First Degree Murder

by Christy Barritt

  “Any idea who these guys are?” Braden asked, kneeling down to examine more foliage.

  “We believe they’re involved in some drug trade in this area.”

  “Not affiliated with Gilead’s Cove?”

  Ty pushed back a prickly branch, ignoring the scrapes on his hand. “If they are, we haven’t found the connection. But Gilead is slick. He knows how to cover his tracks. And the fact that Serena called me means there may be some relationship.”

  Braden grunted. “Gilead has got to be funding his ‘organization’ somehow.”

  “People who join pretty much give everything they own to the man.” Ty thought it was a shame that people believed so easily, that they were so desperate that they set aside all logic. Then again, Ty supposed some people saw him and his faith in the same way. Though Ty knew it was different, he would have trouble convincing others of that.

  “I’d imagine they don’t own much,” Braden continued. “Most of them seem pretty simple.”

  Ty bypassed some broken trees, sweat trickling down his back as the day heated up. “That could be true. We can only hope everything comes crashing around him and these people come to their senses.”

  “You really don’t like him, do you?” Braden glanced back at him.

  “No, I don’t. For several reasons. I don’t trust Anthony Gilead at all.” Ty stopped and grabbed Braden’s arm. He put a finger over his lips and nodded toward the distance.

  Voices. He’d heard voices.

  Slowly, carefully, Ty and Braden crept forward and stopped behind a tree.

  Two men were talking ten feet away.

  One of them held a bottle.

  Ty slipped behind another tree, desperate to see who these men were addressing.

  He sucked in a quick breath when he spotted Cassidy tied to a tree.

  He had to get to her and quickly. Because he had a feeling he knew exactly what was inside that bottle.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  “I’m not going to drink that,” Cassidy said through gritted teeth as she stared at the liquid sloshing in the plastic bottle in front of her face.

  Waldron laughed in front of her, the sound sardonic and heartless. “Oh, we’ll see about that.”

  She pressed her lips shut and turned her head as he pushed the bottle closer, pressing the round top against her lips until liquid spilled out down her chin.

  “Okay, okay, I can see you’re not in a hurry.” A dry, mocking tone scored Waldron’s voice as he stepped back. “That’s okay. I’ve got some time. The important thing is that we get you off this island. Life was much simpler when that other guy was police chief—that’s what I’ve heard, at least. He was as clueless as they come.”

  Cassidy actually agreed with him on that point. But what would killing her prove?

  In the long run, Abbott would find these guys. The authorities knew Waldron’s name and were actively searching for him.

  Waldron and his friend wouldn’t get away with any of this.

  Unless maybe this was bigger than these two men in front of her now.

  That had to be it, she realized. Waldron must be working for someone else.

  He paced away from her, bottle still in hand. When he was a safe enough distance away, Cassidy asked, “Why’d you poison those people? Why not kill them another way? I seriously want to know. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

  Waldron shrugged, like it wasn’t a big deal. “When I was in the army, I got bored one night and found the book White Oleander. I found it inspiring. I never thought I’d use what I learned . . . until I found that oleander bush in my backyard.”

  “I guess you started developing a plan after that.”

  “I did. I knew death by poisoning was more of a chick thing—I figured that would work to my advantage as well. Figuring everything out was actually kind of fun. I knew if I played my cards right, authorities—if they ever found the bodies—might not even realize these people had been murdered.”

  Cassidy continued to work the ropes, the action becoming more desperate with every stroke. “But you buried your victims here on the island. You didn’t think their bodies would ever be found?”

  “I figured the water might wash them away or they’d just decay. That the source of their death wouldn’t be found. It worked so well I tried it on Bob Anderson also.” He offered a smug grin.

  “You really thought you were going to get away with it.” Seeing the man’s dilated pupils, listening to the slight slur of his words, it became obvious to Cassidy that he was high. He’d somehow managed to pass the drug tests to work for the ferry system, but, right now, he was on something. His thought process was messed up.

  “I did. And I would have.” His gaze narrowed. “If you hadn’t come along.”

  “You don’t seem like a killer, James,” Cassidy said.

  He twirled around and looked at her, surprise lighting his gaze. “My job doesn’t pay much. I had to do something.”

  “So you recruited people to help you with drugs and then killed them?” Cassidy might as well get as much information as she could before they tried to force her to drink that stuff.

  “I only killed them when I had to. When they got too nosy. When they threatened to expose me.”

  “And Barnabas helped you?”

  He chuckled, quickly, sharply. “You know about Barnabas? Yeah, Barnabas recruited me. This was his idea. He talked to me on the ferry when he overheard me chatting with someone about financial concerns. He had a solution for me.”

  “To stuff flakka into stuffed animals and transport those animals to people who want the drugs?” Her stomach turned at the thought of it.

  “That’s right. It was a pretty good plan. We told people the toys were for charity. Who was going to question that?”

  “What if a child got a hold of it?”

  “A child isn’t going to pull the stuffing from those animals and find those drugs. Besides, that powder is worth a lot of money. The people who buy them don’t let them out of their sight.”

  “And Moby? You set him up, didn’t you? And you used Reagan to assist you. That was the only reason she befriended Moby at all—so he could possibly take the fall for all this.” Everything was starting to make sense.

  Waldron chuckled again. “You’re pretty smart. You got further than I thought you would. Yes, I believe in always having a backup plan—or two. That’s why I put those anchors around their necks. I figured it would throw police off my tail and buy me some time if the bodies were ever discovered. Meanwhile, Reagan was desperate for another hit and for a means to support herself. She was willing to do whatever was necessary.”

  “Did you send the pictures to Isaac?”

  “We did. That nosy man sees everything. He was always there on his pier, watching us when we went past. If he’d thought about it hard enough, he would have been able to ID us. We slipped those pictures under his door with a letter—he probably didn’t tell you about that part.”

  “What did the letter say?”

  “That if he told anyone about us, we’d make sure his sinkers showed up on the police’s radar. You know all that man wants is to be left alone.”

  “And the man at the wedding shower. Was that you?”

  “Wedding shower?” Waldron cocked his lip in a sneer. “What wedding shower?”

  Cassidy sucked in a breath. If that hadn’t been James then it was probably . . . the man who’d sent those texts and planted those cameras.

  She licked her lips and pushed forward. “I don’t understand how you knew we’d found the bodies that day.”

  “I monitored the area all the time. The ferry goes by it. When I was on duty, I saw all the uniforms in the area and knew the bodies had been discovered. My shift ended as soon as we unloaded those passengers. I hopped on the boat and knew I needed to try and deter you.”

  Cassidy nodded. “It was a risky move.”

  “I’m a risky kind of guy. It’s the reason I joined the army.” The gleam return
ed to his gaze.

  “And the reason you go around carrying a grenade? Is that because you’re a risky kind of guy also?”

  “That’s right. You never know when you might need one.” He raised the bottle. “Just like you never know when you might need some of this.”

  He walked closer, the bottle still raised high enough to meet her lips.

  Cassidy pressed her lips together again and prepared for the worst. Because her ropes were just as snug as ever.

  Ty saw the man raise the bottle to Cassidy’s lips again. He and Braden had heard everything and knew these were the guys responsible for the recent deaths on the island.

  Ty also knew they had to move quickly in order to save the woman he loved.

  He motioned for Braden to go to the other side. They’d take these men by surprise.

  Just as the man thrust the bottle toward Cassidy’s lips and water spilled around her face, Ty lunged from the cover of the forest and tackled the man.

  As he did, the other man yelled out.

  But Braden was there waiting.

  He took the man down and easily pinned him to the ground.

  As James Waldron’s elbow ribbed Ty, Ty put the man in a headlock. He had nowhere else to go and nothing else to do. After a couple minutes without air, Waldron’s hand hit the ground like a wrestler begging for mercy.

  Ty loosened his grip for long enough to grab the man’s hands and pull them behind him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out some zip ties. His friends made fun of him, but he never left home without them.

  After securing Waldron, he helped Braden subdue the guy’s friend.

  Then he went to release Cassidy. He pulled out his pocketknife and began working the ropes.

  “You had me scared there for a minute,” Ty told Cassidy, relieved that she was okay and in one piece. “You didn’t drink any of that water, did you?”

  “I didn’t. It just spilled all over my face. But if you hadn’t gotten here in time . . .”

  She shuddered. As the ropes fell away from her, she stepped into his arms and rested for a moment in his embrace.

  But they didn’t have long to stay here.

  Cassidy took a step back. “Did you call for backup?”

  “Dane is on his way now.”

  Cassidy turned to Braden. “Go. You have a wedding to get to.”

  “Are you sure?” Braden asked, glancing at his watch. The ceremony would start in an hour and a half.

  “More than sure. Go. We’ll be fine.”

  “Okay.” Braden nodded, still looking uncertain. “I’m glad you’re okay, Cassidy.”

  “You won’t be okay if you miss your wedding,” she told him. “Go!”

  Braden took off.

  When he was gone, she stepped closer to James Waldron, glowering down above him. “Did Anthony Gilead have anything to do with this?”

  “Who?” He spit on the ground, acting like he’d swallowed some sand as he glared up at Cassidy.

  “Anthony Gilead.”

  “Never heard of him.” His left eye twitched as he said the words.

  “He’s running for mayor. Does that ring any bells?”

  “Don’t know him,” James insisted.

  “Then how do you know Moriah?”

  Waldron scowled. “We found her walking in the woods.”

  Cassidy shook her head as she glanced down at him. “I find it hard to believe you’ve never heard Anthony Gilead’s name and that you just happened to stumble upon Moriah Roberts.”

  “I couldn’t care less about this island or whoever this guy is you’re talking about.”

  “That’s obvious.” Cassidy scowled.

  Just then, Dane and Leggott showed up.

  Cassidy let them take over the investigation.

  Cassidy and Ty also had a wedding to get to, and they were going to be pushing it to make it in time.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Cassidy squeezed Ty’s hand as she watched Lisa and Braden exchange vows before they sealed their marriage with a kiss. They’d chosen to get married on the beach, and the weather had cooperated nicely.

  The sun set behind the couple, casting pinks and blues across the sky as Pastor Jack stood before them, presiding over the ceremony. Lisa had decided against having any bridesmaids in favor of something simpler.

  It was just beautiful. Beautiful and perfect. Cassidy needed something like this to end her day. To end her week.

  Because what a week it had been.

  Dane and Leggott were handling the arrests until Cassidy could make it back into the station. She was determined to celebrate her friends first. She would stay at their reception for at least an hour—maybe more. Then she would continue to fulfill her obligations as police chief.

  Gilead’s words wouldn’t be true in her life. She wouldn’t always work to please people and wouldn’t find affirmation only in what she offered other people.

  But part of that also meant that she had to have a life outside her job. In order to make that happen, she had to set boundaries.

  Besides, Abbott was officially in charge of this case. The problem was that Cassidy considered this her island. She felt it was her personal responsibility to ensure everyone was okay.

  Cassidy still had a lot of questions that needed to be answered. What exactly was Moriah’s role in Cassidy’s abduction today? Had she set Cassidy up? Or was it like Waldron had said—had they forced Moriah into cooperating?

  Later, she would go talk to Moriah and find out. Cassidy and Ty had paid a quick visit to Gilead’s Cove, only to be told that Gilead and Moriah were away on their honeymoon at an undisclosed location.

  After they swung by the compound, Cassidy had just enough time to go home and change into something more presentable than the muddy clothes she had on. She’d pulled her hair back into a loose braid, sprayed some perfume, and decided it would have to do.

  She was thankful to be alive. Cassidy had been so close to tasting that drug-laced water. To having it go down her throat and enter her system. To having it claim her organs and suck the life from her.

  Just as it had with Reagan and Bob. The two other victims would soon have names. Abbott’s interrogation of James and his friend should provide the answers.

  After the ceremony concluded, everyone headed to the Crazy Chefette to celebrate. The joy on Lisa and Braden’s faces nearly made Cassidy forget about everything else that had gone wrong in recent days.

  As Cassidy drank some sherbet punch spiked with jalapeno juice, Ty sidled up beside her. “Guess what?”

  “What?”

  “I just got a call from an old friend who attended the first session at Hope House. John Melton. Do you remember him?”

  “How could I forget him?” The man had been a SEAL with Ty. He had more tattoos than anyone Cassidy had ever seen, rode a Harley, but he had a heart of gold.

  “John said he appreciated the time he had at Hope House so much that he wanted to do something to say thanks,” Ty continued.

  “Did he know about your financial struggles?”

  “No, he didn’t. He said he didn’t tell me about this in advance just in case the event was a bust. But he organized a motorcycle rally just for Hope House. Anyway, you’ll never believe how much money he raised.”

  “How much?”

  “Fifty thousand dollars.”

  Cassidy’s jaw dropped. “No way.”

  “Way. Can you believe it?” Ty grinned, looking amazed at how things had worked out.

  “It looks like you can buy those plane tickets for this next session after all.”

  “Yes, I can.”

  Cassidy threw her arms around him. “That’s fantastic, Ty. I’m so happy for you.”

  “Me too. And I’m glad you’re safe. More than glad. I’m forever grateful.”

  “One of these days, I’ll stop putting myself in these situations.”

  Ty kissed her cheek and stepped back, some of the light leaving his eyes. “Anything more from this g
uy who’s sending the texts?”

  She frowned at the reminder. “No, nothing else.”

  “You don’t think it was James Waldron, do you?”

  She shook her head. “No, I really don’t.”

  “What about Gilead?”

  Cassidy shrugged, still wrestling with the thoughts herself. “I think he’s a possibility. But I have nothing to prove it. Then, again, it could be anyone. I have no clues really as to whom this person is. Nor do I have any idea who left those cameras in our cottage or what they plan on doing with any information they may have obtained because of it.”

  “What about the traitor who’s feeding information to Gilead?”

  Cassidy squeezed Ty’s hand and glanced around the room at each of her friends. Braden and Lisa. Austin and Skye. Wes. Mac. Clemson.

  Grief pressed down on her heart. “I just don’t know, Ty. I wish I did. I don’t want to believe anyone I trust would do this. But I do have to proceed with caution.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  Just as Ty said the words, Cassidy’s phone buzzed. It was another text message.

  You’re living on borrowed time.

  The blood drained from her face as she showed it to Ty and glanced around again. No one looked her way.

  Could the person sending these texts be here at the wedding? Was he watching her now? And what would this mean for her future?

  Ty wrapped his arm around her.

  Cassidy didn’t know. But with Ty by her side, she knew anything was possible—even defeating this unseen enemy and somehow breaking up Gilead’s Cove and getting Serena back.

  She just needed time. A little more time.

  “I’m not leaving, Ty,” she muttered.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, no one is going to scare me away from Lantern Beach.” Cassidy raised her head. “I want to grow old here. Watch my friends get married. See their babies. I want to have babies, and I want them to grow up here.”

  Ty smiled—the action layered with emotion from joy to a touch of sadness. “I like that idea, Cassidy.”