“No, I’m very much alive,” he said, making his way back to the Bronco.
“Where have you been?”
“Following up leads.”
“Why? We’ve got him.”
“I know.”
“You’re searching for her, aren’t you?”
“Callie, I’ll be by tomorrow. Okay?”
“Did you find anything?”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said and ended the call. After getting Axel back in the truck, he drove northwest, only slowing momentarily as he passed Round Pond Parking Area. A smile lingered at the corner of his mouth. Continuing, he made it to Saint Hubert's and pulled up in front of a two-story residence.
It was late. Almost ten when he knocked.
The door opened, and a bald man in his fifties answered.
“Can I help you?”
“Sorry to bother you at this late hour,” Noah replied, showing him his badge.
“I gave the officer a copy of the recording from my NEST.”
“I know. Did you keep the original?”
“I did.”
“Do you mind if I see it?”
He frowned. “Let me guess, you lost the evidence?”
“Not far wrong,” he replied. The man stepped to one side and led him in. He took him into a back room. “Good evening,” he said to the man’s wife who was sitting watching TV.
“It’s okay, love, they just need another copy of the footage.”
He led him into a study and opened his laptop.
“No digital recording device?”
“Oh no. The newer technology records straight to the cloud. It’s to protect against theft and damage. I download a copy to my computer if there’s anything strange. I have everything backed up online. My plan removes it all after sixty days to free up space. It’s quite handy. Our son set it all up. Technology today, huh?”
“Yeah.”
The cogs of Noah’s mind started turning.
“Did you download a copy before the police showed up to request it?”
“I did. Yes. So, do you have a thumb drive I can transfer it to or would you like access to the cloud?”
Noah handed him a thumb drive.
“Do you mind playing it before you place it on?”
“Sure.” The man loaded it. Noah leaned forward and had him back it up an hour before the murder. He scanned through the footage until he saw the same van that had been caught on Trinity’s dashboard cam. It was heading southeast. Not long after, the white F-150 was spotted heading in the same direction. He forwarded it until a little after what they believed was the window in which Luke was killed.