Break the Silence (Detectives Kane and Alton)

“You needed my help.” Jenna’s teeth chattered like castanets. “Did Lyons push him?”

Kane shook his head. “I didn’t get a clear view with everyone around them but he stumbled back real fast.”

Kane pushed to his feet and went to retrieve their weapons, boots, and his jacket. He pulled on his boots and went back to Jenna. She was shaking so bad, he worried hypothermia might set in. He smiled at her. “You’d better wear my jacket. You’re soaked through.”

“What about you?” Jenna blinked up at him and peeled off her wet clothes.

“I’m fine. Being tall has its benefits.” Although his jeans were wet through, his top was dry. “Here, put it on.”

“Lyons and his buddies took off like greased lightning.

” Jenna shrugged into his jacket and rubbed her arms. “Once we deliver Jones to the warden, there’s nothing more to do here.”

The warden arrived with hot coffee in a Thermos, and they sat with Jones as he recovered. He wanted to tell his story so they listened to his explanation of what happened. “So, what caused the fight?”

“Nothing, just Lyons mouthing off as usual.” Jones dragged a hand through his wet hair.

“Did he push you toward the rapids?” Jenna leaned forward. “It sure looked like it to me. Come into the office in the morning and we’ll charge them with assault.”

“I’m not sure if he pushed me and there’s no way I’m getting involved with an assault charge against Lyons.” Jones coughed a few times. “Can we leave this to another time? I nearly drowned and my head hurts.”

“Okay.” Jenna nodded. “But we’re here to help. If he’s threatening you, we need to know.”

“You sure don’t know too much about Lyons, do you? He threatens everyone.” Jones handed the warden his cup. “I need to get warm, ma’am, and the warden has offered me a ride down the mountain to meet the paramedics. I can handle it from here if that’s okay?”

“Go right ahead.” Jenna turned to the warden. “Thanks for your assistance today.”

“Just doing my job.” The warden mounted his horse, pulled Jones up behind him, and then rode away.

Kane stared at Jenna. “It seems everyone is scared of Lyons.” He gave her a long look. “He even got away with threatening you.”

“No, he didn’t.” Jenna lifted her chin and her eyes danced with mischief. “He grabbed my arm and I pulled my weapon and aimed it kind of low. He got the message real fast that I’m not a woman he can intimidate.”

The daylight was fading fast and long shadows spread across the clearing. The temperature had dropped considerably and the ride down the mountain would be freezing. “Okay. You ready to go?”

“Yeah.” Jenna stood, swamped by his jacket. “I could wear this as a winter coat.” She grinned at him.

Kane stored her wet jacket and then climbed onto the dirt bike. When Jenna jumped on behind him and slipped her arms around his waist, he turned his head to speak to her. “I figure we came close to witnessing an attempted murder. If Jones wasn’t so fit, his chances of surviving the rapids would’ve been limited.”

“Yeah.” Jenna rested her chin on his shoulder. “We need to be keeping a close eye on Lyons. He’s shaping up to be our number-one suspect. He’s so arrogant, I figure he wouldn’t have thought twice about following Chrissie into her room and killing her or murdering his best friend.”

Nineteen

It was close to nine thirty when Pete Devon walked out of the locker room and made his way to the college’s Olympic-size swimming pool. He’d delayed his regular session to avoid Brook, the girl Seth had mentioned as a perfect candidate for the next party. He stood for a moment, inhaling the familiar smell of chlorine, and then his gaze settled on someone gliding along his usual lane. To accommodate students who liked to train, the college had divided half the pool into lanes, and he preferred swimming laps in the middle one. Disgruntled, he stood observing the swimmer’s technique. The man cut through the water with a smooth stroke and his turns were fast. As a likely member of the swim team, he took priority over an injured football player.

Pete dove in and counted the laps in his head. Training in the pool had become almost mechanical and he enjoyed the quiet time alone to think. He’d been paranoid since discovering the girl—what was her name? Ah yeah, Chrissie—had died after willingly allowing half the team to have sex with her. Yeah, she’d seemed a little drunk at the time, but hey, she probably needed the courage. Seth had insisted she’d been more than willing, and nothing they’d done had pushed her over the edge. In fact, Seth had made sure she’d gotten a ride home, and she’d been fine when Pete and Alex had driven her back to her dorm. Now the cops were interviewing everyone, as if they figured someone had murdered her.

He pushed his arms out to touch the wall and his fingers met solid flesh. Unable to stop, he collided with someone. He trod water and then chuckled. “Oh shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you came here, man.” He ducked into the next lane.

“There’s lots of things you don’t know about me.” His friend’s face broke into a grin. “Ever played Shark?”

The way he looked at him disturbed him. The smile didn’t reach his eyes; instead, cold orbs fixed on him, empty of emotion. What did I do to upset you? He cleared his throat. “Nope, can’t say that I have. It sounds like a kids’ swimming game?”

“You could say that, but it’s more of a race. How fast do you figure you could swim with a shark chasing you?” His smile didn’t fade.

Pete shrugged. “Pretty fast, I guess.” He continued treading water.

His friend waved him away in an arrogant gesture. “Go on, I’ll give you a head start and then try to catch you. I’ll be the shark. Unless you’re chicken.”