by Hope White
“We thought you’d been kidnapped.” Nate struggled to sit up and Cassie helped him. He clenched his jaw as she held the cold pack against his head.
“I was scared,” Becca explained.
“The federal authorities would like to speak with you,” Nate said.
“Oh my God, am I going to jail?”
Nate stood and Cassie led him to a chair beside a worktable in the kitchen.
“That depends,” Nate said. “Have you broken the law?”
“I don’t think so, I don’t know. I’m stupid. I trusted Tony.”
“Well, try trusting me instead. Tell me what’s going on.”
“I can’t, don’t you get it? It’ll put you in danger.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, we’re already in danger,” Cassie shot back. “Tell the chief everything.”
Becca sighed and hugged herself.
Cassie stood beside Nate, her hand resting protectively on his shoulder.
“From the beginning,” Nate encouraged.
Becca joined them at the table. “Tony worked part-time for Echo Mountain Rentals, dropping things off for guests and taking the laundry in, picking it up, that sort of thing. One day a man approached him and said he was a small businessman wanting to grow his company.”
“What kind of business?” Nate asked.
“Laundry services. Tony tells the guy he should talk to Mr. Anderson. The guy says he’ll have a better chance if he gets Tony’s support.” Becca sighed and shook her head. “That should have been his first clue, because Mr. Anderson doesn’t take business advice from Tony.”
“Continue,” Nate said.
“The guy says he’s going to offer a lower rate than the current service. But it’s a longer drive to his facility, so he’s afraid Mr. Anderson won’t consider him. If Tony agrees to make the extra thirty-minute drive, the man will pay him a $500 finder’s fee. Then, every time he has to make the drive, which is two to three times a week, Tony will get an extra $100 cash. That would certainly pay for the extra gas, plus his time. That’s like $300 a week.”
“And Tony didn’t suspect anything strange about this?” Nate asked.
“No, the man seemed genuine, at least in Tony’s opinion, and he needed the money because he was working limited hours for Echo Mountain Rentals. Mr. Anderson is kind of cheap that way.”
“Okay, so Tony was driving the laundry to where?” Nate asked.
“A facility near Mount Vernon. He’d drop off the dirty bags of laundry and pick up the nicely packaged clean linens, take them to the office where Cassie and I would pick them up and deliver to the cabins.”
“But something changed,” Nate said.
“One day, Tony was in a hurry, and a clean linen package ripped.” Becca’s eyes grew wide as she retold the story. “All this stuff spilled out, like passports and cash, lots of cash.”
“That’s when he should have called the police, Bec,” Cassie said.
“I know, but he didn’t. He brought the linens to my place. We didn’t know what to do at first, but Tony couldn’t resist. He took a hundred dollars cash and we bundled the linen back up, nice and neat. A week later, when no one said anything, he assumed they hadn’t noticed.”
“Could he honestly be that naive to think it wouldn’t catch up to him?” Nate said.
Becca leaned back in her chair. “It’s not his fault. He never got a fair shake in life, being orphaned and sent to live with an aunt and uncle who didn’t have time for him, and then being expelled from school for no good reason.”
“He sounds like he suffers from victim mentality,” Cassie said.
“He hasn’t had it easy, Cassie.”
“We all have our struggles.”
“Says the girl with the perfect family,” Becca shot back.
Cassie didn’t respond. Comparing personal trauma was counterproductive. Nate placed his hand over Cassie’s and gave it a squeeze.
“Sorry,” Becca said. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Back to the laundry,” he prompted Becca.
“That’s how it started, with a broken package. I didn’t know he continued to take money. After a month, he’d saved over three thousand dollars between his driving fees and what he was skimming from the packages.”
“You had to have known what he was doing, Becca,” Cassie said.
“No.” She hesitated. “Maybe, I don’t know. I suspected, I guess. He kept saying how he was planning this amazing new life for us, because he loved me so much. A few days ago, he shows up at my place with plane tickets to Maui. Said he had a job offer down there and wanted to marry me. We were going to leave right after I brought the group back from the hike. But while I was up there, this guy threatened me. You know the rest.”
“You haven’t spoken with Tony since you took the group up the mountain?” Nate asked.
“No.”
“The man who threatened your life, what did he say?”
“That I wasn’t going to make it down the mountain alive unless I told him where the money was.” She stood and paced to the window. “Tony said everything was going to be okay.”
“He was stealing from the mob,” Nate said.
“What?” She turned to them. “No. Tony said it was just some guy moving cash around, you know, because he was being paid under the table for things like fake passports.”
“The mob was sending bail jumpers to Echo Mountain Rentals cabins to hide out until they could flee the country with new identities.”
Becca came back to the table. “You mean he was helping criminals escape?”
“It looks that way,” Nate said.
“And I’m a part of this. I’m going to jail, aren’t I?”
“That’s yet to be determined,” Nate said. “Help us solve this case and you may be able to stay out of jail. There’s a federal agent in town who’d like to speak with you.”
“What about Tony?”
Nate and Cassie shared a look.
“He’s not a bad person,” Becca protested. “He didn’t know the laundry owner was involved with the mob.”
“We’ll sort it out once we get safely back to town,” Nate said. “It would help to know why they’re after Cassie. Any ideas?”
“Because we’re friends and they think she knows about the money?”
“What, you mean like I took some of it?” Cassie said.
Becca shrugged. “I guess. I’m truly sorry you got dragged into this.”
“Me, too. And I’m sorry you didn’t challenge Tony on his activities sooner,” Cassie said.
Becca glanced at the floor, ashamed. It was not Cassie’s intent to make her feel bad, but she had to face her mistakes.
Cassie’s stomach growled. “I’d better eat something before I start gnawing on the table.”
“I’ve got a few cans of hash in my backpack,” Becca offered.
“There’s dehydrated food in our pack if we can heat up some water,” Cassie said.
Cassie and Becca got to work pulling together a meal. They chose the canned items because it would take too long to start a fire outside and heat water.
After eating the last of the cold canned food, Nate said they should rest. He’d take the first watch.
Cassie slept fitfully, if at all, her eyes opening to the image of Nate, her protector, standing guard at the window.
Becca had fallen fast asleep. Well, at least one of them would feel refreshed in the morning. A few hours later Cassie gave up on trying to sleep and went to Nate. “Hey, your turn for some shut-eye.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely. Go on.”
“Wake me if you see anything.”
“Of course.”
Nate brushed a kiss again
st her cheek and went to lie down on the sleeping bag.
As Cassie kept watch, she thought about everything that had happened in the past few days. Not wanting to be dragged down by fear, she said silent prayers of gratitude: she and Nate were still alive and safe, and they’d found Becca. Plus, Cassie had been able to dig deep down to find the strength to defend Nate from the attacker in the woods.
There was one more thing: Nate had kissed her on the cheek. She smiled to herself.
A few hours later, the early sunrise sparked a sense of peace across the property. She heard rustling behind her. Becca stepped up beside Cassie at the window.
“Did you get any sleep?” Becca whispered.
“Not much.”
“Go lie down. I’ll keep an eye out.”
“Thanks.”
“How long has the chief been asleep?”
“A few hours. Wake us if you see anything.”
Becca nodded and gazed out the window.
Feeling utterly exhausted, Cassie lay down near Nate. She wished she could reach out and hold his hand, feel his warmth, but sensed it was inappropriate. Yet the ache to touch him made it painfully clear that she’d have to confront him about their relationship at some point.
Something amazing had grown between them, and she planned to hold on to it.
“Cassie?” Becca whispered.
Cassie sat up. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I have to go outside for a few minutes.” She went to her backpack and took out some tissue. “Be right back.”
Cassie lay back down and waited for Becca to return.
And waited.
Something wasn’t right.
Cassie got up and started for the door.
The glass window shattered.
FOURTEEN
Nate sat straight up and was about to pull Cassie out of harm’s way when she dropped to the floor. He scrambled to her, a ball lodging in his throat.
“Cassie, honey, are you hit?”
She didn’t answer at first. He rolled her over, looking into her wide blue eyes.
“I’m okay, but I’m getting seriously tired of this,” she snapped.
He pulled her against his chest and hugged her tight.
“Becca,” she said against his shoulder.
Nate released her. “She’s out there?”
Cassie nodded. Staying low, he made his way to the window and peeked outside, recognizing Tony’s hoodie and wild black hair. He shoved Becca into the passenger side of a car.
Nate whipped open the cabin door and withdrew his firearm. “Tony, stop!”
Tony fired off a couple of shots.
Nate dodged back into the cabin. “He’s out of his mind shooting at a cop again.”
The car screeched as it sped away from the cabin. Nate rushed outside, but was too late. At least he got the make and model, probably another stolen vehicle. Tony was racking up the charges.
“Nate,” Cassie called from the cabin.
He holstered his gun and went back inside. She stood at the kitchen table, holding a note in her hand. “It’s from Becca. She says she’s sorry and begs my forgiveness.” Cassie slapped the note on the table. “This is wrong. She wouldn’t go willingly with someone so unstable and dangerous.”
“I need to alert my team.” He called in, giving Detective Vaughn the make and model of the car Tony was driving.
“Wait, he shot at you again?” Vaughn said.
“Yes, add that to the list of charges. This kid is falling fast, and he’s got Becca Edwards with him. I’m not sure if she went willingly or not.”
“She didn’t,” Cassie called out.
“We’ll find them,” Vaughn said.
“Any other developments I should know about?” Nate pressed.
“The guy who attacked you in the mountains yesterday lawyered up.”
“Big surprise. Anything more from Len Pragner?”
“Nothing. He’s hiding behind his attorney, some guy from Chicago.”
“Fantastic,” he said, sarcastic.
“What?” Cassie asked, touching his arm.
He glanced into her eyes, realizing how much she trusted him to do the right thing.
“Detective,” he said into the phone, “I’m rethinking our current strategy. Our disappearing act is obviously not working, and now Tony knows where we are. If they find him first, it won’t take much to pressure Tony into giving up Cassie’s whereabouts. I’m bringing her in.”
“Yes, sir. Where are you going to keep her?”
“I’ll contact Aiden about commandeering Quinn Donovan’s fortress apartment at Echo Mountain Resort. If that wing of the resort is empty, it’s our most secure location. Also, Becca filled in some of the blanks about the case. We need to be more aggressive in shutting this thing down.”
“What have you got in mind?”
“I’ll explain it when I see you.”
“Want me to send a cruiser to pick you up?”
“Yes. Who’s on?”
“McBride and Carrington.”
“Send McBride. We’re at the Horizon Point property. Have you spoken with Agent Nance this morning?”
“No, sir.”
“Once we’re set up at the resort I’ll want him in on the plan.”
“Roger that. Stay safe.”
“Thanks.” He ended the call and hit speed dial for Aiden.
“My baby sister’s driving you nuts, isn’t she?” Aiden answered.
“No, actually, she’s good. But I need a favor.”
“Name it.”
“Is Quinn Donovan using his apartment at the resort?”
“He’s not expected back for a week. Why, you want to stash my sister there?”
“Yes, if that wing of the resort is mostly vacant.”
“I’ll relocate the few guests who are there and I’ll put extra security on that end of the building.”
“Do you need to check with Quinn first?”
“Nah, he gave me blanket permission to use it in case of emergency. I think this qualifies.”
“Great, thanks. We’ll see you within the hour.”
He ended the call but didn’t rip his gaze from the property surrounding the cabin. Tony may no longer be a threat, but Nate’s adrenaline still hummed just below the surface. For all he knew, Tony could be in direct contact with the mob guys, maybe even told them he’d give up Cassie’s location in exchange for Tony’s and Becca’s freedom.
Which still made no sense—why were mob guys after Cassie? Nate could only assume it was guilt by association.
“I’m so disappointed,” Cassie said.
He glanced at her. “I’m sorry.”
“Not in you, Nate. You’ve been amazing. You’ve been shot, and beat up, and shot at again, and all because my friend fell in love with the wrong guy. I’m so disappointed in Becca.”
He refocused out the window. “I think she got that message last night when you challenged the poor decisions she’d made. I was actually quite proud of you.”
“You were?”
“Yes, ma’am. You spoke your truth. Not always an easy thing to do.”
“I hope that’s not what drove her away. I’m upset with her, but I’ll always forgive her, even if I don’t appreciate being dragged into this, all because of laundry.”
Laundry containing passports and cash. That gave him an idea. “Cassie, did you put the clean linen in the Whispering Pines cabin the other night?”
“I didn’t have time.”
“Which means it’s still in your car.” He pulled out his phone and called Detective Vaughn.
“Yes, Chief?”
“Cassie McBride’s car, I need you to f
ind it and check the trunk.”
“What am I looking for?”
“Passports and cash stuffed into linen packages.”
“I’m on it, sir.”
Nate pocketed his phone. “Now it makes sense. Cassie, how many other rentals did you cover for Becca besides Whispering Pines?”
“Let’s see—Hidden Hollow, Serenity Lake and Sunset Vista.”
“And each time you delivered a fresh package of laundry?”
“Yes.”
“Which you picked up at the office?”
“I did. As a matter of fact, it was weird because some of Becca’s packages looked different from the other ones I delivered.”
“Did you report that to Mr. Anderson?”
“I mentioned it to Carol and she said she’d check into it, but didn’t seem all that concerned. Wait, you don’t think Mr. Anderson is involved?”
“We won’t know until we do some digging into the mob connection to Echo Mountain. My gut tells me they didn’t randomly choose our town to set up their smuggling operation.”
“When we get back to the resort I’d like to help so I can feel like I have some control over my life.”
“How about you do internet research?”
“Wow, you didn’t say no,” she said with a smile.
Nate realized saying no to Cassie was becoming harder and harder to do.
* * *
They didn’t talk for the next half hour and from Nate’s expression, Cassie figured he needed quiet time to think and process. She sensed he was upset with himself for the direction of this investigation. Why else would he automatically assume she was disappointed in him?
Or was it something else? Was he withdrawn because somewhere in his unconscious brain he’d heard her confession of love and wasn’t sure how do deal with it?
Well if that were the case, they should talk about it, right?
She caught herself. This wasn’t the time nor the place to discuss a heady issue like love.
Finally, unable to stand the silence any longer, she approached Nate as he stood guard at the window, waiting for her cousin to show up. She offered a piece of beef jerky. “Breakfast?”
“Thanks.”
As he gnawed on the jerky, she followed his gaze out the window to the surrounding property.
