Chasing Secrets
Author
Heather Woodhaven
Reads
17.8K
Chapters
1
EPILOGUE
“You sure you want to do this?” Ray stood in the pedal boat, reaching for her hand as she waited on the dock at LeFrak Center.
She hesitated, her heart racing as she glanced at the water. “Yes. I love Prospect Park and the lake. I don’t want to be scared of it the rest of my life.” She nodded and grabbed his hand. He helped her into the rocking boat and gently tugged until she was safely to her seat.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yes. New, happy memories in the making. Full-speed ahead.”
“Aye, aye, captain,” he said.
Only there was no dramatic motor to start. Karenna concentrated for a few seconds. “These things are harder to pedal than I thought. Too bad I already worked out for the day.” Exercising was one of the many changes she’d made in the last couple of weeks. If anyone ever shot at her again, she’d be ready for the army crawl, though she prayed that would never, ever happen. “Where should we go?”
“If you don’t mind me choosing, I have a spot in mind I think you’ll enjoy. How was today’s hospital visit?”
“Oh, wonderful! Sarah thinks she’ll get to go home tomorrow.” Karenna grinned. Her friend had finally emerged from her coma after a couple weeks. “She’ll live with her parents until her apartment is remodeled.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Think she’ll be okay?”
“Yeah. She’d thought Marcus—I mean Brice—was cheating on her and followed him only to discover what his real day job was. She confronted him in the park right before I arrived. He force-fed the pills down her and was trying to finish her off when I showed up.” She shivered at the thought. “She’s trying to reevaluate the choices she made, but it’s going to be a long road.”
Ray squeezed her hand. “Sarge said the lead she gave Detective Slater panned out. They found his chemical lab and CSI is working at cleaning the whole thing out.”
“What a relief.”
“And once Celia Dunbar heard Marcus—or ‘Stephen’ as she knew him—was in jail, she was happy to agree to testify against him.”
“How is that cold case you were working on going?” she asked.
“Well, I can’t say much, but Belle is scheduled to interview our new lead tomorrow.” He grinned. “And now I’ll stop talking about work.” He winked and they enjoyed the quiet lapping of the water against the hull as Ray steered around an inlet with his right hand. With his left, Ray wrapped his fingers around her hand, but changed his grip every few seconds, wrapping it in such a way that his knuckles made the same move they would have had he been flipping the coin across his hand.
She laughed. “You’re missing the challenge coin, aren’t you?” He’d told her recently how he’d stopped carrying it.
He flashed a bashful grin. “I never realized how much I fidget without it.”
“Are you going to get a different coin then?”
He steered the boat to a nearby dock. She squinted ahead. There was a giant group of people waiting in the distance. It might’ve been her imagination, but they seemed to be scattering, as if they didn’t want to be seen. Ray’s face morphed into a mischievous grin as he gave her a side glance. “Nah, I don’t think I want another coin. I’ve seen guys do the same roll-over-the-knuckles move with a ring.”
Karenna’s suspicions mounted and she couldn’t stop the smile growing on her face. He was teasing her, on purpose. “Raymond Morrow,” she said. “I’m telling you right now, if we ever get married, that ring better stay on your finger.”
His head tipped back as he laughed deeply. She couldn’t help but join him. “Yes, ma’am,” he finally said. “I think that’s probably fair.”
“Glad we’re on the same page.”
He pulled up to the dock, the laughter suddenly gone. He tied the boat and helped her to standing. “There’s something else I’d like to make sure we’re on the same page about.”
“Oh?” She looked over his shoulder. “Ray, was that your family back there? Your aunts and uncles? And my dad?” She squinted. “Did I see some of my coworkers and your cop friends?”
His eyes met hers. “Well, I hope we can say it will be our family and friends someday.” He got down on one knee and, despite her earlier suspicions, her stomach still fluttered. She placed a hand on her chest and heard a bark in the distance. Abby came bounding down the dock, sliding to a stop at their feet.
“Sorry!” Greta’s voice hollered from around the corner. “She didn’t want to miss it!”
They were both laughing now, despite Ray shaking his head. He looked up. “Karenna, would you please do me the honor of being my wife?”
“Well, has he asked her yet?” Her dad’s voice carried through the wind.
Karenna pulled him up to standing, filled with joy. “Yes,” she whispered. “I would love to because I love you.” His mouth found hers and she melted at his soft kisses.
Then she leaned back and yelled, for the sake of those hiding, “Yes!”
Cheers and the sound of running feet accompanied Abby’s bark of approval.
Ray wrapped his arms around her shoulders as they turned to greet their family and friends. Karenna had never felt so safe and so loved.
Look for Belle Montera’s story, Deadly Connection, by Lenora Worth, the next book in the True Blue K-9 Unit: Brooklyn series, available in June 2020.
True Blue K-9 Unit: BrooklynThese police officers fight for justice with the help of their brave canine partners.
Copycat Killer by Laura Scott,
April 2020
Chasing Secrets by Heather Woodhaven,
May 2020
Deadly Connection by Lenora Worth,
June 2020
Explosive Situation by Terri Reed,
July 2020
Tracking a Kidnapper by Valerie Hansen,
August 2020
Scene of the Crime by Sharon Dunn,
September 2020
Cold Case Pursuit by Dana Mentink,
October 2020
Delayed Justice by Shirlee McCoy,
November 2020
True Blue K-9 Unit Christmas: Brooklyn by Laura Scott and Maggie K. Black,
December 2020
Keep reading for an excerpt from Witness Protection Unraveled by Maggie K. Black.
