First Degree Murder

by Christy Barritt

  She glanced around, her gaze stopping on Leggott as he stood on the shore, keeping watch over the water just as directed.

  Cassidy had seen Leggott on his phone with someone about a half hour ago.

  He wouldn’t have shared this information, would he?

  The bad feeling in her gut grew. She didn’t want to think anyone she knew would be that irresponsible. Or even worse—what if someone had shared the information knowing she and everyone else out here could have been killed? Could someone Cassidy trusted be that ruthless?

  Just then, her phone rang, jerking her from her thoughts.

  Cassidy pulled the device from her pocket but hesitated before looking at the screen.

  What if it was another message? Another indication from someone that Cassidy had been made?

  A sickly feeling trickled into her gut as she glanced at the screen.

  She released her breath.

  It wasn’t another threat. No, it was her friend Skye.

  Cassidy put the phone to her ear. “What’s up, girl?”

  “Cassidy, it’s Serena.” Skye’s words ran together and her pitch escalated.

  Serena was Skye’s college-aged niece who lived here on the island with her. Cassidy’s stomach clenched with anticipation. “What’s wrong?”

  “She’s gone.”

  Cassidy stepped away from any listening ears. “Skye, what do you mean by ‘she’s gone’?”

  “I mean, Serena left her ice cream truck at my place. Her car is still here. She even left her cell phone. I’ve been trying to find her for the last three hours, but she’s nowhere.”

  Cassidy didn’t want to ask the questions that came to mind. She didn’t want to face what she knew was most likely the truth. But she had to know more details.

  “I know that’s strange, but those things don’t necessarily mean Serena is gone gone. Maybe she’s just at a friend’s house. Serena isn’t always the most responsible person.”

  “No one has seen her, Cassidy.” Skye’s voice cracked. “The last I knew, she was with Dietrich. I think . . . I think Serena may have gone with him to Gilead’s Cove.”

  “What?” Cassidy’s dread turned into all-out anxiety.

  That was the worst-case scenario she’d feared. Gilead’s Cove was the name of a community here on the island, an old campground and RV park that had been purchased by a charismatic man named Anthony Gilead several months ago.

  No one knew exactly what went on behind those fences, but Cassidy knew enough to realize it was not good. The people there were a part of a cult, most likely. Even worse, the group had begun to buy up additional properties on the island, which she could only guess meant they were trying to expand.

  Dietrich was one of Gilead’s righthand men. The twentysomething man was good-looking, and he’d set his sights on Serena recently. Cassidy trusted him with Serena just about as much as she trusted the weatherman to give an accurate forecast.

  “It’s true,” Skye said. “Serena is gone. I . . . I don’t know what to do. Can you help me? Please.”

  Cassidy glanced around. Saw Clemson documenting the bodies. Saw her officers guarding the scene.

  She couldn’t leave right now. There was just no way. But Cassidy desperately wanted to help her friend out.

  “Hold tight, okay? I’ll come to your place as soon as I can. Whatever you do, don’t try to go to Gilead’s Cove alone, okay?”

  “But I need to get Serena out of there before they make her one of them! Before they brainwash her and change her into someone I don’t even know anymore.”

  “I understand. I really do. But those people won’t let you beyond their gates. I’m at a scene right now that I can’t leave, but I will as soon as possible. Promise me you won’t do anything without me.”

  Skye said nothing.

  “Skye . . .” Cassidy warned, fearing her friend would do something rash that would end in more heartache.

  “Okay, I won’t.”

  But as Cassidy hung up the phone, the unsettled feeling in her stomach remained. What had Serena gotten herself into? And the even scarier question: Would Cassidy truly be able to help?

  Agent Gabe Abbott with the NCSBI arrived on the scene an hour later. He’d been staying on the island on and off since this area had become part of his district, but he happened to be up north today. It had taken him longer to get here than Cassidy anticipated.

  After Cassidy explained the situation to him, she called in Mac, who was not only her friend but the former police chief and a current mayoral candidate. He and Ty had been sworn in as officers of the law during the last case, and now they both could serve as auxiliary officers when needed.

  Mac came to the scene to keep an eye on things for her. She trusted his judgment and knew he’d be on the lookout for trouble.

  The truth was that it would be hours—days—maybe even weeks before they had any answers as to who these victims were.

  As much as Cassidy might want to remain on the scene, she knew there were other things here on this island that needed to be done. All of their resources couldn’t remain here indefinitely.

  Cassidy’s first priority was to go check on Skye and to look for Serena.

  The thought of Serena becoming a part of Gilead’s Cove . . . it was enough to make Cassidy sick to her stomach. Serena was different, to put it mildly. She was quirky and unique and boy crazy. She defined a person who was trying to find herself with her ever-changing personalities and wardrobes and jobs.

  But she was smarter than this. Smart enough to know not to step foot inside that compound . . . right?

  Please, Lord. Let her be smarter than that . . .

  Five minutes later, Cassidy pulled to a stop in front of Skye’s home. Skye lived in a retro RV she kept parked at a local campground—the island’s alternative to affordable housing.

  Cassidy threw her SUV into Park before hopping out and hurrying up the steps to a small but welcoming deck, complete with a colorful hammock, a cheerful rug, and soothing windchimes.

  Before she could even knock, Skye threw the door open. Her eyes were red-rimmed and watery as she leaned outside, her long, lean limbs looking taut with stress.

  Skye had obviously been crying.

  Cassidy pulled her into a hug. “Oh, sweetie. I’m so sorry.”

  “I can’t believe she would do this.” Skye sniffled, nearly going limp in Cassidy’s arms.

  “Let’s go inside and talk.” Cassidy took her elbow and directed her back into the RV. Austin—Skye’s boyfriend—sat on the couch there, looking as exhausted and worried as Cassidy felt.

  When they were all seated, Cassidy leaned toward Skye. “Have you heard from Serena since we spoke?”

  Skye swung her head back and forth. “No, nothing. I have no way of getting in touch. Her phone is here. But I called all her friends, and no one has talked to her today.”

  “Did you call Dietrich?”

  Skye shook her head. “No, I don’t have his number. But you know Serena. She never leaves home without her phone. That’s a huge red flag within itself.”

  Cassidy couldn’t argue. “I know this sounds intrusive, but have you checked Serena’s phone for any messages? Normally, it would be off-limits, but in this case—”

  “I don’t know her passcode,” Skye blurted, “or I would have. Normally, I’m against stuff like that too and think people deserve their privacy. But not right now. Not when I think Serena may have made the biggest mistake of her life and she may be in danger.”

  Cassidy shifted as Skye’s words echoed throughout the room. Danger. Yes, that was the word Cassidy had been thinking about also. The one she hadn’t wanted to voice aloud.

  “Has she been hanging out with Dietrich a lot?” Cassidy hadn’t talked to Serena in a few days and didn’t want to make too many assumptions. Cassidy had warned the girl to stay away from the man.

  Skye nodded. “I think so. I mean, Serena knew I didn’t approve, so she wasn’t telling me. But I strongly suspect s
he was spending a lot of time with Dietrich behind my back.”

  “He has a house outside the compound, right?”

  “That’s what I heard. I don’t know where.”

  “I can find out.” Cassidy stood, a new mission in mind.

  “Are you going to go there?” Skye’s tear-stained gaze looked up at her, a faint glimmer of hope appearing.

  “You know it.”

  “Let me go with you.” Skye jumped to her feet.

  “It would be better if you stayed here with Austin.” Cassidy’s gaze locked with Austin, and he nodded, getting Cassidy’s subtle hint.

  “She’s right, Skye,” Austin encouraged. “Let Cassidy check this out first. If she needs us, she’ll call us.”

  “You promise?” Skye clutched Cassidy’s arm with such force that Cassidy nearly flinched.

  “I promise, Skye.” Cassidy paused, thinking through the possibilities of what might play out over the next several hours. “Is there any reason to think Serena didn’t go of her own free will into that compound?”

  Skye stared at her, eyes wide and damp. “No, why?”

  Cassidy bit down. “Just asking. I’ll be in touch.”

  But Cassidy knew that if Serena went into Gilead’s Cove of her own volition it would be nearly impossible to get her out. But she didn’t think that was news that Skye could handle right now.

  Chapter Five

  As Ty waited on the driveway beneath his house, he popped a tennis ball belonging to his dog, Kujo, against the shed wall. Somehow the motion helped him to sort his thoughts.

  After finding that camera, he and Braden had spent the rest of the morning searching the cottage. They’d found two other cameras—one in the kitchen and another outside.

  Ty had collected them, hoping they might reveal something about the person who’d planted the devices there. But he didn’t have much hope. The devices were high tech, which signaled to him that whoever had left them was no amateur.

  Could it be someone from his past as a SEAL? One of the enemies he’d made while on the job? Or did this have to do with Cassidy—with her background in Seattle? For all Ty knew, the hidden devices could even tie in with something that had happened here on the island.

  He didn’t know, and he didn’t like not knowing.

  Ty hadn’t told Cassidy about the cameras yet. The fact that she’d been occupied all morning meant that she’d been called to another big case. He would tell her when the time was right.

  Just like he’d tell her about his financial worries concerning Hope House when the opportunity arose.

  Both of those facts, when combined, made defeat press on his shoulders. Not only did Ty feel like he was failing when it came to keeping Cassidy safe, but then he also felt the sting of unspoken expectations. They weren’t expectations Cassidy had put on him—they were expectations he’d put on himself.

  Expectations that he would be the breadwinner and support his family financially. He knew it sounded macho, but it was the way he’d been raised. He’d been taught to work hard and to take care of the people he loved.

  But as he’d been crunching numbers for Hope House, he’d realized that those numbers weren’t good enough. He needed to start doing more fundraising for the nonprofit. After some flooding earlier in the year, which required repairs, his surplus of cash had dried up.

  Paying for the travel expenses of those coming to the retreat center was important to him. He didn’t want the experience to be a financial burden but a blessing. But the operating costs were more significant than Ty had anticipated, and now he had to find more money or cancel his next session.

  He hadn’t told Cassidy about that. She’d had so much on her mind lately that Ty didn’t want to stress her out any more than absolutely necessary. But they’d have to have some hard conversations soon.

  He bounced the tennis ball against the shed once more, caught it, and bounced it back again. A few repetitions later, Cassidy’s SUV pulled up. He discarded the ball into a bin by the shed door and then climbed in beside Cassidy, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “Good afternoon, beautiful,” he murmured.

  “Good afternoon.”

  Cassidy had called him ten minutes ago and asked if he wanted to help her look into Serena’s supposed disappearance. Of course, Ty had said yes—especially since he assumed her disappearance could be connected with Gilead’s Cove.

  Ty had made Cassidy promise she wouldn’t go to that place alone. Everything about the compound gave him the creeps—especially the way Anthony Gilead looked at Cassidy.

  There was more to the man than met the eye. Ty just had to figure out what.

  Ty stretched his arm against the back of the seat as they started down the road. “How’s Skye?”

  Cassidy frowned. “Devastated. Upset. Freaked out. Everything you can imagine.”

  “I can’t believe Serena would do this. Yet, at the same time, I guess I can. I’ve never quite understood the way that girl thinks.”

  Serena was prone to dressing like a different personality every day. One day she might look like Pippi Longstocking, another day she might dress like a politician, and yet a different day she might don an urban look dressed like a hip-hop star.

  What the girl lacked in common sense she made up for in enthusiasm. Still, she made Ty’s head spin.

  Cassidy’s gaze looked intense and focused as she stared at the road. “You know, Serena said something to me a while ago that’s been bugging me ever since. I had mentioned maybe we should send a spy into Gilead’s Cove. She overheard and volunteered.”

  Ty sucked in a quick breath. “That sounds like a terrible idea.”

  “I agree. I told her under no conditions would she do something like that.” Cassidy stole a glance at him, her gaze softening. “I’m afraid she had other ideas, Ty.”

  He rubbed his chin as his thoughts churned inside him. “Or even worse—what if Serena really wants to be a part of this community, Cassidy?”

  Cassidy frowned. “I can’t even go there. If Serena is there because she wants to be there . . . then we’ve lost her. If she’s there because she wants to be a hero . . . then she’s in more danger than she can possibly realize. If she’s caught—well, I can’t even think about it.”

  Ty couldn’t agree more. His chest squeezed with tension at the thought. “Let’s just hope Dietrich has some answers for us.”

  “Let’s hope.” Cassidy glanced at him again. “It’s been an interesting morning.”

  “What’s going on?” Ty figured it was something big since Cassidy had been gone all day.

  She told him about the discovery of the three skeletons in the woods, as well as about the men on the boat who’d shot at the crime-scene crew. For such a small island, this place had more than its fair share of mysteries and crimes. Ty wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

  “Someone just dumped these people’s remains there, Ty,” Cassidy finished. “Like they were trash or something. No grave markings. Nothing.”

  He reached over and squeezed her knee, hearing the disbelief in her voice. One of the reasons Cassidy was so good at her job was because she actually cared about people. She channeled her compassion into a drive to find answers.

  “I know,” he murmured. “There’s a lot of things you see in police work—a lot of things I saw being a SEAL—that you can never unsee.”

  “I realize you understand that just as well as anyone.” Cassidy let out a sigh before continuing, “We’re guessing that those bodies have only been there for three or four months.”

  As soon as Cassidy repeated the timeline, Ty knew exactly what she was alluding to. “Which would be about the time Gilead’s Cove came into town.”

  “Exactly.” Her voice sounded stony, with equal parts resolve and disgust.

  “So you think they’re connected?”

  Cassidy shrugged and let out a sigh. “I have no idea. I know I don’t trust Anthony Gilead. I think his followers are like zombies who will do w
hatever he wants. And I don’t have enough evidence to prove he’s guilty of anything, so I’m helpless to stop him.”

  “What about Lela?” Ty asked. “Has she talked yet?”

  Lela Walker had been married to Anthony Gilead, but she’d fled the relationship. Cassidy had hoped to get information from her, but Gilead had gotten to the woman before the police could. Now she refused to say anything about Gilead’s Cove. She’d been their best hope for getting answers.

  Ty and Cassidy both suspected that Gilead had threatened Lela with her brother’s life if she spoke to anyone. Her brother, Kaleb Walker, was still a member of the cult. And, so far, she’d held true. She hadn’t muttered a thing about the cult—as far as Ty knew, at least.

  “No, Lela hasn’t said a single word,” Cassidy confirmed.

  “That’s unfortunate. No doubt Lela could have brought the whole group down.”

  “I agree.” Cassidy stared straight ahead as she drove toward the other end of the island. “There’s one more thing. The only people who knew that these bodies had been discovered were law enforcement and the fisherman who found the skeletons.”

  “Okay . . .”

  “Someone on my team must have told someone what was going on. Otherwise, how did those gunmen know we were there? Know that we’d found the skeletons when we did?”

  Ty’s breath hitched. “You think you have a snitch within the department?”

  “It’s hard to say for sure, but I think it’s a possibility.” Cassidy sounded grim as she spoke the words, as if the realization burdened her—and it should. In police work, you had to trust your team. Your life depended on it. It was the same as being a SEAL.

  “If that’s true then everything you say and do could possibly be reported back to an enemy.” Ty didn’t like the thought of that. Not one bit. The situation was precarious enough without adding a spy to the mix.

  “I know. Believe me, I know.” Cassidy pulled up to a beach box-style house and put the vehicle into Park. “Let’s just hope that Dietrich has some answers for us.”