I shot Luke a sideways I-told-you-so glance.
“He went through that same gate I led you to. I sat in those bushes ’til it was dark. And the only person who came out those gates was Dave.”
But Carmen said Dave was with her that whole evening. “Did you actually see Dave’s face?”
“Well, no. But who else wears a stupid-ass full-body green onesie to fish? He’s the only one out there I’ve ever seen wearing it, and I been out there a lot.”
“A onesie? You mean waders?”
“Whatever they’s called, he was wearing ’em, just like he does every time.”
I had seen Dave twice, and neither time was he wearing waders. I had seen him in head-to-toe black though. “He wasn’t wearing waders when he was taken to jail.”
She shrugged. “Maybe they’s too hot that night.”
“So you saw Dave leave, but you never saw Ronnie leave?”
“I just figured he met someone out there and . . . and, well,” she blew her nose again, “left with her. It wasn’ until the nice officer came to my house the next day and told me that he was d-dead.” The sobs were uncontrollable this time. “I didn’ mean ta leave all those nasty messages on his phone. I’s mad. I thought he was with a girlfriend. I’s such an idiot.”
“I think that’s all we have, right, Rylie?” Luke stood from the couch.
No, that wasn’t all. This lady was a first class liar. I didn’t believe these tears in the least. But Luke wasn’t making a suggestion.
“We’ll let ourselves out.”
I stood and walked out, glaring at his back the whole way.
“Why in the hell did you stop the interview?” I asked when we were securely within his truck.
“I think it’s obvious, she didn’t do it.”
“What? Because she cried? She’s a liar and a fake. And what was that about the messages she left on his phone? Did you know anything about that?”
Luke hesitated. “Yes. We obviously went through all of Ronnie’s messages, and there were some rather threatening ones from Patricia.”
“And you magically forgot to tell me about this?”
“It’s an ongoing investigation. I can’t tell you everything. I could get in a ton of trouble for what I’ve shared with you already.”
“Really? What happened to you needing my help on the case? It was just a one-way street?”
“You already thought she was guilty. I didn’t want to give you any additional ammo against her.”
“She. Is. A. Liar. How can you not see that? Her tears weren’t real. She told you one story and me another. Who knows, maybe she wanted him dead because he drove Clark away—the man she actually loves.”
“You think she loves Clark?”
I fought the urge to physically slap myself on the forehead. “How dense can you be? Didn’t you hear how she was talking about him? How everything wasn’t fun after Clark was gone? How she despises Ella?”
Luke ran a hand through his hair. “Either way, I still don’t think she killed him.”
“She admitted she was there.”
“And that she saw Dave leaving.”
“She saw a man in waders leaving. I’ve never seen Dave in waders.”
“Have you seen anyone wearing waders while fishing?”
Admittedly, I hadn’t. But I hadn’t worked there very long either.
“I think it’s time you accept that Dave could really be the killer. Maybe your source is just trying to protect him.” Luke peered over at me.
“Have there been any other leads at all? Anyone else?”
Luke shook his head. “I’d think you’d be happy we’re narrowing it down.”
But I had to find the real murderer, so Dave wouldn’t go to prison to protect Carmen’s honor.
11
My mother was not thrilled that I wouldn’t answer her questions when I got home. After the tension-filled car ride with Luke, all I wanted was a bath and a book. Thankfully, the next morning I had to be to work early—the opening shift—so my mother didn’t have a chance to corner me.
Ben was already at the shop when I arrived, coffee in hand. “Ready?”
“Yep.”
“Any questions before you go on your way?”
It was my first day of being in one of the summie trucks, doing my own thing. “Not that I can think of. I’ll call you if I need something though.”
“Okay, you get the gates on the back fence line, and I’ll get the main gate. Then we can meet in the office for coffee.”
“Got it. Thanks.”
The summie truck was much smaller than the full-time ranger trucks. It smelled like someone had left a tuna fish sandwich under the seat in the summer sun for an extended period of time. I felt like I should put down a plastic bag to make sure the stains in the seats didn’t transfer to my pants but thought better of it. I couldn’t get a name for being a priss.
The reservoir was still dark as the sun had yet to rise over the horizon. Headlights from the main gate indicated fishermen waiting for their opportunity to catch ‘the big one’ that would inevitably be impossible to catch in the heat of the day. Or so they claimed.
The path was completely void of bikers and walkers as I wound my way around to the smaller gates where they’d be entering in mere minutes. Everything was calm but the anxiety that welled within me. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the truck. I couldn’t shake the feeling that a murderer lurked around every corner, waiting for me, ready to pounce the minute I opened one of the gates.
I squared my shoulders and put my fists on my hips in a superhero pose that Cosmo Online promised would make me feel brave. I didn’t know how brave I’d feel if the murderer found me. You couldn’t be brave if you were dead.
The hinges on the gate in Muddy Water Cove squeaked as the sun peeked over the horizon. Finally, some daylight. A tiny bit of my anxiety washed away until I heard a noise in the bushes where I’d once hidden.
“Is someone there?” I stepped toward
