idea that someone had just tried to ice herâliterallyâfueled her Irish temper. âYou fucking asshole!â
Jake held her back. âWhat? What happened? I just came to check on the bubbler system.â
Even with how unnerved Megan was at the moment, she could tell by the sheer shocked look on his face that Jake was not the person who tossed her in. âDid you see anyone?â
âWhat?â
âDid you see anyone?â Megan stumbled over to the doors and flung them open. âSomeone threw me in.â
âWhat are you talking about? I just walked in and you were in the water. Thereâs no one here. Itâs icy, you gotta watch it.â He stared at her as if she was crazy, and for a moment Megan thought she was tooâuntil she saw the burlap sack floating in the water.
âThe lights.â Megan pointed to the front of the boathouse with a shaking arm. âThey werenât on. I came down to check on the lights. The wires were cut.â
âWhat?â Jake went to the power box to inspect the wires and found them neatly cut, as had Megan. He looked around at the adjoining properties; there was not a soul to be found. âWere the lights working last night?â
In between hard coughs, she said, âYes. Someone pulled that sack over my head, and then I was in the water.â
Jake used a rod to fish the sack out and flopped it on the dock. âIâm in this boathouse all the time, and Iâve never seen this in here.â Jake stood up and looked at Megan. âJeez, youâve got rope burns on your neck. You need to see a doctor. We should call the police.â
Megan stared out over Lake Hopatcong, desolate and freezing. âI am the police,â she answered.
âGod, I wasnât even planning on stopping in. I happened to be checking on another boathouse, so thatâs why Iâm here. You better get out of those clothes. You could catch pneumonia. Are you okay?â Jake looked chagrined for his dismissive attitude earlier.
âYes, Iâm fine!â
He raised his eyebrows at her. âI think now is the time you say thank you.â
Megan opened the gate to the yard. âThank you!â She slipped and slid the entire walk up to the house, entering through the lower level. She pulled off her soaked attire in the laundry room. It took longer than usual since she couldnât stop shaking. She put on sweats and a warm sweater, not that she thought sheâd ever feel warm again. She was about to sit when a knock sounded at the back door.
This douche bag doesnât take a hint. She swung open the door. âWhatâdoâyouâwant?â
âI just wanted to tell you I need to go back and get wires. Iâll have it fixed in an hour or so.â The gate to the deck creaked. Jake turned to see who had arrived. âHey, Callie. How are ya, man?â The two men greeted one another with a handshake.
âHey, whatâs up?â Callie looked to Megan. âWoah, what happened to you?â
Megan was gob-smacked. âWait, you know this guy?â
Jake asked, âYou know her ?â
âJake and I have known one another since we were kids. Troubleâuh, Megan âand I know one another from college. What happened?â
Jake looked at Megan. âTell him what you told me.â
Megan was angry Jake brought it up. Embarrassment had set in as soon as sheâd gotten in the warm house. âSomeone came up behind me and threw me in the water.â
âYouâre kind of forgetting a few big points in this story.â Jake looked at Callie. âI need to go get some wires and fix the lights on the boathouse. Iâll be back in a bit. Iâll stop by for a beer soon, weâll get caught up.â
Callie answered, âSounds good,â but didnât take his eyes off Megan and the redness around her neck.
Megan motioned for Callie to come in. âI need to get in
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