The scent of approaching rain mixed with the salty smell of the ocean, as well as the spicy Old Bay seasoning from the steamed shrimp dish being devoured at a nearby table. There wasn’t a more perfect scent combination. Not to Cassidy. Not at this moment, at least.
In her month of living in Lantern Beach, Cassidy hadn’t eaten here yet, but she’d heard good things about the place. Carter Denver, the town’s local singer/songwriter, played “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in the background, his earthy voice setting the tone for the meal. Every time Carter showed up, he seemed to set the perfect soundtrack for Cassidy’s day.
It was one more thing to love about this town.
After they’d ordered, Del turned to Cassidy, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “So, tell me how the two of you met. I can’t wait to hear this story.”
Cassidy and Ty exchanged a look. This was going to be interesting.
Cassidy decided to let Ty take the lead. It was the least she could do since Ty had gotten them into this mess.
He took a long sip of his water before clearing his throat. “It’s actually kind of funny. I was driving Ralph’s old truck. I thought Cassidy was letting me into traffic, but she wasn’t. We both stopped at a grocery store, and she gave me a verbal lashing for cutting her off.”
Del’s wide-eyed gaze turned to her as she waited to hear Cassidy’s side.
Cassidy nodded. Ty had gone with the truth—that was exactly the way they’d met. Hearing it out loud made her feel a touch unbalanced, though. Cassidy usually tried to take care with her words, but that day she’d been stressed and sleep-deprived after driving more than fifty hours from Seattle.
“I saw the stickers on the back of the truck and jumped to some incorrect conclusions,” Cassidy admitted.
She held her breath, waiting to see if Del would release any mama bear fury. “Well, I would too. Those stickers on the back of Ralph’s truck are disgraceful. Every time I see him, I tell him so. I’m surprised Ty was even driving it.”
“I was helping him fix it, so we traded vehicles for a couple weeks,” Ty said.
“I don’t blame Cassidy one bit,” Frank said. “I’d say she was using good judgment. Besides, I like a woman who speaks her mind.”
Cassidy offered a soft smile. At least there was that.
“Then it turned out we’re neighbors,” Cassidy continued, sharing a smile with Ty.
“And I quickly learned to never sneak up on her,” Ty added. “I accidentally did that once, and she flipped me over her shoulder.”
Cassidy shrugged. “What can I say? Those self-defense classes paid off.”
Del laughed. “Oh, you two. I can just see you’re perfect for each other. I’ve always said Ty needs someone who isn’t afraid to stand up to him.”
“You make me sound scary, Mom.”
“Oh, not scary. Intimidating. I mean, you’re a former Navy SEAL. Even your size could be considered imposing. Plus you’re so handsome.” She squeezed his cheek.
“Mom . . .” Ty’s cheeks turned red.
It was adorable.
Cassidy held back a smile, not letting it go unnoticed that Ty turned the conversation to fishing.
As she sat back and listened, she realized they did sound like a couple. It was . . . strangely normal and spotlighted an emptiness she hadn’t realized was there.
Their food was delivered, pulling Cassidy from her thoughts. She had gotten grilled tuna with a side salad, while Ty and his family had ordered crab-cake sandwiches and fries.
As she ate, her gaze wandered to the crowds on the sidewalks just beyond the fenced-off outdoor dining area. Mostly families, with groups of college friends and senior adults mixed in there.
Her eyes narrowed when she saw a familiar face in the distance. A semi-familiar face, at least. She’d caught a glance for only a second before the man darted into a gift shop.
Was that . . . ?
The man had looked like Buddy. Same ginger hair. Same basic build. Same ruddy skin.
Cassidy stood and wiped her mouth. “Would you excuse me a minute? I need to run to the restroom.”
She couldn’t sit here and do nothing. Not when she might have just spotted her best lead.
Chapter 5
Cassidy controlled her pace, trying not to tip anyone off as she hurried from the area. She bypassed the bathroom, though, and headed out the front door instead. With one last glance behind her—to make sure Ty hadn’t spotted her—she hurried across the sidewalk.
She had to see if she was correct.
She wound her way through the crowds, slipped into the gift shop, and paused.
The store was packed with wall-to-wall merchandise and shoppers who’d forgone the beach for indoor activities.
She started to weave her way down the aisles when someone stepped out in front of her. A teenager wearing a navy blue “Happy Beach” vest and a braces-laden, salesman-worthy smile.
“Can I help you?”
Cassidy offered a fleeting smile and peered behind him, hoping he’d get the hint. “No, I’m just looking.”
She tried to skirt around him, but he pushed his way in front of her again. “Are you sure? I can point you to some great souvenirs. Like this beauty—buy two and get one half off.”
He held up a yellow foam can cooler with Lantern Beach printed on it.
Irritation burned in Cassidy, and she craned her neck, desperate not to lose the man. “I’ll find you if I need help. Thank you.”
She started forward again when the boy weaseled his way in front of her and blocked her path yet again.
This time, she didn’t stop to continue the conversation. She pushed past him, determined not to let this guy get away.
She rushed past the T-shirts and the beach towels and the keychains and every other souvenir imaginable. They were all plastered with Lantern Beach, even though every other gift shop up and down the East Coast had the same items, only with their distinct destination on them. Myrtle Beach. Ocean City. Hilton Head.
Cassidy didn’t see the man.
Where could he have gone?
She pushed forward until she reached the back of the store. When she got there, her stomach dropped.
This wasn’t the back of the store. The place had two entrances.
The man must have gone out the back.
Cassidy let out a sigh as she realized the Buddy lookalike had probably gotten away. So much for that lead.
Cassidy checked the sidewalk outside the other entrance, just in case. But she already knew the man was long gone, and it was all that Happy Beach employee’s fault.
Before she returned to the restaurant, she paused a moment and sucked in a deep breath. She had to compose herself.
Why did she feel so strongly about helping Skye? In her gut, Cassidy knew it was about more than finding justice—though that was a huge reason and an attribute woven deep into the fibers of her being.
Cassidy knew what it felt like to unwittingly find yourself in the middle of a possible crime.
Her mind flashed back to that day she’d woken up in a dirty warehouse with blood on her hands. The moment still haunted her every day. Every night.
Maybe her soul wouldn’t be at peace until she had some answers.
But it was hard to get answers about her own nightmare when she was on the other side of the country.
So much had changed since that assignment with DH-7. If Cassidy could go back, sometimes she thought she would refuse to take it. That she should have continued on with her safe, normal life, where her biggest worry was her family’s displeasure with her career choice.
But then Raul would still be alive. DH-7 would be growing stronger. The gang would still be hurting people and distributing a deadly version of the psychotic-episode-inducing drug flakka. She hadn’t stopped the gang, but she’d slowed them down. It was something.
When the case went to trial, she hoped to further fracture the deadly gang’s infrastructure. They were a growing menace, and the worl
d would be better off without them.
And sometimes, sacrificing yourself for the greater good was the only choice.
But when you were the person sacrificing, you began to realize what that really meant. Now that DH-7 had put a million-dollar bounty on her head for anyone who killed her, she had a whole new perspective.
She raked a hand through her hair, trying to cast the thoughts aside as a smattering of wind and rain swooped down from the clouds and then disappeared.
She had to get back to lunch before everyone got suspicious.
As she started down the sidewalk, someone yelled, “On the left!” behind her.
Before Cassidy could move, a bike zoomed dangerously close beside her. She darted out of the way.
“Watch what you’re doing!” Cassidy yelled after the biker.
He ignored her and kept going, earbuds preventing him from engaging with life around him—or taking any responsibility, apparently.
“Are you okay?” someone asked.
She looked up and realized a man, probably in his fifties, had caught her elbow as she’d jumped out of the way.
Cassidy straightened, her cheeks heating. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. That guy on the bike wasn’t paying a bit of attention. Shame on him.”
“You’re right,” Cassidy said. “He wasn’t. I’m just glad no one was hurt.”
As she took another step back, she saw three people gathered around the man. A woman—probably his wife. A teenage girl and a teenage boy. A family on vacation, most likely.
After she thanked him again, they turned to walk away. Something caught Cassidy’s eye—a lightning tattoo behind the boy’s ear.
A lightning tattoo that represented DH-7.
The boy turned to look at her, his gaze remaining on Cassidy.
Did he recognize her? Did he know about the bounty? Her role in disbanding the gang’s leadership?
Cassidy sucked in a breath.
She needed to keep an eye on them because if there was one thing she’d learned from her time undercover, it was to trust no one.
Chapter 6
“Everything okay?” Ty’s eyes searched Cassidy’s as she returned to the table.
That was more than a bathroom break. She was breathless, her hair was slightly damp, and her cheeks flushed.
What happened?
Cassidy nodded, shoving a hair behind her ear and drawing in a shallow breath. “Everything’s fine. I just ran into someone. I’m sorry for the delay.”
“No problem,” Del said. “We were listening to this guitar player. He’s wonderful.”
Another gust of wind blew over the area, almost taking away their napkins and possibly the entire table. Outdoor seating wasn’t quite as glamourous on windy, storm-laden days.
“I think that’s our cue to leave,” Frank stood and placed some bills beneath a water glass. “Unless you’re not finished eating, Cassidy.”
Just as he said the words, a big fat plop of rain hit them.
“I’m finished,” Cassidy said. “Thank you.”
As Ty also stood, his phone buzzed. He scanned the screen and turned to Cassidy. “It’s Mac. He wants to meet.”
His mom stopped them mid-step and gave them her “don’t argue with me” face. “Now, you two listen to me. I know we’re here to visit, but I don’t want you to put your life on hold. Your father and I can entertain ourselves. It would be nice if we could schedule some things together while we’re in town, but I don’t expect you to stop everything to be with us. We’ll be just fine.”
“Are you sure?” Ty asked, pulled between wanting to spend time with his parents and wanting to help Skye.
“Absolutely,” Frank said. “Besides, I want to get some fishing in. I don’t think that will happen until this storm passes, but I can head to the tackle shop. I also noticed a couple of your hurricane shutters are broken. I want to take a look at them.”
“I read online that there’s a flood watch right now,” Del said. “So whatever you two are doing, be careful.”
“We will.” His mom would never stop mothering him, and Ty loved her for it. Most of the time, at least.
His parents dropped them both back at the house, and they hopped in Ty’s truck then drove to meet Mac.
“So . . . what happened?” Ty asked. “Please don’t say you got into a fight with the bathroom sink.”
She told him about her potential Buddy sighting.
“You should have told me before you went after him,” Ty said. “He could be dangerous.”
Cassidy nibbled her lip. “I wasn’t going to approach him. I just wanted to see if it was him. I didn’t have time to think. Just to act.”
“Do me a favor and tell me next time.”
A strange look crossed through her gaze, but she nodded. “Okay.”
Mac was waiting outside his house when they arrived, practicing drawing the gun from his holster, reminding Ty of a cowboy in a western flick. The man made life in Lantern Beach interesting.
“Oh, Mac.” Cassidy chuckled.
“He lives for stuff like this,” Ty said.
Cassidy nodded. “I can tell. He’s a character.”
“Everyone around here loved him as police chief. He has a way with people. He remembers their names and their stories, and he asks about the things they care about. There’s a lot to be said for that.”
“And then they elected Bozeman?”
“His dad is a state senator.”
Cassidy’s face tightened. What was up with that reaction?
Ty wasn’t sure. He only knew that there was a lot about Cassidy he didn’t know . . . and a lot she refused to talk about.
Cassidy leaned back, disturbed at the thought of Bozeman getting the job because of his dad. Yet, that new fact put some pieces in place. “Well, that explains it, I guess.”
“Yeah, he has no idea what he’s doing.”
“That’s a shame.” Cassidy had been accused many times in her life of getting things because of her family connections. Usually, it wasn’t justified. But in a way she felt a surprising touch of sympathy toward Bozeman.
Mac climbed in the passenger side, so Cassidy slid across the bench seat closer to Ty. A rush of self-consciousness flashed through her. She was close enough she could feel Ty’s body heat. Smell his leathery cologne. Feel a prickle from the hair on his arm.
“Here we go! Let’s go see what Bozoman missed.” Mac let out a mischievous laugh and rubbed his hands together.
“Nice ride, by the way.” Mac ran his hand across the shiny dashboard of Ty’s truck.
Ty grinned. “Thanks. This girl was my sanity that first year after I was out of the military.”
“I can imagine. Having a project to keep yourself occupied is always a good thing. You know I fought over in Vietnam, don’t you?”
“No, I didn’t realize that.”
“I did. It was a hard time for our country, but the experience solidified for me that I wanted to be a cop.”
“Why Lantern Beach?” Cassidy asked. “Did you ever think about some place larger or more exciting?”
He shrugged. “Nah. Not really. I wanted somewhere that felt like home, and this place fit the bill. There’s enough drama and excitement in life without having to go out and look for it. Unless you consider that’s what we’re doing now. In that case, nix what I just said.”
Cassidy mulled over his words. Could she ever be happy long-term in a place like this?
The thought seemed ludicrous. Her life was back in Seattle. Her family was there. It didn’t matter that they weren’t close. Her roots were three thousand miles across the country.
Ryan was there also, as was her job. A long line of recruits would love to be a detective in Seattle. She’d worked hard to get the position.
She put those thoughts aside as Ty pulled up to the huge beachside house Buddy Macklemore had rented. They climbed out and stared at it for a minute before Mac dashed up the front steps and op
ened the door using a code he’d been given.
Inside was the typical vacation rental, decorated in pastels, with large windows showing expansive views of the ocean. Everything was designed for relaxation and peacefulness.
Except there was blood everywhere.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay seeing this?” Ty asked.
Cassidy snapped back to reality. Most people wouldn’t be okay seeing a violent scene. Most people hadn’t seen something like this uncountable times before.
She faked a shiver. “It’s pretty gruesome.”
He squeezed her arm. Which was sweet, but so unnecessary. She didn’t let him know that.
It appeared there had been a fight here. A table was broken, and a shattered vase added a dangerous sparkle to the floor.
“I guess the police didn’t clean up, huh?” Ty said.
“They don’t,” Mac said, seemingly unaffected by the scene. “It’s not their job. The owner will have to either hire someone or do it themselves. A fact most people don’t realize.”
“I wouldn’t want that job,” Ty muttered.
“Most people don’t,” Cassidy said. “I mean, I imagine they wouldn’t.”
She’d met a few crime-scene cleaners in her day, and they were a special group of people.
“The police have probably already bagged any pertinent evidence,” Mac said. “But knowing Bozoman, it’s likely something was missed. Just watch your step.”
Cassidy kept herself under control, desperate not to show her hand here. But this was what she did for a living. She examined crime scenes. Formulated an idea of what had happened. Marked evidence for later use at trial.
Something seemed off about this scene.
There were no drag marks coming from the pools of blood. No trickles leading to the door.
Lantern Beach Mysteries Box Set Page 23
