“And did you talk to Dave?”
“Yeah, he was convinced Ronnie caught the catfish illegally and that he was setting the traps. He was even here when I interviewed, telling Carmen all about his suspicions. Saying how Ronnie better watch out or he might end up as dead as his catfish.”
He scribbled furiously on his notepad then looked up at me. “Did you see anyone else fishing in the cove that day?”
“Jackson, one of the previous summer rangers, was back there. Other than that, no.”
“Do you know Jackson’s last name?”
“No, but I’m sure Ben does since he used to work here.”
Luke nodded. “Go on.”
“Then when we were closing up, we found Ronnie’s body in the trap, and that’s when we called you.”
Luke leaned back. “This is very helpful, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’d be happy to help any other way I can.” Ugh. Was I flirting?
“Any way?” He raised his eyebrow with a cheeky grin, his professional demeanor slipping away.
“Well, you know, so we can find Ronnie’s killer.” I looked down at my hands.
“Do you have any thoughts on who might have wanted him dead?”
“Maybe Dave. He seemed awfully peeved that Ronnie caught that catfish. And he did know about the traps. But so did Jackson, I guess. And Ronnie’s wife seemed just mean enough and strong enough and crazy enough to do it.” I shook my head. “I don’t know, though. Maybe it was none of them.”
I shrugged. Who was I to tell him how to do his job?
“Now about that offer. How about dinner?”
Butterflies I hadn’t known still existed came to life in my stomach.
“I don’t know, Luke. I haven’t been single very long and—”
“Only to discuss the case,” he added quickly. “You were always good at seeing what others don’t. I could use your keen eye in this situation.”
Nice excuse. We both knew he was far better at detective work than I had ever been, hence his degree in law enforcement and mine in parks and recreation. But at least it would get me out of the house for a night. “Okay, when?”
“I’m busy tonight, but how about tomorrow night?”
“Tomorrow night it is.”
“I know the perfect place.” He took out one of his business cards and wrote an address on the back. “It’s a hole in the wall burger joint, but I think you’ll like it.”
Ben was waiting in the main office with Carmen when we reemerged. Luke went back to being the tight-lipped investigator, and I went back to training.
“You’re lucky you missed the last hour,” Shayla whispered when I sat down. “It was nothing but reminiscing on the good old days of rangering.”
Had it really been an hour?
“Let’s move on. Antonio, will you please hand out the radios?”
My head shot up so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash. Sure enough, there was Antonio, his piercing eyes on me as he handed Brock and Shayla radios.
“And one for you—the girl of my dreams,” he said under his breath. I glanced over to see if Greg had heard him, but Greg was still futzing with the ancient projector screen.
Antonio winked at me and walked over to help Greg.
“Oh my gosh, did you hear that?” Shayla whisper-squealed next to me. Brock looked over with annoyance and then returned to playing with all the nobs and buttons on the radio in front of him.
“He’s married,” I whispered back.
Shayla blanched.
“These are training radios, so don’t worry about accidentally calling out,” Greg said giving up on the projector screen.
The radio in front of me was the exact model I’d used as a firefighter.
“When we call out, we go through several steps. First, you have to turn the radio on.”
We all did as he showed. I could feel Antonio’s gaze on me, but I refused to look at him.
“Then we make sure we have the correct channel. As you can see on the display it says R-1, which is our primary channel. If your display does not say R-1, you need to move the dials on the top to get to the appropriate channel.”
Brock and Shayla ate up his every word, but I was daydreaming about Antonio and a burger and Luke. Had I really gotten over Troy so quickly? Just a week ago I had been convinced he was going to propose. That is, until I found him naked with giraffe girl. Tears welled in my eyes. Apparently, I wasn’t completely over him.
“Rylie?” Greg’s voice brought me back to reality. “You’ve used these radios previously, correct?”
“I have,” I replied in the strongest voice I could find.
“Can you please demonstrate?”
“Sure.” My heart quickened. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself on my first day. Especially not in front of Antonio—not that I cared what he thought.
I steadied my hands and made sure the radio was on, and on the correct channel. “What’s my call sign?”
“Oh gee, buddy. I haven’t told you which ranger you are, have I?” Greg chuckled and shook his head. “That reminds me.” He went to the desk where Antonio sat and pulled three badges out of a box. They were a bit tarnished—likely used by many previous summer rangers.
“Rylie, you’re Ranger Fourteen.” The badge—silver with a tiny number 14 on the bottom—was heavier than it looked. I pinned it to my uniform shirt. “Shayla, you’re Ranger Fifteen, and Brock, you’re Ranger Sixteen.”
Brock looked especially irritated that he had the highest number on his badge.
“These were only assigned in accordance with the order in which you were hired. They have no relevance in the hierarchy.” Greg looked at Brock when he said this.
“Okay, now go ahead, Rylie.”
I took the radio and clicked the button on the side. “Ranger Fourteen, Ranger One?” My voice echoed through the room on each of the training radios.
Greg picked up his radio pretending as if I wasn’t in the room with him. “Ranger One, go ahead.”
I didn’t know what he wanted me to say
