Tampered

by Stella Bixby

  Oh sure. That would be easy. If only I didn’t have to watch where I was going.

  “Maybe you should drive,” I said as another round of bullets came our way.

  “Just keep going. We’re almost out of the channel. Once we’re out, I want you to take a hard left.”

  Hard left. Only a few more markers to go, and we’d be out.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cedric hoist what looked like a rocket-launcher to his shoulder.

  “You’re going to blow them up?” I yelled.

  “Have a better idea?” Cedric paused.

  “Uh—”

  “Didn’t think so.”

  “But what if the shrapnel hits us?”

  “That’s why you’ll take a hard left.” He glanced over his shoulder in the direction we were heading. “Now.”

  I cranked the wheel hard, my boat going around the last channel marker like a barrel horse around the final barrel.

  I laughed at the thought of the horsepower needed to propel a boat this fast.

  Horsepower.

  Ha!

  I was losing it.

  Laughing about horsepower.

  “Get down!” Cedric shouted.

  I held the wheel steady and dropped to my knees.

  An explosion sounded behind us.

  “Did you get ‘em?” Selena asked.

  Cedric peeked up. “Got ‘em.”

  “Won’t you be in trouble for blowing up another boat?” I asked, standing back up and quickly checking the surroundings to make sure there weren’t any other boats around.

  “It was self-defense,” Cedric said. “We have it all on film.” He pointed to a camera mounted on the canopy above my head.

  I shrugged.

  Cedric returned the rocket-launcher to the case, but kept the case open, then took the wheel back. “You did good.”

  “Thanks,” I said.

  “Looks like the Coast Guard finally decided to show up,” Selena said, pointing to an approaching boat.

  Selena and Cedric explained the entire situation to the Coast Guard, and after what had to be at least an hour, they led us back to shore, a different way than we’d come.

  Cedric drove the boat with Selena next to him as I sat in the back, promising myself over and over I wouldn’t get in the middle of another police investigation ever again. This was too crazy. Garrett deserved a wife whose life didn’t stress him out. And I deserved—well—a life.

  I was tired of getting in the middle of everything, putting my life at risk. If I was good at it, that would be one thing. But I wasn’t. I didn’t even know Selena was alive. I was looking for a murderer who didn’t exist.

  I needed to go back to being a park ranger. Heck, even managing the juvenile spring break program didn’t sound too bad.

  “I called you a car, and you’ll have airline tickets waiting for you at the airport,” Selena said when we got to shore. “Thank you for caring enough about me to go through all this trouble.” She wrapped me in a hug.

  “You’re welcome,” I said. “Desmond did too. He believed the entire time you were still alive.”

  She gave me a sad smile. “I guess we’ll never know his true intentions.”

  I wanted to argue, but she knew him better than I had.

  “When you get back to Colorado, call the detectives. Make sure they have Elodie in custody and that she’s called off her people before you go home.”

  “Do you think they’ll still be after me?” I asked.

  “Until she calls them off, they most definitely will be.”

  Tears sprung to my eyes. Exhaustion was taking over my emotions.

  She pulled me into another hug. “Don’t worry. It’ll all be okay.” She held me at arm’s length and smiled. “And when we get back to Colorado, we’ll have to go on a double date. I can’t wait to meet Cedric’s best friend from college.”

  I smiled.

  “Don’t let that one go,” she said. “If he’s anything like Cedric says, he’s one of the good ones.”

  “I won’t.” I held up my ring. “He’s stuck with me.”

  We both laughed as the car pulled up, and the driver got out to open my door.

  “Take her to the airport,” Selena said.

  “Yes, Miss Hyland.”

  “Actually, it’s Mrs. Marquez,” she said.

  He smiled and closed the door once I was settled inside.

  Selena turned back to Cedric, who was speaking with the Coast Guard.

  Within seconds, I was fast asleep.

  29

  When I got past the security checkpoint at the Denver International Airport, I searched for a payphone to call the police station. I’d have to call collect, but it would have to do.

  “Miss Cooper?” a voice said behind me.

  I whipped around almost too quickly, my fists up ready for a fight.

  “Whoa, stop,” the scrawny man said. “I’m just here to give you this. From Miss Hyland.”

  I took the large envelope from his hands. “Thank you. And sorry, I’m a little jumpy.”

  “No problem.” He turned and walked away as fast as his tiny legs could carry him.

  Inside the envelope were a cell phone, a set of keys, and several hundred dollars in cash.

  I closed the envelope quickly and glanced around as if I’d just robbed a bank. A few deep breaths later, I pulled out the phone and turned it on. It was the newest model with all the bells and whistles.

  Programed into the contacts were a few names—Selena, Cedric, and Detective Bryant.

  I tapped on the one for Detective Bryant and waited for him to answer.

  “Bryant,” he said in a gruff voice.

  “Hi, yeah, it’s Rylie,” I said.

  “Made it back to Denver?”

  “At the airport now,” I said. “I was supposed to call you and tell you that Elodie needs to call her people off.”

  “Selena already called,” he said. “It’s taken care of.”

  “Wait,” I said. “You don’t sound surprised that Selena is alive.”

  He didn’t respond.

  “You knew all along, didn’t you?” I felt even more like an idiot now. “That’s why you wanted me to stay out of it. You were protecting her.”

  “I have to go,” he said. “Next time, trust me.”

  He disconnected the line. A weight lifted from my shoulders.

  I was done with police work. Done with interfering. I would take my money and whatever car Selena had rented for me and go straight home.

  A note was inside the envelope beneath all the cash.

  Rylie,

  Thank you for all of your help. You have a talent for investigation. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. I’m sorry about your car. I’ve bought you a replacement—or rather—an upgrade. I’ve also provided supplemental pay for the time you had to take off work, plus a bit more. If you ever need anything, please let me know. And call me for that double date.

  Thank you again,

  SM

  I pulled the keys out and looked them over more carefully. They looked like a typical key fob, but when I turned them over, a familiar horse sent excitement racing through my veins.

  I ran through the airport to the parking garage and clicked the panic button to determine which one was mine. A bright red, brand new Mustang convertible sat right up front. And every time I clicked the button, it sounded an alarm.

  I clicked the unlock button, and the car unlocked. I opened the door and slid into the supple black leather seats with red stitching. The glorious new-car smell filled my nose, making me salivate almost as if it was the smell of freshly-baked cookies.

  I could have cried. This car had to have cost thousands more than Cherry Anne and the title—sitting on the passenger seat—had my name on it with a sticky note that said: Paid in Full.

  Now, I did cry.

  All the way back to my apartment.

  30

  “I’ve been worried sick,” Shayla said when I
walked into the apartment, wrapping me up in her arms. “Jacob’s dead, and Elodie’s in the hospital.”

  “Why is she in the hospital?” I asked. “She’s the one who killed Desmond and Jacob.”

  “She’s in labor,” Shayla said. “But then she’ll go to prison. For a long time.”

  “She tried to kill me too,” I said. “While I was in Florida.”

  “I heard,” Shayla said, hugging me again. “And I heard you found out about Selena.”

  “Did you know?” I sat on the couch.

  Shayla looked at the ground. “I couldn’t tell you.”

  “I know,” I said. “I’m sorry I interfered. My investigation days are done.”

  “I still think you’d make an incredible officer. And eventually, investigator.”

  I shook my head. “Too dangerous.”

  A knock at our front door propelled me to my feet. When I opened it, Garrett embraced me so tightly, I could hardly breathe. Tears of relief and happiness came to my eyes.

  “I couldn’t get hold of you,” Garrett said, his voice laced with emotion. “I thought something had happened to you.”

  Guilt coursed through me. Something almost had happened to me. He would have been crushed.

  “I’m so sorry. I’m done investigating. I’m perfectly happy being a normal park ranger.”

  “Promise?”

  I pulled back and looked up into his eyes. “I promise.”

  He bent down and kissed me gently at first and then with growing passion. Eventually, Shayla excused herself from the room, leaving Garrett and I to get reacquainted.

  31

  I woke up the next morning on the couch, wrapped in Garrett’s arms. His face had a long pillow line across it, and his hair pointed in all different directions, but none of that changed how handsome he was and how lucky I felt.

  My phone buzzed on the table. It was an incoming call.

  I snatched it up and carefully covered Garrett with the blanket before taking the call back to my bedroom.

  “Hello?” I asked.

  “Is this Rylie?” the voice was familiar, but I couldn’t place it.

  “Yes.”

  “This is Ursula.”

  Ursula as in the Parks and Recreation Director? As in my boss? My big boss?

  “Hi Ursula.”

  “I trust you will be back at work today?”

  I almost jumped for joy to hear I’d still have my job. “I’ll have to see if the police have released my work equipment yet.”

  “They have. It’s in my office. Please put on your uniform and meet me here as soon as you are able.”

  I checked the time. “I’ll be there by nine o’clock.”

  “Perfect.”

  She disconnected before I had a chance to say goodbye.

  I took the quickest shower known to man, tied my hair back in a braid, and put on one of my clean uniforms, minus the bulletproof vest that had been in my trunk along with my badge and duty bag.

  “I have to go to work,” I told Garrett before I left. “I love you.”

  “I love you too,” he murmured. “And Rylie?”

  “Yeah,” I said.

  “Thanks for being my fiancée.”

  “It’s my pleasure.” I smiled, but his eyes were still closed. “And tonight, let’s talk about wedding plans.”

  “Sounds good,” he said.

  “Come in, close the door behind you,” Ursula said when I walked in. Her long black hair was pulled up in a chic bun—one I’d never be able to accomplish on my own.

  I sat in the chair across from her. Her desk was the tidiest desk I’d ever seen. All of her files were neatly stacked and alphabetized, her workspace smelled like it had just been disinfected, and there wasn’t a lick of dust on her computer screen.

  “Your things are in the box.” She motioned to the box next to the door.

  “Thank you,” I said, not sure whether I should take that as a hint to stand and leave or to stay seated.

  “I would like to speak with you about your behavior.”

  Ah, so I wasn’t leaving.

  “As you know, Detective Bryant informed me of your interference with law enforcement on multiple occasions.”

  I nodded. It was no use trying to defend myself. What he’d told her was true.

  “Do you plan on continuing down this road?”

  “What road?” I asked.

  “The road that leads you to unemployment.”

  “No.” I shook my head. “I don’t.”

  “I want to make myself perfectly clear, so listen closely,” she said, her voice grating. “You are not to interfere with police investigations in this city ever again. If you do, you will be terminated immediately, no matter how many cop or ranger friends you have.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” I had no intention of sticking my nose into police business again.

  “In addition to this warning, you will finish the spring break community service program every weekend until those kids get their hours. You will also be assigned to one of our newest seasonal rangers, my niece, Victoria. She starts at the beginning of June, but I’d like you to meet her today.”

  She motioned with her hand for someone to come in.

  I turned to find a woman I’d only seen once before. I’d never learned her name.

  “Rylie, this is Victoria.”

  Victoria’s face showed no recognition of who I was. My temper flared. How dare she not remember me?

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Rylie.” Her handshake felt like I was squeezing a dead fish—slimy and cold.

  “The pleasure is all mine.” In addition to dealing with those punky tweenagers, I’d have to spend my entire summer with her.

  Giraffe girl.

  THE END

  If you liked this book, I’d love it if you’d write a review on Amazon or Goodreads and share it with your friends.

  If you want to know more about giraffe girl, read Finding Fizzy—a free short story.

  To read a free short story of Rylie and Garrett’s engagement, click here.

  Acknowledgments

  As always, I am so blessed to have a great deal of support when I write.

  God, thank You for making me the person—the writer—I am.

  Nolan, thank you for all your support through this crazy writing journey. You are the best husband a woman could have.

  Faith, you’re awesome. Don’t ever forget that.

  Lily, I can’t wait until you read these books. I love getting your take on my books.

  Grant, thank you for finally taking naps in your crib. It really helped me get things done.

  Christian, thank you for sleeping more than two hours at a time every night so I could get my brain back.

  Mom, thank you for always telling me the truth even when I don’t want to hear it. Your input is invaluable.

  Lurea, thank you for being one of my biggest fans and for your feedback. Especially, about the Florida details!

  To my beta readers, you’re the best. I seriously could not do this without you. You enhance my books beyond what I could imagine.

  And a HUGE thank you to all of my readers. Your words of encouragement keep me going when I contemplate closing my laptop and hanging up my typing fingers. If not for you, there would be no books.

  About the Author

  Stella Bixby is a native Coloradan who loves to snowboard, pluck at the guitar, and play board games with her family. She was once a volunteer firefighter and a park ranger, but now spends most of her time making up stories and trying to figure out what to cook for dinner.

  Connect with Stella on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @StellaBixby.

  Stella loves to hear from her readers!

  www.stellabixby.com

  Also by Stella Bixby

  Novels:

  Catfished: Book 1

  Suckered: Book 2

  Throttled: Book 3

  Short Stories:

  Finding Fizzy

  Just Jump


  Say Yes