On the Lookout

by Christy Barritt

  “How did you find that out?”

  “My lawyer has been looking into his finances, that’s how. There’s always a paper trail.”

  “I’m sure that must have been hard to hear.”

  “Al had children he needed to take care of. They should have been his first and only obligation. Not this little organization that he claimed helped to turn his life around.” Her eyes were nearly bulging, as if she couldn’t contain her inner turmoil.

  “I agree. That must have been difficult for you to learn.”

  “It was.” She wiped beneath her eyes with another tissue, her emotions obviously getting the best of her. “I knew he didn’t love me, but the kids … you need to find whoever did this.”

  “I plan on doing just that.” Cassidy paused. There was one thing Cassidy had to know before the woman left her office. “Just a final question for you, Ms. Hartman.”

  “Of course. Anything.”

  Cassidy locked gazes with her. “How was the ferry ride over this morning?”

  Trisha blinked. “The ferry ride? It was fine. Why?”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, why are you asking this?”

  “Because the ferry has been closed all morning because of rough waters. Now, do you want to tell me when you really got to town, and why you lied about it?”

  Cassidy glanced at Ty as he sat across from her in the office. He’d stopped by with a late lunch—shrimp sandwiches, fruit salad, and chocolate chip cookies. She was thankful for Ty’s thoughtfulness because she’d mostly forgotten to eat today and now that she thought about it, she was starving.

  “So what did Trisha Hartman say?” Ty popped a grape into his mouth.

  “She said she came here four days ago—”

  “Which would put her on the island in time for Al’s murder.”

  “Exactly. She said she decided to come to Lantern Beach because this was the last location where Al’s phone pinged. She was worried about him and felt like they needed closure before she could move on. And her lawyer apparently had some more legal documents that Al needed to sign. But then she couldn’t find him—he wasn’t answering his phone. And then she heard about the body that had washed ashore.”

  “The timing is suspicious.” Ty took another bite of his fruit salad.

  “I agree. If she’s telling the truth then the timing couldn’t be worse.”

  “But there’s not enough evidence to arrest her?”

  Cassidy shook her head and picked one of the fried shrimp from her sandwich. “Not telling the truth doesn’t mean you’re a murderer. I’m going to look over the evidence from the scene one more time, though. Maybe there’s something we missed that will give us a clue.”

  “It doesn’t hurt to double-check.”

  Cassidy let out a long breath. “So, I need to narrow down who the killer could be—because there was someone else involved in Al’s death.”

  “Who do you have so far?”

  Her mind drifted through the possibilities. “Well, as we just talked about, his estranged wife was in town when the murder happened, yet she didn’t tell me that. I had to discover it on my own. You know the spouse is always the first person we look at.”

  “What would she have to gain by killing him?”

  “Maybe a life insurance policy. Maybe she was just angry that he walked out of her children’s lives like he did. There could be any number of reasons.”

  “I can agree with that. What else?” Ty leaned back, fully listening and engaged.

  Just one more thing to love about him. He was a great listener.

  “Even though Anthony Gilead claims he’s never seen Al Hartman before, all the pieces fit that Al was a part of their little group. Someone who’s living at Gilead’s Cove could have easily killed the man and put his body in the water to get rid of it. They were probably hoping it would wash out to sea.”

  “Why not just bury it? That way no one really would find it? That compound is hard to get into.” Ty took a bite of his sandwich.

  “That’s a good question. I’m not sure.”

  “And Gilead seems smarter than that, you know?” Ty continued. “I’m not saying he’s not responsible, but he does like to think things through. He strikes me as the type who would make someone’s death look like an accident. He’s not sloppy enough to make it look like a suicide while the body washes up on shore.”

  “I agree. But maybe one of his minions did it. Maybe they weren’t as thorough.” Cassidy skipped taking a bite of her sandwich. It was too messy and she had too much to say at the moment. Instead, she grabbed a chocolate chip cookie and took a bite.

  Ty let out a breath. “I can’t disagree with that. It’s a possibility. But I’m more inclined to think that Al Hartman was a part of Gilead’s Cove. I think he got the scars on his back from them, most likely. But I don’t really have any solid ideas about who killed him.”

  Cassidy took another bite of her cookie and chewed on it a moment. “Let’s say this group really is a cult and that Al was involved. If Al tried to leave or to spill information …”

  “Then the leadership could be upset,” Ty said. “Maybe he knew too much. But, if that was the case, Al wasn’t even branded like Kaleb had been. What does that tell us?”

  Cassidy shook her head, which was starting to pound. “Excellent question. I don’t really know. Maybe he refused. Maybe he hadn’t made it that far up the ladder. It’s hard to say.”

  Before they could talk anymore, her phone rang.

  She glanced at the screen.

  It was her mom. Again.

  She closed her eyes as she braced herself for the conversation.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Mom, you really shouldn’t be calling,” Cassidy started, her chest already squeezing with tension.

  “Word about what happened to your dad is starting to leak,” she said. “I need a plan.”

  “Why aren’t you talking to the board of directors about this?” Her mom was a smart woman. This wasn’t like her. Yet she always had been the type to put unreasonable pressure on Cassidy.

  “Because the board of directors will place Fred Louis in charge. Your dad has been trying to get rid of the man for years. It’s the last thing he would want. We need you. It’s in the bylaws that you’re next in line.”

  Cassidy bit down on her bottom lip before saying, “I never asked to be next in line.”

  “I know you didn’t, but your family needs you. This is what we trained you for. You don’t have to know tech to run the business.”

  Cassidy rubbed her temples and quickly glanced at Ty. “I’ve already explained it to you, Mom. I can’t leave this place. I’d be putting my life on the line. I’d live in fear every day, even with bodyguards.”

  “You’re not living in fear there?”

  She thought about her answer. She couldn’t honestly tell her mother she wasn’t because Cassidy was always looking over her shoulder. And she always would be. “It’s different here.”

  “You were destined for bigger things, Cassidy. You can have and be anything you want. Yet you’re on a rinky-dink island playing sheriff.”

  “Police chief. And what I want is to be here. This is my home now.”

  “I found some property here.”

  Cassidy paused, wondering where her mom was going with this. “Property? What are you talking about?”

  “I know you’re trying to set up that old cottage for retreats. But I found this house on the Puget Sound that would be perfect for Hope House. I could buy it for you. Ty could run his nonprofit from there, and he’d never have to worry about money again. It would solve any financial issues you might be having. You could have everything you want, only here, close to us.”

  “But that’s not where … we’re in the center of all things military here in this area. It’s an easy drive from Norfolk or Fayetteville. This is where we need to be.” Cassidy didn’t want to explain everything to her mom. She didn’t have to, for that matter.
Yet she sensed a vulnerability to her mom’s words.

  “I know you don’t think money is important. But with money, you can accomplish a lot of good things. You can make an impact on the world. You can get the justice you’re seeking without being on the police force. You can start your own national organization. All you have to do is come back here.”

  She pressed her eyes shut. “I can’t, Mom. I just can’t.”

  “Think about it one more day. I’m going to hold off the board the best I can. But please consider this possibility. It would mean a lot to our family. Blood is important. Maybe it’s the most important thing.”

  As Cassidy hung up, she glanced over at Ty then filled him in on the conversation.

  “Wow, she really pulled out all the tricks, didn’t she?” Ty offered a compassionate frown.

  “Yeah, she really did.” A heaviness pressed on Cassidy. She hated to let her family down, to not be there for them when they needed her. But she couldn’t return to Seattle for so many reasons.

  “Can you really see yourself staying here forever, Cassidy?”

  Ty’s words startled her. “What do you mean? We talked about this before we got married. Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be.”

  “And that’s what I want also. It’s just that … ”

  “It’s just that what?” She braced herself for wherever this conversation might go.

  “It’s just that … I keep worrying that they’re going to find you here. DH-7. I know they disbanded, but neither of us is stupid enough to think there aren’t die-hard stragglers out there.”

  “That may be true, but they could find me anywhere …”

  “I also worry that …” Tension stretched through his words.

  She reached forward and grabbed his hand. “What is it, Ty?”

  There was clearly something he wasn’t saying.

  He swallowed so hard that she could see his throat muscles tightening. “I know I’m going to sound crazy, but I can’t stop thinking that someone from my past might have followed me here to the island.”

  She had no idea what he was talking about. “What do you mean by ‘someone from my past’?”

  He shrugged, his gaze still heavy. “I mean … we were just theorizing about what happened to Al. I can’t help but think that whoever tortured him might in some way be connected with me. With my past as a SEAL.”

  “You think you have something to do with this man’s murder? Unofficially, of course.” Cassidy couldn’t believe she was saying the words.

  “I don’t know. I can’t shake the feeling that we’re being watched. I can’t shake the feeling that I’m somehow connected with Al. And I can’t stand the thought that I might be putting you in danger.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Don’t talk like that. Of course you’re not putting me in danger.”

  “Well, not on purpose, of course. But what if something in my past is making it unsafe for you to be around me?” His tortured gaze met hers.

  “Are you suggesting that I should move to Seattle, Ty?” Cassidy couldn’t believe that question had even left her lips. The words made her feel sick to her stomach.

  “Not exactly. It’s just that we both need to be open to whatever the future brings. If you being here and around me could hurt you, then we need to evaluate.”

  “Evaluate what? Us?” Her voice rose with concern.

  Ty stood and stepped closer, his hand going to her waist. “No, never us, Cassidy.”

  “Then what?” Everything nearly felt like it was spinning around her.

  “Then we have to evaluate our situation.”

  Her hand skimmed the edge of his jaw. “Your dream is to be here, Ty. This is what you’ve worked so hard to do. I don’t want to put that in jeopardy.”

  “I know you don’t.” He gently cupped her face. “Whatever happens, we’re in this together, right?”

  She nodded. “Of course. Together. Forever.”

  Then why did Cassidy feel like they were facing a potential crack in the road up ahead—a crack that might easily divide them?

  After Ty left, Cassidy called Dane and officially extended a contract to him to work for the island’s police department. He accepted on the spot and said he would come in the next morning to begin training.

  At least one thing was going according to plan.

  As Cassidy chewed on her thoughts regarding the rest of the day, Mac stepped into her office.

  “Are you done with boot camp for the day?” Cassidy asked as he took a seat across from her.

  “Done for today, and only one more day to go.”

  “And what will you do next?”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll keep looking for trouble.” He grinned and wagged his eyebrows before shifting. “I heard something today that I thought I would share.”

  “Please do.”

  “I was down at the hardware store when I overheard a conversation. Apparently, there was some conflict between one of our locals and our dead guy.”

  Mac had her full attention now. “Which local would that be?”

  “Rebecca, our town real estate agent.”

  Cassidy sucked in a breath. She hadn’t seen that one coming, and Rebecca certainly hadn’t mentioned anything about it. “Any details on their topic of conversation?”

  “Nope, just that it was heated.”

  “It looks like I need to go pay her another visit.”

  Mac cocked his head to the side. “Mind if I come along?”

  “Not at all.”

  Ten minutes later, they pulled up to Rebecca’s house.

  Her eyes narrowed with confusion when she opened the front door. “Hello, Mac, Chief Chambers. I didn’t expect to see you again. Especially not so soon.”

  Cassidy frowned. She hadn’t expected to be here again so soon either. “We need to talk.”

  “Of course. Come in.” Rebecca opened the door wider, and the scent of seafood circled them. “It’s whitefish stew. An old family recipe. If you want to stick around thirty minutes, you can have some.”

  “Thanks, but that’s okay.” Cassidy noted that Rebecca’s professional outfit was gone, and in its place she wore an old stained shirt and jeans. Had the woman just gotten comfortable in some old clothes after a long day at work? Or was her image of being a successful realtor a façade she put on with her business suit?

  Cassidy and Mac stepped inside but didn’t bother to sit. No, Cassidy wanted to get right to the heart of the matter.

  “Rebecca, someone in town saw you arguing with our victim last week.”

  Her face visibly paled. “Did they?”

  “You need to tell me what’s going on.”

  “I didn’t kill him.” Her voice wavered as her gaze bobbed back and forth between Cassidy and Mac.

  “I didn’t say you killed him,” Cassidy said. “But I am saying that you’re withholding information.”

  “I knew how it would look. And my husband and I depend on my income to make a living. He’s been out of work for the past fourteen months because of a back injury.”

  “I’m not trying to start trouble,” Cassidy said. “I’m only trying to solve a potential murder.”

  Rebecca cast her gaze to the floor and shook her head. “The dead man cornered me at the general store last week. I didn’t know his name, or I would have come forward with it.”

  The jury was still out on that one. “Had you met him before?”

  “No, I hadn’t. Frankly, I couldn’t believe he knew who I was. But he looked stressed. Really stressed. Sweat poured down his face, and he could hardly get a deep breath.”

  Cassidy and Mac exchanged a look before Cassidy asked, “What did he want to talk to you about?”

  “I told you that the group over at Gilead’s Cove bought up two more homes on the island. Well, the closing on those houses just went through last week. He asked me to stop the deal.”

  Cassidy narrowed her eyes as she processed the information. “Would you even be able to do t
hat?”

  She shrugged. “I suppose I could have stepped away as the agent for the deal. It might have slowed things up. But, really, all that would have accomplished was me not getting my commission. They would have still found a way to buy the property, even if it was delayed.”

  “Why did he want you to stop the deal?” Mac asked.

  “He wouldn’t give me any details. He only said it would be a mistake.”

  Cassidy waited for more, but Rebecca remained quiet. “Nothing else?”

  Rebecca shook her head. “No, nothing. I asked for more information, wondering if his proposition was something I should consider. But this guy couldn’t give me any concrete or moral reason why the deal shouldn’t go through.”

  “Did he give you any indication if he was affiliated with the group from Gilead’s Cove?” Mac asked.

  “No, he didn’t. He wasn’t one of the names on the board of directors for Gilead. But he looked scared.”

  “And this was last week?” Potentially only days before he died. The bad feeling churned harder in Cassidy’s stomach.

  “That’s right.” Rebecca wrapped her arms across her chest, her eyes wide with anxiety. “I promise I didn’t kill him. I had no reason to. I have other things to worry about, things more important than stopping someone from buying up land on the island. I’m just trying to make a living and put groceries on the table.”

  “One more question,” Cassidy said. “Do you have any idea where Al was staying here on the island?”

  If he wasn’t staying at Gilead’s Cove—and that was still a possibility—then where had he called home?

  “I have no idea. But, if it will help, I can check with my company’s rental records. Maybe he was utilizing our off-season rates.”

  “Please do check that. I’d appreciate it.” In the meantime, Cassidy would be checking with the other rental companies in the area as well.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Anxiety knotted in Moriah’s stomach as she pulled on a clean tunic the next morning.

  She’d been summoned.

  By Gilead.