Page 13 of In Cold Blood
“Ah, it’s good to see you, my boy.” Gretchen gave him a full bear hug that could have crushed the bones of even the bulkiest of men. She held him for a few seconds longer than felt comfortable. It was just her way. She stepped back, holding both of his arms and studying his expression with deep concern. “I’m sorry, son.” She’d always called him that. “It’s a real tragedy. Luke will be missed, greatly.”
“Yeah.”
She took a deep breath and glanced at the coffin. Noah thought she was about to recount the day she got the news or her theories, but she didn’t. Aunt Gretchen had a way of trying to find the sunshine even in the rain. “I see Axel had his eye on you throughout the service. Have you met him yet?”
“No,” he said, casting a glance over her shoulder to the dog who was being showered with attention by Kerri’s kids.
Gretchen let out a heavy sigh. “Breaks my heart. Those kids. You all.” She shook her head, then breathed in deeply, regaining her composure. “I know something good will come out of this.Of that I’m sure,” she said, looking back at him. “Eight years, Noah. Come on, who is she?”
“Who’s who?
“The young lady. As you’ve got to have good reason to be away this long.”
He summoned a half-smile. “No one.”
“You haven’t dated since Lena?”
“A little.” He corrected himself when she raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been too busy.”
“Right, with the Alman case.”
“You know about that?”
“Who doesn’t, it made international headlines.” She brushed some lint off his shoulder like his mother might have when he was a youngster. “You might have no interest in being in High Peaks, but High Peaks has an interest in you.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Noah said, eyeing his father and Ray across the room. Gretchen followed his gaze. “Oh, don’t you go paying any attention to Hugh. That man doesn’t recall what day of the week it is half the time. He says he’s suffering from early Alzheimer’s but I think he has selective memory.”
Noah chuckled. “Seems as if he remembers me just fine.”
She stifled a laugh. “Give him time, Noah. To his credit, he’s changed a lot. I’m sure you have too. Look, we need to catch up. I don’t get to see my nephew enough.” She tapped his chest with a stubby finger. “And you don’t call more than once a year,” she added, narrowing her eyes but holding a warm smile.
“Oh, you’re not the only one left out of the loop,” Madeline chimed in before she excused herself. “I’ll be outside.”
Noah nodded and looked across a room of faces, searching for Lena and the kids. He expected to see them. They would have seen him arrive. Unless they had ducked out early.
“You seen much of Lena lately?”
“Lena? Yeah. From time to time.” She scanned the crowd. “Iimagine she’s here somewhere. You must miss those kids, Noah. I’ll see if I can track them down.”
“Ah, it’s fine. I will see them later.” He’d already messaged her but had gotten no reply.
Someone caught her eye and Gretchen took hold of his arm. “Come see me after, okay?” She walked off, melting into the crowd.
Noah turned back to the casket.
His stomach dropped.
He knew this would be the last time he would get a moment with his brother. He approached and ran his hand over the American flag, resting it there. He quietly said a few words, mostly promising to find out the truth.
4
The procession of automobiles was a mile long.
Noah inched behind the line of vehicles from Pentecostal Church to High Peaks Cemetery where Luke would be laid to rest. Along the way, Noah observed those who filled the street. It was a circus of curious onlookers, tourists and locals alike, many of their heads bowed.
He could only imagine what Luke would have said.
Multiple American flags were being flown at half-staff on either side of the road and inside the cemetery. As bands of warm sunlight pierced through heavy grey clouds, Noah parked and looked off toward hundreds of gravestones marching into the distance.
