Page 53 of Twin Jeopardy

Though it wasn’t official, she had all but moved into Vince’s condo. Her mother hadn’t even objected when she stopped by the house to get her clothes. “I feel better knowing you have a man to protect you,” she said.

The feminist in Tammy resented the implication she couldn’t look after herself, but the realist admitted having a strong, fit man who had made it clear he would do anything to protect her did make her feel safer. What neither of them admitted out loud was that they wouldn’t be able to truly relax until V was identified and stopped. That didn’t seem likely to happen anytime soon, so better for the two of them to stick together.

Chapter Seventeen

The next day, Tammy and Vince headed to the town park together. “How are you feeling?” he asked when they met, He studied her face. “The swelling is almost all gone and the bruises aren’t as noticeable.”

She resisted the urge to touch the worst of the bruises, which she had attempted to cover with makeup. “I’m fine. Really.”

“Glad to hear it.” He kept his arm around her on the walk to the park, but once there, they parted ways. Tammy was taking photographs of the parade while Vince helped set up the search and rescue booth. Later, she would take pictures of the Fun Fair while he fulfilled his duties at the SAR booth and the first responders’ part in the festivities. He was also meeting his parents to spend time with them. The plan was for her to join them as soon as she was free. Later that evening, they would enjoy the fireworks.

The Eagle Mountain Fourth of July Parade was everything a small-town parade should be, from the high school marching band to dignitaries waving from fire trucks to clusters of kids pedaling red, white and blue-bedecked bicycles. Members of the historical society, dressed in turn-of-the-last-century garb, threw candy from a float decorated with papier-mâché rocks and old mining implements, while a trio of miniature horses and one full-size camel from a local hobby ranch enchanted onlookers.

The mayor’s six-year-old son brought up the rear of the parade, riding a donkey with a placard attached to its backside that readFollow My Ass to the First Responders Fun Fair.

After a detour to photograph the historical society members handing out lemonade and brownies in front of the town museum, Tammy headed for the park, where the Fun Fair was in full swing. At the search and rescue booth, which was festooned with colorful T-shirts for sale and photographs from past rescues, she learned that Vince had just completed his shift. She took a photo to possibly run with her article, then hurried across the park, where she found Gage Walker supervising a pillow fight between two boys who straddled a sawhorse and flailed at each other until one slid to the sawdust below.

“Have you seen Vince?” she asked Gage after he had helped the children to their feet and sent them on their way.

“I think he’s over at the dunking booth.” Gage grinned. “He’s probably pretty wet by now.”

She had to stop and ask two people for directions to the dunking booth, but she arrived in time to see Vince, in swim trunks and nothing else, climb onto the narrow perch over a tank of water. “Just remember, that water’s really cold,” Deputy Shane Ellis teased Vince, egging on the crowd. “Five dollars for three throws,” he said, holding up a baseball. “All the money goes to local first responders. Who wants to throw out the first pitch?”

“Why don’t you show us how it’s done, Shane?” someone called from the crowd.

“That wouldn’t be fair, would it?” Shane demurred. He was a former big-league pitcher. Though an injury had ended his career, he was still feared on the local softball field.

“I’ll go first.” Ryan Welch stepped forward and handed over a five-dollar bill. His first pitch went wild, banging hard against the wood to the left of the target.

“A little more finesse there,” Shane advised.

The second throw came closer but still failed to hit the bull’s-eye.

“Come on,” Vince taunted. “I’m getting hot up here.”

Ryan clenched his jaw and palmed the ball, then hurled it, striking the bull’s-eye dead center and sending Vince plunging into the tank.

He came up sputtering and laughing as the crowd cheered. Tammy snapped a series of photos; then he returned to his perch and Shane called for someone else to take a turn.

“Hey, Tammy.”

She turned to see Mitch and Elisabeth working their way to her through the crowd. “So, that’s Vince!” Elisabeth waggled her eyebrows at Tammy.

Mitch looked toward the dunk tank. “Looks like he’s all wet,” he said.

“Even better, huh?” She nudged Tammy.

“Anyone else want to take a try?” Shane called.

“I’ll do it.” Mitch raised his hand and pushed forward.

Elisabeth moved in closer to Tammy. “I didn’t know Mitch was an athlete,” she said.

“He’s not.” Tammy winced as her brother’s first ball sailed past the dunk tank altogether. A trio of children chased after it.

“Steady there, Rocket,” Shane said, and handed him another ball. “Go a little easier.”

Mitch nodded and launched the second ball, which bounced harmlessly off the side of the tank.

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