By hour three, I could tell Kyle thought the whole business of an overnight shift to find the murderer was pointless. He kept throwing in comments like, “How stupid were they to let Dave out when they know full well he did it?” and “Maybe the real cops should be taking these overnight shifts.” I was ready to pull all of my hair out. No one forced him to volunteer to work. And he was the one who chose to work two night shifts in a row.
“Maybe we should split up,” I said after his last comment. “I mean, I think you’ve shown me what I need to know, and if we both had eyes on the park maybe we’d find something—”
“Fine, I’ll drop you at the shop, and you can pick up the summie truck. Just don’t drive the boat.”
I nodded. There was no way I was getting near that thing, especially in the dark. With my luck, I’d end up sinking it faster than a dinghy in a hurricane.
When I was finally in my own truck, a tightness in my chest released. It was like I had been suffocating in Kyle’s presence. Ben’s training style was more my speed—patient and chill rather than micromanaging and negative.
My mind rushed back to Ronnie and his own suffocation. What a terrible way to die. Why would anyone want to kill him? I mean, yeah, he was kinda gross and annoying, but he wasn’t much different than the other fishermen. Well, other than he had outdone them with his record catch.
My new phone buzzed in my pocket. A text from Luke.
Did you get a new phone?
I rolled my eyes. What did he care? He was probably out with Nikki at this very moment.
Yep.
The little bubbles showed he was typing and then:
Good. Working overnight, I hear?
How’d you hear that?
Nikki told me.
Nikki. Ugh.
Let me know if you need backup.
I shoved my phone in my pocket and stomped on the accelerator. I didn’t need his backup.
I circled back to Muddy Water Cove and waited. And waited and waited. Two hours passed without a single hint of an intruder. How likely was it that the killer would sneak in two nights in a row? How stupid was I to think I could outsmart a murderer?
My phone buzzed, and I ignored it for the umpteenth time. I had no patience for Luke’s crap right now. I didn’t have time to dwell on it, though, because at that very moment, I caught sight of a man in waders walking down the shoreline.
“Ranger Fourteen, Ranger Two?” I called over the radio.
No response.
“Ranger Fourteen, Ranger Two?” I called again. The man disappeared behind a cluster of trees.
“Ranger Two, go ahead.” He sounded as if he had been sleeping and I’d woken him.
“I have an intruder in the back of Muddy Water Cove.”
“Okay, don’t move until I get there.”
Don’t move? But he could be getting away. Again.
I sat still as long as I could, my eyes focused on the cluster of trees where the man had disappeared.
I almost texted Luke about the intruder. But my pride kept my phone firmly in my pocket. Plus, who was I to ruin his date?
We were friends . . . just friends.
At this hour he was probably home and asleep, anyway. Though if he wasn’t that would mean . . . no. Stop it.
My heart pounded. The thought of him with Nikki—kissing her, holding her—sent shivers of jealousy down my spine. I had to get my mind off them.
Where was Kyle anyway? My patience had run out. He was taking way too long to get here. It was almost as if he didn’t want to catch the killer at all. Was that what he was hiding? Did he know the killer?
I had to act.
The shoreline where the man had disappeared into the trees was only about fifty yards from where my truck was parked. My boots were nearly silent and my breath was steady. I was going to catch him this time.
Fresh footprints lined the edge of the trees, defined by the softness of the mud. Good, the added mud on the soles of his boots would likely slow him down.
The moon was barely visible and provided little light, but my eyes had adjusted. I stepped into the trees. My pulse pounded in my ears as I listened for any sign of another human presence.
The leaves rustled in the wind, causing me to flinch but thankfully not make any noise. I stepped further in, removed my pepper spray from my belt, and held it at the ready. I couldn’t wait to spray this asshole.
“Ranger Two, Ranger Fourteen?” Shit, I’d forgotten to turn down my radio.
The crunching of twigs and branches came from directly in front of me. He was running. I took off after him.
“Ranger Two, Ranger Fourteen, where are you?” Kyle sounded pissed, but I didn’t have time to respond. I sprinted through the trees lining the shore until I emerged and nearly ran right into the water.
Wait, where had he gone? I looked left and right. Nothing.
Had he gone into the water? No, the water was still smooth as glass. Maybe he’d doubled back.
I turned and ran straight into a man. I didn’t even think. I just sprayed for his face.
“What the hell?” The minute I heard his voice, I knew.
Kyle.
Shit.
I put the pepper spray back.
“Why the hell did you spray me?”
“I—I thought you were—”
“What? The MWB? You are the biggest idiot I’ve ever come into contact with.” He rubbed furiously at his eyes.
“Don’t rub. It’ll only make it worse.”
“Get in the truck and meet me back at the shop. You’re finished as a ranger.”
Done? No. I couldn’t be.
“But there’s someone here.”
“There’s someone here,” he mocked me. “This is the second time you’ve been wrong. The second time you’ve made a fool of yourself. And the last time you’ll ever wear that badge again.”
No. He couldn’t fire me. Okay, so maybe I’d attacked him, but in my defense, I didn’t know it was him. I thought he was a
