Her face went pale. “What? You’re joking.”
“I’m not joking.”
Her eyes widened. “You really think that? For real? Like for real, for real?”
“Yeah, I really think that. He didn’t touch any of this ice cream, did he?” The last thing Cassidy needed was everyone here getting sick.
“No, he didn’t go anywhere near it. I promise.”
“I need to let Abbott know. And you’re probably going to need to show an officer exactly where you talked to this guy. We’ll need to check around that area. We need a description of him. And we’ll need to fingerprint those one hundred-dollar bills.”
“He was wearing sunglasses and a hat . . . I only know he’s a white man, maybe in his thirties.”
“Whatever you can tell us will help.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay, Serena. But . . . I just need you to be careful.”
“I will be. I promise.”
Cassidy frowned at Skye. “Can we finish this later?”
“Absolutely.”
Right now, Cassidy had to talk to Abbott.
Chapter Fifteen
Abbott just happened to send Detective Jackson Sullivan out with Serena to the location where this guy had met her. Serena looked so giddy that Cassidy feared she would pass out from not breathing deeply enough.
Afterward, Abbott called Cassidy into his office. As she stood in front of him, her ribs ached, and she resisted the urge to groan. She hurt more than she wanted to admit. Still, she stood stiffly in front of him, trying not to resent the man for taking over.
“I know this has been hard for you not to be in charge.” Abbott steepled his hands in front of him in a move that looked calculatingly diplomatic. “So I wanted to keep you in the loop, just as I promised.”
The table in front of him made the man’s smallish stature seem even smaller, but he wasn’t slowed down by the fact. His motions were as brisk as usual as he sat there with papers splayed out in front of him.
Cassidy shifted, keeping her hands at her side. “Thank you, Agent Abbott. I appreciate it.”
He picked up a folder from the table. “So, I did some digging into our victim’s past. It turns out that Clint Freeman had a rough upbringing. Dad was an alcoholic. Mom was in and out of the hospital with multiple problems—at least half of which were mental. Clint left home when he was eighteen and hasn’t spoken with his parents since. It’s been six years.”
“So I guess that discovering his identity didn’t get us very far other than getting some background on him.”
“No, it didn’t.” Abbott raised a finger to make another point. “However, I was able to track down one of his old girlfriends and talk to her on the phone.”
“And?” Cassidy’s breath hitched. She really hoped they were able to find out something about this guy that would help lead them to his “friends.”
“Her name is Amy. She’s from the Norfolk, Virginia, area. She said they broke up about two years ago. According to Amy, Clint has always been a bit of a lost soul. He wasn’t a leader but more of a follower, a trait Amy also said was extremely unattractive in a male. She sounded like a real piece of work herself, and she puts a lot of value in her own opinions.”
“Did she share any opinions that were helpful?”
Abbott stood, stretched, and jangled some keys in his pocket. His posture was so straight and proper that, for a moment, he reminded Cassidy of a politician. Then, again, maybe this crime was taking a toll on him also.
“Only that she couldn’t see her ex being involved in crimes like these—unless he was desperate,” Abbott said. “She thinks it goes back to the fact that he was spineless. If he got in with the wrong crowd then he would have followed someone else’s lead. And he was just enough of a lost soul that he very well may have done that.”
It was a good thing Clint Freeman hadn’t met Anthony Gilead or he may have joined his cult, Cassidy thought silently.
“I have some other calls in. No one seems to recall Clint hanging out with two new people, nor does anyone know where he went after leaving Winston-Salem.” He closed the folder and frowned. “He pretty much disappeared.”
“But someone out there has to know.”
“My thoughts exactly. I’m going to keep digging, and I’ll let you know anything I find out.”
“I appreciate it, Abbott. Thank you.” She paused. “Any word from Sullivan?”
He checked his phone. “Not yet. But I’ll let you know when I’ve heard something.”
Cassidy left, heading toward her office, but she stopped halfway there. If she went to her desk, she was going to sit there and look at paperwork. That was the last thing she wanted right now.
She wanted to be out there, to be a part of an active investigation. She had people patrolling the streets, officers talking to people, locals who were keeping their eyes open for trouble. But Cassidy wanted to be in the middle of it all, fighting the fight instead of sitting on the sidelines.
With a new sense of determination, she grabbed her keys and started toward the front door to the station.
“Ty, Kujo needs to go outside,” she called.
He wrapped up his conversation with Austin and jogged until he fell into step beside her. “I can take him.”
“Maybe we can go together.”
Ty threw her a glance but didn’t ask any more questions until they were outside. “What’s going on?”
“I’m going back to the area where we found Clint Freeman’s body.” A brisk wind greeted her, tugging at her hair and jacket. Maybe when the weather got warmer, people’s common sense and basic dignity for life would kick in. She could only hope.
“What are you going to do there?” Ty asked.
“I’m going to think about everything that happened. Look for anything we might have missed. And maybe I’ll talk to that man again, the one who heard the gunshot.”
“I’m there.”
With that said, they hopped in Cassidy’s police SUV, Kujo with them, and started down the road.
Ty glanced around as he, Cassidy, and Kujo stood on the side of the road.
There was no one out today, and for good reason. It was bitterly cold, especially odd considering it was April.
Cassidy knelt by the ditch in the area where the body had been found. She stared as if recreating the scene in her mind. Then she stood and glanced up and down the road that was surrounded on either side by marsh grasses and ditches.
In the summer, this road was busy with traffic headed to and from the ferry. But right now, it was barren, almost like it was taking a rest before the busy summer season started back up.
Ty gave Cassidy space to process. As she did, he scanned all the homes in the distance.
Why did he feel like someone was watching them? No one was visible right now. Yet Ty couldn’t help but think unseen eyes surveilled their every move.
And he didn’t like it.
Especially in light of that photo that had been found today on the victim’s phone.
Someone was clearly trying to send a threat to Cassidy. To let her know she wasn’t safe. To mess with her mind.
Ty was going to need all his training as a SEAL to protect her. She was strong and capable, but there was also a vulnerability about her. She tried to hide the trait, but it appeared whenever her compassion came to the surface.
It was like seeing other people go through hard times reminded Cassidy of everything she’d also been through—her loss, betrayal, giving up her old life.
When Ty had married her, he’d make it his personal mission to make sure no one ever hurt her again.
“What are you thinking?” Ty asked as Cassidy joined him.
She frowned as she shook her head. “Nothing. Not really. Except there’s one question that keeps repeating in my mind.”
“What’s that?”
“These guys, when I was in the back of the car, didn’t head toward the ferry, where I�
��d assumed they would go. No, they turned off the main road before I managed to get away. Where were they headed?”
“For all we know they pulled off to kill you, leave your body, and then escape.” Ty’s voice caught as he said the words.
That was a reality he never wanted to face. Never. Even saying the words made him feel like he’d been punched in the gut.
“That could be correct,” Cassidy said. On the surface, she looked like the words hadn’t affected her. But a small frown tugged at her lips. Despite that, she kept going. “What if these guys were headed somewhere specific? What if they were staying in this area and taking me to their hideout?”
Ty squinted, picturing the location in his mind. Finally, he nodded in agreement. “That street does loop around and connect with others, unlike most of the streets on the island.”
Much of Lantern Beach was so narrow there wasn’t much room for actual blocks, as normal areas had. On the north and south end, each gravel lane ended at the beach. This road where the men had taken Cassidy was part of a planned community that featured a crescent-shaped street that looped back to the main highway.
“They could have been circling back around, hoping to throw people off their trail.” Cassidy stared into the distance, her thoughts obviously heavy and focused. “I’m just trying to figure out how this location fits in with the rest. We know these guys shot Clint and left his body here. We also know that the man who calls himself Django found our cottage today. All of those places are on different areas of the island.”
“So this guy is wandering freely.” Ty’s jaw clenched at the thought.
“It appears so.” Cassidy glanced around again, determination and a touch of irritation in her gaze. “Let’s go talk to the man in that rental house. See if he remembered anything else. I’m running out of leads here.”
“You mean, the man who left his phone at home so he could have a real vacation?”
“That’s the one. That idea is tempting, isn’t it? Going without technology for a while . . .”
“You can say that again. Maybe when this is all over, you and I can get away again. Have some time just to ourselves.”
“I would love that, Ty.”
Yet even as she said the words, Ty realized that there would never be a good time to get away. Not with what was going on now. And not with Gilead’s Cove taking up residence on the island.
Before they started toward the house, melodic music filled the air. Ty would recognize that sound anywhere.
Serena. Why in the world was she playing music now, of all times? Ty couldn’t figure the girl out.
Ty glanced down the highway and saw her ice cream truck, aptly named Elsa, headed their way. He and Cassidy waited until the truck came closer, and then Cassidy flagged her down.
A calm, cool, and collected Detective Jackson Sullivan sat next to Serena, looking slightly dazed—no one would blame him. Serena sat in the driver’s seat, a big, starstruck grin stretched across her face.
“How’s it going?” Cassidy asked.
“Oh, it’s great,” Serena interjected. “I’m giving the detective a tour of the island in a way only I can. We’re riding in style.”
Detective Sullivan cast them a look of exhaustion. The man was obviously just humoring Serena. He should get some points for that.
“Except Elsa won’t turn off,” Serena continued. “This truck has a mind of her own sometimes, you know? Wouldn’t that make a great episode of Relentless? I mean, people come from miles away just to see this truck. She even has her own Instagram account. Anyway, did you know that Joey Darling is filming down in Wilmington right now, and—”
“Sorry, sweetie,” Cassidy interrupted. “I really need to know if Detective Sullivan discovered anything. We’ll have to talk about Hollywood and Elsa later.”
A slight smile played on the detective’s lips, and he ran a hand across his barely there beard, looking grateful for the interruption.
“We didn’t see anything,” he said. “I called in two other guys to help me check the nearby homes, but they were empty. There were tire tracks, and I took photos of them, but they ended at the highway.”
Ty saw Cassidy frown. She’d been hoping for more. They all had.
“Thanks for the update,” Cassidy said.
“It’s no problem,” Detective Sullivan said. “I want to catch these guys just as much as anyone. The Nags Head PD is rooting for our success as well.”
As soon as they started to pull away, Ty and Cassidy could hear Serena chatting again, even over the sound of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” playing through the tiny speakers on top of the truck.
Ty and Cassidy both exchanged a look.
Poor Detective Sullivan. This was going to be the highlight of Serena’s year.
Detective Sullivan’s? Not so much.
They started walking down the gravel lane toward the house in the distance. Ty pulled his coat up closer around him as a wind whipped across the island, unusually brutal today. Cassidy looked so focused that she didn’t seem to notice.
“I’m actually looking forward to the warmer weather,” Ty said, trying to pull her from her heavy thoughts. “I’ve enjoyed the quiet here on the island, but now I’m ready for summer.”
Cassidy glanced up at him and offered the start of a sad smile. “And your next session at Hope House starts up in a few weeks. But I feel bad. You’re distracted by all of this when you should be finishing up the last of the cabanas. The last thing I want to do is hold you back, Ty.”
As a part of Hope House, he’d not only added an addition to his cottage, but he’d built six livable cabanas on the back of the property. Though they were small spaces, each one offered just enough room for a bed, a bathroom, and a small kitchen.
However, three of the structures had been damaged in a winter storm back in February. As a nonprofit, they depended on donations to stay afloat. However, donations had dried up lately. Ty really needed to hire someone else to help in that area, as fundraising wasn’t his strong suit.
“I’m not too concerned about the cabanas,” Ty finally said. “I’ll get to it soon enough. And you never hold me back, Cassidy.”
Cassidy gave him a look but said nothing. Ty knew what she was thinking. He knew that she was concerned about the attention he was giving her instead of his work. But his work would mean nothing without Cassidy by his side.
This woman had come to mean the world to him. It was funny how eleven months could change everything. That’s how long it had been since they met. Sometimes it felt like just yesterday, and other times like they’d known each other for years.
Ty followed Cassidy up the stairs to the beach house where they’d been last night. Cassidy knocked on the door, and they waited.
There was no answer, which wasn’t surprising since there was no car in the driveway either.
She knocked again and waited.
Still no answer.
Finally, Cassidy pulled out her phone. “I’m calling the management company. I know the guy staying here said he didn’t have a cell phone with him, but I’m going to see if there’s another way of tracking him down.”
She turned away from the wind and put the phone to her mouth, rattling off some questions to the person on the other line. When she ended the call, she turned back to Ty, a new look in her eyes.
Was that disgust? Disappointment? Fire?
Probably it was a bit of all three, if Ty had to guess.
“The property manager said no one has been renting the house this week. He’s going to put in a call with the owners to make sure they didn’t offer a friend use of the house—but, if that’s the case, it’s usually marked on their calendar at the rental agency as a matter of record.”
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Ty waited to see if Cassidy shared his thoughts or if he was totally off base.
With a grim frown, Cassidy nodded. “I’m thinking the man we spoke with last night very well could have been our suspect . .
. and that he’s hiding in plain sight.”
Chapter Sixteen
Through the wonders of technology, Cassidy was able to work with a forensic artist via the computer. Using a digital program, she and Cassidy developed a sketch of the man she’d seen at the house. Once Cassidy was satisfied with the result, she approved the drawing and then printed copies to distribute inside the station.
Now maybe more people would be on the lookout for this guy, whom they assumed was Django. They had a face to match him with.
But Cassidy couldn’t stop chiding herself for missing the connection the first time. She should have gotten more information. Pushed harder.
Cassidy imagined the satisfaction the man must have felt after talking to her. She’d been clueless that it was him, and that had to have delighted him.
Anger burned through her at the thought. If Cassidy had been a little more on top of things, this guy could be behind bars right now. She could blame it on the medication or her physical state at the time, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she’d failed.
How would she ever forgive herself for that? Maybe the mayor was right. Maybe he should start looking for a new police chief. For that matter, maybe it was a good thing that Abbott had taken over.
The sun was setting outside. Ty had heated up some leftover soup in the microwave and brought it to her. And Cassidy’s exhaustion was catching up with her. She’d grabbed a quick nap on her couch earlier, but every part of her body ached right now.
Ty and Dane were outside with Kujo and Ranger at the moment. The two dogs were becoming best buddies, and Cassidy figured the distraction was better for both of them right now. When you were in the middle of a crisis, you treasured the normal moments. And, in the normal moments, people craved excitement. It could be a strange mentality at times, Cassidy supposed.
Melva appeared at her doorway, stringy remnants of a quilting project stuck to her button-up blouse and light blue pants. Quilting was apparently Melva’s way of coping. Cassidy knew the woman needed some way to cope, so she didn’t complain as long as Melva got her work done.
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