The pressure of the moment pushed down on Cady. If she wasn’t careful, this could end badly. Very badly.
“He’s seemed secretive,” she said. “So I decided to keep an eye on him.”
“Did you know about the women?”
“Not until I followed him. I was on my way to do the deal across town, but as I was leaving, I saw him head downstairs.”
“If she’s your right-hand woman, why isn’t she always with you?” Sloan demanded. “Why do you trust her so much? Just because she saved your life? How do you know that wasn’t a fluke?”
Raul’s eyes turned as cold as black ice on an otherwise sunny day. “I trust my gut.”
Sloan sneered. “And what is your gut telling you right now?’
“That you can’t be trusted.”
Cady held her breath, watching how things would play out. She couldn’t let Sloan take the rap for this. Yet what choice did she have? Sloan was an evil man. He deserved to pay.
But this wasn’t the way she liked to do things.
She needed out of the situation. Pronto.
She wasn’t made to deceive people like this.
“Take him to the room where we kept the ladies,” Raul said. “I need to show him a thing or two.”
Raul’s henchmen took Sloan’s arms.
“No, man! You don’t know what you’re doing. I didn’t do this!” Sloan’s death glare kept returning to Cady.
If he survived this, he would kill her.
Her blood pressure rose so quickly she could hear air whooshing in her ears.
“Take care of him,” Raul said. “I’ll be down in a few to make sure you do a good job.”
And that was the last time Cady ever saw Sloan or heard the man’s name mentioned.
Chapter 25
Today’s Goals: Celebrate the US of A. Pretend I didn’t kiss Ty. Stay alive.
Cassidy had awakened with one certainty this morning. She was dangerously close to blowing her cover. With every mystery she solved, she came closer to showing her hand. Ty was already suspicious, and it wouldn’t be long before he started to put things together. If she didn’t handle the mystery around these ladies carefully, she was going to find herself looking for a new place to call home. She wasn’t ready for that.
She’d woken early and fixed the ladies breakfast. She’d talked to them some more and tried to reassure them. None of them looked convinced. In fact, they each seemed to be growing more agitated in their own ways. Rose was becoming angrier. Kat more withdrawn. And Trina seemed to be growing more anxious by the moment.
She’d never been great at small talk, but as Cassidy glanced out the front window and felt the sun’s rays already warming the glass there, she couldn’t help but remark, “It’s going to be a scorcher today.”
And it was the Fourth of July, which meant everyone would be outside. If she was truly an entrepreneur who loved selling ice cream, she’d bring in big bucks today selling red, white, and blue bomb pops.
Unfortunately, her mind was on other things.
“I just want to see the beach,” Trina suddenly announced.
“It’s not a good idea.” Rose’s voice sounded stern, like a general in the middle of battle. “We should stay inside.”
“I’m inclined to agree with her,” Cassidy said, crossing the room until she stood next to Trina. “The longer you can conceal yourself, the better.”
“Just one glimpse from the deck won’t hurt anything,” Trina continued, fanning her face. “I’m going stir-crazy. I feel like I’m a prisoner again.”
“Get over it,” Rose said. “Whining never makes anything better.”
Before anyone realized what she was doing, Trina rushed toward the door and threw it open.
As soon as she did, she screamed and jumped back. Had those men returned? Had they found her?
“Trina!” Rose rushed. “What is it?”
Cassidy reached for a gun that she didn’t have on her. Instead, she pushed down her alarm and peered around Trina.
Ty stood at the door.
The wrinkle in the skin between his eyes only emphasized how his gaze was full of questions and confusion.
And rightfully so.
“It’s okay, guys.” Cassidy’s stomach sank with dread. “He’s my friend. Just let me talk to him for a minute.”
“Are you sure you can trust him?” Rose’s voice was just above a hiss as her gaze bore a laser beam-like hole into Ty.
“You can trust him. I promise.” Even though Cassidy hadn’t trusted him with her own secret. The irony wasn’t lost on her, yet she kept her mouth shut.
“I told you it was a bad idea to go outside.” Rose turned toward Trina, shooting daggers with her eyes.
Cassidy stepped outside to meet Ty, closing the door behind her.
How was she going to explain this to him?
His gaze latched onto hers. “You have guests,” he started, his voice dry.
“I do.” She nodded curtly, still gathering her thoughts.
He shrugged, his head pulled to the side as if searching for words amidst his confusion. “Care to tell me where they’re from?”
Cassidy licked her lips. “It’s—”
“Let me guess. It’s a long story.”
“It is, actually.”
He crossed his good arm over his slung-up one. “I’d feel better if you offered a little more information. Although I realize it’s none of my business.”
She glanced behind her, checking to see if the women were nearby or pressing their faces against the glass. She didn’t see them. She could only imagine the heated conversation going on inside.
She pulled Ty toward the railing, away from any listening ears, just to be safe. “Look, I promised not to share details.”
He squinted. “Why not?”
Cassidy let out a long breath, hating being between a rock and a hard place. “There are some bad people looking for those ladies.”
“So you took them in?” His voice held an air of disbelief and wonder and . . . admiration?
Cassidy rubbed her temples, her elbows letting out a burst of pain to remind her of last night’s injury. “Something like that.”
“Is this connected with what happened yesterday evening?”
Cassidy nodded slowly, figuring she could admit that much. “It is.”
“Cassidy . . .” He ran a hand over his face, clearly exasperated.
“Look, I know how this seems.” She stepped closer and lowered her voice. “But I couldn’t turn them away. They needed someone, and I was here.”
He shifted his weight to his other foot, still appearing unconvinced. “So, let me get this straight. You solved the island’s first murder in thirty years. Then you helped Skye and uncovered a drug deal. Now you’ve found some troubled women and are helping them?”
Cassidy nodded, like it wasn’t a big deal. “That’s correct. The truth is . . . I get bored, and this is what I do.”
He tilted his head, studying her openly and without apology. “Is that right?”
“It is.”
He stepped closer and reached for her, squeezing her arm. “Cassidy Livingston . . . you’re going to get yourself killed one day.”
If he only knew about the million-dollar bounty on her head. “Maybe.”
“I don’t even know what to say.”
She desperately wanted him to see her perspective. She wasn’t sure why his approval was important to her. Maybe because her father had never approved? Maybe because it would be nice to have one male in her life who appreciated her?
“Look, Ty, these women are scared,” she said. “If those men find them . . .”
“Let me guess—these are the same men you ran into last night, the ones who almost abducted you.”
“You’re correct.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” A touch of hurt entered his voice.
“Because I promised them I wouldn’t. I was trying to keep my word, Ty. Believe me, I wanted to. There a
re things I want to tell you.” She hadn’t intended to say that. She held her breath as she waited for his reaction.
His gaze zoomed in on her until she was unable to look away. “Other things?”
“No. Not other things. I mean, I’m sure there are other things. But right now I’m talking about this thing.” Get a grip, Cassidy.
“Well, maybe we can talk about those other things sometime.”
She swallowed hard, desperately wishing she could, that it could be her reality. “Maybe. But one thing at a time.”
Right then, her cell rang. Perfect timing, because she wanted out of this conversation before she said something she shouldn’t.
“What’s going on, Serena?” Cassidy paced away from Ty, her gaze going to the waves. They easily looked ten feet high. The tropical depression had turned into tropical storm. Wouldn’t hit land but was stirring up surf—which meant more people would forgo the beach in favor of the parade today.
“Hey, guess what? An article just came out in the paper this morning—not the island newspaper, but the Washington Post newspaper—saying that Martin Chaser is being investigated for drugs. Can you believe it?”
Martin Chaser? Maybe he was their guy. “No, I can’t believe that.”
“I just heard. I want to go ambush him and see what he says.”
Cassidy cringed at the thought of it. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Serena.”
“I think it’s a great idea, and Ernestine agrees. It would make for riveting news, she said.”
Cassidy really needed to meet Ernestine sometime. “You could be putting yourself in danger.”
Ty gave her a look, and Cassidy shrugged, not in the mood to face the mirror of truth in her words.
“He eats at the Crazy Chefette every day,” Serena said. “The confrontation will be in public and safe. I promise.”
“Let me go with you, at least.”
“You want to go with me?” Surprise laced Serena’s voice.
“Well, I just don’t want to see you in a bad situation. There’s safety in numbers.”
“Okay then. I won’t turn down help. How about in an hour?”
“An hour is great. It will give us time to avoid the 5K runners. I’ll meet you outside the restaurant, okay?”
“Sounds good. See you then, Cassidy.”
She hung up and looked at Ty, who was patiently waiting. “Serena wants to ambush Martin Chaser, and I told her it wasn’t a good idea.”
“Martin Chaser? The racecar driver?”
“He’s the one.”
“He’s in town?” Ty really had been out of the loop while he was in the clinic.
“Going to be the Grand Marshal of the parade,” Cassidy said.
He squinted and leaned against railing. “And why would Serena ambush him?”
Cassidy explained.
“You know that advice you gave Serena?”
Cassidy rubbed her chin, determined not to make this easy on him. “Which bit?”
“About putting herself in danger?”
Cassidy nodded. “Yes, I did say that.”
“Maybe you should take that advice yourself.”
“I’m just trying to protect Serena.”
He leaned closer. “And who’s going to protect you?”
“Are you volunteering?” Her voice lilted as a rush of air left her lungs.
Ty reached for her waist and tugged her closer. “I think someone needs to.”
“I don’t know. I can be a lot of trouble.” Stop using that voice, Cassidy. Stop it!
“I can’t argue with that.” Ty brushed the hair away from her forehead.
Her heart pounded at his closeness, as she remembered their kiss last night. As she wanted another one.
Just then, the door opened behind them. Cassidy jumped back and saw Rose standing there.
“Is he harassing you?” Her dark gaze shifted to Ty.
“Who? Ty? No.” Cassidy laughed at the thought of Rose attacking Ty. Then again, Rose was pretty street savvy. Maybe it wouldn’t be so funny. “Well, maybe. But in a good way.”
Rose eyeballed him, her upper lip twitching. “Are you sure we can trust this guy?”
Cassidy nodded, resting a hand on his chest. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
Rose’s demeanor softened as she turned toward him. “You better not tell anyone you saw us. If those guys find us, we’re dead meat. Or even worse. They’ll keep us alive and sell us like cows at an auction.”
“We’re not going to let that happen,” Ty said, his eyes taking on a protective gleam.
Cassidy swallowed hard before speaking again. “There’s one thing, though. I think we should move you to a new location.”
“Why?” Distrust dripped from her voice.
“Those guys saw my face last night. If they figure out who I am, they’ll find you. But I know of someone you can stay with. He’d protect you.”
“How can you be sure?” Rose’s eyes narrowed with challenge.
“Because I have good instincts.” Except when it came to romance. Cassidy didn’t need to mention that.
Rose raised her shoulder in a half shrug. “We don’t have much choice but to trust you. We’re at your mercy.”
“Then, please, believe me. If I thought you could stay here and be safe, I’d let you. Let me make a phone call.”
“Fine. I hope you’re right.”
Ty rode with Cassidy in her ice cream truck. The ladies were in the back, where no one could see them. They snacked on chocolate crunch bars to occupy themselves.
Cassidy was learning that ice cream made everything better.
And, just in case she ran into those men, Cassidy had donned a baseball cap and some oversized aviator glasses. She’d used makeup to conceal her bruises and had worn a thin, long sleeved shirt to cover the scabs on her elbows.
Hopefully those guys wouldn’t recognize her. It had been dark outside last night. Then again, optimism had never kept anyone alive. Not in her experience, at least.
At Mac’s place, she and Ty ushered the women inside. Cassidy knew they would be safe there—much safer than they’d be at Cassidy’s.
“Sounds like we need to talk later,” Mac said.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt you as you study the evacuation plans for the island in case of an emergency,” Cassidy said. That’s what he’d told her he was doing when she’d called.
“It’s always best to be prepared,” he said.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Cassidy said. “And I promise to fill you in soon. Just keep an eye on them until then, okay? They’re scared . . . and in danger.”
He winked at her. “I’ve got this.”
And he did. Mac lived for stuff like this.
Knowing they were protected, Cassidy and Ty then took off for the Crazy Chefette. All around them, the town was bustling as they got ready for the activities taking place later that day. People walked down the sidewalks carrying flags. Chairs had already been set up to reserve the best seats for the parade. A gigantic sign advised visitors that the highway would be closed for three hours later today.
“So what do you think we should do when we get there? Should we confront Martin?” Cassidy asked. She already knew what she wanted to do.
She wanted to confront Martin Chaser, of course.
“Probably not the best course of action.” Ty rubbed his injured shoulder again. “I think we can find out what we need to know without getting in his face. That should be the last resort.”
“Okay. If you think so.” She gripped the steering wheel, ignoring someone who tried to flag her down for ice cream. She didn’t have time for that now.
Ty cast her a glance, as if her words surprised him. “That was easy.”
She shrugged. “I’m no expert at these things, and you have fought terrorists.”
“Yet strangely you seem like an expert sometimes.”
His words jolted her, and she struggled to keep her expression placid. “It’s like I said
, I read a lot of novels. Maybe I even have good instinct—in a very civilian way.”
He raised his eyebrows quickly, as if less certain than Cassidy about her theory. “I guess so. But it’s been a good thing you’ve been around these past several weeks. You’ve helped bring some really bad dudes to justice.”
“I knew I was here for a reason. That, and selling ice cream.”
At that moment, Elsa began playing “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Cassidy hit the button to stop the music before she drew any more attention than necessary to herself and the truck. It took three tries before the music stopped.
“She really does have a mind of her own, doesn’t she?” Ty said.
“You can say that again.”
“I could look at her for you, if you wanted,” Ty said. “Although part of her intrigue is the fact that she malfunctions for you.”
“Intrigue? You mean part of what makes her annoying.”
Ty cast her a grin as they pulled up to the restaurant, but it faded. “Listen, should we talk about last night?”
Cassidy’s breath caught. She’d known it was coming sooner or later. She’d hoped for later. “Why don’t we deal with one problem at a time?”
“Problem?” Ty asked.
Why had she said that? She nibbled on her bottom lip a moment. “Obstacle?”
“Kissing me is an obstacle?”
He had no idea. And her choice of words wasn’t making any of this better. “Could we just talk later?”
“We can. But can I just make it clear that I didn’t find anything about kissing you a problem or an obstacle.”
Her cheeks flushed. She reached up and brushed her fingers against Ty’s jaw, his cheek.
“I . . .” she started. But her words faltered.
Ty took her hand and kissed her fingers. “We’ll talk later.”
Relief filled her. “Let’s do that. And, for now, let’s go see if Serena is here.”
Chapter 26
Cassidy and Ty slid into the booth at the Crazy Chefette beside Serena and Martin.
Maybe on another day, they could have been subtle and taken a seat behind them, but today the place was packed with Fourth of July visitors who’d rushed to the Crazy Chefette to try Lisa’s red velvet pancakes with blueberries and whipped cream. Or her blue eggs, red gravy ham, and white bread. Or the blue-and-white potato gnocchi with fresh red tomato sauce.
Lantern Beach Mysteries Box Set Page 51
