“I told you, I believe you,” he said softly. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have come after you. But it’s very important that I know where you are at all times. I want you to think of me as your shadow, do you understand?” Waiting patiently until Cassie looked up at him, Rick flashed a sly grin. “Now, come with me, it’s time for coffee.”
“Sorry, I don’t do coffee,” Cassie said with her own grin.
Rick laughed. “Okay, okay, point taken. I’ll get Steve to make it. He’s the guy you just ran over in the hall. He’s half of your guard dog team.”
Cassie’s smile vanished. “I thought you were guarding me. You just called yourself my shadow.”
Rick exhaled loudly. “Figure of speech. I’ll know where you are, but I don’t shadow anymore.”
He turned to leave, but was stopped by Cassie’s voice echoing behind him. “I don’t understand. After I told everything to Mr. Harris, and he knew how scared I was, he told me not to worry. He was sending me to his best Technician. Why would he—”
“Because Martin’s trying to get me back in the saddle again!” Rick yelled. At Cassie’s flinch, he stepped closer. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take that out on you. Maybe I used to be Martin’s best Technician. But a while back, I lost…I lost a witness. He walked out of protection and someone found him and killed him. Technically, it wasn’t my fault, but I should have seen it coming. I haven’t shadowed since. Now come on. Please?”
Rick headed for the door when Cassie’s soft voice again stopped him. “Thank you for telling me, Mr. Jarrett. And for the record, I think Martin Harris is right.”
Rick turned around. Standing alone in the stairwell Cassie looked like the small flame on a candle that even the slightest breeze would extinguish. Somehow the use of Mr. along with his name didn’t sound right anymore.
“Rick,” he said, stepping close and extending his hand. “My name is Rick. And I am sorry I laughed at your name, Cassiopeia.”
“Cassandra,” she whispered. “Only my father calls me the other. To everyone else, I’m Cassandra, called Cassie.”
“Nice to meet you, Cassandra called Cassie.”
The corners of Rick’s mouth pulled into a smile, but stopped when their hands touched. She was trembling. He knew she was afraid and yet, it was strange how the touch of her hand brought comfort to him.
Rick struggled with his emotions. The way he put himself in charge of this young woman confused him. She hadn’t come to him directly, but he’d made the inference more than once that she had personally chosen him to protect her. And even if she had, he wouldn’t be protecting her. Pushing his thoughts aside, he led them out of the stairway and back to the matter of her shadow.
When they returned to Rick’s office the young woman that had originally led Cassie to Martin Harris’ office had joined Steve.
“Hi, babe,” the woman addressed Rick.
Rick’s response was a smirk followed by bumping into the woman as he crossed to his desk. “Cassandra Dahlgren, these people are Lori and Steve, your bodyguards. They’ll take charge of you now.”
“‘Take charge,’” the woman now identified as Lori mocked. “Honestly Ricky, you make us sound like commandants.” She looked Cassie. “Hello again, Cassie. I know you’re scared, but Steve and I won’t let anything happen to you. Right babe?” She looked then winked at the man called Steve. He nodded.
Cassie watched the three people surrounding her. Who were they to each other? Lori had just called both men “babe”. Dismissing everything but her own new meaning in life, Cassie shifted on her feet.
“I’m not afraid,” she managed quietly. Inadvertently making eye contact with Rick, she lowered her head. She sensed him still watching, thinking and learning. Maybe she should be afraid.
With the team organized Rick escorted them to the door and once again extended his hand to Cassie. Her soft hand was still trembling. “Good luck to you, Miss Dahlgren, and thanks.”
Chapter Two
The drive lasted nearly an hour and neither Steve nor Lori had told their charge anything besides saying she would be comfortable once they arrived. And of course, they hadn’t mentioned where she was to arrive. They had driven along the edge of a cliff overlooking the Pacific for a while, but beyond that, Cassie had no idea where she was. California was indeed a big state from the back of a panel van.
“It’s not much farther, hon,” Lori said, glancing back at Cassie. “Steve and I will try not to bore you too much. Actually, if we’re lucky, Kevin will be there. He’s closer to your age than this old man and I are. I think he’d be better at entertaining you than we will. Right babe?” She turned to Steve who nodded enthusiastically.
“I didn’t come here to be entertained,” Cassie snapped, then looked out the window. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell, but Rick—um, I mean, Mr. Jarrett said it shouldn’t take too long to sort out everything. Or did he lie to me?”
At the use of “Rick”, both Steve and Lori raised eyebrows at each other. Their favorite pastime had always been trying to understand the mind of a witness they protected. This one could prove very interesting, indeed.
“No,” Steve answered. “Rick didn’t lie to you. But sometimes it can take longer. On the other hand, judging from Martin’s behavior I think he’ll have people working ’round the clock to get things moving along faster. You made the old guy one happy camper, Miss Dahlgren.”
“Cassie, please,” she said smiling at him through the rearview mirror. “And I am sorry I snapped at you, Lori. I’m tired, I suppose. But I really don’t need to be entertained by this Kevin person if you don’t mind. I’ve always been kind of self-sufficient.”
“Sometimes it’s called lonely,” Lori observed wistfully.
Yes, I know, Cassie acknowledged silently. She’d been lonely ever since she went to work for Luther even though he had kept her working almost nonstop and was usually with her at all times. It didn’t change the fact that she was still alone where it mattered—in the heart. Maybe that’s why the thought of this Kevin becoming her appointed entertainer bothered her so much. Her thoughts were brought to a halt when the van pulled up in front of a large house.
The large house quickly turned into a mansion as Cassie discovered when she walked inside. A magnificent marble entry with two curved staircases running along each side greeted her. Directly above the entry was a domed skylight of stained glass covered with flowers, cherubs and Arabian knights on horseback. It made Cassie think she had fallen into an old movie.
“Pretty cool, huh?” Lori said. “This house used to belong to the famed silent movie actress, Bella Witherspoon. Miss Witherspoon had quite the reputation for being a rather eccentric…eccentric. But it makes for a wonderful house to hide people because of its close proximity to town while being safely hidden in the hills.”
“You’ll get lost the first couple days, then you’ll feel right at home,” Steve said. “There are all sorts of things to do here whether you choose to be alone or not. We’ve got a pool, tennis courts, saunas, you name it. Upstairs are bedrooms, complete with Roman tubs and mirrors. The basement also has a lot of bedrooms. No one knows for sure, but it was rumored the old gal ran a rooming house when she retired from showbiz.”
“Come on, Miss Cass,” Lori said taking her hand. “I’ll show you to your room.” With another wink at Steve, she added, “I think Rick’s room will do nicely.”
“No!” Cassie said slightly panicked. “I mean, I don’t want to put anyone out, isn’t there a room nobody uses?” Hoping to avoid a situation before it became one, she looked at the floor. “He’s not coming here, is he? I thought he was busy working on my case.”
“Did Rick upset you, sweetie?” Lori asked, slowly lifting Cassie’s face up with her finger. “Steve told me Rick seemed more agitated than usual. Did he say something you didn’t like? Don’t worry, he won’t come here or even call. In fact, I think you can safely assume you’ll never see or hear from him again.”
�
��I have nothing against Mr. Jarrett or anyone but Luther Carstairs, Miss… What is your name? I only heard Lori and Steve. Lori and Steve what?”
Lori had reserve, a feature Steve could use a little more of from time to time. Instead of answering Cassie’s innocent question of names, he instantly brought his arms around Lori and held up their hands to reveal matching wedding rings.
“Lori and Steve Travis!” he exclaimed. “The first, and so far, the only married couple within Martin Harris’ team of Technicians. We keep hoping to get Rick hooked up with a bride, but that man’s as slippery as his—”
“Steven!” Lori gasped.
“Best friend was,” Steve grinned evilly at his wife. “My goodness, Lor, what’d you think I was going to say?”
“Best friend?” Cassie asked.
“Me,” Steve said, still wearing his infectious grin. “He and I are best friends even though I married the boss’ daughter just to get ahead in life as well as a raise in pay.” He laughed as Lori poked his ribs.
“Ignore him, Cassie,” Lori said then looked at her husband. “Steve, I don’t think Kevin or anyone else is here, but you’d better check the place out.” When Steve had left, she turned back to Cassie. “As you can see this is a big house. Often you can be here half the day and not realize someone’s in the building with you if they haven’t made themselves known. If we are alone though, it’ll be nicer for you. When others like you are here we have to keep you out of sight from one another.”
“Witness protection from witnesses,” Cassie commented.
“Something like that,” Lori said. “Anyway, I’m pretty sure Kevin isn’t here since he hasn’t come bounding in like a Labrador retriever to greet us. He’s a sweetheart, but a bit overzealous. I guess his age has a lot to do with it—he’s only twenty-six, so he’s a little wet behind the ears still. As opposed to a lot of the other Technicians who are older and more experienced. Like Rick for instance, he’s thirty-five and very experienced.” Her sly grin returned, causing Cassie to stare at the floor again.
Regaining her composure, Cassie tilted her head upward. “Steve referred to you as the boss’ daughter?”
“Mmmhmm, Martin Harris is my father. I met Steve through him and not long afterwards is when we became a Tech Team.”
“Tech Team?”
“Yeah,” Lori said, walking them upstairs. “Our whole operation is called a Technician Team instead of just calling us guards or protectors.”
“Rick said he was my shadow,” Cassie said then immediately lowered her head. It’s Mr. Jarrett! Not Rick! Not—
“Your shadow, huh?” Lori said, with a grin. “That’s an interesting analogy. Back to this place, you know how in the movies a witness is always sequestered away in dark little motel rooms? Well, not us. Dad had this idea that if decent people in need of hiding were held together in one large location then their actual safety level would be increased because it would be more like a fortress. It took a lot of talking, but he finally convinced the big guys to take a chance and so far it’s worked perfectly. We’ve used this place for the past eight years and no one has ever found us. And the witnesses are certainly less likely to bolt when they feel safe.” Pride obviously played a role in Lori’s explanation of her father’s accomplishment.
At the end of the hallway they came to the room Cassie would use. “Do you need anything special, Cass?” Lori asked, turning on the light. “You’ve only got that one suitcase, I see, so if you need anything, just ask.”
“I’ll be fine,” Cassie assured. “Are there any special rules I should know about?” The memory of Rick’s order, Don’t you ever run out on me again, popped into mind.
“Aside from the obvious of not leaving the grounds, there are no real rules right now,” Lori said. “If we do end up with company later on, then maybe. In the meantime, just try to relax. Steve and I are two doors down if you need us.” Another evil grin appeared. “If you change your mind about whose room you want to use, let me know. Good night, Miss Dahlgren.”
Cassie frowned slightly. She didn’t understand Lori’s constant reference to Rick Jarrett and while it didn’t make her uncomfortable, she did wonder what the reasoning was. Reasons weren’t important, though. In a few days she should be done with all this business and never see these people again. But as she waited for sleep, Cassie’s thoughts drifted and she wondered if she would miss these people when this adventure was done. She also wondered if she would miss any of them when this was over. Lori or Steve or Martin or…
The luxury of sleeping late had long eluded Cassie because of the hours her stable job demanded, so when she awoke before the sun she didn’t resist. Since she hadn’t been informed otherwise, she decided to explore the house while the Travises and maybe that Kevin guy, if he’d shown up, still slept.
Steve had said a person could get lost in the house, but until she started her self-guided tour, Cassie had no idea just how true that could be. Descending the back staircase she began exploring the main floor of the mansion. The kitchen was old and probably dated back to at least the 1920s, yet from what Cassie could see it was fully functional with two of everything. Two sinks, two stoves, two refrigerators and most notably, two butler’s pantries. Just outside the kitchen she found the dining room. It was complete with a huge table and fifty-two chairs.
Through the dining room was an archway leading to another hallway, at the end of which Cassie found the library. Dark paneling made it a warm and cozy room one might use for an escape from the world’s pressures, but Cassie doubted it was used for much of anything anymore. Instead of great volumes of literature, there were only a few shelves lined with file boxes.
From the library she found a hallway leading to a parlor, which then led her back to the foyer and the matching staircases.
Upstairs again, she quietly passed numerous closed doors until she came to what she thought was the end of the hall. It turned out to be another arched doorway. Venturing through, Cassie entered a massive room she knew must have once been a magnificent master suite. A large fireplace flanked by oak bookcases stood on one side of the room and a bathtub big enough to pass for a wading pool was on the other. And yet it was what Cassie saw in the corner of the room that tickled her curiosity. A pink spiral staircase leading to a trapdoor was more than she could resist.
With a gentle push to the trapdoor Cassie found herself inside an octagonal room completely surrounded by windows. It reminded her of a lighthouse. A quick scan revealed a twin bed in one corner and a comfortable-looking armchair next to a table in the other. Instantly Cassie knew she’d be spending most of her time in this room. It was perfect for someone needing to be alone without feeling that way.
She had just sat in the chair when the phone she hadn’t noticed rang. Not wanting the sound to disturb the household, Cassie answered. “Hello.”
Several seconds of silence greeted her until she finally heard a familiar voice on the other end. “Why did you answer the phone?”
“Because, Mr. Jarrett, it rang,” Cassie answered casually, but with the guilt of a child being caught spitting vegetables into a napkin.
“Damn it, Cassandra called Cassie!” Rick bellowed, “I thought I told you this wasn’t a game. You shouldn’t be—where’s Steve?”
“Right here, Rick,” Steve’s voice sounded from another extension. “You can hang up now, ‘Cassandra called Cassie.’.” His voice held an obvious smile, which Cassie imagined grew broader when he heard Rick grumbling.
At the sound of Cassie hanging up, Steve continued. “Okay, Rick, it’s safe to talk now. Why are—”
“What’s she answering the phone for?” Rick demanded. “She shouldn’t be put in a position of danger like that!”
“Rick, calm down,” Steve said, tapping a still-sleeping Lori’s shoulder. “Why are you calling this early in the morning? For that matter, why are you calling at all?”
“We can’t find Luther.”
“Ooh, not good,” Steve said with a whistl
e. “Your girl won’t be happy about that. You want to whisper that sweet nothing into her ear? I’ll put her back on the phone. Better yet, why don’t you come out here and tell her yourself. And you can be her…shadow.”
“Just do your damn job!” Rick shouted.
Lori, now awake leaned toward the phone. “Hi Ricky honey, don’t worry, we’ll take very good care of your girl for you.”
He was quick, but the laughter of Steve and Lori hit Rick’s ears before he could hang up.
Though she wanted desperately to hear the conversation, Cassie did as instructed and hung up. It was apparent Rick viewed her as nothing more than a child playing a game and that angered her more than she could allow. Maybe anger wasn’t the right word, but it certainly made her feel hollow inside. She wasn’t a kid and she could be trusted to do the right thing. That’s why she was there in the first place, wasn’t it? So why did he feel it necessary to check up on her? If he hadn’t trusted her, why didn’t he just send her out of the building the previous day? His words If I didn’t believe you, I wouldn’t have come after you, ran through her mind. Okay, he believed her, but did he believe in her?
Completely annoyed with herself and Rick Jarrett, Cassie skipped down the spiral staircase hoping to return to her room before meeting up with anyone. Too late. Lori stood at the doorway to the bedroom.
“Good morning, ‘Cassandra, called Cassie’.”
Groaning inwardly, Cassie narrowed her eyes. “Your husband has a big mouth.”
“Yep,” Lori agreed, “but Rick’s is bigger. I can’t believe he called to check on us, that rat. He tried covering it with business talk, but I know what he was really up to.” Seeing Cassie’s confusion, she continued. “In all the years we’ve done this, Rick Jarrett has never called to check up on us.” She cocked her head sideways. “Or maybe it wasn’t Steve and me he was checking up on.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Cassie snipped. She then grabbed her suitcase and proceeded back toward the room with the spiral staircase. Lori followed. When they reached the stairs, Cassie looked toward the trapdoor. “Would it be all right if I used that room? It makes me feel—”
My ShadowMy Love Page 2
