“And I’m so happy that you survived that boat explosion yesterday and can be at my wedding.” Lisa gave her a motherly look. “You’ve got to stop getting in these life-threatening situations.”
“Believe me, I know.” Cassidy’s entire body hurt this morning, but she wouldn’t tell Lisa that. No, she didn’t want anything to ruin her friend’s day.
Someone knocked at the door, and Skye stepped inside. The light still hadn’t returned to her eyes. Cassidy knew she was still worried about her niece—and she would be until Serena was away from Gilead’s Cove. Her heart pounded with compassion for her friend.
“I couldn’t miss all the fun,” Skye said, attempting a smile. “Your BFF only gets married once.”
“I seriously can’t believe this is the day!” Lisa squealed, fluffing her skirt and twirling around.
Cassidy’s phone rang, and she excused herself. Though she didn’t recognize the number, she answered anyway. “Cassidy Chambers.”
“Cassidy?” a shaky voice asked. “Is that you?”
“Who’s calling?”
“Cassidy, it’s me. Moriah.”
Cassidy’s heart skipped a beat. “Moriah, what’s going on?”
“You were right, Cassidy,” Moriah rushed. “This place and the people here aren’t what I thought they would be. I want out. Can you help me?”
“Of course. Let me come get you.”
“I only have an hour until I’m supposed to get married. But I can meet you in the woods at the south side of the compound. But you have to come now. Otherwise, they’ll find me.”
Cassidy glanced back at Lisa and frowned. She could do this. She could help Moriah and still be there for Lisa. “I’ll be right there. Just hold tight.”
“Hurry, Cassidy. Hurry.”
Cassidy ended the call. She hated to go anywhere near Gilead’s Cove alone. She’d promised Ty she’d take him with her, but he was out with Braden right now.
She nibbled her bottom lip.
She couldn’t pass up this opportunity. Moriah had sounded so scared. She had to help her.
Grabbing her keys, Cassidy started toward her car.
She would go get Moriah, take her somewhere safe, and come back here. No problem.
She hoped.
Ty and Braden cruised on the water back toward Lantern Beach. Ty had told Braden he would go alone to pick up the rings, but Lisa had insisted that Braden go with him.
The man was so excited to get married he’d been pacing all day, so Lisa probably wanted to keep him occupied for a little while.
“So how are things at Hope House?” Braden asked over the roar of the motor and the splashing of the water on the speedboat Wes had let them borrow.
Ty frowned at the question and pushed his sunglasses up higher.
“They could be better.” With a heavy heart, Ty told him about the possibility of canceling the next session. Braden had been one of the first participants at the retreat center.
“Oh, man,” Braden said. “How long do you have until you have to let people know?”
“I need to make some phone calls on Monday.” The time was squeezing in. Ty had been hoping for the best, but none of his leads had panned out.
“Wow, I’m sorry to hear that. I know Hope House helped me a lot. I’d hate to see you have to close down after just opening.”
“That flood caused more damage than I thought, and even though we had insurance, there was a lot we had to pay out of pocket. I’ll probably get reimbursed eventually, but not in enough time.”
“I’ll pray that the funding comes in,” Braden said. “But I’ve been thinking about something lately.”
“What’s that?”
“All these guys you’re bringing in for the retreat . . . the ex-military,” Braden started. “They all are looking for new careers after being out of the military. Have you ever thought about branching out and offering them jobs? Maybe some of the funding could help pay for the retreat center itself.”
“You mean recruit from the retreat center?”
“No, I mean maybe branching out and starting a subsidiary? Maybe a company to employ them once they’re back on their feet. They would want something a little more high adrenaline than a retreat center. I’m thinking maybe hiring them out as bodyguards or PIs or something.”
“It’s an interesting thought.” Ty had never considered such a service.
“Having the right job can give them a sense of purpose again, you know.”
Braden raised a good point—a program like that could pay for the daily operations of Hope House. He’d need to think about that a little more, though. It wasn’t a decision that could be taken lightly.
“Speaking of which, are you going to apply with the LBPD for the summer?” Ty asked, turning the attention back to Braden.
“I’m hoping to. My doctor cleared me, but I figured I should wait until after my honeymoon.”
“Maybe a good idea.”
“Besides, I thought Lisa could use some help getting the restaurant ready for the season. But you really should think about what I said—about starting a company to employ these guys. I could help in the off-season, if you’re interested.”
“I’ll think about it,” Ty said. “I agree that people seem to operate through life better when they have a sense of purpose and direction.”
Unfortunately, that was Anthony Gilead’s whole philosophy also. Only Ty would try to fill that need in a manner that wasn’t self-serving.
Ty’s phone rang, and he answered without looking to see who was calling.
“Ty?” a female said.
“Yes?” The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn’t immediately place it.
“It’s Serena.”
“Serena?” Ty repeated, uncertain if he’d heard correctly over the roar of the boat’s motor.
“Ty, Cassidy needs you. Now.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cassidy parked her SUV on the side of the road, out of sight from the main entrance to Gilead’s Cove, just as Moriah had asked.
Making sure her gun was in place, she started through the woods to the spot where Moriah had told her to meet.
She’d called both Dane and Leggott to see if either were available to meet her here, but they were both occupied with a domestic dispute at one of the rental houses. Mac was at the town administration office reviewing some election details. And Ty was with Braden, coming back from Hatteras.
Cassidy was going to have to do this alone.
She was just glad that Moriah had finally seen the light, so to speak. If the woman stayed a part of Gilead’s Cove, she was just going to be in for a lifetime of hurt and pain. She was thankful Moriah had actually called and asked for help.
She only hoped this rescue operation went off without a hitch.
In some ways, it was better if it was just Cassidy. Too many people might spook the woman or even alert others at Gilead’s Cove of what was happening. Cassidy could be quiet and subtle. Besides, Moriah seemed to trust her.
She tromped through the forest, her legs brushing against the thick underbrush.
Cassidy would find Moriah. Take her to her SUV. From there, they would go back to Cassidy’s place, she decided. Until she knew if there was a traitor within the police department, she couldn’t trust that the woman would be okay if left there.
Yet she couldn’t leave her at the cottage by herself either. She figured she would call either Gabe Abbott or Tate Donovan about staying until she could get back. Abbott was a better choice, but she still didn’t quite trust the man. Tate was an EMT, but she didn’t know the man well.
Either way, Cassidy would make this work. That was certain.
She glanced ahead. It wasn’t much farther to their meeting spot—thank goodness. Cassidy had never been a big fan of the woods. Probably because she’d grown up in the city. Either way, something about them spooked her.
At once, the threatening text message she’d gotten this week filled her mind.
I know
who you are.
A chill raced up her spine. Who had sent those texts? What was his or her plan for Cassidy? How long would they draw this out before they spilled the truth to anyone who was listening?
She couldn’t think about it. Not now. Right now, she’d deal with Moriah. One problem at a time.
She spotted the fence ahead where she was supposed to meet Moriah. The woman wasn’t in sight. Not yet, at least. Maybe she was hiding, hoping she wouldn’t be caught by any members of Gilead’s Cove.
Today wasn’t only Lisa and Braden’s wedding. No, today was supposed to be Moriah and Gilead’s also. If Cassidy could get to the girl before she said, “I do” . . .
Cassidy stepped forward, ready to call out Moriah’s name. But, before she could, a hand covered her mouth and a deep voice said, “Thanks so much for coming, Cassidy.”
“Say that again, Serena.” Ty tensed as he held the phone to his ear and struggled to hear against the noises around him.
“I think Moriah set Cassidy up,” Serena whispered. “You’ve got to help her. I think she’s in danger.”
Ty’s breath caught. “Where are you, Serena?”
“I’m at the Cove,” she rushed. “Moriah and Gilead got married, but I overheard Moriah talking to someone. I sneaked away and found a phone up in an office so I could call you, but I can’t get caught. I don’t know what they’ll do to me if they find out.”
The tension in Ty’s chest pulled tighter and tighter. “Where do you think Cassidy is, Serena?”
“In the woods outside the compound. You’ve got to hurry, Ty. These guys Moriah was talking with . . . they looked scary. I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t like it.”
“I’m on my way.” He threw the boat into high gear and sped toward the area Serena had mentioned.
“What’s going on?” Braden asked, a knot between his eyes.
“Cassidy is in trouble. I’ve got to go see if I can help her.” He glanced at his friend. “I’ll get you back in time for your wedding. Don’t worry.”
“Cassidy first,” Braden said. “Let’s go.”
Ty turned the boat and headed away from the fishing center and toward Gilead’s Cove. The compound backed up against the Pamlico Sound. As he got closer, the water became shallower, and he slowed.
When he could go no farther, Ty anchored the boat and jumped into the frigid water. He hurried toward the shoreline near the woods, where Serena had directed him. Water sloshed around him and seaweed grabbed at his legs.
He only hoped the bad guys didn’t see him coming. He needed the element of surprise here if he was going to have the upper hand.
Braden stayed beside him.
Ty’s pulse pounded with every step. What if something had happened to Cassidy?
No, he couldn’t think like that. In fact, he thought like that all the time. Too often.
The water splashed around him until he reached the sandy shore. Ty wasted no time once he got there. He rushed through the woods, toward the area where Serena said Moriah and Cassidy were supposed to meet.
But when he got there, the area was empty. Only trees and underbrush and marsh grass had invaded the area.
Had Serena been wrong?
“See anything?” Braden paused beside him and drew in deep breaths.
“No, nothing,” Ty muttered, an ache forming in his chest.
Just as he said the words, he spotted something on the ground. He reached down and carefully picked it up.
It was Cassidy’s gun.
The blood left his face.
This wasn’t good.
No, if Cassidy had left her gun behind, then she was in major trouble.
Chapter Thirty
Cassidy opened her eyes and blinked. As an aching pulse pounded at her head, she desperately tried to recall where she was and what had happened.
That’s when everything hit her.
She’d gone to meet Moriah. But the woman hadn’t been there in the dense woods.
Instead, a hand had gone over her mouth before something hard hit her head.
Everything had gone black.
And now Cassidy was here.
In the woods. Surrounded by trees. The steady song of insects and frogs hung in the air, sounding like a death chant to her now.
Cassidy jerked, trying to move, to get away, to run.
She couldn’t. She was . . . tied to a tree. Ropes encircled her, immobilizing her arms against her.
What?
She jerked again, desperate to get away.
It was no use. These ropes were tied tight—so tight she’d probably begin to lose circulation soon.
Keep your wits about you. You can figure this out.
Cassidy surveyed the area around her, trying to find the person or persons who’d done this to her.
And what about Moriah? What had happened to Moriah?
Had those men found her? Had Gilead sent them to retrieve Moriah and make Cassidy pay?
She hoped not. She hoped Moriah was okay. That she hadn’t made it to the spot in time. That she’d been spared any of this.
No one was here with her, Cassidy realized. She only saw those trees and the marsh grass and sandy crevices where the forest had invaded the dunes.
But just as she realized that, a shadow appeared from behind her.
She gasped as a man came into view. Flinching, she wanted to raise her arms to fight. But it was no use—she couldn’t.
It was . . . James Waldron.
This was the man who’d gone with Reagan to purchase those stuffed animals. Most likely, he was the man who’d killed those people as well—who’d poisoned them. Who’d poisoned Bob. Who’d shot at Cassidy and later put Jimmy James in the hospital after throwing that grenade.
“Well, I see you’re okay, Chief Chambers.” Waldron bounced a gun in his hands like it was a toy. “Thanks for coming.”
She sneered at him. “You’re not Moriah.”
“We decided to take her place.” He smiled, looking just as mean as Cassidy had imagined him to be.
“Is she okay?” Cassidy asked. “Where is she?”
“She’s fine, and that’s not important.”
“Did you do something to her?” Cassidy couldn’t let this go. She needed to know what had happened to the girl.
“We forced her to make that phone call,” he said. “I’m sorry we had to do that, but it was the only way to get you out here.”
“Why did you want to get me out here?” Cassidy almost didn’t want to ask the question. Did she really want to know what they were planning?
Waldron paced in front of her. “So we can finally silence you for once and for all.”
“And this was the way you decided to do it?” Cassidy shook her head, trying to plant doubts in the man’s mind. It would buy her some time. However, another shadow appeared on the other side of her.
He must be Waldron’s sidekick. The man was quiet, obviously the follower of the two. But still, it would be hard for Cassidy to take both of them—if she even had the chance. As it stood right now, there was no way she could get out of these ropes unless someone released her.
These two had no intention of doing that.
“Every time we saw you, there were people around you,” Waldron said, still bobbing that gun in his hands. “You weren’t exactly an easy target. And then you somehow survived the incident on the boat yesterday, which leads us to this.”
Cassidy managed to pull a piece of bark from the tree. Holding it carefully in her hand, she rubbed it against the rope. It was a long shot that this would work, but at least it was something. She just needed to keep him talking.
“Why kill me?” she asked. “There are other people involved here. Why target me?”
“We know you’re the one who won’t give up.” Waldron paused for long enough to shake his head and look halfway impressed at her tenacity.
“So you were selling or smuggling drugs through stuffed animals. You had Reagan and her friends helpin
g you. At some point, you must have gotten scared, so you poisoned them and dumped their bodies. Strange way to kill someone. Why not just shoot them?”
“Because then if their bodies were ever discovered, it would look suspicious. No one was supposed to figure this out.”
“But I did.”
He scowled. “Exactly. You did it. You messed everything up.”
Cassidy couldn’t be 100 percent sure, but she didn’t think these were the guys who’d sent her those text messages. Nothing they said alluded to that.
Cassidy swallowed hard, anxious to know what they were going to do with her—and to buy time. Maybe someone would find her out here. She’d told Leggott and Dane where she was going, at least.
“What’s your plan?” she asked.
Waldron reached behind him and pulled a water bottle from his pocket. Slowly, he twisted the cap until little streams of water spilled over the sides and onto his hands. “I thought it would be poetic if you took a few sips. You know, things would come full circle and all.”
Cassidy’s blood went cold. Just a few sips, and what would her heart do?
It would stop, just like Bob’s had. Just like Reagan’s.
And she was helpless to do anything about it.
Braden leaned down and touched a broken branch near the ground. “It looks like whoever was here left a trail.”
Ty knelt beside him and examined the broken branch. “You’re right. It does. Do you think we can follow it?”
“Let’s try.”
Following Braden’s lead, Ty walked through the forest. He wished he could move faster, but he knew tracking didn’t work that way. One wrong move, and they’d lose the trail and have to backtrack.
Adrenaline pumped through Ty’s veins as reality hit him.
They had Cassidy. Those men—those dangerous men—had the woman he loved.
He could hardly bear the thought of it.
Please, Lord, watch over her. Protect her. She doesn’t deserve this.
He squelched the panic that tried to rise in him. Panic would get him nowhere. If there was one thing being a SEAL had taught him, it was that. But when it was the life of someone you loved that was on the line, all bets were off. The training that had been ingrained in him became a distant memory.
First Degree Murder Page 15
