“Enough to get Garrett’s bail request denied.”
They’d found the money after all.
“Okay,” I said. “And . . ?”
“We found fibers in the cab of Garrett’s truck matching the ones from the blanket that covered the first body you found.”
Not the money, but definitely enough for the judge to think Garrett did it. Dammit.
“But now we’re taking a closer look at the boat.”
He led me around a row of cars that looked like they’d been there for months, to where Garrett’s boat and truck sat side by side. Uniformed officers looked like an infestation of ants invading a yummy picnic basket. They were inside, underneath, and all around it looking for something they’d missed.
My heart pounded out of control. They were going to find the money and then Luke would know that I knew about it and then . . . what? Would I be arrested for impeding an investigation?
One officer stood on top of the seat where I had slipped revealing the cash. One slip and he’d uncover the same thing I had, and then Garrett would be toast.
“This may be a good time to come clean.” Luke looked down at me. “What were you talking about when you mentioned the boat?”
I was in a corner. “There was nothing. I don’t know why I said that. I must have been talking about how I thought I saw two people in the boat, but I was obviously mistaken and—”
Luke held up his hand, and his face softened. “Cut the crap, Ry. I can only protect you if you’re honest with me.”
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. Why did he think I needed protecting? “Okay.” I took a deep breath. I had to fess up. “The other day I was—”
“Luke, we got something over here.” One of the officers called out.
Shit. They found it.
Luke looked torn. “Hold that thought,” he finally said. “I want to hear the rest of that sentence.”
I began to follow him closer to the boat, but he stopped me. “Stay here.”
Yeah, not likely. The moment he turned back to the boat, I tiptoed slowly behind him.
“Right here, it looks like this bench seat opens. But it’s wedged shut.” The officer showed his attempt to open the lid. I didn’t know I’d closed it so securely, though the officer had been standing on it.
“Use the crowbar,” Luke said, and one of the other officers handed up a crowbar.
“You can’t destroy his property,” I objected and every head turned to look at me. I puffed up my chest and put my hands on my hips.
“I thought I told you to stay back there,” Luke growled in my direction.
“You aren’t the boss of me.” I sounded like a sixteen-year-old arguing with her mother.
“Well? Open it,” Luke barked at the officer holding the crowbar.
He looked from Luke to me and back again.
“She is not your boss, I am,” Luke said. “Pry it open.”
I could feel the gazes shift from me to the seat as the officer wedged the bar under the piece of wood and push down with all his might. The wood crackled under the pressure.
The entire group held a collective breath.
Finally, the top popped off, clattering to the metal hull of the boat.
We all leaned in to get a better look.
A disappointed sigh stole through everyone but me. Mine was in surprised relief.
It was empty.
Wait.
How was it empty? Where had all the money gone?
“Keep looking,” Luke grumbled coming to stand at my side. “You were saying?”
“Was I? I’ve forgotten.”
Luke quirked an eyebrow. “About the other day.”
“Yeah, I don’t recall.” I couldn’t tell him about the money. Not now. Not when it was gone and if I had told him before he might have been able to use the evidence to convict Garrett.
“I find that very hard to believe.” He eyed me. “I know you think Garrett is innocent and you’re trying to protect him, but there is a murderer on the loose and if Garrett is the murderer . . .”
“But he’s not. I know he’s not. Maybe someone is setting him up.” Or maybe it’s his other personality.
Luke nodded. “It’s a possibility. But if that’s the case, then the murderer is still out there, and if he or she thinks you’re trying to find them, they’ll have no problem killing you too.”
“Then I need you to help me find the real killer.”
“No. I’m not helping you. I will find the killer. It’s my job. You’re a park ranger—not that there’s anything wrong with that,” he added quickly, “but you’re not an investigator. You don’t even have a gun. And I don’t think you know Garrett as well as you think you do.”
“What do you mean?”
Luke looked down at his feet. “I don’t know. But something doesn’t seem right. I can’t pinpoint it, and he’s not talking at the direction of his lawyer, but this isn’t the type of case you should be getting involved in.”
“Does this lot have cameras?” I asked.
“Yeah.” Luke looked confused. “Why?”
“Maybe you should take a look at them.”
Someone had stolen the money from the boat, and it couldn’t have been Garrett because he was still in jail. If they found the person who stole the money, they’d probably find the killer.
“Why won’t you tell me what you know?” Luke asked reaching a hand out to touch my arm.
Part of me wanted to. But I was in too deep. At this point, I would definitely be charged with stealing evidence, messing with a crime scene, and probably as an accessory to murder or something crazy like that. And if I was charged with those things I’d never get the full-time job. “Just look at the cameras. They might help clear Garrett’s name.”
Luke let out a sigh. “You’re not going to stay out of this are you?”
“I’m going to try,” I said.
“You really care about him, don’t you?” he asked, his tone defeated.
“I guess I do,” I replied as gently as possible.
He looked back over at the boat. “Come on,
