Ben scooted closer to Brady and took his hand. “He’ll understand.”
“I hope so,” Brady said. “By the way, my parents are coming up next weekend.”
“Are they?” Ben said.
“Yes,” Brady said. “I’m going to talk to them. And I’d like to introduce you to them as my boyfriend.”
Ben smiled. “I’d like that.”
He leaned in and kissed Brady.
“But first,” Brady said. “I’ve got to go own up to Noah.”
He pulled out his cell and called Megan.
* * * *
Noah found Walter sitting in his mother’s room. He was looking at a small picture album. Slowly, Noah came in.
Walter looked up and smiled. “I don’t know what to do with your mother’s room. Your grandmother and I had kept it exactly the way she had left it for all the years that she was missing. She’s not missing now. She’s just gone.”
Noah didn’t know what to say, so he just stayed quiet and sat near his grandfather.
Walter took his grandson’s hand. “She loved you, you know.”
Noah nodded. “I know.”
“I still remember when I was told she’d been found alive,” Walter said. “I was driven to the hospital. They warned me on the way about what she’d been through and how she looked different. She had lost so much weight. She was fifteen years older than the last time I’d seen her, but it looked like fifty. But the moment I saw her, I knew it was her.”
Walter looked over at Noah and sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you don’t want me to dredge this stuff up.”
“It’s okay,” Noah said. “We never talk about it.”
“I never know what to say,” Walter responded. “I know that’s not an easy thing for you to talk about.”
Noah realized he was right. He never did. Maybe it was time to open that door. “I was always afraid to hear about it. Afraid of what you thought the first time you laid eyes on me.”
Walter started to cry. “Oh Noah, I loved you the moment I saw you. I can still remember how they brought me to see your mom. She was so weak, but the moment she saw me, she got that twinkle in her eyes. I was so afraid going there after what she’d been through that she’d only be a shell of the daughter I raised, but that little twinkle, that let me know that my girl hadn’t let that monster beat her. We hugged for so long. Just holding each other and crying. She asked where her mom was and I had to tell her that her mother had died the year before. That was so hard on her. She didn’t want to believe me at first. She kept begging me for her mother and my heart just broke over and over again.”
Walter broke down, the weight of it more than he could bear. Noah held his grandfather.
“Do you want to lie down?”
“No,” Walter said. “Let me finish. Please.”
Noah just nodded.
“She said there was something she had to tell me,” Walter continued. “She told me she had a twelve-year-old son. She said to me, ‘His name is Noah. He reminds me of you. He’s sweet and he’s brave and he’s been the one wonderful thing that kept me going.’ And then she called out to Diana, who was in the other room with you. Diana brought you in. You didn’t want to even look at me.”
Noah recalled that moment. He had heard so many wonderful things about his grandparents, his grandfather most of all. His mother had talked to Noah about her own father because she wanted Noah to at least hear about what a good man was like. Noah had so wanted his grandfather to like him, but when he walked into that room, he couldn’t see that happening.
“What did you think?” Noah asked. “When you looked at me for the first time. Did you see him?”
Walter hesitated, and that confirmed Noah’s worst fears. He started to look away when Walter grabbed his hand.
“I don’t know what I saw,” Walter said. “My emotions were in such a state at that moment. I had my little girl back, but she was no longer a little girl. I was just trying to comprehend it all. What she had been through. So when I looked at you, I would be lying if I said I didn’t wonder how much of him was inside of you, but I knew how much Jean loved you. And I could tell right away that you loved her. And I loved you, Noah. I believed in my heart that if there was a battle over who would shape you, your mother would have won. And I was right. As I got to know you, I realized more and more that you are your mother’s son.”
Noah took the picture album that his grandfather held. “I’ve got his build. The shape of my face. My nose. My eyes.”
Walter put his hand on Noah’s shoulder. “You have her spirit. Her kindness and her decency. And when you’re happy, you get that same twinkle in your eyes.”
Noah smiled. He could picture his mother smiling at him and knew exactly what his grandfather meant.
“You’ve told me that you love me,” Noah said. “But I don’t really say it to you. I do love you. You’ve been wonderful to me. I know how lucky I am to have you.”
Walter found himself speechless. He began to weep as his grandson held him.
“You’re a good man, Noah,” Walter said. “A kind, decent, brave man that I’m proud to call my grandson. I need you to believe me.”
Noah kissed his grandfather’s cheek. “I do.”
They slowly began to look at more pictures, Walter telling stories about her that made Noah laugh. There was a picture of Jean when she was in grade school, wearing a Halloween costume of a Hershey’s Kiss. There was one of her in a fancy dress with the boyfriend she might have married. One that caught Noah’s eye showed his mother on a boat, holding a fishing pole in one hand and a big fish in the other.
“She told me about that trip. I remember going to bed at night imagining being out on a boat with her and you fishing. I hadn’t even met you yet, but I fell asleep to the fantasy of us fishing together. I know that sounds stupid.”
“No it doesn’t,” Walter said. “I think it sounds like a great idea. We need to go. If you want, you can invite your friends.”
“I wouldn’t mind going fishing with everyone, but maybe the first time it could be just you and me.”
Walter grinned. “Sounds great.”
“I’m warning you, I don’t know one end of a fishing pole from the other.”
As they laughed, the doorbell rang.
“Just ignore it,” Walter said.
Noah was tempted, but when it rang a second time, he got up and went to the door.
He found two uniform officers and a detective who said, “Noah Hunt?”
“Yes,” Noah said. “Is everything okay? Where’s Cassie?”
“We’re not here about her,” the detective said. “We’d like you to come downtown.”
“What for?”
“Would you please step outside?” the detective asked.
Walter came to the door. “What’s going on?”
“You need to come with us now,” the detective insisted.
Noah was stunned. “I don’t understand.”
Walter pushed his way in front of Noah. “He’s not going anywhere until you explain to me what you want him for.”
The detective looked impatient as he waved some papers in the air. “Sir, we’ve got a warrant. Noah Hunt is wanted for questioning in the rape and murders of six different women. Mr. Hunt, please step out of the house and turn around.”
“I…” Noah blinked. “I don’t understand…”
“You don’t need to,” the detective said and grabbed Noah’s arm.
“Get your hands off my grandson,” Walter yelled. “He hasn’t done anything! You’re crazy!”
One of the officers stepped forward to restrain him. “Sir, please. This isn’t the way to help your grandson.”
But Walter continued to struggle.
“Grandpa, no,” Noah said. “Your heart. Please, it’s okay. We’ll clear this up. Grandpa, please.”
Finally, Walter stopped struggling.
“Noah,” Walter said. “You listen to me. I’m calling Diana. You don’t say
a thing to anybody until you see her. You understand? Do you understand?”
Noah nodded as they pulled him to the squad car.
* * * *
Cassie saw Taylor sitting in one of the school lounges, reading a book and sipping a latte.
“Hey Taylor,” Cassie said. “Can I join you?”
Taylor looked up, shocked but managing a smile. She slid her hand into her pocket. “Sure.”
Cassie sat down across from Taylor. “You don’t have to hide it. Adam told me an hour ago.”
“He did?”
“Yes,” Cassie said. “And I’m thrilled for you both. Really.”
Taylor relaxed a bit, and her smile became more genuine. “Thank you. Adam still cares about you, you know.”
“I know,” Cassie said.
“And I really am sorry for what happened with Lisa that day. I shouldn’t have blurted out what happened to your mom.”
“Don’t worry about it. Your heart was in the right place. It’s fine. Now, let me see the ring.”
Taylor was only too happy to show it off. It was a simple gold band with a pear-shaped diamond. “It’s beautiful,” Cassie said.
“Thanks,” Taylor said. “So, you and that Noah? How’s that going?”
“Good,” Cassie said. “He’s having a rough time right now, but I think we’re good together. He already knows my dad and my brother. I’ve been meeting his family.”
“I was sorry to hear about his mom,” Taylor said. “Were they close?”
“Very,” Cassie said. “She was really nice. I was with him when he got the news. It hit him hard.”
Cassie’s cell rang. She saw it was Noah’s grandfather. “Hi Walter.”
Cassie listened for a moment, not believing what she was hearing. “What? No, that’s not possible.”
“You’re right, it’s not,” Walter said. “I called Diana.”
“Good,” Cassie said. “I’m calling my father. Then I’m going to the station. I’ll see you there.”
Cassie ended the call and punched in her father’s number.
“What’s the matter?” Taylor asked.
“They just took Noah in for those rapes,” Cassie said. “And before you ask, there is zero chance. They’ve made a mistake. I know Noah.”
Chapter 16
Diana made it down to the station in record time. She stormed through the doors, planning on ripping into whoever she saw. She burst into the Captain’s office to chew him out. She found him with Detective Shaw and ADA Phil Stewart, along with another detective she didn’t know.
“What the fuck is going on?” she demanded. “Who the hell has their head so far up their own ass that they could possibly think Noah is responsible for these attacks? Because whoever it is has shit for brains.”
“Nice,” Phil Stewart said. “You think that’s going to help your boy out?”
“I want to know why he was brought in,” Diana said. “On what evidence? And it better be good, or I swear I’m going to crucify whoever is behind this.”
“You want to take it easy,” Stewart said. He looked toward Shaw. “Maybe you should talk to her.”
“Me?” Shaw said. “I’m on her side. I know Noah. You’ve got the wrong guy.”
“You sure about that?” Stewart said. “Do you realize you’re letting your daughter date the son of Nathaniel James Hunt? Who apparently adores his father so much that he kept his father’s name and still goes to see him every year on his birthday?”
Shaw took a menacing step toward the ADA. Stewart took a step back.
“I’m aware that the boy who saved my daughter twice is a good and decent man,” Shaw said. “He made a deal to go see that bastard to help the families of Nathaniel’s victims and it kills him to go every year. My daughter went with him this last time and watched him. Noah kept the name for the same reason. I’m telling you, there is no way Noah raped and beat those women. That I am sure about. What I’m trying to figure out is if you actually believe it, or if there’s another angle.”
Stewart pushed past Shaw and headed for the door. “You may want to believe that he’s an innocent little lamb, but I’m going to get justice for those women.”
He turned and walked out.
“Where the hell is he going?” Diana asked. “He better not be going to try and talk with Noah.”
“He won’t,” Shaw said. “I’ve got someone keeping an eye on him.”
Captain Fuller turned to the other detective. “Harris, what’s going on?”
“Beats me,” Harris said. “I got a call to go to the residence of Noah Hunt and formally bring him in for questioning. I was given a warrant, too. I wasn’t told why. Stewart told me later that one of the girls whispered the name to him before she died.”
“Bullshit,” Diana said.
Shaw thought about it. “Can’t be the first one, she’s still alive. I talked to her myself. She can’t remember a thing. The second one died, but that was some time ago.”
“This is bullshit,” Diana repeated. “Shaw, you said yourself that you know Noah. He didn’t do this.”
Shaw nodded. “You don’t have to convince me, but I’m going to need something more to override the ADA. I can’t imagine this holding up in court, unless he has something else.”
Shaw looked to the others, but nobody said anything.
“Go talk to Noah,” Shaw said. “Maybe he’s got an alibi for those nights.”
Diana nodded, turned on her heel and went to find Noah.
* * * *
“Diana,” Noah said as soon as she walked in the room. “You’ve got to talk to Cassie. Let her know that I didn’t do this.”
“You’ll tell her yourself when we get this cleared up,” she said. “Let’s talk.”
Noah forced himself to sit. “What’s going on?”
Diana gave him the high points of what she knew.
“That’s crazy,” Noah said. “I’ve never even met any of those poor girls. And I’d never hurt them. Diana, you have to believe me.”
“Of course,” Diana said. “Noah, you don’t have to tell me that. I know. I’m sure that Cassie does too.”
“You’ve got to tell her,” Noah said. “Please make sure she’s alright.”
“I will check on Cassie when I can,” Diana said. “But first we need to get this sorted out. Cassie would tell you the same thing. Her father was out there.”
“Oh God,” Noah said. He buried his face in his hands.
“Detective Shaw doesn’t believe this for a second,” Diana said.
Noah looked up. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Diana said. “I didn’t have to try and convince him. He knew it was bull. And it is. He’s firmly in your corner and nearly as pissed off about this as I am. And I’m certain that Cassie is too. Now,” Diana lay a sheet of paper before him, “these are the dates and times of the attacks. We’re not sure who the ADA spoke to. So you need to try and remember where you were on all these nights.”
Noah rubbed his hand through his hair. He closed his eyes and tried to push away the image of Cassie being told that he was just like Nathaniel and believing it. When he opened his eyes, he pulled the paper in front of him.
“I’m not sure,” Noah said. “I wasn’t thinking of alibies. It never occurred to me… I may have been home for the first one. Grandpa was with me, but he would have gone to bed before the attack.”
“Did you go out?”
“No,” Noah said. “But I don’t think I can prove it.”
He looked to the next attack.
“That was the night Cassie was attacked,” Noah said. “I remember hearing about it. It happened later that night. The running theory at the time was that Tom had done it. He didn’t get to finish with Cassie, so that one got it. I was here, then I got home around one in the morning.”
Diana thought about it. “They said the attack was right around that time.”
“I’m sure Detective Shaw can tell you what time he saw me here last, as he
was leaving with Cassie. I didn’t talk to Grandpa, but he heard me come in.”
Diana nodded. “Okay, that’s good, but they could claim you raped her and then went home. Let’s look at the others.”
Noah winced at Diana’s words, but he tried to focus. “This was the night I first met Cassie’s friends. I picked her up at seven. Grandpa saw me leave about five minutes before then.”
“Alright,” Diana said. This time she smiled. “That should help. But that girl was found dead. I’d feel better if you had one for one of the ones they found alive.”
“This one was on the day I went grocery shopping for Amber,” Noah said. “I took her groceries over and she cooked dinner for us. We talked about Cassie.”
“Good.”
“And this night,” Noah started.
“Yes?” Diana prompted. “Isn’t this the day we met at the diner? The attack was just after that. Where did you go?”
Noah sighed. “I went to Pamela’s. She called just as you left and I could tell she was drunk. I went over to check on her. I was there pretty late.”
“Good,” Diana said, although she wasn’t that enthusiastic about what she had just heard. She didn’t like the idea of Noah spending time alone with Pamela. And she didn’t know if Pamela would make a great alibi.
“Let’s move on,” Diana said.
* * * *
When Diana finally emerged, she found Cassie waiting for her.
“Where is he?” she asked. “Is he okay? Can I see him? What can I do? What idiot came up with this idea?”
Diana smiled. How could Noah think Cassie would ever believe this?
She did her best to explain what had happened.
“So we need to try and put together as much of a timeline as possible to prove Noah couldn’t have done this.”
“Isn’t it supposed to be the other way?” Cassie said. “Innocent until proven guilty?”
“It is,” Diana said. “And based on what we have so far, this probably wouldn’t even get an indictment. Although if the ADA claims that he got a death bed testimonial, it might have some weight.”
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