry seems to have a talent for stirring up trouble," he said.
"He also seems to have gained a local assistant. Your daughter, I believe? Mia?"
The coffee turned to acid in Noah's stomach. "My daughter isn't involved in Landry's investigation."
"Are you sure about that? Because from what Pierce told me, she's been quite helpful with local connections and historical context. Bright young woman, clearly has the instincts for investigative work."
Noah frowned. He'd thought Mia understood his position about staying away from Pierce's investigation, but apparently, she'd decided to ignore his concerns.
“Anyway, hat brings you to Saranac Lake this morning?" Noah asked, deliberately changing the subject from his daughter's apparent involvement with Pierce Landry.
"Research for the Riverside case, mostly. Though I have to admit, I'm also following up on some connections I've been tracking between various unsolved cases in the region." Evelyn leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice. “May I be direct?”
“Please do.”
“What are your feelings about the Ashford family?"
The question hit Noah like an unexpected punch. He set down his coffee cup and studied Evelyn's face, looking for signs of where this conversation might be leading. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I've been connecting dots for the past few years, and a surprising number of them point back to the Ashford estate and his business network. The Riverside murders, a suspicious fire that killed a family in 2018, even some aspects of the Rebecca Hale case."
Noah felt his pulse quicken. This was exactly the kind of connection he'd been hoping to make, someone else who'd noticed the patterns, who'd been tracking the threads that led back to Luther.
"I've been working the Ashford angle since I came back to region,” Noah said carefully. "Money laundering, racketeering, possible connection to several suspicious deaths. But proving it is another matter entirely."
"Evidence has a way of disappearing when it points toward certain people," Evelyn said, echoing something Noah had heard from Thomas O'Connell. "Witnesses develop amnesia, files get misfiled, investigations get reassigned to less persistent detectives."
“You understand then.”
She nodded.
“You think someone’s protecting him?”
“Yes, and themself. I think Luther Ashford has been very careful about cultivating relationships with people who can make problems disappear. And I think those relationships extend beyond the obvious criminal connections."
Noah found himself leaning forward, drawn into the conversation despite his usual caution about discussing ongoing investigations with civilians. "What kind of relationships?"
"Law enforcement, local government, business leaders. The kind of people who can influence investigations from the inside." Evelyn paused. "I've been keeping notes, tracking cases, building timelines. It's not enough for criminal charges yet, but it's starting to paint a picture."
"I'd be interested in seeing those notes."
"And I'd be interested in seeing yours. Perhaps we could arrange dinner sometime? Compare findings, see if our separate investigations might complement each other?"
Noah considered the offer. Collaborating with an independent consultant could provide access to information and perspectives that official channels couldn't offer. But it could also compromise his ability to use any evidence they developed in court proceedings.
"Let me check my schedule," he said finally. “My work has a way of consuming all available time."
"I understand." Evelyn collected her bag, including the occult book, and then handed him her card. "Don't hesitate to call."
