“I know the boy,” Officer Tarpy said. “And I know the boat.” He turned his head to the side and spit.
The way he said it made Cooper wonder what he wasn’t saying.
“So . . .” Officer Tarpy let the word hang a while. “When you called 9 – 1 – 1, the girl was in the water. And the way he was driving that boat, you were afraid — ”
“She’d get hit,” Hiro said. “He didn’t stop his little tantrum until after I’d made the call.”
Tarpy nodded. “You didn’t actually see Lynn after the erratic driving stopped?”
Cooper studied him. He’d asked the question in a casual way, but his look was more . . . deliberate. Was he just checking to make sure Hiro didn’t change her story, or was he searching for something more?
“It was too dark. And she was in the water on the other side of the boat,” Hiro said. “Still arguing with him.”
Officer Tarpy paused. “But you heard her side of the argument. You actually heard her voice. Is that right?”
Hiro’s face clouded over. “Well, not exactly.”
Tarpy raised his eyebrows.
“I mean,” she said, “I could only hear his end of the conversation.”
“So, you never heard her voice.”
Hiro shook her head.
The cop looked right at him. “Cooper?”
Cooper shrugged. “Not once she was out of the boat.”
Tarpy stared at the dark water like he was replaying the whole thing in his mind. He nodded slowly, like the pieces of the puzzle were fitting together. He turned and walked a few steps, then spoke into his shoulder mic.
Cooper couldn’t catch everything the officer said, but the guy talked with his hands — which helped Cooper fill in the blanks. Cooper tapped Hiro’s shoulder. “Do you think — ”
She cut him off with a finger to her lips. She wanted to listen too.
Tarpy pointed at Kryptoski’s boat, then paced toward them. “Yeah. Bring him in. Right here.”
Immediately, the flashing blue lights changed course and headed right toward Krypto Night.
This could get really awkward. Cooper didn’t want to be around when they brought Kryptoski to the beach for questioning.
The cop stopped pacing and faced Hiro. “One more time.” Tarpy held up a finger. “They argued. It sounded really heated. Cooper hit the air horns, and things got quiet for a few moments. Right?”
Hiro nodded.
Officer Tarpy held up a second finger. “Then the guy drove like a maniac, criss-crossing the area. You’re certain Lynn ended up in the water somehow because you saw a camera flash directly in front of the boat.” He raised his eyebrows.
Hiro nodded again.
Third finger. “You heard a female scream, you called 9 – 1 – 1, and the arguing stopped. Kryptoski slowed the boat down and circled again, at which time you speculated that he was looking for her in the water. Then he shined the boat’s docking lights right on you guys — so he knew you were aware of what had been going on. He sat there for several minutes, maybe more.” He glanced at Cooper.
“Right,” Cooper said.
Fourth finger. “Then he started talking to the girl again — loud enough for you to pick up what he was saying, but you never actually saw or heard the female in the water.”
Hiro sucked in her breath and glanced at Cooper.
The cop held up a fifth finger. “Then he cruised over to your boat, alone, and told you the girl had decided to swim to shore. After that he went back out on the lake to make sure she was safe.”
Hiro didn’t say a word.
“That’s how I saw it,” Cooper said.
Tarpy turned to Hiro. “Is that how you remember it? In that exact order?”
Hiro nodded, eyes wide.
Cooper looked at the still water in the bay. What if Kryptoski wanted them to think the girl was there? That she was angry but absolutely fine. How do we know Kryptoski was talking to anybody at all?
Lunk sat in the passenger seat as his mom drove. He angled himself against the door so he could watch her face as she chattered endlessly. He was pretty sure she’d been smiling all the way from Rolling Meadows. He ran his hand over his head — where his hair used to be.
“You getting used to it?” She shot him an apologetic look. “I still feel terrible about it.”
All he’d asked for was a summer cut. Something short. Mom had the wrong attachment or something. Got distracted. She’d clipped a path nearly down to the scalp before she realized her mistake. After that happened, he was doomed. She had to do his whole head that way or else he would have looked weird. But he looked weird anway. He felt his scalp. It felt weird too. “It’s okay. It’ll grow back.” But not in two weeks. He’d start high school looking like he got scalped.
“If you’d told me in February that we’d be taking a vacation in six months, I would have said you were dreaming.” Mom flashed him a smile. “I still can’t believe it.”
There was a whole list of things that Lunk couldn’t believe. Like the fact they were closing on a house in less than three weeks. Just after Labor Day weekend.
She drove up Main Street toward the town of Lake Geneva, then turned onto South Lake Shore Drive. “You excited?”
Lunk smiled. Oh yeah, he was excited. No more moving around. They were going to stay in Rolling Meadows. Permanently.
“And you’re still okay with the fact that I’ll be staying in the condo rental with the women while you’re bunking with the guys on the boat, right?”
The idea of being on the boat in Cooper’s backyard was fine. But on the water? “It’ll be perfect, Mom. We’re both going to have a great time.”
She nodded. “I’m especially happy for you, getting along so well with Cooper, Gordy, and Hiro.
“Definitely.” Which was one of the biggest surprises of all. Something he never would have guessed a year ago.
They left the lights of town behind them and headed down the twisting Lake Shore Drive toward Big Foot Beach and the state park. As they drove down the hill toward the water, Lunk saw the flashing blue lights of the police car.
Mom braked around the curve and eased off the gas. “Must be a speed trap.”
Lunk didn’t see a car pulled over in front of the cop car. In fact, the cop was standing on the narrow beach, talking to two people.
“Isn’t that Cooper?” Mom said. “And Hiro?”
Lunk’s stomach lurched. An inflatable raft sat beached nearby. It was clearly Cooper and Hiro. They looked okay. Lunk scanned the deeper water. The Getaway was anchored a good football field offshore. Gordy must still be in the boat. Hopefully. He unbuckled his seat belt.
Mom put her blinker on and pulled onto the shoulder several car lengths behind the police car.
Lunk opened the door before she came to a complete stop. “I’ll see what’s going on.”
She nodded. “I hope there isn’t trouble.”
Lunk patted her arm. “I’m sure everything is okay.” But it definitely looked like trouble. He just hoped it wasn’t serious.
A car stopped on the shoulder of Lake Shore Drive, and its headlights practically blinded Cooper. But he could see just enough to notice the passenger door open. Somebody got out and headed Cooper’s way. Now what?
The guy stepped in front of the headlights giving Cooper a perfect silhouette. The big build. The height. His walk was unmistakable. Lunk had arrived.
Lunk hustled over to them. “Where’s Gordy?”
Cooper pointed to The Getaway. “He’s okay.”
Lunk nodded. His shoulders relaxed. “No mysteries. No danger. Just a vacation?” He smiled. “I know you want to be a cop, Hiro, but this is ridiculous.”
Hiro turned to him. “This is serious.”
Officer Tarpy paced the beach as if working something out in his mind. The police boat approached — a tough-looking thing with a massive 300 horsepower outboard on the stern. Krypto Night was following close behind. Using both arms, Tarpy flagged t
he boats like he was guiding planes up to the terminal gate.
“Somebody going to tell me what’s going on?” Lunk jammed his hands into his back pockets.
“I think we witnessed a murder,” Hiro whispered.
Lunk shook his head. “Impossible.” He looked at Cooper. “Is this a joke?”
Cooper watched the police boat nose onto the beach. Krypto Night did the same. “No joke. It was unreal.”
Lunk blew out a loud breath. “What happened?”
The emergency flashers were blinking on Mrs. Lunquist’s car, adding their own rhythm to the police lights reflecting off the dark water.
Cooper silently willed her to leave. But the driver’s door opened instead. “Lunk, if your mom stays, and she tells the rest of our moms about this at the condo, then they won’t let us sleep in The Getaway.” Then again, if this really was a murder, the idea of staying on the boat and being so close to the crime scene could be really creepy.
Lunk’s mom hurried over. “Everybody okay?”
Hiro started explaining the situation, which allowed Cooper to let his mind drift. A perfectly good vacation wrecked before it even started. Terrific. Sleeping on The Getaway with the guys was half the fun. Staying in the condo would change everything.
Kryptoski was standing on the beach now, answering questions from Officer Tarpy and the cop from the police boat. He wasn’t nearly as loud as he’d been before. He did a lot of pointing toward the deeper water.
Hiro finally stopped to catch her breath or swallow — or maybe she was done telling her story.
Mrs. Lunquist clutched Lunk’s arm. Great. Here we go. She’s going to pull in the reins.
“So this girl — ” Lunk said.
“Dead girl,” Hiro said, correcting him.
“Okay,” Lunk nodded, “this dead girl. Did she have a body like a model?”
Hiro gave him a look. “Yeah.”
“Pretty face?”
Her eyes narrowed. “If you like the blonde cheerleader type.”
“White T-shirt and short jean shorts?”
Hiro looked surprised. “How could you guess that?”
“Either I’m seeing a zombie, or she isn’t dead.” He pointed up the road toward the state park entrance.
The girl from Krypto Night was walking toward them, squinting and shielding her eyes from the police car’s headlights. She was barefoot and her clothes were sopping wet.
“I don’t believe it,” Hiro whispered.
“Is that her — the dead girl?” Mrs. Lunquist said.
Cooper stared at the girl. “Apparently.”
Lunk snickered.
“Lynn!” Kryptoski shouted out to her. “Thank God you’re okay.” He excused himself from the cops and ran toward her. “I’m so sorry. You have to know that.”
Lynn marched up, her jaw set. “Arrest him, officer.” She poked her finger at Kryptoski. “He’s rude. Arrogant. And definitely not a gentleman.”
Lunk nudged Cooper. “And a murderer. Don’t forget that, lady.”
It looked like the argument between Kryptoski and his ex-date was going to start all over again.
Hiro glared at Lunk. “It was an honest mistake.”
“Right.” Lunk laughed. “Your imagination is a lot bigger than you are.”
Hiro waved him off and moved closer to the officers. She stood there listening, rubbing her Chicago Police star necklace.
“What’s Hiro doing?” Lunk said. “Looks like she’s in another world.”
“She is.” Cooper shrugged. “Cop stuff draws her into its orbit.”
Mrs. Lunquist kissed Lunk on the forehead. “I’ll leave now. Are you sure you don’t want me to give Hiro a ride to the condo?”
“We’ll get her there,” Coop said. “By ten o’clock. Something tells me she wants to watch this.”
Lunk’s mom smiled. “I think you’re right.”
“I’ll get my bike out of the trunk.” Lunk walked his mom to the car.
The argument behind Cooper was heating up again. He turned to make sure Hiro wasn’t getting too close.
The blonde was in Kryptoski’s face, jabbing him in the chest.
“Okay, lovebirds.” Officer Tarpy raised both hands to put a stop to the fight. “Settle your differences another time.” He whispered something to the boat cop. Then Officer Tarpy looked at Lynn. “Do you have any ID?”
Lynn worked her hand into a wet pocket and pulled out a card. Probably her driver’s license.
Tarpy checked it with his flashlight, then shined his light in Lynn’s face.
She squinted and covered her eyes.
“Okay,” he said. “We’re good.” He handed the ID back. “Unless you really do want to press charges.”
Kryptoski stepped forward and puffed up his chest just a bit. “On what grounds?”
“Being a total jerk,” Lynn shouted. “You’re rude, obnoxious, a lousy boat driver, and the worst date.”
Cooper looked at Hiro. He half expected her to smile — or join in with the insults. But she didn’t. She stepped closer to the couple.
Officer Tarpy walked a few paces toward the other cop.
“You want to talk about being a jerk?” The veins bulged on the side of Kryptoski’s neck. “Jumping out of the boat and insisting on swimming to shore — at night? That wasn’t exactly an Einstein move.”
Lynn stepped toward Kryptoski, her fists clenched. “That’s because you were being a jerk.”
“If that dead girl starts swinging, Hiro’s going to get herself hurt,” Lunk said. “She’s way too close.”
Cooper was already moving toward her. Lunk leaned his new bike against a speed limit signpost and kept pace with him. They stepped on either side of Hiro, and each grabbed one of Hiro’s arms.
“Easy, tiger,” Lunk said. “It’s not your fight.”
Hiro resisted. “Let me go. I just want to — ”
“From a safe distance, Hiro,” Cooper said. “Back off a little.”
Hiro took a step back, but it looked like the argument was over anyway.
“Okay.” Kryptoski’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I was a jerk.” He raised both hands and backed up. “It’s been a really bad day. Can I get a ‘do over’ on this date?”
“I don’t think so.” Her voice didn’t sound nearly as angry now.
“You don’t have to answer right away,” Kryptoski said. “How about I give you a ride home?”
She crossed her arms over her chest.
He stepped back. “Can I call you tomorrow?”
“Maybe.” She smiled just a bit. “After you send me flowers.”
Kryptoski grinned.
Officer Tarpy stepped between them and faced the girl. “Do you intend to walk home barefoot, or would you like a ride?”
“I’d appreciate a lift, officer.” She headed toward the squad car.
“Hop in. I’ll be right back.” Tarpy walked over to the police boat.
Kryptoski walked with the girl to the car, speaking quietly to her. Whatever their argument had been about, she seemed to have forgotten. Cooper had seen the type before. Kryptoski was a charmer. And to calm her down like he did? This guy was a miracle worker too.
“Coop,” Hiro whispered. “Something’s not right.”
“Yeah, the fact that you’re standing too close again. Let’s go.” Cooper and Lunk backed her away from the scene.
She pulled away. “I need to talk to Officer Tarpy.”
The two cops were still talking. Cooper refused to let go of Hiro’s arm. Lunk locked elbows with her other arm.
“Let it go, Hiro,” Lunk said. “The show is over.”
“Let go of me or I’ll — ”
“Call 9 – 1 – 1 again?” Lunk said in a teasing tone. “Hi, it’s me again. Sorry that murder was bogus, but I’d like to report a kidnapping this time. I’m being abducted.”
Hiro tensed as though she planned to break free.
Cooper and Lunk both laughed.
A dark pickup truck drove past slowly. It pulled into the state park entrance, turned around, and stopped.
Kryptoski left the girl at the police car and hustled across the street. He walked right over to the pickup truck, talked with the driver for a minute or two, and then walked back to Krypto Night. A moment later, he was in the boat and powering away from the beach.
Hiro said, “That was weird, don’t you think?”
“Hi, 9 – 1 – 1,” Lunk tried to make his voice sound girly. “I’m back. And I want to report something weird. I saw two men talking.”
Cooper forced himself to hold back his laughter. Hiro was in no mood for it.
Officer Tarpy helped push the nose of the police boat off the beach, and the cop at the wheel kicked the outboard into reverse. The beast had power.
And so did Hiro. She swung her elbows, and Cooper caught one in the ribs. Then she stomped her foot down hard on Lunk’s foot.
“Let me go.” Hiro squirmed free.
Officer Tarpy got inside the cruiser and slammed the driver’s side door shut. His window zoomed down and he gave Hiro a nod.
“Officer Tarpy!” Hiro said. “Can I talk to you?”
Hiro stepped up to his door and then hesitated. She looked at the girl sitting in the passenger seat. “I-I’m glad you’re okay.”
She’d needed to get to the car to say that? Cooper shook his head. Sometimes she made no sense.
Tarpy smiled. “Thanks for calling 9 – 1 – 1. It was the right thing to do.”
Hiro nodded, but she didn’t look happy.
“I don’t get it,” Lunk mumbled. “This is a no-brainer. What could possibly be bothering her?”
Did she sense something? No, no, no . . . this was not happening again. She was wrong. She had to be.
Cooper stepped up beside her, and together they watched the police car pull away. “Okay, what was that all about?”
Hiro looked pale. She didn’t answer, but just fidgeted with her braid.
“What is it?”
She watched the police car cruise down Lake Shore Drive. “I’m not sure it was her.”
Lunk made an exasperated face. “The cop checked her ID.”
Below the Surface Page 4
