Throttled

by Stella Bixby

  “Nikki and I wanted to check in and see how Jordan was doing.” I tried to keep my voice as innocent as possible.

  Luke wasn’t buying it. “How is Jordan?” he asked.

  “The same as this morning,” his mom said. “They found alcohol in his bloodstream.”

  Luke nodded as if he understood how bad that could be. “I’d like to speak with you alone,” he said to her. “If that’s okay?”

  Jordan’s mom nodded and looked at us.

  “We were just about to leave anyway,” I said.

  “Thank you for saving him,” she said. “Even if he doesn’t make it—” she choked on her words.

  “He’ll make it,” Nikki said and turned to walk out the door. “He has to make it,” she whispered to herself.

  I followed behind, and Brody brought up the rear.

  “I’m going to wait so I can see him,” Brody said. “It was good seeing you, Nik.”

  Nikki smiled. “You too.”

  “What the hell was that?” I asked when we were out of earshot.

  “What was what?” she said.

  “You and Brody?”

  She sighed. “Brody is my Luke.”

  “Huh?”

  “He was my high school sweetheart. Like Luke was yours.”

  That explained a lot. “And now he’s the high school football coach?”

  “Best one they’ve had in years.” She looked straight ahead when we entered the elevator.

  “Don’t you find it strange that he was completely unsurprised that one of his players had alcohol in his system?”

  “High schoolers drink.” She shrugged. “Didn’t you?”

  I lived in a town where everyone knew everything. My parents would have killed me. “Not really.”

  “Well aren’t you just little miss perfect.” Her sarcasm was biting.

  “I’m trying to help. But if you’d like me to stop, I can.”

  “No. I’m sorry.” We walked out of the elevator and into the lobby of the glass-walled building to find two teenage girls sitting on a couch whispering.

  “What if they never find him?” The girl with curly black hair and dark complexion said.

  “Maybe it would be for the better,” the girl with long blonde hair and complexion so fair she would likely crisp in even the smallest amount of sun exposure replied.

  “Debbie?” Nikki said and walked over to the blonde girl.

  “Nikki,” she said standing. A look of panic washed over her face. “Why are you here?”

  “We just wanted to check to see how Jordan is. Rylie’s the one who found him this morning.”

  It was hard to believe it had only been that morning since I’d found him lying on the beach.

  “Wait, don’t I know you from somewhere?” I asked the girl. She looked oddly familiar. Then it hit me. “You were out at the reservoir last night, weren’t you?”

  She looked at her friend who shrugged a tiny bit.

  “Yeah,” she finally said.

  “You were?” Nikki asked.

  “Alex, Jordan, and I went out there before—”

  Her friend elbowed her in the ribs.

  “Before what?” I asked. “You know this could be critical to finding Alex.”

  Debbie didn’t say anything.

  “Don’t you want to find Alex?” Nikki asked, her voice fragile.

  “I guess, maybe.” Debbie shrugged. “Or maybe not.”

  Nikki looked like she’d been slapped in the face.

  “Why wouldn’t you?” I asked.

  “Look, Alex is an ass,” Debbie’s friend said. “He flat dumped Debbie last night in front of everyone.”

  “In front of everyone? Who’s everyone?” I asked.

  “The cheerleaders. The football players. Some of the other kids from school,” her friend replied.

  “The popular kids,” I said.

  “I guess so.” She shrugged.

  “Where was this meeting?” Nikki asked looking at Debbie.

  “Out in the boonies,” Debbie said even though her friend was shaking her head no. “And you want to know what I think about Alex’s convenient disappearance? I think he tried to hurt Jordan and then took off. He’s probably halfway to Canada with his new girlfriend by now.”

  “Why would he hurt Jordan?” I asked.

  “Football, why else?” Debbie said.

  “But Alex was the head quarterback. Jordan didn’t have a chance at the position. Wouldn’t it be the other way around?” Nikki asked.

  “Alex was losing it.” Debbie looked down at her nails. “He was skipping practices and going off alone a lot.”

  “With his new girlfriend?” I asked.

  “How should I know?” Debbie said. “I thought everything was fine until last night.”

  It had looked fine when I’d seen them all together.

  “So he broke up with you at this party in the boonies,” I said. “And then what?”

  “He left. Went home. Or to see his girlfriend. Or to plot Jordan’s murder. How should I know?”

  “Who is this girlfriend?” Nikki asked.

  “Some loser, I’m sure,” Debbie’s friend said.

  “A name would be helpful,” I said.

  “Trust me, if I knew who she was, she’d be in a world of hurt right now,” Debbie said. “Come on.” She grabbed her friend’s hand and practically dragged her toward the elevators.

  “Debbie sounds like a peach,” I said when they disappeared behind the silver doors.

  “She used to be so nice,” Nikki said. “She even came to family functions. They’d been together for a really long time. I can’t believe he broke up with her.”

  “Do you think maybe he was into something bad? I mean, if he was skipping practices—”

  Nikki shook her head violently. “No way. He had a friend who died of a drug overdose his freshman year. He swore he’d never do anything more than a beer here and there.”

  “Something doesn’t add up. I get why people would think Alex might have something to do with this incident with Jordan, but where did he go?” I said more to myself than to Nikki. “Maybe tomorrow we could casually go to football practice and find out if any other students have gone missing.”

  Nikki nodded. “Thank you for your help.”

  At this point, I wanted to know what was going on almost as badly as she did.

  9

  “I just can’t believe you and Nikki are friends now,” Shayla said after I told her about the day.

  We met at Seamus’s house to watch some movies since we all had the next day off.

  “I don’t know if I’d say we’re friends.” I took a sip of the Bud Light with lime and felt the cool bubbles washing my anxiety away.

  “But she wants your help finding her cousin?” Shayla asked.

  Garrett had his arm around me on one of Seamus’s brown microfiber couches, and Seamus had his arm around Shayla on the other. Even though Shayla was nearly ten years younger than Seamus, they somehow fit together perfectly. Her innocence was magnified by his blunt Irish way.

  “I think she wants to find him and clear his name. Almost everyone seems to think he was responsible for what happened to Jordan,” I said, rubbing my thumb over Garrett’s knee.

  “What does Luke think?” Shayla asked.

  I felt Garrett shift his weight beside me. He always got fidgety when Luke was mentioned.

  “I don’t know. He and Nikki got into a bit of an argument at the office today.” I tried to leave all emotion out of my voice. Garrett deserved to feel as confident in our relationship as I did. “But the way she was acting, it was as if she didn’t trust Luke to investigate properly.”

  “Most family members don’t think the police do enough,” Shayla said.

  Her mom had been Luke’s partner before she retired and Shayla herself was now nearing the end of police academy.

  “What do you think, oh shit magnet?” Seamus asked.

  I hesitated a minute. Neither my boy
friend nor best friend wanted to hear me say I’d be taking on another criminal case. “I don’t know what to think. He broke up with his girlfriend at some sort of party last night after they looked pretty cozy at the reservoir yesterday afternoon.”

  “You saw them at the reservoir?” Shayla asked.

  “All three of them,” I said. “Jordan was definitely the jealous third wheel.”

  “But Alex broke up with her?” Garrett asked.

  “That’s what she said. She’s convinced he has another girlfriend. That he’s been acting weird.”

  “Maybe she killed him,” Shayla said with a laugh. But the guys both looked at her with open mouths. “I’m kidding,” she said. “Kind of.”

  I laughed. “I don’t know that she killed him. At least I hope not.” I thought about it for a minute. “She did seem pretty okay with the thought of him never being found, though.”

  “We don’t need another murder investigation,” Seamus said.

  I snuggled a bit closer to Garrett, and he tightened his arm around me. “Agreed.”

  “Do they have any idea where Alex might have gone?” Shayla asked.

  “Not that I know of,” I said. “Nikki seems super scattered about the details.”

  “Probably doesn’t help that she and Luke are on the outs,” Seamus said.

  “What?” Shayla asked sitting up so quickly her pretty blonde ringlets bounced with the motion.

  “He signed up to go to the Middle East.” I shrugged. “She’s pretty pissed about it.”

  “Why would he go Middle East?” Garrett asked.

  “To train people in other countries to be police officers,” Shayla answered settling back in against Seamus. “It’s a great way to make a whole bunch of cash if you’re willing to leave everything and put your life on hold for a year or more. I know several officers who’ve done it. I guess it only makes sense for Luke to do it too.”

  Her expression showed the same feelings I had. We’d both had a thing for Luke at one point, and now we were both in happy relationships. That didn’t mean we didn’t care if he put himself in danger.

  “Anyway, how’s the apartment search going?” Shayla asked, changing the subject.

  I laughed. “You should have seen the place my mom took me to the other day. It was teeny tiny and two thousand dollars a month, not including parking or utilities.”

  Shayla shook her head. “That’s nuts.”

  “The guys and I pay three thousand here,” Seamus said. “Thankfully there are three of us. I can’t imagine trying to find a place by myself.”

  Garrett shifted next to me. “You could always move in with me,” he said.

  Shayla’s big eyes widened. Seamus raised his eyebrows.

  I didn’t know what to say. Part of me had thought about it—the part that was falling for one of the nicest men I’d ever met. But then I remember how clean everything was at his place and how—well—not clean I am.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to put you on the spot,” he squeezed my shoulders again. “Just a thought.”

  The room was silent. We all took long swigs of our beer.

  “Looks like it’s movie time,” Seamus finally said.

  “I’m really sorry for bringing up you living with me in front of your friends,” Garrett said that night as we laid in what had been his perfectly-made bed . . . before we had messed it up.

  “It’s okay. I didn’t mean to freeze. I just didn’t know what to say.” I still didn’t.

  “You practically already live here. I mean, you stay with me most nights of the week. Fizzy and Babbitt get along perfectly.”

  I looked over the side of the bed where Fizzy—my pit bull mix—and Babbitt—Garrett’s Alaskan Malamute—lay with their heads on each other’s backs. They loved each other.

  “I know. You’re right.” I ran my fingers over his waxed chest. “I just don’t know if I’m ready to move in. It’s a big step.”

  He rubbed my back. “I won’t push, but the offer stands. You wouldn’t even have to pay rent.” His lips warmed the tip of my nose, and I wanted to blurt out, okay, I’ll move in! But for some reason, the words wouldn’t form.

  “Thank you,” I finally managed to say.

  “Do you think this case you’re helping Nikki with will be dangerous?”

  “Nah. Honestly, I don’t think it’s a case at all. Alex probably ran away after breaking up with his girlfriend. I’m sure he’ll turn up soon.”

  Garrett nodded and pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re beautiful.”

  I could feel the blush overtaking my face.

  “I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.” His gaze searched me, taking in everything. “I still can’t believe you agreed to go on a second date with me after I acted so badly on our first date.”

  He had gotten completely drunk, and I’d had to drive him home.

  “I’m glad I did,” I said.

  Everything about him was basically perfect. He was handsome, tall, had a fantastic job, and loved his family to a fault. So why did I feel nauseous every time I thought about being in a serious long-term relationship with him?

  I kissed him on the cheek and rolled out of bed. Fizzy looked up, and I patted him on the head.

  “Everything okay?” Garrett asked.

  “Yep, I just need to use the restroom.” And take a breather.

  I closed the bathroom door behind me and tried to calm the anxiety rising in my chest. I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face.

  This was stupid. I knew how to be in a long-term relationship. I’d stayed in one with a complete and utter jerk for five years.

  The mirror showed a more put-together version of myself than my insides felt. I needed to go home—to my parents’ home—for the night. I needed to get my thoughts together.

  I opened the door ready to tell Garrett I had to leave, only to almost run straight into him.

  “Don’t freak out.” He wrapped his muscular arms around me in a bear hug. “I didn’t mean to go so fast. It was an impulsive offer.”

  The tightness in my chest loosened a bit.

  “If you want to go home tonight, I understand.”

  How could he have known that’s what I was thinking?

  “But I wish you’d stay.”

  My hands shook. “I’ll stay.”

  He bent down and kissed the top of my head. “Also, your phone buzzed while you were in there.” He pointed to the nightstand on the side of the bed where I usually slept. “I didn’t look, I promise.”

  I smiled up at him and kissed his lips. “I have nothing to hide.”

  “You’re entitled to your privacy, though.”

  We got back in bed, and I opened the message on my phone. It was from Nikki.

  My Uncle’s snowmobile is missing.

  As in Alex’s dad’s?

  Yes. I need you to meet me right now.

  The clock said two in the morning. I was exhausted after training and movie night and finding a teenage popsicle on the beach.

  Can it wait until tomorrow? Please?

  No. Now.

  I clicked the phone off.

  “I have to go. Nikki needs me,” I said not believing those words had come out of my mouth.

  I leaned down and kissed him long and hard.

  “What was that for?” he asked when we separated.

  “An apology, I guess,” I said with a wink. “I’ll be back as soon as Nikki is done with me. Don’t wait up.”

  His eyes were already partially closed. “Okay.”

  I yanked on my jeans and tennis shoes the whole time yearning to be in the warm bed snuggled up next to Garrett.

  10

  The address Nikki texted me was eerily close to where we’d had snowmobile training the day before. Pieces of this puzzle were slowly starting to click together in my mind.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” Nikki said meeting me at my car. “My Aunt Elaine called and told me she’d found
the snowmobile missing. She thinks Alex may have taken it.”

  “Can I talk to her?” I asked.

  Nikki nodded and led me inside. The house was larger than average with modern fixtures.

  A woman with the same long auburn hair as Nikki invited us to sit on her white sofas.

  “Thank you so much for coming, Rylie,” Elaine said.

  “I’m happy to be here.” I hoped the smile I’d plastered on my face was convincing enough. “Can you tell me a little bit about what happened?”

  “I found the snowmobile missing tonight. I couldn’t sleep so I thought I’d walk around and I found myself out in the auxiliary garage.” She was rubbing a circle into one hand with the thumb of the other. “I don’t know how I even ended up in there. But that’s when I noticed one of the snowmobiles was missing.”

  “And what about last night? Do you remember anything out of the ordinary about Alex?”

  Her thumb rubbing stopped. “It was a normal night,” she said looking at the fire in the fireplace instead of me. “Alex went out with Jordan and Debbie, and I heard him come back around eleven or so.”

  On the end table next to me was a photograph of three boys. “Are these all of your boys?” I asked.

  She looked over at the photo and smiled. “Yes. Hal Junior is going to school for engineering at Mining College. Alex had considered that school in addition to several others. He’s been offered scholarships all across the country to play football. And Henry is the youngest. He’s only ten, but he keeps me busy with all of his sports.”

  “They’re all so handsome,” I said trying to break the ice a bit more.

  “Thank you.” She beamed with pride.

  “Do they get along?” I asked. “My sister and I have had some gnarly fights over the years.”

  “I had a sister too,” she said smiling at Nikki. “Boys are so much different. Their fights are intense but short-lived. And my boys really love each other. They’re always looking out for one another.”

  “Would you mind if I took a look around the auxiliary garage?” I asked.

  “Not at all.” She stood and walked us down to the basement where the garage opened up to their back yard. “He took a helmet too, thank goodness.”