Reyes pulled onto the shoulder beside the flooded Charger. Water and debris sloshed into the open windows. “That’s going to cost a lot to repair. How is he going to pay for it?”
“He and his dad share a love for old cars.”
“Restoration project for father-son bonding? All paid for with dad’s money?”
“They didn’t need to bond. He’s very close with his parents. He was a good kid, and he’s an even better man. Yes, they have money, but he has a job. He supports himself.”
Reyes glared down at me. He was just … massive. Still, I had nothing to hide, and I wouldn’t let him intimidate me.
“He works at a bank,” I snapped. “Do you really think I’m hiding drugs in this bag?”
“You’ve been holding on to it like it’s made of gold.”
“It’s his! It’s the only thing I have of him besides that drowned car!” Tears burned in my eyes as the realization of what I’d just said formed a lump in my throat.
Reyes waited.
I pressed my lips together and then tore at the zipper, yanking at it until it opened. I pulled out the first thing I grabbed, which was one of Shepley’s shirts. It was his favorite, a dark gray Eastern State tee. I held it to my chest, instantly breaking down.
“America … don’t … don’t cry.” Reyes looked half disgusted and half uncomfortable, trying to look anywhere else but me. “This is awkward.”
I pulled out another shirt and then a pair of shorts. As I unrolled them, a small box fell back into the backpack.
“What was that?” Reyes said in an accusatory tone.
I dug in the bag and fished out the box, holding it up with a huge grin. “It’s the … this is the ring he bought. He brought it.” I sucked in a ragged breath, my expression crumbling. “He was going to propose.”
Reyes smiled. “Thank you.”
“For what?” I said, opening the box.
“Not transporting drugs. I would have hated to arrest you.”
“You’re a jerk,” I said, wiping my eyes.
“I know.” He rolled down his window to flag down another officer.
With the help of the National Guard, the turnpike had been cleared, and traffic was running smoothly again, but as the sun began its descent, another set of dark clouds started to form on the horizon.
“That looks ominous,” I said.
“I think we’ve already experienced ominous.”
I frowned, feeling impatient. “We have to find Shepley before dark.”
“Working on it.” He nodded to an approaching officer. “Landers!”
“How’s it going?” Landers said.
With him standing next to Reyes’s window, even in a cruiser, I felt like we were being pulled over, and any minute, Landers would ask Reyes if he knew how fast he was going.
“I have a little girl in my car—”
“Little girl?” I hissed.
He sighed. “I have a young woman in my car who’s looking for her boyfriend. They took shelter under that overpass when the tornado hit.”
Landers leaned down, giving me a once-over. “She’s lucky. Not all of them made it.”
“Like who?” I asked, bending just enough to get a better look.
“I’m not sure. Can you believe one guy was thrown a quarter of a mile and ran all the way back to the turnpike, searching for someone? He was covered in mud. Looked like a melted candy bar.”
“Was he alone? Do you remember his name?” I asked.
Landers shook his head, still chuckling at his own joke. “Something weird.”
“Shepley?” Reyes asked.
“Maybe,” Landers said.
“Was he hurt? What was he wearing? Early twenties? Hazel eyes?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, ma’am. It’s been a long day,” Landers said, standing up.
All I could see of him then was his midsection.
Reyes looked up at him. “C’mon, Justin. She’s been looking for him for hours. She watched him get sucked out by a damn tornado.”