Lantern Beach Mysteries Box Set

by Christy Barritt

  “Well, well,” he said, clucking his tongue. “Look who we have here.”

  Seriously, this guy must have learned every line of his bad guy terminology from cheesy TV shows. And what kind of bad guy was named Sissy?

  “Put your gun down,” the thug muttered. “Or I’ll shoot her.”

  Ty raised his hands and nodded. “Don’t do anything rash.”

  “Put the gun down!”

  Slowly, Ty lowered it to the deck.

  Cassidy’s gun was still in her waistband. He didn’t know she had it, and she needed to use that to her advantage.

  “You three aren’t going anywhere,” Sissy said. “But you are going to make me do things the hard way.”

  “Just let us go,” Cassidy said. “We won’t tell.”

  Of course they’d tell, and everyone knew it. But she had to try using the excuse. The line sounded like something a rookie would say.

  “I can’t do that,” Sissy said. “I should have just eliminated you from the start.”

  “That’s a bad idea,” Ty said. “You’re going to get caught.”

  “I never get caught. You have no idea.” A satisfied smile crossed Sissy’s face. “You two certainly didn’t suspect me, even after two visits.”

  “You put on a good act,” Ty said. “But I already called the police. They’ll be here soon.”

  “Quiet!” Sissy yelled, his nostrils flaring.

  Skye gasped, the gun still pointed at her temple.

  “Shoot her,” Sissy said, glancing at his right-hand man.

  “Shoot her?” the man repeated with wide eyes.

  “Yes, shoot her. Can I make myself any clearer?”

  “But . . .”

  Before the man could say anything else, Sissy pulled out a gun and fired.

  The thug clutched his chest and fell to the deck.

  Skye screamed as Sissy grabbed her next.

  “You know what I say? Eliminate the dead weight.” Sissy turned to them. “Now, do I have your full attention?”

  “Your guy is still alive,” Cassidy said, needing to distract him. As Sissy looked at the man he’d just shot, she drew her own gun and pointed it at him. “Let her go.”

  Sissy nodded, as if impressed. “Clever. Very clever. But I’m not letting her go.”

  “This isn’t going to end the way you want it to,” Ty said.

  “I don’t know about that.” The cockiness remained in Sissy’s gaze.

  Cassidy readjusted her aim at Sissy and resisted the urge to give him a steely-eyed stare. “You need to let us walk away.”

  He raised an eyebrow, a smile curling his lips. “You’re tougher than I thought.”

  Stop acting like a professional, she reminded herself. Cassidy made the gun tremble in her hands, trying to act like she’d never used one. “Don’t make me use this.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “I would.” She swallowed hard.

  “That would make you a killer.”

  Sissy’s words pierced her through the heart. She didn’t want to be a killer. But maybe she already was.

  She spotted Mac on the docks behind Sissy. He gestured wildly, and Cassidy tried not to stare.

  The police, she realized. He was trying to tell her the police were almost here.

  The problem was they might not have time for either the police or Mac to arrive.

  “This is all a bad idea,” she told Sissy, desperate to stabilize the situation.

  “You’ve never seen a bad idea.”

  Oh, he had no idea.

  “Just let the ladies go,” Ty said. “I’ll go with you.”

  “Too bad I don’t want you.” Sissy repositioned his gun against Skye.

  Her friend let out another half gasp/half cry.

  The situation was escalating, and Cassidy needed to do something before someone she cared about got hurt.

  Her gun was locked and loaded. She had excellent aim. Every shooting instructor she’d ever had had told her that. If only she could get a good angle . . .

  “You all need to go back downstairs.” Sissy pointed with his gun. “Now.”

  Oh, no. No way was Cassidy going back down there. They’d never come back up. At least up here there was a chance for survival, for someone to see them and help.

  “No,” Cassidy said.

  “Cassidy . . .” Ty muttered.

  “I said go.” Sissy pointed with his gun again. As soon as the barrel turned away from Skye, Cassidy fired.

  She held her breath as she waited for the fallout.

  Sissy screamed. Skye fell to the ground. Blood splattered on the floor and walls.

  Cassidy rushed toward them as Ty kicked Sissy’s gun away. The drug lord writhed with pain on the floor as blood poured from his hand.

  She’d hit her target. His wrist.

  And Skye was okay—other than the emotional damage.

  Ty was okay.

  That meant Cassidy was also okay.

  At that moment, police flooded the boat.

  This was all over. Finally.

  Chapter 29

  Ty and Cassidy hadn’t had a chance to talk since everything had gone down. They were ushered off the boat and questioned by state police. Finally, Ty, Cassidy, and Skye were left to gather their thoughts for a moment on a grassy area near the harbor.

  The sun had set, but groups of people were still out, pausing in the distance to stare and speculate about what the excitement was about.

  Just as Mac had suggested to Ty earlier, Chief Bozeman showed up. Apparently, neighboring police departments did help each other out around here.

  In the distance, Buddy was led away in handcuffs. Sissy had kept him on the boat in another room, apparently. The police had enough evidence to put him away for a long time.

  From what Ty had overheard the police saying, one of Sissy’s men had confronted Buddy, and there’d been a fight. Buddy had run, but Sissy’s men had found him, upset because Buddy had moved in on their turf. Buddy might not have been the biggest player in the room, but his crimes had been serious enough that he’d be going to prison.

  Sissy’s list of incriminating acts was even longer and darker. The man had a team of drug dealers up and down the East Coast, but Sissy’s unassuming ways had allowed him to fly under the radar for far too long.

  As the crowds began to thin, Ty glanced at Cassidy, remembering with amazement how everything had unfolded earlier.

  “I’m glad you’re okay,” Ty said. “That was a risky move and an excellent shot.”

  Cassidy shrugged. “Beginner’s luck.”

  “Well, it was impressive.” But he wasn’t sold on the beginner’s luck part.

  “Thanks for coming, by the way. I knew I could count on you.”

  “You can count on me anytime, Cassidy.”

  Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away. “It’s good to have people in your corner.”

  “What happened in that room right before I got there?” Ty asked, watching Cassidy’s face. “Those men looked beaten up.”

  Cassidy shrugged. “They tried to drug us, and we fought back.”

  Skye let out a harsh chuckle. “No, we didn’t. I totally froze. But Cassidy swung her chair around—while she was still tied up—and hit the man in the head.”

  Ty’s gaze went back to Cassidy. “Is that right?”

  She shrugged again, not looking the least bit excited. “My adrenaline just kicked in. Adrenaline and instinct.”

  “She didn’t stop there,” Skye continued. “She slammed her forehead into the other man and sent him reeling. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  Ty’s curiosity surged, but this wasn’t the time to ask questions. And, even if he did ask, he was certain Cassidy wouldn’t give him a straight answer.

  From the corner of his eye, he saw someone approaching with a camera. Ernestine. As the octogenarian reporter raised it to snap a picture, Cassidy must have seen her. She pulled her hair into her face and raised her hand to block the sho
t.

  Was Cassidy really that camera shy? She didn’t seem like the type who worried about stuff like that. Then again, as he was constantly discovering, there was a lot about Cassidy Livingston he didn’t know.

  Right on cue, Mac came up and hooked his arm around Cassidy. “There’s my girl. You’re a tough chick, you know that.”

  “I’m not. Not really.” Cassidy glanced over at Ernestine again and turned her back to her.

  “You’ve seen more action in the crime-solving community in a month than Bozeman has the past two years,” Mac continued.

  “I guess I just have a knack for finding trouble.”

  “And you don’t back down.” He waved a finger at her, but his face beamed with pride.

  “Maybe I just have good instincts.” Cassidy offered a weak smile.

  Ty could see the exhaustion on her face, but more so on Skye’s. She wasn’t the trooper that Cassidy was. “How about if we get you home? If you’re free to go, of course.”

  “That would be great.” Skye wrapped her arms over her chest.

  Before Ty could consult with the police about it, a familiar truck pulled up, and Austin strode up a few minutes later. As soon as he reached Skye, she melted into his arms.

  Thank goodness for this happy ending. Because things could have turned out a whole lot different.

  Two hours later, Austin, Skye, Ty, and Cassidy sat in Austin’s truck. Mac decided to stay with a friend in Ocracoke overnight. In the morning, another friend was coming to pick up the boat they’d borrowed, and then Mac would drive Cassidy’s car back.

  With Cassidy’s bike loaded in the back of Austin’s truck, they headed back toward Lantern Beach, silent at first.

  Cassidy was grateful for the quiet.

  She needed to distance herself from Ty, even though she wanted to be near him. She wanted to take his hand and fall into his embrace just like Skye had fallen into Austin’s.

  But she couldn’t.

  She feebly played with her purse strap instead.

  Once on the ferry, quenchless darkness surrounded them. The clouds had temporarily cleared, and she could see stars.

  And again, she wanted to fall into Ty. She wanted to pretend like they could have a relationship.

  He shifted beside her, and his hand brushed hers. She couldn’t look at him. If she saw his gaze, she’d forget everything her mind was telling her. Keep your distance, she reminded herself. Stay strong.

  Something buzzed in her purse.

  Her phone. Her secret phone.

  It had to be Samuel. Had he discovered something new?

  Her heart racing, she gripped her purse again. “I’m going to go stand outside for a minute. I could use some fresh air.”

  “I’ll go with you.” He grabbed the door handle.

  She raised a hand. “Just . . . just give me a minute, okay? Please?”

  He stared at her a moment, his eyes orbs of questions, but finally he nodded. “Sure.”

  Her heart sagged at his disappointment. But, sometimes, a girl had to make the hard choices. Painful choices. This was one of them.

  Cassidy didn’t like it, but she didn’t have many options.

  She slipped out and hurried away from the car, finding a lonely place near the railing. As the dark water rolled by, she closed her eyes, thankful that the water wasn’t her grave. Not today, at least.

  She found her phone and stuck it to her ear. Looking around once more to make sure she was alone, she put it to her ear. “Hey, Samuel.”

  “I have an update. I figured you’d want to know right way.”

  “What is it?” Was Cassidy a killer? She could hardly breathe as she waited.

  “You didn’t have anything to do with that woman’s murder, Cassidy.”

  She released her breath before stopping suddenly. Had she heard him correctly? “How can you be sure?”

  “We have another guy embedded with DH-7.”

  “What?” Why hadn’t she heard about this before?

  “The DEA has one of their guys in the gang.”

  Cassidy’s spine straightened. “Who?”

  “I can’t tell you.”

  “Was he a part of it while I was undercover?”

  “He was.”

  “And you didn’t tell me?”

  “It was important that no one knew,” he said. “We thought if we kept it quiet, there was less chance of either of you being found out.”

  “But what if I’d needed him?” It didn’t make any sense that they wouldn’t share that information.

  “Cassidy . . .” Samuel’s tone made it clear he didn’t want to talk about this anymore.

  She swallowed hard and glanced around one more time. “What did he say?”

  “Raul put that blood on you to test your loyalty. They were messing with your head, Cassidy. My contact assured me that you’re innocent.”

  Relief made her joints feel like rubber. Despite the surprising and irksome news of another informant, Cassidy had never been so thankful.

  She hadn’t killed someone.

  “Thank you, Samuel.” She remembered the events of the evening. After a moment of contemplation, she filled him in on Sissy and flakka.

  “Do we need to pull you?”

  She glanced back at Austin’s truck and remembered her friends there. Friends. It felt good to have people who had your back. Not because they worked with you or worked for your father. But because they cared about you as a person.

  She wasn’t ready to leave yet.

  “No, I’m okay. I’ll keep my eyes open.”

  “If anything changes, let me know.”

  “I will.”

  She slid her phone back into her purse just as Ty climbed from the truck and went to stand at the railing several feet down. He was trying to play it cool, but she knew he was keeping an eye on her. It was sweet.

  She wove her way between cars until she reached him. Standing beside him, she leaned out on the railing and looked at the water.

  “I know I’ve already said this, but thanks again for everything you did tonight,” she started, wishing she could more adequately show her thanks.

  “It was nothing.”

  She glanced at the moonlight hitting the waves, contemplating her next words. “You know, you’ve been a good friend since I came here. I appreciate that.”

  “I’d like to be more.”

  Cassidy closed her eyes as an internal war started within her. “I have a lot of things I need to work out, Ty.”

  He touched her shoulder and nearly made her lose her resolve. “Don’t we all?”

  She made the fatal mistake of looking up at him. Those eyes—full of expression—made her want to dive in. Instead, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled toward him for a hug. Ty wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close.

  All her worries seemed to melt away, if just for a moment.

  She’d thought she’d been such a good judge of character. But Ryan, the man she’d thought walked on water, had ignored her calls while hanging out with another woman. And Ty, a man she’d believed was a chauvinistic pig when they’d first met, actually had a heart of gold.

  So much for her ability to figure people out.

  She pulled away first, yet her hands rested on Ty’s chest. She knew she should move them. But she couldn’t. Or didn’t. Or something.

  She’d never felt so drawn to someone before.

  “I need time,” she said, staring at his lips instead of his eyes in an effort not to lose her resolve. “I don’t know how much.”

  “I can give you time,” he said.

  “I don’t . . .” Cassidy shook her head, at a loss for words. “I don’t know how it’s all going to turn out.”

  “What does that mean?” Questions and confusion etched into Ty’s soft tones.

  “It means . . .” She shook her head again, overwhelmed by her thoughts and emotions.

  Ty leaned down to meet her gaze. “What aren’t you telling me, Cassidy
?”

  Everything was on the edge of her tongue. She wished she could share it. Wished she could talk about it with someone. With Ty.

  But that would put him in danger.

  Besides, he’d made that call to the West Coast. He’d said it was to talk to his friend who was a SEAL out there. But this guy had been in San Diego—the same place that woman who looked like Cassidy had been murdered.

  Cassidy wanted to believe it was a coincidence . . . but what if it wasn’t? This was no time to be naïve.

  She didn’t say anything. She needed more time. Time to think. To be certain.

  Finally, he stepped back, and Cassidy immediately missed his presence.

  “I won’t press you,” he said. “When you’re ready, you can let me know.”

  Gratitude filled her. “Thank you.”

  He wrapped his arm around her waist, and they walked back to Austin’s truck. The ferry was about to dock. And Cassidy couldn’t wait to get back home. Yes, home.

  Funny how quickly Lantern Beach had earned that name.

  Prologue

  14 Weeks Earlier

  Cady Matthews froze in the dingy hallway.

  The sound of a whiny hum mixed with a faint tapping—so faint that Cady thought she’d imagined it. Yet something about the noise seemed to beckon for attention, to whisper of urgency.

  She pivoted in the cold, dim space, the hairs on her arms rising at the chilly undercurrents around her.

  The noise came from somewhere in the underbelly of this building. She was in DH-7’s lair—an old apartment complex the gang had taken over. It now served as their base of operations—their base of deadly operations. She mentally called the building “Hell’s Waiting Room.” What other name would be appropriate for a building where so much evil occurred?

  Nothing. Not in her mind, at least.

  Cady, a police detective, was here undercover, but the assignment felt more difficult with each second that ticked by. Truth be told, she wanted out. But the other truth also remained: she wasn’t a quitter.

  Not with this assignment. And not with that noise she’d just heard.

  “What are you doing?” Raul Sanders stepped through an open door a little farther down the hallway and came toward her. Two of his top guys, Sloan and Orion, flanked him on either side.