Page 23 of Swimming for Seduction

He’s been on edge since he and his partner started patrolling the less desirable areas in our little college town. Apparently,the crime rate in Thorngrove isn’t as non-existent as everyone thinks. It’s just kept quiet so new students keep pouring into the University every year. The tales I’ve heard from Cory—who grew up on that side of town—give me chills.

I rush toward baggage claim where Tyler is supposed to meet me, but I’m shocked to see my brother there instead. Despite my disappointment that Tyler undoubtedly had to work late, I’m excited to see Brady. My excitement turns to pure anxiety when I notice that his lips are set in a grimace instead of his usual carefree smile.

“Hey, Ricki,” he says, wrapping me in a hug as soon as I reach him.

“I’m guessing Tyler is stuck on a call?” I question, trying not to let my hand shake as I grab my suitcase from the carousel.

“Not exactly,” Brady says when I face him. I have to fight the urge to wail when I notice the tears in his eyes as he tells me, “There was an accident.”

Four Hours Earlier

Tyler

“I don’t know who’s more antsy today.” Becky laughs in the seat beside me. “You because your girl is coming home, or me because it’s my last shift.”

I laugh in return as we cruise through the blessedly quiet trailer park. I’m thankful our last shift together has been uneventful. I’m going to miss Becky when she leaves for the FBI Training Academy in Quantico next week.

“Are you sure you want to go back to rookie status?” I ask her playfully. “You just made it past that in our department.”

“I won’t even be a rookie yet,” she scoffs. “I’ll be a trainee for eighteen weeks. But yeah, I’m sure. It’s been my dream since I grew up watchingCriminal Mindswith Ian.”

“Didn’t your cousin tell you it’s not like TV in real life?” I ask with a raised brow when we stop before turning onto the road leading toward the few businesses on this side of town.

“I know that,” she replies with a shrug. “But I still want it just as bad as he did.”

“Well, I’m glad…” My words are cut off when the radio crackles, advising us of a disturbance at Ink Runners, a tattoo shop owned by Cory’s older sister, Maxine.

Becky grabs the mic to respond to dispatch while I flip on the lights and siren and hit the gas. I listen to the conversation between my partner and the dispatcher as I speed toward the tattoo shop.

Maxine was apparently assaulted in her shop by unknown assailants. She triggered the silent alarm, and her attackers fled the scene when Slade—the owner of the automotive shop across the street—rushed in. They are requesting all available units in the area as well as paramedics. Since we were already headed in that direction, we’re the first unit to arrive at the scene. Becky and I keep our heads on a swivel, surveilling the area as we make our way into the front of the tattoo parlor.

Slade is sitting on the floor, cradling Maxine in his lap. It’s obvious that she’s been beaten by the blood dripping onto the floor from her head and the unnatural angle of her left arm. The rest of her possible injuries are hidden since she’s covered with a blanket from the chest down. When I kneel next to them on the floor, Slade lets out a sound that’s more animal than human.

“Whoa, man,” I say. “It’s me, Tyler.” I’d usually introduce myself as Deputy Sheppard, but there’s no need since I knowSlade. He built my bike and signed off on my safety course to get the endorsement to ride on my license last year. “I need to assess her injuries. The paramedics will be here any second and the more information they have, the better they can treat her.”

“Not you,” he says, holding Maxine closer to his chest as he nods toward Becky who’s standing guard at the door. “Her.”

I stand and trade places with Becky until the paramedics arrive along with backup. As the medics fight with Slade in order to attend to Maxine’s injuries, I notice a black Chevy Tahoe cruising slowly in front of the shop. It could just be rubberneckers, but my instincts say otherwise.

I call Becky over and we run to our patrol car, but the vehicle speeds off before we can get on the road. I drive around the block slowly, looking for the SUV. Just as I’m rounding the corner to make another pass in front of Ink Runners, I hear the roaring of an engine from the ally beside Slade’s Automotive. I hit the gas as I hear the screeching of tires, ready to chase the Tahoe.

I realize too late that they aren’t driving away. They are racing directly toward us. I jerk the wheel to the left, trying to miss the head-on collision, but they still clip the front right side of my patrol car, sending us into a spin. The car must hit something, because the next thing I know, we’re airborne. The car flips several times before crashing into the brick building next to the tattoo shop.

I don’t even realize that we’re upside down before everything goes dark.

Chapter 22

Ricki

I sit between Brady and Tracey in the waiting room while we wait for the doctors treating Tyler to come in with news. This room is full of people waiting for news. Cory and Livvy sit across from us, waiting to hear how serious his sister’s injuries are after she was attacked in her tattoo shop. Becky’s family sits at the far end, waiting for her to get out of surgery. Since her side of the vehicle took the initial impact, her injuries were critical, and she was rushed directly to the operating room.

When a doctor that looks like he could play Doogie Howser if they ever decided to remake the show comes in and calls for the family of Tyler Sheppard, I sit up straight. Tracey squeezes my hand before standing to follow her aunt and uncle into the smallroom used for privacy. Thankfully, Tyler’s mom sticks her head out and calls me to join them before the door is closed.

“Tyler was very lucky,” the doctor says as his eyes bounce around the group. “He’s sustained a few cuts that require sutures, multiple bruises, and a pretty severe concussion. He’ll be sore for a while and we’d like to keep him here for a few days to monitor the concussion, but he should make a full recovery.”

“Oh, thank the Lord,” Mrs. Sheppard says, leaning against her husband for support as he asks, “Can we see him now?”

“Not just yet,” the doctor replies. “He’s in a sterile procedure room, getting his cuts cleaned and stitched up. Once that’s done, he’ll be transferred to a patient room. You can see him then. It will probably be about an hour.”

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