Page 117 of In Cold Blood
As Callie entered the Sheriff’s Office with Noah in tow, the atmosphere was one of jubilation. Firm handshakes. Pats on the back. A collection of job-well-done comments.
Hendrix glanced their way, rising from his desk.
He looked eager to get in on the feeling of achievement if it could even be classed as that. “We got the ballistic results back from NIBIN early this morning. The bullets in Luke are a match for those fired from the rifles found at Cyrus’ cabin. His prints are all over them. Also, they found on the computer video footage from the night of Erikson’s murder. Dax Jameson was there. Seems we managed to get two assholes off the street.”
“That asshole was my friend,” Noah said as he passed him.
Callie hung back to talk with Hendrix.
Noah got himself a coffee, anything to pry open his eyes andwake him from the nightmare of the previous night. As the Nespresso machine was filling his cup, Callie entered the room. “I know Dax was your friend, Noah, but you heard what he said.”
He nodded.
“A few of the deputies want to head over to Peak 46 tonight. You know, raise a toast to Luke. Did you want to come?”
“I have a few things to deal with.”
“Well, we’ll be there if you change your mind.”
She stepped out of the room and he glanced back. There was an awkwardness between them now that wasn’t there before. As he poured milk into his drink, Sheriff Roberts entered with a cup in hand. He was wearing a crisp white shirt. Noah caught the tail end of a conversation between him and another deputy. “Just send me a copy of the report.” There was a pause, a moment of registering him. “Noah.”
He strolled in.
“Sheriff.”
“I hear congratulations are in order.”
Noah stepped off to one side. “I suppose,” he replied with a lack of enthusiasm.
Roberts set his cup under the device, popped a capsule in, and hit the button on top before turning around. “I’m sorry about your friend. There was a time I thought that Dax Jameson could have turned his life around. I guess some people just aren’t meant to walk the straight and narrow.” He sniffed hard and grabbed a spoon.
Noah sipped on his coffee, peering out the window as rain wormed down. His mind was still lost in the past few days, replaying conversations.
Roberts continued. “I will say I had my doubts about you. But Callie has nothing but glowing words. And who can deny the results? My apologies.”
“None needed.”
“I gather you will be heading back home now?”
“Soon. On Monday.” He took a sip.
“I’m sure you’re ready to put this behind you.”
“Yeah.” He paused for a second. “Do you know if they managed to trace the vehicle that was seen on surveillance?”
“What, the white F-150?”
“That’s the one.”
“Not that I know. Though at this moment I don’t think it matters. We have our guy, we have evidence, and we have a motive and a confession, I’m not sure it would add anything to the case. Whoever the witness was, I expect they were scared and had their reasons for not wanting to be found. Happens all the time. That’s why we have Crime Stoppers, right? So people can report a crime anonymously.”
“Yeah. I guess. But what if she was involved?”
“What?”
“The woman. I haven’t heard anyone talk about whether or not she was involved. I mean, she was there that night before anyone arrived. She didn’t stick around. What if she saw something? What if she did something?”
Roberts stared at him as Noah continued. “And why weren’t the drugs in the back of the vehicle taken?”
