Page 56 of In Cold Blood
“Hey, fella, how about you dial it back a notch,” Noah said, rising from his seat.
“And if I don’t?!” he said loudly, causing others in the diner to look their way. Brett noticed. “What are you all looking at? Huh? Mind your business.”
“All right. All right,” Noah said.
Noah eased Brett back just a little so he could slip out of the booth but Brett must have thought he was trying to control him. He shoved Noah back. “Get your hands off me.” He went to follow through by stabbing a finger into Noah’s chest. Instantly, Noah reacted. He grabbed his wrist, twisting and forcing him back against the counter closest to them, his other hand clasping his shirt tightly.
“Noah. Stop,” Callie said, quickly intervening.
Noah stared down at Brett who he had bent backward over the counter. His eyes bulged. Anger or fear? Who knew? Beforehe could react, Marlo, the owner of the diner, appeared behind the counter. “Take it outside.”
“Go!” Callie said.
Noah released his grip and backed up.
“My apologies,” he said before heading out under the watchful eye of bewildered patrons.
15
Seeing theAdirondack Daily Enterpriseagain brought back a host of memories. Perched on a stool at the window inside a restaurant that sold sub sandwiches, Noah gazed across to the one-story building crouched at the crossroads of Broadway and Olive Street.
He looked at his watch. It was just after one. She was usually out by now. A woman of routine. That was one thing that hadn’t changed over the years. After decompressing from the situation in High Peaks that morning, he’d tried to connect with Lena at her house but there was no answer.
With all that had happened the previous night and the week before, he could only imagine she was eating it up, putting in the hours, and peppering anyone and everyone for leads. Like him, she had gone a different route. Instead of following in the shadow of her family, hers being an illustrious local law firm, she’d opted to dip her toes into the world of reporting. Each day was never the same. It offered a challenge that a courtroom couldn’t. She wasn’t interested in defending or prosecuting, she just wanted to be the one who uncovered secrets.
Looking back now, he could see why they’d connected.
They had a lot in common. They were a mirror of each other.
Her, hell-bent on snagging a breaking story that would earn her the admiration of her peers and the respect of her family; him, doing the same except within the confines of law enforcement.
Although he hadn’t seen his ex in two years, they’d spoken countless times on the phone when arranging for him to see the kids. Lena preferred they headed his way, rather than him venturing up, knowing the issues Noah had with his father.
However, now he understood why.
Lena stepped out, almost on time.
She looked good. Really good.
Healthy. There was a glow to her cheeks.
She’d lost a few pounds, as most did after breaking away from the comfort of the monotonous and pursuing a new man. Noah had to wonder if Aiden hadn’t gotten her hiking the forty-six peaks. He’d never done all forty-six himself but it was almost like a rite of passage for those who grew up in the area.
“I’ll see you later,” Lena mouthed to Maggie, an editor who had been working there forever. No doubt she'd offered Lena her old job back the moment she returned home.
In the height of summer, Lena was dressed for comfort. She wore a light cream-colored dress dotted with flowers and brown sandals. Her hair was shorter now. There was a bounce to it. A pair of Ray-Bans were tucked neatly into the hair. She set them down to cover her eyes from the glare of the sun.
Lena adjusted her brown leather bag and ambled up the street. She glanced across toward the sub store, and for a second, he thought she was going to cross, but instead an SUV came rolling down and stopped. There was a large graphic on the sideof it for a local church in the area, New Life Church. The door opened and a Latino man got out, smiling. Lena embraced him and kissed him on the lips.
“Huh?” Noah muttered.
The two spoke for several minutes before he handed off a brown paper bag and a coffee. Another kiss and he got back in and pulled away, heading south.
Noah didn’t care that she was seeing someone else. It wasn’t like they separated on bad terms. It was mutually agreed. But Dax had given him the impression that Aiden gave tours, not that he worked for a church.
After, Lena crossed the road and went into the bank.
Noah remained, chewing it over. It was bizarre.
