Page 21 of Ranger Belief
Her stomach rumbled. They’d skipped breakfast. “The kolache place isn’t far. Let’s grab some food on our way to interview Garrett.”
His brow rose. “Coffee?”
She bounced in her seat at the thought of an iced latte. “I know just the place.”
Twenty minutes later, fortified with food and caffeine, she crossed the parking lot of the strip mall toward Texas Camping and Hiking. Her gaze scanned the vehicles. Garrett’s blue pickup truck, with its distinctive rock climbing stickers on the bumper, sat a short distance away. There were no other vehicles registered either to him or to his business. Jonah had checked.
So where would Garrett have gotten a black SUV? The thought nagged at her as she crossed the threshold into a cold blast of air conditioning. A glass-topped counter dominated the front area, filled with compasses, multi-tools, and expensive GPS devices. Brochures fanned across the surface, promising authentic adventures and guided backpacking experiences.
Laney approached the unmanned front desk and tapped the silver service bell. Its cheerful ding echoed through the narrow space. Jonah leaned against the counter, studying the wide array of knives inside, his scowl on full display.
"Be right there!" Garrett's voice called from somewhere in the back, followed by the sound of a chair scraping againstthe floor and heavy footsteps on hardwood. Moments later, he appeared. Five-eight, with a bulky physique that came from bench pressing weights and regular rock climbing, Garrett Wheeler moved with the deliberate confidence of someone used to being in charge. His moisture-wicking shirt and utility pants looked expensive but practical. Messy dark hair gave him an easy-going appearance, supported by the well-worn hiking boots and a quick smile. That grin tempered just a touch when his gaze landed on Laney before shifting to Jonah and flickering back again.
“Hi, Garrett.” She offered him a reassuring smile. “Sorry to pop in unannounced, but we need to speak to you about an important matter.” Laney gestured toward Jonah and introduced him. “We’re investigating the murder of a couple killed at the park yesterday.”
“I heard about that. Really tragic.” Garrett’s gaze lifted as Jonah stood to his full-height, all six foot four inches, and something flickered in his eyes. Wariness, maybe? Or calculation? Whatever it was, he smoothed it over with a handshake before checking his watch. “I have a client meeting in fifteen minutes?—”
“It won’t take long.” Laney wouldn’t let him weasel out of answering their questions, if she could help it. Using Jonah’s tactic, she removed her cell phone from her pocket. “Do you mind if I record this conversation? It’ll help with my report later.”
Garrett’s expression shifted from evasive to full-on irritation. “Actually, I do mind.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest, puffing it up to make it even bigger. His eyes locked on hers. “What’s this all about, Laney?”
His tone bordered on hostile, but she didn’t let an ounce of annoyance creep into her words. She kept her voice light and friendly. “We’re speaking to anyone who might’ve known thevictims, and since you run one of the most popular camping and trail guiding companies, it seemed likely they’d used your services before. Did you know Ava Morrison or Tyler Chen?”
He hesitated. Laney could practically see the wheels in his head turning as Garrett calculated what answer to give them. Finally, he puffed out some air. “I knew Ava. Not well, mind you. She was a student in a class I taught at the university this past spring.”
Okay. One point for being honest, although she noted that he tried to downplay his interaction with Ava. “What did you think of her?”
“She was a good student. Conscientious, almost to the point of perfectionism. If I remember right, she got an A in the class.”
“Did you interact with her outside of class?”
“Of course not.” His eyes tracked Jonah as he crossed the room and helped himself to some water from the cooler. “That would be against the university’s policy.”
“Huh.” She let some confusion enter her tone as her brow furrowed. “That’s strange. We interviewed some of Ava’s friends, and they told us you interacted with Ava outside of class.” There was no law against the police lying to a suspect, so she kept the information vague. If Garrett was the killer, Laney didn’t want to give him a reason to go after Kylie. “In fact, we were told that you flirted with Ava and asked her out several times.”
Garrett froze and then his jaw tightened, a muscle along his cheek pulsing as he clenched his teeth. He glowered down at her. “This is feeling more like an interrogation. Do I need a lawyer?”
She frowned slightly and shrugged. “I don’t know. Do you?” She leaned against the counter, keeping her posture casual. “Listen, we can take you down to the sheriff’s department, put you in an interview room, let you call your lawyer, wait for him or her to arrive, and then continue this conversation. I have no issues with that. But,” she dragged out the word to make a point,“it’ll mess up your entire day. And honestly, it’s not much fun for me either. Or we could just have a friendly chat right here and clear things up now.”
Garrett seemed to consider her words. She couldn’t tell if he was nervous because he was tangled up in the murder or if he was simply worried about ruining future opportunities with the university. People hid things for all kinds of reasons.
Laney smiled disarmingly. “We’re not interested in going after you for breaking university policy. We’re looking for a killer. The sooner we get this over with, the faster we can all go about our business.”
Garrett blew out a breath, and his shoulders dropped. “Okay, look, Ava and I flirted. She was gorgeous and smart, and we shared a love of the outdoors. We hit it off immediately. I knew it was against the university’s rules, but I figured it was harmless.” He mirrored Laney’s body language, leaning against the counter. “I mean, come on. We’re all adults, you know what I mean?”
“Of course.” She tipped closer conspiratorially. “Sometimes workplaces have the stupidest rules.”
“Don’t they?” Appreciation shimmered in his dark eyes.
“So, did you and Ava ever go out on a date? Or was it just flirting?”
“That’s the thing. I wanted to wait until the class was over, but she kept hinting more and more about going out, so finally, I asked her. That’s when she told me about her boyfriend.”
“The news surprised you?”
“A little, but if I’m being honest,” Garrett’s grin was quick and cocky, “I've found that relationship labels mean different things to people. Who am I to judge? I figured Ava was just letting me know so I wouldn’t expect anything serious. Better for me, you know? I like to keep things light and fun.”
“Makes sense. Why tie yourself down to just one person?”
