“Feel free to come back and ask us questions any time. We’ll keep our eyes peeled,” Luther said.
“Thanks again, guys.” I got back into Cherry Anne and drove away trying to hold in my emotions.
It made me furious when people disrespected our veterans, and those guys were just as amazing as my own father. I’d be sure to pay them more visits in the future.
But for now, I had to decide if I’d go to Luke and tell him what I knew about Garrett. Every single thing I’d found had implicated him in the murder of Boy Boy. But maybe if I told Luke everything, he’d get less time because of self-defense or something.
22
Wednesday morning came and went and I still couldn’t decide whether to tell Luke what I knew. By the time I’d gotten ready for work, I only had a few minutes at the local deli before I had to report to the reservoir for my shift. The lady behind the counter handed me my sweetened iced tea and turkey and cheese sandwich when I thought I caught a glimpse of something—someone—familiar out of the corner of my eye.
My stomach dropped. Garrett sat across the street on the patio of another restaurant. Why hadn’t he called me when he was released?
I marched out the door unsure if I wanted to throw my arms around his neck or chew him out. The street between the restaurant and the deli was busy and loud, so when I called out to Garrett, it was no surprise he couldn’t hear me.
As the traffic cleared and I was walking across the street, Garrett stood and looked at the door to the restaurant, a smile spreading across his face at the sight of good old raven-hair.
She sauntered over to him, and he bent down so she could reach her arms around his neck. He lifted her off her feet and kissed her so passionately I nearly dropped my sandwich.
To my left, a horn blared and I realized I was standing in the middle of the street. I stumbled backward and ran to my car, hoping Garrett hadn’t seen me. The minute Cherry Anne’s door closed, I burst into tears.
How could he? I mean, I know I’d only met him on Tinder, but to so blatantly betray me? And with the housekeeper? Didn’t he know I was doing everything I could to get him out of the murder charges? I’d spent my whole morning chasing down information when he’d been out of jail gallivanting around with another woman?
Right after my shift, I would take Babbitt back and then I would never see either of them again.
“What’s up with you?” Antonio asked when I arrived for our closing shift.
“Nothing.” I didn’t want to talk about seeing that lying, cheating, no good sneak of a man. And here I thought he was still in jail.
“It doesn’t look like nothing,” he said looking at where I’d slammed Cherry Anne’s car door after pulling out my duty bag.
“I’m just an idiot.” I threw the bag into the summie truck. “And my car stinks.”
“Smells like mine does when I don’t put baking soda in my boots. And I don’t think you’re an idiot.”
“When it comes to judging men, I am.” I plopped down in the truck and closed the door while Antonio stood outside the window. He motioned for me to roll it down, even though the truck windows were automatic. I obliged. “Let’s get this shift over with, shall we?”
“Do you know what helps me think when I’m stressed out?” He asked, his tough-guy façade melting away ever-so-slightly.
“What?”
“Driving the boat.”
“Well, we both know that’s not going to happen,” I said.
“Come on. I’ll take you out. Maybe I can show you some skills Ben couldn’t.” Typically he would have said this in a way that sounded dirty, but today he seemed genuine.
That was probably why I agreed and found myself at the helm of the dreaded ranger boat yet again.
“I don’t think I ever thanked you for standing up for me to Ursula,” I said as I pushed the throttle forward making the boat jump from the slip.
“Whoa. Easy there.” Antonio covered my hand with his own and pulled the throttle back a bit. “Be gentle on the beast. She has feelings.”
I tried to keep my mind on the water, but with him so close it was hard.
“And I didn’t really stand up for you. I merely told Ursula what she would be missing if she got rid of you. Ursula and upper management are driven by numbers. All I had to do was inform her that you’re bringing in lots of paying guests.”
“Well, thank you.” I turned the bow towards the open reservoir. Thankfully, there weren’t many park visitors to witness me sinking the boat.
“Now I want you to look at the water around you and feel the boat’s movements.” Antonio moved back to the other side of the boat, leaving me to control it myself.
I tried to remember the steps Greg had taught us. The things Ben had mentioned.
“No. Nope,” Antonio laid a hand on my shoulder. “Get out of your head. Breathe and look around.”
I sucked in a breath and let it out. The water was pristinely calm, the changing aspen trees motionless on the shoreline.
“That’s better. Now head over to those buoys, and we’ll do some practice.”
“How do you want—”
“Stop. Stop thinking so much. Concentrate on the sounds the boat is making, the feel of the engine when you move the throttle, the beat of the water as it hits the hull.”
I tried to concentrate on the things he’d mentioned. The boat purred like a kitten with a ball of string. The engine’s vibrations resonated through my boots when I pushed the throttle forward. The water lapped up on the bow forming a beautiful tail of curved wake behind us.
“Very good.” Antonio closed his eyes almost as if he were praying.
“I’m
