Death at First Sight

by Lena Gregory

  “Answer me.”

  “Ummm . . .”

  “That dog belonged to Marge Hawkins. How did it end up in your car in the middle of the night?”

  She swallowed the lump she couldn’t seem to get any words past, and still all she could manage was a whisper. “Ellie gave it to me.”

  “Really.” It was obvious from the sarcastic inflection he didn’t believe her.

  She nodded.

  “I have another dead body on the beach down the road. It’s the middle of the night. And you’re out driving around with a dog belonging to the last woman you were suspected of killing.”

  Even Cass had to admit it didn’t look good. She prayed fervently the dead woman hadn’t been mauled by a dog. Sweat trickled down her back, cooled by the sea breeze, and she shivered. She clamped her teeth together to keep them from chattering.

  “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I intend to find out.” Langdon pointed a beefy finger an inch from her face. “And when I do, you’re finished. Do you understand me? You’ll be rotting in jail for a long time, missy.”

  Missy? Who says that? Indignation crept in to replace some of the fear. How dare he try to pin all of this on her?

  He propelled her toward his car, shoved her into the backseat, and slammed the door. Then he pulled out a cell phone and moved a little ways away. She couldn’t hear a word he said, but he didn’t look happy.

  Panic raged through her. He couldn’t arrest her. She couldn’t abandon her car here in the middle of the night. Who would take care of the dog? He’d probably eat the whole car before she could get back.

  When Langdon returned a few minutes later, he didn’t say a word. He simply opened the car door and let her out. Cass forced herself to hold his gaze. No way would she allow him to intimidate her. Her insides turned to mush.

  “You’re lucky Ellie admitted to giving you that dog, or you’d be on your way back to the station right now.” He walked her back to her car and closed the door behind her when she got in. He leaned into the window.

  A thought popped into her head and, unfortunately, out of her mouth before she could stop it. “How did you know it was Ms. Hawkins’s dog?”

  He frowned. “I saw it when she called me to her house about your run-in at the deli. She wanted me to keep you away from her daughter since you’re obviously a bad influence.”

  Cass bit back any response.

  “License and registration, please.”

  What?! She handed him the information without saying another word.

  He pulled out a pad and pen, paused for a minute, then started writing. He ripped off the top page and handed it to her.

  “What’s this?” She stared uncomprehendingly at the ticket.

  “Speeding. You did thirty through the school zone.” He tucked the pen back into his shirt pocket and flipped the ticket book closed.

  “Are you kidding me? It’s the middle of the night.”

  “The sign says twenty when the yellow lights are flashing.” He smirked. “The lights are flashing.”

  He strutted back toward the cruiser, and she thought briefly about telling him she saw Jay carrying something that looked like a body out of the hotel this afternoon but quickly dismissed the idea. Maybe now’s not the best time.

  * * *

  A new sense of determination filled Cass as she walked down the beach the next morning with Beast on a leash at her side. No way was she going to let Chief Langdon get away with pinning not one, but two murders on her. She was going to have to find out what was going on. She sighed. So much for giving up the murder investigation and eliminating stress.

  She tried to order her thoughts as she and Beast walked toward Mystical Musings. She closed early yesterday, so she had to go in today. At least for a while. Rehearsal for the show started at six tonight, so she’d have a few hours if she closed up at three. But what could she do?

  A trip out to the Bay Side Hotel topped her list. Followed by what? A visit to Ellie? Cass knew she was all right, as of last night anyway, because Chief Langdon had talked to her. That made seeing her less of a priority. Unless, of course, she wanted to get rid of Beast. She glanced at the big dog trotting happily beside her. Nah . . . maybe that wasn’t such a priority, either. He was starting to grow on her. Maybe he just needed some attention.

  She would have to call Luke Morgan and see if he was able to get in touch with the board members to call a meeting. She’d do that as soon as she opened the shop and returned any business calls. If he hadn’t had any luck, she’d have to call and beg each of them.

  She also had to make time for a trip to the mainland with Bee and Stephanie. They had to go to the local vineyards and pick up the wine for the show. Bee always used local products for his shows. He liked to keep businesses in the area thriving. She sighed as she turned toward Mystical Musings. So much to do—how would she ever get it all done? She probably should have driven today, but the sun had been shining so brightly, she couldn’t resist the temptation to walk along the mostly empty beach. It wouldn’t be long before winter—or prison—made early morning walks impossible.

  She climbed the two steps to the front deck of Mystical Musings. “You have to behave yourself here, Beast.”

  He looked at her and licked his lips.

  Uh-oh. She laughed and unlocked the door. “Come on, boy.” She’d have to make time for a quick stop at the pet store to buy some toys for him to chew on or something. She settled him in the back room with a piece of driftwood she’d picked up on the beach. “This’ll have to do for now, boy. Later we’ll go get you some toys. Now, stay. And be good.”

  He looked at her, cocked his head, and snorted.

  The tinkle of wind chimes had her returning to the shop. “Good morning.”

  An older woman with a kind smile returned her greeting. “I was wondering if you could help me.”

  “Sure. What do you need?”

  “Well . . .” She blushed, looked around the empty store, and lowered her voice. “I was hoping you had a love potion.”

  Cass bit back the urge to laugh at her stealth and walked around the counter to help her. “I don’t have a love potion, but I do have some crystals that might help.”

  “Really?” The woman’s excitement brought a smile to Cass’s face.

  “Sure.” She pulled a small pouch, suspended on a leather cord, from beneath a glass display case. “Do you know who you’d like to attract?”

  “Yes. He’s been a friend for a long time, but I invited him for dinner tonight, and . . . well . . . I’m hoping he’ll be interested in something more.”

  Cass pulled a selection of crystals from the case—a beautiful rose quartz for love, a bright, sunny citrine for confidence, positive energy, and success, a pink and white swirled rhodochrosite for love and balance, and a green aventurine for luck—and filled the pouch. “Turn around.”

  The woman obeyed, and Cass held on to both ends of the cord and dropped the pouch over the woman’s head. “Hold it against your heart.” While she did as instructed, Cass tied the cord to a length that would allow the small pouch to sit directly over the woman’s heart. “There.”

  The woman turned back to face her. “Do you really think it’ll help?”

  “Sure.” It can’t hurt. “Just tuck it under your shirt and wear it during the day, and then tuck it under your pillow at night.” If nothing else, it would give the woman confidence.

  “Oh, thank you.”

  Cass rung up the purchase. “Good luck.”

  The woman waved happily on her way out the door, and Cass smiled after her. The smile was short-lived, though. Why was the dog so quiet? She ran to the back. He lay belly up, spread-eagle on the floor. Hmmm . . . I guess the walk tired him out. He didn’t even stir at the sound of the chimes.

  She smiled as she headed back toward the showroom. �
��Did you forget somethi—”

  The words froze on her lips. She’d expected to see the woman who’d just left. Instead, she stood face-to-face with an irate Jay Callahan. The breath whooshed out of her lungs. Oh crap.

  Jay stood, hands on hips, just inside the doorway. “Where is she?”

  Cass’s heart stopped. She sucked in a breath but couldn’t get it back out again.

  “Did you hear me?”

  She nodded frantically as true fear prickled every nerve ending.

  “Where is Ellie?” His eyes narrowed, and he moved toward her.

  She took a step back and hit the wall. Ah jeez . . . “I don’t know w-w-what you’re talking about, Jay. I haven’t seen Ellie.” She shouldn’t show she was afraid of him, but she couldn’t help it. Once the words started to flow, she couldn’t turn them off. “I haven’t seen Ellie since . . .” Oh crap . . . when was the last time I saw Ellie? Her mind was a total blank.

  Jay moved forward slowly—a man who was obviously used to intimidating women and knew how to make the most of each second of fear he inflicted—until he stood about a foot in front of her. “The sheriff woke me up in the middle of the night asking questions about you. He talked to Ellie, and she told him she gave you her mother’s mutt.” A vein in the side of his forehead throbbed wildly. “When was that?” Jay lifted his fisted left hand, and Cass recoiled.

  “Uh—”

  A vicious growl at her side saved her. Beast poked his head through the curtain separating the store from the back room. Teeth bared, hair on the back of his neck sticking straight up like a lion’s mane, Beast crept toward Jay.

  Jay stumbled back, with the usually good-natured, kinda goofy dog keeping pace, stalking him.

  A tremor ran through her. Should she try to call the dog off? She didn’t really want Jay ripped to shreds in her store. At the same time, she did want him to leave.

  “This isn’t over. I want to know where Ellie is, and I’ll be back if I don’t hear from her.” He lifted a hand and Beast barked. Jay backed quickly through the doorway, pulling the door shut behind him, effectively barricading the dog in the store . . . with Cass.

  Beast continued to growl at the closed door, and Cass didn’t know whether to be grateful or terrified. So, she settled on both. With the threat apparently gone, Beast turned to Cass. She held her breath. He padded over to her and licked her hand.

  With her back pressed to the wall, she slid down to sit on the floor, pulled her knees to her chest, and wrapped her arms around them. She lowered her forehead to rest on her knees and tried to control the tremors that shook her body. Beast lay at her side, nuzzling his head against her.

  She pressed her hand into his warm fur and took comfort from the sheer size of him.

  16

  The chimes sounded, and Cass jumped. How long had she been sitting there, lost in a haze of fear and self-pity? She sniffed and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

  Beast lifted his head but didn’t growl or bark. He didn’t even stand, just stayed at Cass’s side, alert.

  “Are you all right?”

  She looked up and sobbed. She couldn’t help it. The sob tore free before she could control it.

  “What happened?” Luke was at her side in an instant. He knelt in front of Cass and petted the dog’s head. “Good boy.” He showed no fear of the animal, and Beast dropped his tongue out and drooled.

  Laughter mixed with the tears, and Cass swiped at her face again.

  “Are you hurt?” Luke put an arm around her and helped her to her feet. He led her to a chair and pulled it out for her to sit.

  Her heart rate kicked up, but this time it had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with Luke’s close proximity.

  Instead of moving away, he squatted down in front of her and took her hands in his. “Your hands are like ice. Do you want a cup of tea?”

  She did want a nice warm cup of tea, but she wanted him to keep holding her hands more. “No, thank you.”

  “Can you tell me what happened?”

  She glanced toward Beast, who lay alertly on the floor beside her.

  Luke followed her gaze and eyed the dog warily. “Did the dog do something?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Well, not exactly.” She took a deep breath. “Remember Ellie, the woman who came in when you were here yesterday?”

  “Yes. Did she come back?” He frowned, obviously confused.

  “No. Her husband came in looking for her.”

  Luke stood. “Did he do something to you?” His jaw clenched.

  A small thrill tickled her at the thought of her knight in shining armor rushing to defend her honor. Okay, enough of that.

  It was a little easier to think rationally now that Jay wasn’t standing in front of her. “No. Well, not really . . . I guess. He just wanted to know if I’d seen Ellie.” It didn’t make any sense. Where was Ellie that Jay couldn’t find her? “I think I’ll make that cup of tea now.” Now that Luke had stood and let go of her hands, she wanted to hold something warm. “Would you like something?”

  “No. Thank you.” He took a seat, and Beast plopped his head in Luke’s lap. “He’s a beautiful animal. Where’d you get him?”

  She hesitated. Would it matter if she told him the truth? Probably not. The sheriff already knew, so what difference did it make? “He belonged to Marge Hawkins.”

  “The woman who was murdered?”

  “Yes.” She poured the water over a tea bag and brought it to the table to sit beside him.

  “Mind if I ask how you ended up with her dog?”

  “You can ask . . .”

  That gorgeous grin returned, dimpling his cheek. “But you’re not going to tell me?”

  “I’ll give you the short version. Ellie gave him to me. Of course that was after I already had him, but that’s okay.” She smiled at the confused expression that stole over his face.

  “Maybe one day you’ll trust me enough to give me the long version.”

  Her smile faltered for an instant. “Sure. Maybe.” Though highly unlikely. Trust didn’t come easily for Cass. She’d been hurt too badly to ever have complete faith in someone again.

  “So what did the dog do?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “When I asked you if he did something, you said ‘not really.’ Which means he did something.”

  She laughed. “He pretty much chased Jay out of the store.”

  Luke pushed his hands through Beast’s fur. “Really? He doesn’t exactly seem vicious.”

  “I know. That’s what was so weird. I’ve only had him a few days.” She swallowed hard. “I was never afraid of him before. Even when I first found him . . . uh . . . I mean . . . uh . . . when I first got him, he was friendly.” Luke’s eyes held a question, but she ignored it. “But when Jay came in here and yelled at me, Beast went ballistic. He growled at him and backed him out of the store.” She glanced at Beast. “He can be really scary.”

  Luke’s eyes filled with genuine admiration as he looked at the dog and laughed. “Nah. He won’t hurt you. He’s just doing his job. He’s supposed to protect his owner. These dogs are extremely loyal, but they’re friendly, for the most part, as long as you train them well.”

  “Wait a minute. You mean you know what kind of dog he is?” Cass studied Beast’s reddish-brown fur tipped with black, and the thicker fur that had bristled into a mane and surrounded his massive head when he’d been defending her.

  “Sure. He’s a Leonberger. A gorgeous one, too, aren’t you, boy?”

  Beast tipped his head to the side and snapped his mouth closed. He looked almost proud. Regal.

  “Do you know if he’s full grown?”

  Mischief gleamed in Luke’s eyes. “Nope. He’s more like . . . a teenager.”

  “Ugh . . .” The thought of this dog growing any bigg
er was more than she could deal with at the moment. “What are you doing here anyway?” She didn’t want to be rude, but why was he all of a sudden popping up every time she turned around? It seemed strange she’d never seen him before that day in the deli, and now he was everywhere, his dark, dangerous good looks making her crazy.

  “I actually came to tell you I was able to reach all of the board members about scheduling an emergency meeting.”

  Cass held her breath as hope soared through her. “And?”

  “They all agreed, except one.”

  Her sense of anticipation fled. “Let me guess. Chief Langdon.”

  “Yup.”

  “So, does that mean we don’t get to go in front of the board?” The kids would be crushed. They’d worked so hard for this.

  “Nope. It means I . . . persuaded him. The meeting’s at ten tonight at the theater.”

  Excitement sent butterflies dancing in her stomach. “Oh my . . . How can I ever thank you?”

  Luke stared at her, his dark eyes intense, his expression serious. “Have dinner with me.”

  Cass’s hand fluttered to her chest. It had been a long time since she’d gone out on a date. She loved to socialize and go out with friends, in groups, but she hadn’t gone on a date since she’d broken up with her ex. Was she ready? She enjoyed flirting with Luke, and he definitely elicited an interesting response every time he touched her. She smiled and had no doubt her cheeks flamed red. “Sure.”

  * * *

  Cass turned off the car and sat staring at the hotel. She glanced at her cell phone. Four o’clock. She’d hoped to make it to the hotel sooner, but she’d gotten caught up with a last-minute reading. She scanned the parking lot. No familiar cars. “Stay.” She pinned Beast with a glare before opening the windows a bit, slamming the door shut, and hitting the lock button. He licked his chops. Hopefully, the car would be in one piece when she got back.

  She studied the three-story building as she walked across the lot. What could Marge Hawkins have been doing there twice a week? Why was Jay Callahan parked in the back lot? And what did either of them have to do with the body that was found on the beach?