The Truths We See

Chapter 13

The ride down made us both nervous. While I knew I could probably take a jump with the zips holding me in my bindings, I didn't want to push it. Jimmy barely even wanted me to have any speed. After we were nearly hit by a lone boarder, I pointed out that, if we go too slow, we ran the risk of being hit by people going at a normal speed that didn't see us. That made us speed up and, eventually, have a little fun, racing back to the lodge. 

When I stopped sliding, I bent over to release my bindings. I had to cut the zips with Jimmy's pocket knife, but I was out and safe at the lodge. We went inside and Jimmy went to get us a couple of hot drinks while I sat in front of the fireplace with my board on my lap. The binding straps that had released, at a glance, looked worn.

I leaned closer and studied them. By the time Jimmy returned, I was frozen and my blood was cold. No amount of hot chocolates or lattes could warm this cold, though. "Hey, Brenda, you okay?" he asked when I didn't take the drink he was holding out to me.

I sat up straight quickly, narrowly missing spilling my drink that was in his hand. "Yes! Yeah, I am. Ooh, thanks." I took the drink from him and had a sip. 

He watched me for a moment. "What's wrong?"

I frowned. "Nothing. Please, let it go, Jimmy."

"But Brenda-"

"I like you." We sat silently looking at each other for a long moment. "Um, I really, really like you."

He raised an eyebrow and smirked. "I really, really like you, too, but I thought we'd already established our mutual like of each other. Now, what's really wrong?"

I sighed, unsure of what to tell him. While it wasn't a secret, I didn't really want to tell him I was investigating the theft my brother was framed for. I wasn't scared it was wrong - I was scared he would tell me to stop, especially after this.

"Someone messed up my straps," I blurted. 

His eyebrows rose in surprise. "Why in the world would someone do that?"

I shrugged, feeling heat rise into my face. If there was one thing I hated, it was lying to someone I was close to. I bit my lip, chewing on it for a moment. "Um," I said, feeling a need to fill the silence between us with something - anything. "I, uh, um."

He sighed. "I'm not stupid, Brenda. I know there's something going on that you're not telling me about. Whatever it is, I promise I'll be right here. I'm not going anywhere. Unless, you know, you have an arrest warrant." He gave me a smile, and I knew he was teasing.

But, right now, that kind of teasing was the last thing I needed. I swallowed, trying to get the lump in my throat to go away. It didn't work and my voice still ended up coming out as more of a croak than anything. "I think Ben's innocent."

Jimmy turned more fully towards me and took my hands, letting my board slide off my lap. It hit the floor with a smack, but neither of us paid it any mind. "He very well may be," Jimmy said, but I could hear it in his voice: he didn't think he was. "But evidence-"

"Evidence sides with him being set up," I said, cutting him off. "I'll show you when I get home. It points to someone at the police department being in on it. It points to someone working with a news station."

Jimmy just looked at me with sad eyes but he nodded anyway. "Brenda, I believe you. But what does this have to do with your board's binding straps breaking?"

"Because they're not broken," I said, pulling my hand away and wiping at some rogue tears. "It was cut. Look." I picked up my board and pointed at the ratchets on the straps. "These have been tampered with. They've been cut too low to catch, and the one I always use has been cut too low to hold."