by Stella Bixby
Her pretty smile drooped a bit. “Hello, Rylie.” She shook my hand with crippling strength.
“Hi,” I said. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Shayla must have noticed the wince on my face. “And I’m Shayla. I used to work with Antonio over the summer.”
The woman let go of my hand and grabbed Shayla’s with much less intensity. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”
“Can I get you anything to drink?” Shayla asked.
“I’d love a beer,” the woman said. “Anything is fine.”
Shayla returned with two beers handing one to Antonio who left his date with us and joined the guys on the couch.
“Tell us, what do you do?” Shayla, being the nice one of the three of us, asked while Nikki and I stood side by side, measuring this woman up.
After almost an hour of small talk, the game came to its second intermission, and I’d about had it with the glares I was getting from Antonio’s date.
“You ready to go?” I asked Garrett bending over the back of the couch to whisper in his ear.
“Whenever you are,” he turned and smiled up at me.
“Thanks for having us, Seamus,” I said, and Garrett took the hint that we were actually leaving. Right now. He shook the guys’ hands and helped me into my jacket kissing my cheek in the process.
When I handed Garrett his jacket, he turned to me and said, “Thanks, sweetie. I love you.”
The entire room froze. The game was silent. All eyes were on me.
I didn’t want to say it back.
Not here.
Not in front of Nikki and Luke and Antonio and . . .
But Garrett looked at me with his big lovable puppy dog eyes. And I did love him. Why would I try to hide it?
“I love you too,” I said more hurriedly than I had meant, but Garrett didn’t seem to notice. He pulled on his jacket, and we said our goodbyes while I ignored the startled expressions on my friends’ faces.
16
Shayla never used punctuation in text messages unless it was to show emphasis. She said it was rude. I didn’t care if it was rude, it was proper.
i can’t believe you told him you loved him in front of everyone!!!!!!!
But I do love him. Why should I keep that a secret?
because everyone is freaking out!!!!
I sighed and clicked the phone off so the screen went dark.
“Is everything okay?” Garrett said from the driver’s seat of his Corolla.
“Shayla’s just telling me more about Antonio’s date. Apparently, they won’t leave.” It was a harmless lie.
“She seemed nice from what I could tell.”
“I think she was nice enough. Definitely Antonio’s type.”
Garrett let out a nervous laugh. “You know, at one time I thought Antonio had a thing for you.”
“I think he may have when I first started working at the reservoir,” I admitted. “But it was likely because I was new and exciting. Now I’m rather old and—”
“You’re not old,” Garrett said. “You’re young and beautiful and he’d be an idiot not to have a thing for you.”
Was Garrett really offended a guy didn’t have a thing for me?
“Either way, nothing ever happened with us, and I suspect nothing ever will.”
“That’s right because you’re mine now.” Garrett was only being nice, but the thought of being someone’s made the tightness in my chest intensify.
My screen lit up, and I opened the messages app.
they can’t stop talking about it
they can’t believe you’re in love so quickly
I rolled my eyes. What did they know? And didn’t they have anything better to talk about? Like their own lives?
I sent back the shrugging girl emoji and clicked my phone off again.
It was the first mildly warm day since winter hit Colorado like a fast-moving freight train hitting a solid concrete wall. I didn’t even need my long underwear when I opened the reservoir.
“Good morning, Carmen,” I said when I walked into the office after finishing all of the opening procedures. “Hi, Antonio.” I was more than surprised to see him, especially this early.
He grunted back without making eye contact.
“I hear you’re in love,” Carmen said ignoring Antonio’s caveman act.
“Was there an email blast or something? Are you all on some kind of group text message?”
Carmen laughed. “Antonio told me.”
I glanced over at him where he was still examining the intricate pattern of the carpet. Why had he been talking about me when he couldn’t even look at me?
“Apparently, it was the talk of last night’s party,” Carmen continued oblivious.
“I bet it was,” I murmured.
“It’s the multiple personality guy, huh?” Carmen was the one who led me to the hypothesis that Garrett had multiple personalities when in reality he had a twin . . . and some anxiety that he occasionally took medication for.
Antonio’s head shot up. “Multiple personalities?”
It was my turn to ignore him. “Garrett. His name is Garrett,” I said. “And yes, I’m in love.”
“Well, it looks good on you,” Carmen said with a smile.
“Did Antonio tell you about his new girlfriend?” If he could stir the pot, so could I.
Carmen’s eyes lit up. “A girlfriend?”
“She is not my girlfriend,” Antonio said.
“You brought her to meet all your friends. Sounds pretty serious to me.” I shrugged.
Antonio’s cheeks flushed.
“So tell me all about her,” Carmen said. “Is she tall? Short? Does she have any pets?”
I shook my head and walked away. Carmen could take it from here.
Midway through my shift Carmen called on my cell and told me that Nikki’s and my vests were ready to be picked up. Since there were two other rangers in the office, I was free to pick them up.
“There you are. I can’t believe how quickly they came in,” Michelle said when I walked back to the back of the store. She pulled them from a rack behind her. “Why don’t you try yours on to make sure it’s right? I always worry when they’re so quick to get them to us.”
I unbuttoned my uniform shirt and laid it on the counter. She helped me put my head through the top between two stretchy pieces of fabric and then pulled elastic strips around my body from the back to Velcro to the front. It was heavier than I thought it would be.
“Okay twist your body.”
I twisted side to side.
“Now sit down,” she said offering me a chair.
I did.
“Does everything feel okay? Nothing pinches?”
“Other than being heavy, it’s perfect,” I said.
“Might as well keep it on since you’ll be wearing it every day from now on,” she said handing me my shirt.
I put it back on. Thankfully it still buttoned with the extra bulk.
“You don’t even need bigger shirts.” Michelle smiled. “Make sure you have that other girl try hers on within the next week so we can get it changed if it doesn’t work. Have her twist and sit like I did with you.”
I agreed.
“Oh Lord help me,” Michelle said looking over my shoulder.
I turned to see what she was looking at. Hal Ward was walking toward us, his gaze locked on Michelle.
“Hello Officer Ward,” Michelle said, her voice a bit saltier than it had been with me. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m here to pick up my gun.” He didn’t even acknowledge that I was standing there.
“I’m afraid it still isn’t here. I told you I’d call you the moment it came in,” she said.
Hal looked like he was about to explode. “It has been too long. This is ridiculous. I’d like to speak to a supervisor.”
Michelle looked almost relieved to pass him off onto someone else. “I’ll get him.”
Hal turned and finally noticed my presence.
“Don’t I know you from somewhere?” He looked at my badge. “Ah, yes. You’re Nikki’s little friend.”
He really was an ass.
“How are you doing?” I asked trying to be considerate.
“I’m fine.” He huffed.
“I hear Jordan is doing better,” I lied.
His face barely changed. “Where’d you hear that?”
“At the hospital. Have you been there lately?”
“I’m a busy man. I have work,” he said.
“And you’re mad at Alex for wanting to quit football aren’t you?” I pushed.
His eyes narrowed. “Who told you he wanted to quit?”
“Doesn’t matter,” I said keeping my voice calm, chipper even.
He watched me for a moment. “Of course I’d be upset if he wanted to quit.”
“Mad enough you’d hurt his best friend to make sure he played?”
Hal lunged forward, his hands reaching for my shoulders.
“Officer Ward.” Michelle’s voice stopped him in his tracks. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
“You need to ask her that.” He sounded like a petulant child. “She’s accusing me of hurting my son’s friend.”
“Well, did you?” Michelle asked.
“Of course I didn’t. I don’t have to take this.” He turned and stomped away.
“Thanks for getting rid of him for me,” Michelle said. “Do you really think he hurt someone?”
“He’s number one on my suspect list,” I said.
“I didn’t know park rangers did that kind of work.”
“We don’t.” I smiled. “Have a good day. Thanks for your help.”
“Anytime,” Michelle said. “And I think he could do it too, if you want my opinion on it.”
“Thanks.” I smiled. He absolutely could have done it, and his reaction to my questions made me suspect him all the more.
17
I got a text message from Luke before I got back to the reservoir.
You went too far this time
I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Two words. Hal. Ward.
No clue.
Watch your six.
His last text sent a chill down my spine. Hal had already reported me, and I’d only asked a couple of questions. If that wasn’t suspicious, I didn’t know what was.
The rest of the shift was so boring I almost fell asleep in my truck. Reginald and his tiny dog tucked up in his coat went to their usual ice fishing spot, and Dave was back in the cove.
From what I could tell, the fish weren’t biting.
Antonio left sometime while I was picking up my vest. Whatever. I was tired of caring. If he wanted to ignore me, so be it.
Just as I was closing the main gate and sliding back into Cherry Anne’s driver seat, my phone buzzed.
Nikki.
Alex is waking up.
I’ll be right there.
I hit the gas. Alex could tell us everything.
“He’s still groggy and not talking, but his eyes are open,” Nikki said when I walked into the room.
“Alex, this is Rylie. She works with me. She’s the one who found you,” Nikki said.
Alex gave me a small smile. Henry was cuddled up on the bed next to his big brother, fast asleep.
“Now girls, don’t overwhelm him,” Elaine said from Alex’s bedside. “I know you want to know what happened, but his health is what matters most right now.”
“How’s Jordan?” I whispered to Nikki.
“Bad,” Nikki turned away from Alex. “He’s not making any progress.”
“If he dies, does this turn into a murder investigation?” I asked.
Nikki shrugged. “If they think someone left him out there to die, I suppose so.”
“Water?” Alex’s voice sounded like sandpaper grinding over a rough piece of wood.
Elaine held up the hospital-issued water jug, and he sipped from the straw.
“Alex, what happened to you?” Nikki asked.
Elaine looked like she might stop Nikki, but Alex smiled at his cousin. Their bond was unmistakable.
“Stupid. I was stupid.” He turned to his mom. “I’m so sorry. Dad—”
“Shhh. It’s okay. Dad will be here when he gets off his shift.”
Alex nodded but didn’t look satisfied with that answer. Was Elaine trying to cover for Hal? Was Alex about to tell us something incriminating about his father?
“I know you’re exhausted, but can you tell us about that night?” Nikki pressed.
“There was a party.” His voice was quiet, but the color in his cheeks had returned some. “I drank.” He turned to Elaine. “Sorry, Mom.”
She squeezed his hand but said nothing.
“I broke up with Debbie.”
“Why?” Nikki asked. “You two had been together forever.”
“She didn’t get me anymore. We were headed in two different directions.” He sighed and laid his head back on his pillow.
“What is she doing here,” Hal’s angry voice came from behind us.
Nikki turned to face her uncle. “Who?”
“This trouble-maker,” he pointed his finger inches from my nose.
“I only asked you a couple of questions,” I said. “I wasn’t trying to cause trouble.”
“You’re a park ranger, not an investigator. You have no right to ask me anything.”
“Stop, Dad,” Alex whispered from the bed.
Hal’s face transformed from anger to caring father. “You’re awake?” He wrapped Alex up in his arms, waking Henry. “You’re awake!”
“I should probably go,” I said while Hal didn’t have me in his crosshairs.
“I’ll go with you,” Nikki said. “Bye Alex. I’ll be back tomorrow.” She bent down next to her uncle and kissed Alex on his forehead. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“Bye cuz,” Alex said with a smile.
The parking lot was nearly empty when we got down to our cars.
“What was Uncle Hal talking about?” Nikki asked.
I had to tell her. “I think he may have been the one who hurt Jordan.”
I braced myself for her to hit me, either with her hand or her words. But no slap came.
“He may have,” she said after a pause.
“I asked him about it at Hentemens when I was picking up our vests. You need to try yours on, by the way.”
She nodded. “You’re freaking crazy. My uncle could ruin your life.”
“Let him try,” I said keeping the fear I felt from my voice. “I think he’s using intimidation to keep me from the truth.”
“What can we do?”
“We could search his house, his car, whatever. See if we can find Jordan’s clothes.”
“That’s an option. We just have to be careful and not disturb anything. Luke would kill us if we messed up the crime scene,” she said.
“We’ll be careful,” I said.
“How was your shift?” Garrett asked when I’d finally made it to his place.
“Fine. Nothing huge happened. But Alex woke up. That’s why I’m so late.”
He nodded but didn’t look thrilled.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I just worry about you,” he said. “I thought you’d be home earlier.”
“I went to the hospital,” I said. “To talk to Alex.”
“Do you think maybe you should go to police academy?” he asked. “You seem more interested in solving crimes than being a park ranger.”
I instantly got defensive. “I don’t want to be a cop. I love being a park ranger.”
“Then stop investigating crimes that the police should be handling.”
“It’s Nikki’s cousin. I’m trying to help her.”
“You don’t even like Nikki. For the longest time all you could talk about was how awful she was.”
“Things change. This is who I am.” I tried to keep my voice down but failed. “And if I wasn’t this perso
n, you might be in prison right now.”
“I had already told the cops about Derrick. They were narrowing in on him. All you did was almost get yourself and my mother killed.”
Really? That’s what he thought about me?
“I’ll see you later. I’m going to my parent’s house. Come on Fizzy.”
Fizzy reluctantly left Babbitt’s side and followed me out the door.
Part of me thought Garrett might follow me out, but I wasn’t terribly surprised when he didn’t.
Coffee with Marlene, Eli Hudson’s mom, was a weekly treat I hadn’t missed once since I’d met her. Somehow this scrappy little fireball clothed like royalty had become one of my best friends.
As I sat on an oversized leather chair, Marlene handed me a cup of coffee—exactly how I liked it—from her enormous stainless steel coffee pot.
“What’s the weekly dirt?” she asked like she did every week.
“I’ve been looking for an apartment. I think I’m going to move in with Shayla.”
“Not Garrett?” she asked.
“I don’t think we’re quite ready for that.” We still hadn’t made up from last night’s argument. He had texted that he was sorry and I responded that I was too, but I was still irritated. “We got in our first fight last night.”
“And how did that go?”
“Like any other fight, I guess. He told me I should be a cop with all of the investigating I’m doing.”
She sat forward. “What are you investigating now?”
“It’s nothing, really. You probably heard about the two boys from North-Central High School?”
“The football players?” she asked. “Alex and—”
“Jordan,” I said. “They were best friends, and somehow both of them almost ended up dead the same night.”