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He was in no condition to ignore an order. He sat in the doorway and took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet, nauseating aroma of a bakery mixed with gas fumes.
God, don’t let this be serious. He fought off the nausea, eyeing the interesting mess inside—plastic umbrellas, a gift bag with satin spaghetti straps dangling from the front seat, and a small box of what he hoped had nothing to do with the rest of her assortment. He had to be seeing things.
She must have seen his reaction to the contents, as she reached past him and tucked the flimsy fabric into a gift bag and apologized for the mess. “I was making deliveries on the way to a friend’s wedding shower…when I saw the officer…”
“Officer? What kind of officer?” Chavez asked as he approached.
“Police,” she whispered, looking more terrified by the minute. “It was a police costume, I think. The more I’ve thought about it, I don’t think it was real. The fabric was too thin and blew when she ripped it from his pants. It wasn’t made as well as yours.” She stole a glance at Garrett’s shirt. “Are you wearing a bulletproof vest?”
“Excuse me?”
“Well, I noticed that the policeman’s shirt, the impersonator policeman…” she stammered, “his was too baggy, but it didn’t register until now. It’s probably because you all wear bulletproof vests, right?”
If Garrett hadn’t felt like throwing up, he’d have laughed.
“Yeah, what else did you notice?” the lieutenant asked, skepticism dripping from each word.
“He covered her mouth with his hand. I’ve never seen any real officer doing that….” She looked nervously from Chavez back to Garrett. “Especially with a bare hand. I mean, some drug addict could bite you, right?” Her fear-filled eyes met Garrett’s again as a state patrol officer arrived and introduced himself.
Garrett wondered if she’d be half as gorgeous if he hadn’t hit his head. While a couple officers were cleaning up the gasoline with kitty litter, the others were simply staring at Amber Scott. Apparently her good looks weren’t his imagination. Her blond hair was pulled back into a clip and looked like she’d knocked the clip askew in the accident.
He glanced back at the shower gift and cake as the state patrolman walked around the van, inspecting the scene with a raised eyebrow. “Interesting cargo, Ms. Scott,” the patrolman said, vocalizing Garrett’s thoughts. He pulled his ticket book from the metal clipboard. “May I have your license and registration, please?”
She had to get into the van in order to find the documents, then dug through her purse for her driver’s license. “Have they found the car yet?”
“I’m mainly concerned with Officer Matthews’s and your safety right now,” the state patrolman replied with a cocky smile. “Have you had anything to drink this evening?”
“No,” she answered, then turned back to her glove box.
The patrolman ran his gaze up and down Amber, then gave her a look of contempt. “Would you agree to a test?”
Garrett didn’t like the way he was eyeing her.
She propped her forearm on the steering wheel. “That’s fine, I don’t drink, and I don’t do drugs. I was…”
Garrett intervened. “Colorado State Patrol is only here to process the accident,” he said, “because Fossil Creek Police Department can’t investigate our own accidents.”
Amber slid out of the van and handed everything to the patrolman while one of the officers was measuring the skid marks and taking pictures of the vehicles, inside and out.
The patrolman glared at Garrett, then turned to talk to the lieutenant. The two moved to look under the van, probably to verify how much fluid it had lost, he thought.
She closed the front door, then leaned against the van next to Garrett. “What if it’s the rapist that everyone’s been looking for?”
“We already caught him, and this wasn’t the same MO,” Garrett muttered before the lieutenant heard and got involved again.
“Oh, I guess I missed that in the newspaper.” She began to wring her hands. “But this girl could be hurt.”
“It’s okay, calm down—just answer the officer’s questions. Don’t offer more,” Garrett mumbled.
Amber leaned closer and whispered to him. “Are the charges for hitting a cop worse than running into someone else?”
“Not unless I mention the knife,” he said with a wink.
“That’s not funny,” she said, a nervous smile twitching her lip. “I was only trying to help.”
His gaze met hers and they both smiled. “No, hitting a cop is no different, unless it’s intentional.” He glanced at the geometric designs on her dress, then back to her alluring face. He’d never reacted this way to anyone on the job.
“Well, if one judged by the dozen or so glowering stares I’m receiving from them, one would think so. Can’t some of these officers go looking for the girl? He’s getting away.”
“He’s already gotten away,” Garrett said as he closed his eyes and rested his head in his hands. “Don’t be concerned about the officers. They…” They’re trying not to drool. The image brought a brief mental smile. “Don’t worry, the Fossil Creek Police Department will ask you about the crime you witnessed after the accident is processed,” he said quietly, hoping he didn’t sound as bad as he felt. I just wish you hadn’t hit me. He inhaled a breath of fresh air, propping his knees on his elbows.
“What’s your name? Garrett or Matthew? I heard them call you both. I want to be praying that your injuries aren’t serious. If that’s okay, I mean. I guess God knows who I hit, but it would mean more to me to know I’m praying for you personally. I owe you at least that much.”
“Garrett Matthews. I can use all the prayers I can get. Thanks.”
“They don’t believe me, do they?”
“They’ll look into it,” he mumbled, not wanting to admit there were far too many officers standing here, gawking like the civilians they made fun of for chasing emergency lights. They shouldn’t be here, but that wasn’t his call. He had just finished his rookie year.
A compact car drove up and parked nearby. Another woman approached one of the officers, then spotted Amber and made a beeline for her. “Are you okay?” Guessing by the hug, Garrett figured she was the friend hosting the shower.
“Yeah, I’m okay, but I’m not sure about the officer I hit. I’ll call you later.” Her voice got softer as she spoke. Amber carried the cake and the gift to the car. “Don’t mention my accident to Maya. No need to panic the bride two weeks before the wedding. I’ll figure out a way to get the cake to the resort. I don’t need her to worry about that, too—”
The state patrolman interrupted. “Your van’s going to be in the shop for a while, so if you need any of the other things, you may as well send them with your friend now.”
The women quickly moved everything from van to car and the friend left.
When Amber returned to the empty van, Garrett smiled. “Handcuffs for a wedding shower?”
“Handcuffs? Oh, no, those aren’t for the shower.” Her porcelain skin turned bright pink. “Parties Galore also has costumes and decorations. I was going to repackage them for costume parties. They were on back order and just came in. Police costumes are very popular, you know.”
“I see. Bride’s name wouldn’t happen to be Sarah, would it?”
“I’m afraid I can’t share my client’s information.” She quirked her eyebrow, trying to hide her smile. “Why? Is that your fiancée?”
“My what?” He laughed. “No way.” Garrett shook his head. “Future sister-in-law,” he whispered.
“Well, send her my way. I’m a party planner and owner of Parties Galore—used to be the bakery downtown. Weddings are my specialty.”
“I see.” He forced a smile as he stood. Flashing lights caught his attention and he headed toward the ambulance. “I’ll be sure to pass along your name.”
She studied him. “Are you okay? You look kind of pale. Maybe you need some food. I should have offered you a bite of cake.”
“No,” he growled. “I’m not much for sweets, even when I’m feeling good.”
Just as he started to weave, Amber stepped up next to him and wrapped her arm around his waist. “Here, lean on my shoulder,” she said, then called for help. The paramedics rushed to her aid with the gurney and took his vitals, then put a neck brace on. “I don’t need that. There’s nothing wrong…” he argued, even though he knew it was futile.
Lieutenant Chavez reminded Garrett that it was a requirement that he get checked out in any on-duty accident.
Garrett watched the fear escalate in Amber’s eyes and fought the inclination to be angry with her. While he didn’t feel fine, he knew he had to do something to ease Amber Scott’s guilt. It wasn’t as if she’d been rushing to make it to the wedding shower. She was after a kidnapper, just as he would have been under the same circumstances.
A few minutes of oxygen in the ambulance and he’d be fine again, he was sure of it.
Garrett looked at Amber and winked. “I’m going to be fine. It’s just a formality.”
She didn’t look convinced.
The paramedics rattled off numbers that indicated his heart was doing just fine, considering he’d just been in an accident and met an attractive woman. “Hey,” he said to the lead medic. “Give me a minute, would you?” He waggled his finger, motioning for Amber to come closer.
She stepped to his side and stared at him, regret and fear washing the color from her face. “How can I ever make this right?” she asked.
“You did all the wrong things for all the right reasons. I admire you for that.” He reached up and touched her hand. “That in itself is enough for me.”
THREE
Amber watched in fear as they loaded the officer into the ambulance and drove away. God, take care of Officer Matthews, and help him remember how much I regret hurting him.
“Ms. Scott, we need to get more information from you about the crime you apparently witnessed.”
“Apparently?” She knew that tone and it snapped her right out of her pity party. Pretty blonde, just pacify her. “I didn’t ‘apparently’ witness anything,” she said, wishing she could sound more forceful. “I did witness a crime, and somewhere out there a woman’s life is in danger. So are you telling me you let a dozen or more officers stand here and glare at me over an innocent accident and no one was out there looking for the criminal? A police impersonator may have killed someone? That’s just frightening, Officer.”
“Lieutenant Chavez.” He glared at her, reminding her why she disliked police officers. “If you’d have left the pursuit up to us, we wouldn’t be here now, and one of my officers wouldn’t be headed to the hospital.”
“I can’t tell you how bad I feel about Officer Matthews. I never meant for anyone to get hurt. Why else would I follow someone that had already hurt one woman?”
“I don’t know, you tell me why you’d put yourself in danger when it didn’t involve you? Did you recognize either of the people?” The lieutenant seemed as annoyed as Amber was.
“No. If I did, why wouldn’t I tell you who it was?” She watched them load her van onto the tow truck and drive away, wondering how she was going to get home. She didn’t want to ask. The lieutenant wasn’t as cordial as Officer Matthews. Surely at some point they’d let her know. An officer was sweeping up the glass, but most were finally leaving, getting back onto patrol she hoped.
The officer motioned to his police cruiser. “Get in and show me where you saw the crime take place. The officers can finish up here.”
Amber suddenly froze. It wasn’t even intentional, though she was sure the officer wouldn’t see it that way. She knew from past experience, officers didn’t like their authority questioned. She certainly didn’t need another resisting arrest on her record. The first time she’d been sure the plain clothes cop was an imposter, until after he’d caught her and cuffed her. She didn’t need a repeat.
A female officer joined them. “I’m Samantha Taylor, the victim’s advocate officer. Do you have someone who can pick you up after you’re done tonight?”
Amber shook her head. “I’m not sure, depends on how long this takes.”
“I’d guess at least another hour,” Samantha said, pulling a card from her pocket.
“No, most of my friends are at a wedding shower.”
“Well then, have one of the officers give me a call when you’re done and I’ll take you home. And here’s my card.”
“Thanks.”
“Officer Taylor, could you come with us to the scene please?” The lieutenant gave instructions to another officer and led Amber to his squad car.
The female officer stepped into pace with them, easing Amber’s concerns about being alone with the grumpy officer. The two officers sat in the front seats of the squad car and put Amber in the back.
“So, where’d this incident take place?”
She directed him to the Victorian Inn, going through the incident as he drove. After they got out, she showed him where she’d parked, and where the police car had been. “This is the yellow SUV that the woman was driving, well, not literally driving, but she was inside it. It was in this same place.”
The officers took a quick look around it, using a gloved hand to try to open any of the doors. They were all locked.
“When I came out from finishing the cake, I saw the unmarked police car parked in the street behind the yellow SUV, but sort of pulled in at an angle. There, where that black Suburban is now. That’s where I was parked. The cop was parked…” She looked around, pictured herself walking out of the inn, thinking about the scene. “About here.” Amber pointed to the right. “There was a small car between the yellow SUV and me. The door to the SUV was open when I drove off after him, though.”
“Run the plates on it, Taylor,” the lieutenant ordered while he shone a flashlight both directions along the ground. “You sure this is where it happened?”
“Yes, I’m sure. I parked in the 15-minute zone because I wasn’t staying much longer than to assemble a two-tier anniversary cake. This space was the only one available, because I thought it was too bad I couldn’t have had the closer spot, so I wouldn’t have to go around the van carrying the heavy cake. When I came out, the spot I wanted,” she pointed to it, “was open. Then next to it was a red Mustang.”
“I thought you told Officer Matthews you don’t know cars,” he said, interrupting her thought process.
“I always wanted a Mustang, so I noticed it, candy-apple red. That’s when I heard the man telling her to get out of her truck. I was putting my cake kit into the van and rearranged it a little because I didn’t want the cake to be damaged, since it didn’t fit into a covered box. I thought of asking him to move, but I don’t…I didn’t have a good feeling about him.”
Amber continued to explain, feeling as if she was repeating herself for nothing, while the officers both took notes and asked more questions.
Lieutenant Chavez put his flashlight back into his belt. “Did they see or hear you?”
Amber shrugged, tired of going through all of this. “Not that I’m aware of. Once I realized this wasn’t really a cop, I got in the van and started looking for my phone. I was so scared. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I keep thinking I should have honked the horn or something. I couldn’t think.” She felt her heart sink and tears stung her eyes. “I didn’t know what to do.
Then all of a sudden, she went limp, and he forced her into the backseat of the car. And I just panicked. I couldn’t believe what I’d just seen. I didn’t know what to do.”
“You did exactly what you should have done,” the lieutenant said gently. He paused to let her compose herself before continuing the questioning. “And you have no idea if he stabbed her, or what caused her to go limp?”
“I couldn’t see that well. There were shadows from the trees. It was getting dark. The guy was in the way.” Amber closed her eyes and focused. “She jerked, like someone in pain. Maybe he did stab her?”
“There’s no sign of a scuffle, no blood, no evidence that I can see.” The female officer raised an eyebrow. “What made you think it was a police car in the first place?”
“It had one of those little bubble lights on top, like on cop shows, where they stick it up on the roof from out their window.”
“We don’t use any of those, even on unmarked cars,” the lieutenant explained.
“I’ve only seen them on television, but I’m convinced that he was an imposter. I recognize the piping on the costume. I bought some of them for my shop.”
“We’ll need to see them, and who has rented them. And if anyone returns one, don’t launder it until we’ve run some tests on it.”
“No problem, but I haven’t seen this guy in my store. The costume could have been ordered online,” Amber said as the officers scoured the street for any sign of a struggle.
The lieutenant approached while the female officer continued searching for any sign of a scuffle. “I’m going to need a physical description of each of them.”
Amber thought a minute or two before confessing, “I’m not sure how much I saw. The sun was going down, and the shadows…”
After coming up with nothing, Officer Taylor said, “Stand where you were this evening.” The officers both moved next to the yellow vehicle. “Is this about how tall the guy was?”
Amber compared their height to the yellow vehicle. “I think the guy was shorter than you, Lieutenant Chavez, about Officer Taylor’s height, I’d guess, and the girl was about the same.”
“Good,” the woman said. “What else do you remember?”
“He was stocky, but not fat, a long buzz cut, and probably Hispanic. She was Caucasian, long brown or dark reddish hair maybe, for some reason, red sticks in my mind, tall, but not too thin.”
“Any tattoos or jewelry on either of them?” Officer Taylor asked.
Amber shrugged, closed her eyes and tried to see the image again. “I couldn’t see them that clearly.”
“Any indication he might have had gang affiliations?”
She shook her head, trying to understand how someone wearing a cop uniform could also look like a gang member. “No. He was wearing a police uniform. My first impression was it was legit.”
“And her?” the lieutenant asked.
“I can’t be sure. She was wearing a blue tight-fitting top with a hood, but she looked like the athletes that come into my shop for their sugar fix.”
“I don’t see anything here. It’s almost unheard of for a victim not to drop something during an abduction. I thought maybe she’d left her purse or backpack in the vehicle, but I can’t be sure without getting inside. We can’t do that without a warrant. Did the suspect stop for any length of time after he closed her in the police car?” Officer Taylor asked.
“It all seemed to happen so fast at the time,” Amber said as she closed her eyes and walked herself through the incident again, step by step, whispering to herself.
The lieutenant took a slow walk around the area again, shaking his head.
“This doesn’t seem like a sexual assault, and it definitely doesn’t fit the MO of the guy we got,” Officer Taylor said as she returned to Amber’s side. The radio interrupted their conversation, and Samantha focused on it. “Looks like the vehicle is registered to a twenty-five-year-old male, Marcus Smith. I can check on him later.”
Amber struggled to recall what the suspect looked like, relieved that Officer Taylor seemed to believe her. “Wait a minute. It’s possible she had something hanging from her shoulder. She broke away once when they were almost to the car, she swung at him, and he threw her against the side of the trunk. She could have dropped something there. After he got the second cuff on her and stuffed her in the car, he stumbled when he was going around the car, but maybe he didn’t stumble, maybe he stooped to pick something up.”
“Are you sure about that?” the lieutenant asked.
Amber shrugged. “Pretty sure.” She just realized something she hadn’t noticed before. “It was a Rocky Mountain University top. I saw it as she was being pushed into the car.”
“You’re sure?” he said again.
She leveled a glare at the lieutenant. She hadn’t realized how comfortable she’d been answering Officer Matthews’s questions. She was quickly realizing he wasn’t like other cops. “I’m not making this up as I go along. I simply didn’t remember every little detail before.”
The female officer held out her hand. “It’s normal to remember additional facts as the adrenaline wears off. Just keep writing everything down as you remember it. Someone from FCPD will be in touch if we need more information.”
The lieutenant moved toward the squad car and directed them to do the same.
She was taken to the police station, where they asked her to write out her report of the incident leading up to the accident, then gave her information about contacting the towing company to schedule her transport to the repair shop. She added it to the careless driving and speeding ticket in her bag.
“Have you heard how Officer Matthews is doing?”
“No, we can’t give out that information.” The records clerk took the report form and turned away.
When Amber was released she assured the officer that she’d reached a friend to give her a ride. She left the station, tears stinging her eyes. She walked to the nearest bus stop, and got off at the hospital she’d overheard mentioned on the police radio. She hoped she wasn’t too late to check in on Officer Matthews.
FOUR
Garrett Matthews opened his eyes and fought the nausea back with more ice chips. “The police force is already shorthanded, Doc. I can at least do something in the office, can’t I?”
“The CT scan looks good, but you’ll need to take a few days off from full duty, make sure this concussion is fully gone before you’re back out on the streets. You’re going to be pretty sore for a while.”
“Nothing a few over-the-counter painkillers won’t cure, right?”
“Maybe. The symptoms of whiplash very often don’t show up for several days. You’re not to push it. And I mean it, Garrett.”
It was just his luck that their family doctor happened to be in the ER with another patient when the ambulance arrived. There was no hope of fooling Dr. Call.
“Can you arrange to have someone stay with you tonight?” the doctor asked as he wrote on Garrett’s chart.
Garrett rolled his eyes and shifted on the too-short bed trying to find a comfortable position. “I’m sure you’ve already called Mom and Dad. And yes, they’d be happy to watch out for me.”
“I couldn’t reach them. Maybe one of your brothers could stay with you. I suspect Kira and her new husband might even take you in for the night if we called them.”
“I’m not calling the newlyweds. Nick is working tonight, and Mom and Dad will probably be home any time. They never leave their cell phone on. Kent and Renee have gone to Mexico on vacation.” Garrett felt the weight of his head smoosh the pillow.
“You rest here then until we reach someone. Headache starting?”
His eyes drifted closed. “No.”
“You can’t go to sleep, Garrett. And it won’t do you any good to deny the headache. You’re not going back to work, in any case,” Dr. Call informed him. “I want to check you out in a week to clear you for full duty.”
“A week?”
“Not one foot in the car, Garrett Matthews….” Dr. Call demanded as much respect now as he had when Garrett was a kid.
“But…”
“Not one. I’ve fought with your father when he was still on duty, and won then, too. Just because I’m old, doesn’t mean you can pull a fast one over me. Your eyes are glazed over, one pupil is dilated. You have a concussion and in that condition, you’re more danger to the community than you are a help. I’m going to go find a nurse or hospital volunteer to sit with you and make sure you don’t fall asleep. We want to keep you awake for a while longer.”
“I just want to help in the office,” he said lamely as the doctor left his room.
Garrett heard a gentle knock and turned, surprised to see the woman who’d run into him walk meekly into the room.