Tampered

by Stella Bixby

  “So I’ll ask you,” Desmond continued. “What is going on with my sister’s investigation?”

  “You know we can’t disclose details,” Detective Bryant said.

  “Does that mean you’ve reopened the investigation?” Desmond asked.

  “That means we’re processing what we found.”

  “And what did you find?”

  “All I can tell you is you’re wasting your time here. This park ranger won’t be able to tell you anything. She’s not part of the investigation. And I won’t tell you anything. You’ll find out the same way everyone else will.”

  “Everyone except her ex,” Desmond said, pointing outside to a limo that had just pulled through the gates.

  “As you’ve been told before, Mr. Marquez will get no more information than you.”

  “He’s the one who did this,” Desmond said. “You and I both know it.”

  “If I knew that, the police department would have charged him with a crime. We don’t know what happened to Selena. She could have disappeared of her own accord for all we know.”

  “Oh sure, she yanked her arm off, left a shoe behind, and ran away.”

  Dammit. He wasn’t supposed to mention the shoe. That wasn’t public knowledge.

  “What shoe?” Detective Bryant asked Desmond, but his gaze was on me.

  “I heard some of the officers talking about a shoe outside,” Desmond said, his timid demeanor slipped back in place.

  “Uh-huh, sure you did,” he said. “I think it’s time you go, Mr. Pratt.”

  Desmond looked like he might protest but instead turned toward the door stopping just before walking out. “I’m not done looking into this. If you won’t tell me what’s going on, I’ll figure it out myself.”

  When Desmond was gone, Detective Bryant turned his entire focus on me. “I can’t discuss this now because I have to go take care of Mr. Marquez, but if I find out you gave that nut job any information, you’ll be inside a jail cell before the sun goes down.”

  My palms were sweaty. I wasn’t typically intimidated by men, but Detective Bryant wasn’t messing around. He was out for blood. My blood.

  He stomped out of the office only to come between Desmond and a man who looked eerily familiar, and not because I’d seen him on TV. The Jacob Marquez I’d seen making pleas for his wife’s return had been overweight by at least 100 pounds.

  This man was in peak physical condition. He wore a suit and tie and was recognizable as the same man I’d seen only hours before, and every shift I’d had at Shadow Trail.

  Jacob Marquez was the jogger who insisted I just call him Jacob.

  “Whoa whoa, back up,” Detective Bryant said, putting himself between the two men. “If I recall, there’s a protection order between the two of you.”

  It looked like they might start a wrestling match right there in the gravel parking lot. Between the two of them, Jacob would definitely win. Especially with the brute of a security guard standing behind him.

  The woman to Jacob’s left—presumably his new wife—clutched his hand holding him back. She looked like a younger version of Selena—long brown hair and big blue eyes—only with a belly indicating she was close to giving birth.

  The news crews swarmed the scene as if they were kids on a playground waiting for a fight.

  “He can’t be within one hundred yards of me,” Desmond shouted.

  Jacob’s security guard wrapped his dinner-plate-sized hand around Jacob’s arm to keep him back.

  “Yes, because I will obviously murder you just like I murdered your sister, right?” Jacob yelled. His wife let out a small laugh, and Jacob turned and glared at her.

  “Mr. Marquez,” Detective Bryant said, rubbing sweat from his brow. “It would be in your best interest to take Mrs. Marquez back to your limo and leave.” He looked toward the news crews. “And all of you can turn off the cameras now. There’s nothing to see.”

  No one turned off their cameras.

  Desmond didn’t move.

  Jacob and his wife didn’t leave.

  “We want an update on the investigation,” Jacob said.

  “Like I just told Mr. Pratt, we cannot disclose any information on an open investigation.”

  “Ah, so the investigation has been reopened?” Jacob said, his voice icy.

  “With new evidence, we had no choice.” Detective Bryant looked like I felt earlier when he was threatening me. Jacob had always seemed so nice when he was jogging around the reservoir, but now he looked capable of murder.

  “I’d like to make a statement to the press.” Jacob turned away from Desmond and Detective Bryant.

  The cameramen reacted instantly, pointing their lenses at him.

  Jacob wrapped an arm around his pregnant wife’s shoulders and pulled her close to him before training his face to look as sad and hopeless as possible. “I would like to thank the Prairie City Police Department for their determination and perseverance in the investigation into my wife’s disappearance.”

  At the mention of his wife, his current wife shuffled her feet, but he held her tight to his side.

  “I would like to ask again if anyone out there knows anything about Selena’s disappearance, please call PCPD and let them know. Elodie—” he looked to the pregnant woman beside him “—has helped me work through so much grief, and as you can see, we are expecting our first child—a little boy.” He turned his attention back to the camera as his wife looked up at him in shock. “But that does not detract from the fact that I loved—that I love—Selena. She was an incredible person, and someone I admired greatly. I know there is little chance that she’s alive somewhere, but either way, I’d like to know.” He looked behind him at Desmond. “We’d all like to know.” He moved aside so the cameras could see Desmond. “This is Selena’s brother, Desmond Pratt.”

  Desmond took a shaky step forward while Detective Bryant stood off to the side with an exasperated look on his face.

  “Though Desmond and I haven’t always seen eye to eye, we both want the same thing. Justice for Selena.”

  Desmond nodded.

  “I will once again offer anyone with credible information a sizeable cash reward. Thank you.”

  He turned and shook Desmond’s limp hand with a grim smirk while keeping his arm tight around Elodie, dragging her along with his every movement.

  The cameramen got the last little bit of theatrics before they dropped their cameras to their sides. Each of them thanked Jacob for the information, looking star-struck as they spoke with him.

  “What was that all about?” I asked, coming up next to Detective Bryant, who still looked annoyed with the situation.

  He turned toward me. “That was an act. One that will make my job even harder. And I don’t need anything else making my job harder.” He glared at me. “Including you. Don’t forget what I said.” He marched over to Desmond, Jacob, and Elodie and managed to usher them to their cars.

  So much for trying to make nice.

  6

  The rest of my shift was rather boring. The police still had the trail closed and had set up tents around the area where the prosthetic had been found. It was apparent they didn’t want anyone to know anything.

  About ten minutes before I could lock the gates, a new wave of police cars came in to replace the old ones. Amongst them were Shayla and her TO.

  “Hey,” Shayla said when I walked up next to her. “How was today?”

  “Couldn’t tell you,” I said. “I’ve been warned that if I have any involvement in this case, they’ll put me in jail, and I’ll lose my job.”

  Shayla looked at me wide-eyed. “What? Why would they say that?”

  I shrugged. “Seems like not everyone appreciates my help. And now that Luke is leaving, they don’t care about hurting my feelings.”

  “I’m sorry,” Shayla said. “I wish there was something I could do.”

  “I wouldn’t ask anything of you. You need to focus on getting through your rookie period. I would nev
er jeopardize your job.”

  “Would you jeopardize your own?” she asked.

  I shrugged. “If I did, would you take care of Fizzy for me?”

  Shayla let out a nervous laugh.

  “I’m kidding. Mostly,” I said. “You should go, though. You don’t want Detective Bryant to see you talking to me. He’s the head honcho out here.”

  “Bryant is brutal. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  I loaded the back of my car, locked the gate, and left without anyone giving a damn.

  Garrett was waiting for me in the parking lot of our apartment complex when I got home. “Hey babe.” He kissed me on the cheek.

  “Hey,” I said, leading him upstairs and into the apartment. “I need to shower, and then we can hang out, okay?”

  “Sounds good. I brought Chinese food.” He held up two bags of food. “I’ll get it all dished up.”

  I wanted to tell him I’d much prefer to eat it directly from the box, but he was so used to having things done properly that I decided to keep my mouth closed and just do the dishes later.

  The warm water and fragrant shampoo washed away all the frustration of the day. If I had to deal with another day of Detective Bryant sneering at me, I’d need more than a shower to regain my calm.

  “I saw the newscast of Jacob Marquez today,” Garrett said when I walked out and curled up on the couch next to him. I loved how I fit so neatly under his arm. I’d never been the shortest girl, but with him being so tall, I felt almost dainty.

  He’d turned on one of our favorite sitcoms and had beautifully plated takeout Chinese food and beer on the coffee table. “Do you think he killed Selena?” Garrett asked.

  “It doesn’t matter what I think,” I said. “I’ve been told to stay out of it. Or else.”

  “Or else what?” Garrett rubbed my back as I took a bite of the delicious food.

  “I’ll lose my job, go to jail—you know—things I don’t want to happen.”

  “Sounds serious.” His voice gave away his worry more than his words.

  “It’s stupid. I feel like they’re punishing me for something I didn’t do. I’ve helped in the last few investigations. I’ve solved the last few investigations. Sure, Luke gave me access to information I probably shouldn’t have had, but it’s not like I used that information recklessly.” I thought back to today and the conversation I’d had with Desmond. That wasn’t the most responsible use of information, but surely it wouldn’t damage the case.

  “I guess it’s a good thing you won’t be working this case. Then I won’t have to worry about you,” Garrett said. Even though I knew he thought he was being sweet, it irritated me he didn’t seem to be on my side. That he’d rather have me give up.

  “I don’t know that I won’t be working the case,” I said, unable to let it go.

  “Why would you risk it?”

  “Because a woman went missing and no one seems to be doing anything about it.”

  “On TV it looked like the police were doing lots about it. They had tents up around the site and everything. You don’t have to be everyone’s hero.”

  He had called me everyone’s hero the night we ended up officially engaged. But at that time, he’d said it was a sweet quality as long as it didn’t get me killed.

  “Let’s just watch the show.” I hit the play button on the remote. I could feel his gaze on me, but I was done talking. I didn’t need him telling me to stay out of it too.

  The first time my phone lit up with a message from Luke, Garrett pretended not to notice. The second time he huffed. Then when it lit up with a message from a number I didn’t recognize, he turned to face me.

  “Are you going to check your messages?”

  “I’m irritated with Luke, and I don’t know the other number,” I said. “I’m trying to enjoy my time with you.”

  “What if it’s something important?”

  I sighed and picked up the phone. I read Luke’s messages first.

  Sorry about this morning.

  I hear you met Detective Bryant.

  I didn’t want to talk to him, so I backed out of his messages and opened the other one.

  Rylie, it’s Desmond. We need to talk.

  “Who’s Desmond?” Garrett asked, not even trying to keep the jealousy from his voice.

  “Selena’s brother.”

  “Selena? As in the woman who went missing?”

  “Yes.” How had Desmond gotten my cell number?

  “Why is her brother texting you?”

  I sucked in a breath. I had to have patience with Garrett. It wasn’t his fault he didn’t trust me. “He couldn’t get any answers from the police today, so he came into the ranger office to see what I knew.”

  “And did you give him anything?”

  “Unintentionally. But I don’t think it’ll do any harm,” I added quickly.

  “Do you think you can trust him?”

  “I don’t even know him,” I said. “But I think he’s in the same position I am. He wants to know what happened, but everyone is shutting him out.”

  “Don’t you think if they knew what happened, they’d tell the public?”

  “Jacob Marquez is a very powerful man. He has connections.”

  “Do you really think his connections could help him get away with murder?”

  “I don’t know.” I clicked my phone off and put it back on the table where it stayed the rest of the time Garrett was there.

  Thankfully, no more messages came in.

  7

  I responded to Luke’s message the next morning while I watched the early news.

  Detective Bryant is an ass.

  Luke was probably asleep when the message went through, which was fine by me. It meant he wouldn’t respond.

  The news was replaying the on-the-spot news conference Jacob Marquez had created at the reservoir the day before.

  I’d read Desmond’s text more times than I could count. If I texted him back, it would be in writing that I was helping him and interfering with the investigation. If I called, they could subpoena my call history, but I didn’t feel like they’d go that far just to catch me trying to help. I mean, what judge would grant that search warrant?

  I would have to call him after the sun rose.

  When I got to the reservoir to open it back up, Shayla was just packing up for the night. It looked like they were finishing whatever search they’d done.

  “Everything is cleaned up?” I asked her.

  “Yep. The trail is clear for guests.”

  “Did they find anything else?” I asked, my voice hushed so only she could hear.

  “You know I can’t tell you that.”

  “Yeah. Sorry, I asked,” I said. “I just really want to know what happened to Selena.”

  “We all do. There’s not one officer or detective that doesn’t want to solve this case.” The clipped nature of her voice stung.

  “I know, Shay. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine. I just need to get some sleep.” She looked behind me, and her posture straightened, her eyes opening a fraction wider.

  “Everything tied up?” Detective Bryant asked from behind me.

  “I believe so,” Shayla said.

  “Good.” He nodded once.

  “Do you not sleep?” I asked him.

  “Of course I sleep,” he said but didn’t justify his answer. “The trail is clear. We should be out of the park within the hour.”

  “Thanks,” I said.

  He stared at me for a moment longer than necessary and walked away.

  “Ugh,” I said. “I hate that guy.”

  “He’s just doing his job,” Shayla said. “I gotta go. See you later.”

  She slid into the passenger side of the police cruiser without another look.

  And if that wasn’t frustrating enough, my phone buzzed with a message from Luke.

  He’s good at what he does.

  What the hell? Were all the people in my life against me? Was this
some sort of put-Rylie-in-her-place intervention?

  I shoved my phone back in my pocket just in time to see Jacob come running into the park. He pulled out his park pass and flashed it at me. “Is the trail open today?”

  His demeanor was not that of a man whose wife’s prosthetic arm had just been found after she’d been missing several years.

  “They just reopened it.”

  He smiled, returned his pass to his pocket, and began jogging again. I wanted to ask him a million questions, but Detective Bryant was watching, his gaze accusatory.

  Before he could give me any flack for talking to Jacob—doing my job—I turned and walked into the office to begin my opening procedures.

  When the police were gone, the only two vehicles left in the parking lot were an old rusty truck belonging to one of the regular fishermen and a shiny black Escalade. The sun was starting to warm the air when I began my first patrol of the day on the ATV.

  “STOP!” a voice called out behind me as I was about to head down the trail.

  I turned to find Jacob’s linebacker-sized security guard coming at me like a freight train.

  I hopped off the ATV, putting it between him and me, and reached for my pepper spray.

  He stopped in his tracks. “Don’t shoot. I’m deathly allergic to that stuff.” His deep voice didn’t sound scared, but the look on his face was.

  I dropped my defenses only slightly. This man could have easily taken me out with a single flick of his wrist. “What did you need?”

  “My boss, Jacob Marquez, is out there on his jog.”

  I nodded.

  “He has an appointment in an hour. He’s usually back by now.”

  Alarms sounded in my head. Was he out there messing with the crime scene?

  “Did you try calling him on his phone?” I asked.

  “No answer.”

  “I’m heading out to patrol. I’ll keep an eye out for him.”

  The man, dressed in head to toe black, dipped his chin only slightly, his deep brown eyes flickering to my hand resting on the pepper spray at my hip.