“I’m scared, Gage. This man came to my home, looking for my niece so he could harm her? The audacity! The gall!” The lines in her fiftysomething face turned hard. “That infuriates me. Who does he think he is? This...this...monster. I hope he comes back. I’d like to get my hands on him and show him what I think of him.”
Uh-oh. Gage had better get control of the situation. He didn’t need Debby thinking she was going to take justice into her own hands. That could put her in danger. “Please, just calm down. We don’t want him coming back here, Debby. You are not to put yourself in harm’s way under any circumstances.” But he understood her fierce need to protect Sadie.
Her frown softened a bit, and concern flooded her gaze. Debby stood and paced then approached Sadie. “You can’t stay here. He knows where to find you. You have to find someplace else to stay until the police catch this guy and stop him.”
Now she was being reasonable.
“I agree with your aunt,” Gage said. “And Debby, you should stay somewhere for a while too. You’ll need to give a description of the man. I’ll see if we can line up a forensic artist. But for now, let’s get you somewhere safe.”
He adjusted the miniblinds to better see outside. A deputy made his way up the sidewalk. Gage opened the door before he could knock and introduced himself.
“I’m here to watch the house and wanted to let the ladies know.”
Debby inserted herself into the small space at the door. “Well, you’re a day late and a dollar short. I’ve already had a dangerous man stop here and ask me questions. I probably told him more than I should.”
The deputy appeared green to Gage. “Debby, let me handle this.”
He went outside with the deputy and filled him in as they walked back to his department vehicle. “I’d like you to stay here and watch the house so our perpetrator will believe the ladies are still living here. That should buy us some time.”
The deputy exaggerated a slow shake of his head. “I don’t know if the sheriff is going to buy into that. I’m here to watch over people. Not an empty house.”
“I’m sure he’ll approve of it. Desperate times call for desperate measures. In fact, we can call him now, if you like. I’ll talk to him myself.”
The deputy handed Gage his cell after making the call.
Gage was surprised the deputy actually wanted him to do the talking. He shouldn’t be. Like he thought, the guy was green. Surely the man could see the plan made sense.
Gage spoke to the sheriff and squared everything with him, then handed the cell off to the deputy.
He didn’t have time for this. Back at the house, he found Sadie and Debby packing bags. He’d wanted to be on the road and back to the burning house to look for clues and search the woods where he’d seen the man flee. But with Debby’s encounter with the man, everyone’s plans had changed. Maybe he should let the deputy outside be both babysitter and watchdog, but this was Sadie and her aunt. Gage didn’t trust them to anyone else. He’d see them somewhere safe. Once he dropped the women off, he could focus back on his investigation.
Debby lugged a big case over to the door.
“Looks like you’re planning to stay for a while.” He almost chuckled, but the situation was far too serious.
“I don’t know how long this is going to take. And besides, what if he blows up my house too? I need a few things.”
Images of the vacation house exploding, the concussive force slamming him and Sadie into the ground, ran through his mind. He didn’t trust this guy not to do the same to Debby’s home, except for one thing—Debby’s home probably contained no evidence connecting ball cap guy to his crimes.
“Have you decided where you’re going?” he asked.
Sadie entered, holding a small duffel bag. “Since we’re heading to Olympia to talk to people who worked with Karon, I think we should drop Aunt Debby at her brother Joe’s house in Travis. It’s on the way. Debby called Uncle Joe and he and his wife are expecting her.”
“I know where it is.” Gage gripped Debby’s luggage and lifted it slightly off the floor to feel its weight. He sure hoped this didn’t take as long as the woman was planning for. “And what about you, Sadie?” Gage knew the answer, but he had to ask anyway. “You could stay with them too.”
Debby finished loading the dishwasher and turned it on. “I tried to talk her into it.”
“I’ll figure something out,” Sadie said.
Right. She planned to stick close to his investigation.
And for Gage’s part, how did he protect her and investigate at the same time? Maybe he was making a big mistake by keeping her close. Still, protective services wasn’t completely out of the realm of CGIS responsibility. But that wasn’t his official assignment here. His SAC would want Gage to do his part to protect her, of course. And he had a feeling she had memories locked away in that brilliant head of hers that would answer questions they didn’t even know to ask.
If only that was the reason he wanted her close. Why, God? Why did you have to bring this woman back into my life?
Half an hour later they dropped Debby off at her brother’s home in Travis situated just outside of Olympic National Forest—one of his favorite places in the world. Another time and under much different circumstances, he might like to go hiking with Sadie for the sheer pleasure of seeing the sights—Sadie included. Why did his thoughts continually take him in the wrong direction? He once again shoved his unbidden romantic thoughts of Sadie away.
She hugged her family, who tried to talk her into staying. But she insisted she wouldn’t rest until Karon’s killer was caught as though she were officially investigating.
He kept any disparaging remarks he might have said to himself. Arguing with her wasn’t a good use of his time.
Back in the SUV, Gage entered the information into the GPS for Karon’s workplace—Rollins Environmental, Inc. “I think you might have missed your calling.”
“How’s that?”
“You should have joined the FBI or some other law enforcement entity so you could solve mysteries and bring justice to the world.”
“I bring my own brand of justice. You can’t believe the places I’ve been as I researched the aquarium fish trade. After that animated movie came out with a fish as the main character, suddenly every little kid wanted one. There’s a long chain of suppliers between the source of those fish and the pet stores.” Sadie went on to explain the decimated populations of the fish and the dangers posed to those harvesting them.
“Wow. I’m impressed. I remember you were always about conservation and protecting marine life. Justice for those who can’t protect themselves. In fact, you did some real damage to that one company based on your discovery of pollutants that year.”
“Yeah. I was interning at an environmental company. A different one from where Karon works. But just doing my job.” She sighed as if pleased with the memory. “It was all in a day’s work.”
She’d always been driven. Even if they hadn’t discussed it, he knew that she would investigate on her own if he didn’t keep her at his side. Just one more reason to keep her close.
He liked that the conversation had given them a chance to reflect on the past and the good times. “Tell me, how does all that research bring justice? What can you do with it?”
“I have to educate people like I’m doing now.” She turned her smile on him. “Will you buy fish for a tank in the near future?”
“I’d have to think twice about it, I admit.” And he had considered having an aquarium to come home to since he couldn’t keep a regular pet with his travel schedule. Still, maybe it wasn’t all that bad, but he wouldn’t argue the point with a conservationist.
“So see, I’m not new to complex investigations.” Her voice suddenly cracked. “But I wasn’t expecting something that would hit so close to home. I never dreamed I’d be searching for my be
st friend’s killer.”
Boy did he understand that. He could hardly believe he was here in the middle of it either.
She cleared her throat. “So how did you get where you are today, Gage?”
“Now there’s a long and complicated story. I’m not sure I even remember.” Nor did he want to. “Like you, I work to bring about justice, so I guess we have something in common.”
“If you don’t count our past. We have a past in common.”
“Right, if you don’t count that. I ended up in law enforcement and worked to build my resume. I worked on everything I could, getting as much experience as I could, working on violent crimes, terrorism cases. Even in foreign countries. In that time, I’ve seen entirely too much of the evil this world has to offer. Somehow—” he risked a glance at her “—and don’t ask me how, I ended up back in Washington working for Coast Guard Investigative Services.”
He was even up for promotion to the CGIS SAC when Jim left. “My parents were glad to have me back in Washington and close to home. I wanted to make them proud. But they died in an accident.” The words brought back the morbid images.
“Oh, Gage... I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.” Sadie touched his arm.
An electric current charged with emotion surged all the way up his arm, across his chest and deep into his heart. His pulse increased, and he could have savored what her touch did to him. But instead he wished she would drop her hand. Finally, she did and he could breathe now.
He forced himself to bury the emotions she stirred in him and allowed the pain of the past—losing those he loved—to remind him to guard his heart from Sadie. Loving anyone too deeply could only bring heartache in the end.
“What happened?” she asked.
Could he even talk about it? “It’s been two years, so not that long. It happened almost the same way it happened when the Kraken came across your sinking boat this morning.” Had that only been this morning? “Only they were lost, and we couldn’t save them.”
“So... Is that why you jumped in for me against protocol?”
He couldn’t answer so nodded, then finally said, “I can’t get over the irony. I’m working for the Coast Guard and my parents drowned. They were right there. It could have ended differently.” He struggled with his faith too. Where was God in all of this? Why did these things happen? Why, when he prayed every day of his life, did his parents die like that?
Another charge of electricity swept through him as Sadie pressed her hand against his arm to comfort him. She was a touchy-feely person, no doubt there. But could he survive his time with her? At least her comfort pushed away the morbid images for now.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Gage. Not that it will make you feel any better, but it’s another thing we have in common now. I lost my parents in an accident too.”
Why was she making a list? Between his crushes on Sadie in the past, he’d actually had a chance to fall in love with someone else. But that love had died a miserable death. Colleen had broken his heart.
And as far as Sadie was concerned, he’d failed at love twice with her already—though it hadn’t been an actual reciprocating romantic relationship. He was so pathetic.
He wasn’t about to buy all the bunk about a third time around, especially with Sadie Strand. Years ago the woman had never looked at him twice, always seeming to be attracted to Coasties—men serving in the Coast Guard. He couldn’t help the half smile that slid into his lips. He realized to his chagrin that she might consider him a Coastie now—and perhaps that explained the change in the way she looked at him—but he would make sure to clarify that for her.
“Just to remind you, I’m a civilian agent. I’m not officially in the Coast Guard.”
“You’ve accomplished so much, and you’re a special agent, for crying out loud. You should be proud of everything you’ve done.”
He hadn’t meant it that way—as though he wasn’t pleased with his accomplishments—but explaining to her why he’d brought it up wasn’t an option.
* * *
Oh, now. What was she doing? As far as Sadie was concerned, the handsome CGIS special agent next to her might as well be a Coastie, and she’d sworn off men in the Coast Guard. They traveled too much, and her heart had been broken once too often. Nope. Not for her. Except, well, now that she thought about it—Sadie traveled a lot too in her research. In that case, she shouldn’t let herself fall for anyone. After her experiences with men, she had too many trust issues. It was just too complicated.
Gage steered into the Rollins Environmental parking lot and found a spot between two vehicles. Sadie’s palms grew moist. “Do you know what questions you’re going to ask and who you’re going to talk to?”
He reached over and patted her leg. “If you can’t be good you’ll have to stay in the car.” Then he shifted back in his seat. “This is my investigation. You can come in with me but let me do the talking. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
“You can pretend you’re on a research trip and simply observing. I’m sure you know how to do that.”
“I do, so stop worrying.”
Inside the compound, Gage introduced himself, revealing his official CGIS badge. The security guard at the marbled counter arched a brow.
“I need to speak with employees who worked with Karon Casings.”
The man scrunched his face. “Is everything all right?”
“No, everything isn’t all right. She was murdered,” Sadie said.
Gage’s eye flicked to her in warning.
The guard stood. “I knew she’d been on vacation and heard the news that she’d drowned. But murder?”
“We’re investigating. If you wouldn’t mind keeping that information to yourself for now. Did you know her well? Anything you can tell us?”
The guard shook his head. “I didn’t know her personally. Just that she worked here. I’m sorry I can’t help. But if I see anything...you know...suspicious, I can give you a call.”
“Fair enough.” Gage handed over his card. “Now if you’ll please point us in the right direction.”
The security guard’s friendly demeanor had turned somber with the news. “Let me call personnel for you.”
“I’d rather just talk to a few of her coworkers without making a stir. Can you arrange that?”
The guard set the phone back on the rest, his mouth in a resigned frown. “Sure. Take the elevators up to the third floor. Her office was the second one down to the right. Her stuff is still intact, I think. Nobody’s had the heart to touch it. You can talk to her coworkers.”
Gage nodded his thanks. Once in the elevators alone, Sadie spoke up. “Should her office be cordoned off as a crime scene?”
“Not unless there’s evidence that points to her being murdered there, then being moved to...” He let his words trail off. “But if given permission, then I have every intention of looking through her things in addition to questioning her coworkers. If Crowley hasn’t already been here—and from the security guard’s reaction, I don’t think he has—then I’ll share what I find, if anything.”
The elevator door dinged open. Sadie went straight to Karon’s office but the door was locked. Great. Gage moved down to the next office and softly knocked on a half-opened door.
A redheaded woman looked up from her computer. “Can I help you?”
Gage introduced himself again as well as Sadie. “I’m here to talk to you about your coworker Karon Casings.”
She sucked in a breath.
“May we come in?”
“Certainly. Come in and sit down. My name is Shana Wilson.” The woman came around her desk to close the door then sat back down. “Please tell me what’s going on. We learned that she died in a drowning accident. Is that right?”
“We have reason to believe her death wasn’t an accident.”
“You mean—�
�
“She was murdered.” Sadie cut Shana off. Oops. Gage wouldn’t be happy at her intrusion, but he didn’t give her a warning look. Still, if she expected him to let her tag along, she’d better not say another word.
“Murdered? But why? And by whom?” Unshed tears pooled in her eyes. “That’s silly of me. Of course that’s why you’re here. You’re trying to find out. How can I help?”
“We’re hoping to find someone who knew her beyond just the office and maybe answer a few questions.”
“That would be me. She had other friends here as well, but we were relatively close. She’d wanted me to go on her vacation with her, but I couldn’t get the time off. Still, she had...secrets.”
“Go on,” Gage said.
Shana rose from her desk and went to the closed door. She peeked out into the hallway, then shut the door behind her again. “I wish we could have this conversation somewhere else, but that might raise suspicions.”
Sadie wanted to speak up. Shana clearly knew something that could help them. Why hadn’t she reported this to the police or the sheriff or someone?
She remained at the door as though gauging if anyone stood there to listen. What had her spooked?
Shana lowered her voice to a whisper. “Karon had taken the two-week vacation, yes, but she came in after hours during her vacation to test a water sample. I thought it was odd at first, but she acted like it wasn’t a big deal. I assumed she wanted to test the water where she was staying for some reason. I only knew because I’d been working late and had to rush home, so I didn’t get to ask her more. The next thing I knew, she was found dead.”
“Did you tell police what you’ve told us?”
Realization seemed to grip Shana as a tear slid down her cheek. “I haven’t talked to the police. No one came here to ask questions. Her mother called to talk to her boss and tell him she had drowned.”
“Why didn’t you mention this to the police on your own?”
“Because I didn’t realize there was any suspicion about her death. It had been a week since she’d come in for that test. I honestly never thought about it again. Not until you walked in here and said the word murder.”
Thread of Revenge Page 6
