by Lena Gregory
He nodded. “I’d like that.”
She’d done the best she could for him. Sometimes there just wasn’t anything to be done. She’d make sure to talk to him afterward and tell him she’d do the individual reading at no cost. Whenever she suggested a private reading to someone who seemed especially vulnerable at one of her group readings, she didn’t charge. It just didn’t feel right. Too much like taking advantage of people.
A young woman bounced up and down in her chair, all but waving her hand in the air. Cass studied her. She vibrated with energy. Excitement danced in her eyes. Cass approached.
“What’s your name?”
“Reece.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Reece.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too. I’m so excited to be here.”
“I can see that.”
Soft laughter rippled through the room.
Reece grinned. “I actually came to you once before. When my sister was getting married, she brought her bridal party for a reading.”
“Oh, yes. I remember you. Your sister originally came in with her fiancé. They were going to get married by the lighthouse.”
“Yes.”
“How are they doing?”
“Awesome, they just got back from their honeymoon.”
“That’s great. They made a beautiful couple.” It always brought her a rush of joy to hear her customers were doing well. “Is there something specific you wanted to ask about today?”
“Actually, yes.”
She didn’t usually answer specific questions for people at a group reading, but this girl was so excited, and Cass needed to lighten the atmosphere a little.
“I just got accepted at two colleges, and I can’t decide which one to go to. Can you see which would be the best choice for me?”
Movement by the stairway caught her attention, and she squinted to bring the figure into focus in the dim light. Leighton weaved between a couple of tables and took an empty seat.
“Uh . . .” She dragged her focus back to Reece.
Hope filled the girl’s eyes.
Cass smiled. This girl knew exactly which school she wanted to go to. She was just looking for confirmation that she’d made the right choice. “You’ve made the right decision.”
Reece squealed and bounced up and down, obviously pleased with Cass’s agreement. “I knew it. My mom keeps telling me to go away to school, to experience the world, but the local school I’ve chosen is less expensive and closer to home.”
Oops. “You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. I’m sure you’ll do well no matter where you go.”
“Thank you.”
Cass moved on, searching out people she could read, those whose emotions were clearly expressed in their expressions and body language.
Leighton slouched low in her chair, arms folded across her chest. Hmm . . . interesting. The desire to delve into her mind prodded Cass, but she ignored it and moved on.
Two older women sat together at Leighton’s table. One of them held her lower lip caught between her teeth, her focus internal.
“Hi. What’s your name?”
The woman jerked her head up as if startled. “Oh, uh . . . Sue.”
Cass offered a warm smile.
A gentleman at the table next to them stood and offered Cass his seat.
She thanked him and positioned the chair where she could keep Leighton in her peripheral vision and still sit face-to-face with the woman. “You’re worried about something.”
The woman nodded, her cheeks flushed.
“Would you like me to try to help?” Some people didn’t want attention drawn to them, and Cass was always careful to respect that.
She glanced around the room, then nodded. “Yes, please.”
“Okay, let’s see what we can do for you.”
Before Cass had approached, Sue had been very focused on something. The way she’d been startled when Cass had spoken told her she was right in her original assessment, that focus had been internal. “You are trying to remember something.”
Leighton stiffened.
Sue’s gaze darted to the friend sitting next to her, only for an instant, but enough to tell Cass she was right.
Cass always watched carefully for a reaction so she’d know if she was on the right track. If it seemed she veered off, she’d backtrack a little and try a different direction. Thankfully, this woman was very easy to read, because Cass’s attention was too split for her to focus properly.
“Something you can’t find.”
Sue’s eyes widened.
Bingo.
Leighton leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. Was her interest piqued?
“When was the last time you saw it?”
“My son left it with me last month. He wanted me to put it in a safe place.” She looked down and shook her head. A tremor shook her.
The woman beside her reached over and squeezed her hand.
Cass frowned. What could her son have left with her? “Something very important.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
She needed more information, but how to get it. She changed tracks. “He trusted you.”
She nodded.
“You’re afraid of betraying his trust, afraid he won’t trust you again.”
“Yes.”
“He doesn’t know you lost it yet.”
She jerked her head back up. “No.”
“Well, let’s find it before you have to tell him, then.”
Her posture relaxed, and she nodded and offered a semismile.
“Where did he give it to you?”
“In my kitchen.” She frowned, narrowing her eyes, and Cass waited to see if she’d elaborate. “His girlfriend is coming home from college on Friday.” She grabbed Cass’s hand. “Please. I have to find it before then.”
What could be that important? Something that the woman couldn’t just replace. Inspiration struck. “Is he asking her on Friday?”
Sue gasped. “Yes. How did you know?”
Cass ignored the question.
“Close your eyes and try to relax.”
She did as instructed.
“Now, envision him handing you the ring box.” Cass held her breath. She’d figured out it was an engagement ring, but she had no clue if he’d given it to his mother in the box. It seemed he would.
Sue held out her hand as if accepting the ring box. “He handed it to me and asked me to keep it safe. I was so excited for him; his girlfriend is such a sweetheart, very good for him—”
“Bring your focus back to the box in your hand.” Cass coaxed her gently to keep her on track. If her mind wandered off in every direction whenever she tried to find the ring, it was no wonder she couldn’t find it.
“Oh, right. I got up and hugged him.”
“Were you still holding the box?”
“Yes.”
“Then what?”
“He left, and I got up to go put the ring in my jewelry box, but it’s not there. I’ve looked a hundred . . .” Her eyes shot open. “Oh, my . . .”
Cass smiled and relaxed back in her seat. “You remember.”
“Yes, yes. I was thinking about celebrating their engagement, and wondering if I still had champagne in the cabinet. I keep it in the cabinet above the refrigerator because we never really use it . . .”
This time, Cass allowed her the moment to ramble. It wouldn’t matter at this point, since she’d already remembered where the ring was, and it gave Cass a moment to take a peek at Leighton. As soon as she shifted her attention, Leighton’s gaze crashed into hers.
Leighton studied her a moment, then looked away.
Cass thought again about reading her but remembered how she’d balked at the individual reading. No way she’d be comfortable wit
h a reading in front of a roomful of people.
“. . . and put the box down to get to the bottles in the back, and it’s still there. Right there in the cabinet.” She jumped up and ran around the table.
Cass stood to accept the hug.
“I can’t ever thank you enough.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
She continued to wander through the room, seeking out the people who seemed to need her help. After nearly two hours of helping people find things they’d misplaced, talk to dearly departed loved ones, make decisions they’d already made on their own, and find love, she wrapped up the reading and thanked everyone for coming.
“Please feel free to hang around and have something to eat.” Hopefully, they’d make purchases and set up individual readings as well.
As soon as she was done, Leighton sought her out. “That was . . . impressive.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll have to come again.”
“I’d love to have you. You’re welcome to bring your fiancé next time if you’d like.”
“My . . .” She frowned.
Cass gestured to the diamond on her left hand.
“Oh, right.” She gave a tight smile, thanked Cass again, and left.
Bee squeezed her shoulder. “That went really well.”
“Thanks, Bee.” She patted his hand. “Do you know where Stevie Rhymes and her crew disappeared to?”
“Nah. They left right after you finished, but she seemed totally engrossed in everything you were saying.”
“Really?” She lifted a brow. “The only thing she seemed engrossed in to me was that guy she brought with her.”
“I know, right? She couldn’t take her eyes off him, and she was practically drooling.”
“Did you give the guy’s camera back?”
“Yeah, though I had half a mind to lose it.” He winked.
She laughed. Bee’s loyalty always touched her. “Want to walk downstairs with me for a minute? I have to check on Beast.”
“Sure, dear.” He started down the stairs with Cass right behind him.
Stephanie had already gone down and was ringing up a customer.
Cass stopped to offer her business card, thank the couple for coming, and say good-bye.
“Everything went great.” Stephanie started toward the back room with her and Bee.
“Do you think so?”
“Oh, yeah. People were really happy. I came down to help any customers, but most of them are still upstairs having something to eat.”
“That’s great. The longer—”
Several loud pops sounded. Holes appeared in the back window, surrounded by weblike cracks in the glass.
Beast went ballistic, barking and howling in the closed-off room. She had to get to him.
She started to spin around.
Another pop, and the shelves behind them shattered, then crashed down in an explosion of glass and stones.
She froze.
“I’m hit!” Bee screamed, his hand pressed to the side of his head. “Oh, my . . . I’ve been shot.”
He swayed on his feet and Cass and Stephanie ran to him. Blood gushed down his cheek and neck.
Footsteps pounded down the iron stairway.
Beast’s barks turned hoarse with the strain.
“Bee, are you all right?”
He pulled his blood-covered hand away from his head and stared at it a moment, then his eyes rolled back into his head, his knees buckled, and he dropped straight down.
24
Cass and Stephanie tried to catch Bee as he fell. They managed to break his fall a little, but not enough to keep his head from smacking the floor a bit too hard, then laid him flat on his back.
Cass knelt next to him. “Bee! Bee! Wake up!”
Chief Rawlins leaned over her shoulder, gun in hand. “Is anyone else hurt?”
The woman who’d been sitting with the chief already had her phone pressed against her ear, relaying rapid-fire details.
Luke and Tank bolted out the back door, guns drawn.
“I’ll get a cloth.” Stephanie started to get up.
Chief Rawlins stepped over Bee, gripped her shoulder and shoved her back down to the floor, then crouched beside her opposite Cass. “Stay down! Nobody move. Let me see him.”
Stephanie scooted to the side, allowing the chief to get closer to Bee.
“It’s okay, Bee.” Cass gripped his hand and held it against her chest. Sobs shook her. “You’re going to be all right.”
“Everyone calm down.” Chief Rawlins studied his head. “What happened to him?”
The other woman handed her a dish towel. “The ambulance is on its way.”
“Thanks, Jen.”
“He w-w-was shot.” Stephanie’s voice shook with the effort to speak through her tears.
Cass hugged his hand tighter. This was all her fault. She should have stayed out of anything to do with the bodies on the beach, should have listened to Tank about it being dangerous. She’d never forgive herself for Bee getting hurt. She rocked back and forth, pain squeezing her chest while she held Bee’s hand.
Voices mumbled in the background, but Cass ignored them. An EMT leaned over her, then knelt beside her.
She ignored the newcomer, her mind lost in memories of Bee being . . . well, Bee. Her best friend. She cried harder.
“Cass.” Stephanie leaned across Bee and shook Cass’s shoulders. “Cass. Listen to me.”
Cass looked up into Stephanie’s eyes.
Tears tracked down her cheeks, but she smiled through them. “Did you hear Chief Rawlins?”
Cass shook her head.
“He’s going to be okay, Cass.” She finally released Cass’s shoulders and sat back on her heels, laughing and crying at the same time. “He wasn’t shot.”
“He wasn’t?”
Stephanie shook her head and wiped her cheeks. “Something hit him in the head when the shelves crashed down.”
A wave of relief surged through her as she looked down at Bee’s serene features. He lay with his eyes closed. Bloody streaks had dried on his cheek and matted his hair. “It knocked him out?”
“Nah . . .” Rick, the EMT who’d knelt beside her, now held a blood-soaked cloth pressed against Bee’s head as another EMT opened a box and started pulling out gauze and bandages. “Head wounds bleed a lot. He probably took one look at all the blood and passed out.”
“So, he’s going to be okay?”
“A few stitches, and he should be good. They may keep him overnight in case he has a concussion. Did he hit his head when he fell?”
“Uh . . .” Cass tried to think back. Her brain was pretty much fried. Now that she knew Bee would be all right, Beast’s whimpering intruded on her thoughts.
Stephanie answered for her. “We caught him, but he still hit his head.”
“Okay.” He returned to working on Bee.
“Stephanie, could you check on Beast?”
“I already did. He’s fine. Not happy, but fine. I pushed a few chairs in front of the gates so he can’t get out. There’s too much glass everywhere.”
“Oh. Right.” She hadn’t thought of that, hadn’t thought of anything but Bee.
“Come on now, Cass. Let’s give them room to work.” Chief Rawlins helped her to her feet and put an arm around her shoulder. “I need to ask you some questions.”
Glass crunched beneath their feet as the chief led her to the table in the back corner. The glass shelves had come down like dominoes, shattering as they fell. Stones lay scattered amid the debris, as did remnants of glass knickknacks and broken bottles, their contents spilled out over the mess.
Chief Rawlins pulled out a chair. “Sit.”
Cass eyed the back window, a reflection of the chaos staring back at her.
>
“Don’t worry. It’s safe. The beach is already secure.”
Ignoring the offer of a chair, Cass continued to stare at the window, trying to see out through the destruction. Blackness stared back at her. “Did they catch whoever it was?”
The chief’s reflection firmed its mouth into a tight line as she shook her head. “Did you see anyone?”
“No. I didn’t even know what was happening.”
Rick and his partner loaded Bee onto a stretcher.
His eyes fluttered open, and he moaned.
Stephanie leaned close to him and said something as they rolled him out the door.
“I’ll take you to the hospital as soon as I can leave here,” Chief Rawlins assured her. “Do you know of anyone who would want to hurt you?”
“I have no idea.” She shook her head, then remembered Artie’s visit. She’d never gotten the chance to discuss it with Tank earlier. “Artie Becker was in today.”
“What did he want?”
“He wanted me to try to contact Kelly.”
Chief Rawlins tilted her head and cocked a brow. “And did you?”
“Did I try?” Cass held the other woman’s gaze, trying to determine how much information she wanted . . . and how much she’d believe. Then she decided it didn’t matter what the other woman believed and went with complete honesty. Who knows? If she’d been honest about everything in the first place, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. “Yes.”
“And?”
Cass took a deep breath and dove in. “I believe I was successful.”
The chief looked around for a minute, then grabbed a sheet of paper and a colored pencil from the basket beneath the counter, shook some glass shards off the paper, and sat at the table. Poised to write, she looked up. “Tell me.”
Cass sighed and sat across from her. “It was weird. I had this overwhelming sense of fear, and yet I didn’t feel afraid. I can’t really explain it.”
The chief only nodded.
“He wanted to talk to Kelly, to apologize for not taking better care of her. He mentioned his wife’s disappearance, said the police thought he had something to do with it.” She frowned, trying to remember everything, but she couldn’t. At least, not right now. She’d have to settle for the highlights. “The biggest thing that struck me was when he told her he shouldn’t have threatened her or the loser he found her with. I don’t know what he meant by that, or who he was referring to, but when he first came in last Friday, he told me he hadn’t seen Kelly in years.”
