It turned out that we had to walk down the path a little ways to the next beach to meet our rescue pickup, but the movement helped get my mind off the nagging thought I couldn’t banish. How did my bike tire come off? Parts like that don’t just work loose. Jon said the bikes had been moved. Had someone tampered with my bike?
“Do you think someone was trying to get the wheel off to take the bike?” I asked Jon.
“That wouldn’t make sense. Any fool could see it was chained to the frame as well.”
When we returned to the bike shop, the owner greeted us and offered us a refund. Jon refused, and I told the owner I was fine.
He frowned. “We’re very sorry about this. I just don’t know how it happened.”
“You and me both,” I said.
“Are you sure someone didn’t tamper with the bikes while they were
