Lantern Beach Mysteries Box Set

by Christy Barritt

The last thing Cassidy needed was for Lisa to get hurt. “You won’t be able to get past the barricades now anyway. Listen, I need to go. Keep me updated, and I’ll do the same.”

  She shoved her phone back into her pocket and paused as something in the distance caught her eye. Two teens knelt beside a police cruiser . . . with spray paint in hand.

  “Hey!” she called.

  The teens saw her, and their eyes widened. They dropped the spray paint and ran.

  Ordinarily, Cassidy might chase them. But today she had bigger fish to fry. Instead, she grabbed the paint cans and slipped them into her purse. No need to add litter to the crimes around here. Besides, maybe those kids’ prints were on these cans.

  As she reached the school’s athletic fields, she paused and glanced around. There was a high school marching band, a dance group, a club driving miniature cars, people on horses, and too many others to even mention.

  So where was the Coast Guard?

  She spotted a group in white uniforms in the distance. That had to be them.

  She rushed through the crowds until she reached them. She searched the faces but didn’t spot Savage. What if he wasn’t marching? She had to get in touch with him somehow.

  Finally, she tapped one of the men on the shoulder. “Excuse me.”

  The man turned and smiled. “Yes?”

  She tapped into all her blondeness and smiled sweetly. “Excuse me. I’m looking for Savage. Is he here?”

  A strange expression crossed his face. He nodded toward a man three people over. “He’s right there.”

  Cassidy’s gaze swerved toward the man.

  But this Savage wasn’t the same Savage she’d talked to at the police station.

  Her heart pounded in her ears.

  No, that man hadn’t been Coast Guard at all, had he?

  Chapter 28

  As Cassidy started back toward the boardwalk, her cell rang again. This time it was Ty.

  “I see Melissa,” he said. “There’s a man approaching.”

  She remembered the man who’d pretended to be a Coastie. “Is he a big guy with blond hair?”

  “No, he’s tall with dark hair. Is he the guy you’re looking for?”

  “I’m nearly certain he works for the Cobra,” Cassidy said. He could even be one of the men who’d tried to abduct her.

  “I’ll go keep him away from her.”

  “No, wait,” Cassidy said, scenarios playing out in her mind. That wasn’t the direction they needed to go. Not yet, at least. “You don’t want to scare him away. We need him to be arrested and off the streets.”

  “How do you propose we do that?”

  She nibbled on her bottom lip, thankful that Ty was letting her take the lead. Not all men—especially alpha males—would be okay with that. “Where are you, exactly?”

  “Near The Docks restaurant.”

  “Keep an eye on them. In fact, don’t let them out of your sight. I’m going to put in a tip to the police.”

  “You think that will be enough to stop this?” An edge of skepticism entered his voice.

  “I’m hoping it will be. Otherwise, start thinking about a backup plan.”

  “I’ll trust you on this one,” he said. “Keep me updated.”

  “Will do. I’m headed toward you now.”

  As soon as she hung up, she dialed the police. Dispatch answered. “There’s a man who was imitating a coastguardsman. He’s now harassing a girl with long, dark hair outside The Docks restaurant. They need an officer there right away.”

  Before dispatch could ask any more questions, Cassidy hung up. And then she slid back into the crowds, making her way toward Ty.

  Five minutes later, she found him concealed behind the corner of a gift shop. The town’s local singer/songwriter, Carter Denver, played the guitar and sang “Only in America” across the path. If she wasn’t on a mission, she might take a moment to enjoy the music and maybe to even tell Ty how much she appreciated the sacrifices he’d made for the country. But this wasn’t the time.

  “Are they still there?” she asked, following Ty’s gaze.

  Ty nodded in the distance. “They’ve just been talking. They look . . . happy.”

  “That’s all part of the show.” When she thought of how these men took advantage of the women’s loneliness, another surge of anger rushed through her.

  Cassidy zeroed in on the man. She instantly recognized him as the man who’d tried to abduct her, just as she’d suspected. She glanced around and spotted another man in the distance. He stood casually on the boardwalk, sipping a smoothie and wearing sunglasses.

  “He’s one of them also,” Cassidy said, nodding across the way.

  “Very observant.” Ty glanced around. “Any more?”

  “Not that I see right now. The police should be showing up any time now. I just hope they don’t blow it.” If it was Bozeman and Quinton, there was a good chance that would happen.

  “Well, I heard a couple of people walking past saying there was a brawl between two of the ballet teachers. The police could be occupied with that now.

  Just then, Melissa and the man stood from the bench. She slipped her arm through his, and they began to stroll down the boardwalk.

  No, no, no . . .

  This couldn’t happen.

  “We’ve got to follow them.” Ty bristled beside her.

  “Yes, we do.” As soon as she said the words, the sound of the marching band filled the air, drowning out the noise of the crowds. The parade was starting.

  Things had just gotten ten times more complicated.

  Cassidy and Ty wove their way into the crowd, staying a safe distance behind Melissa and the man. As they walked farther down the boardwalk, the crowds thickened, rushing toward the parade route. Cassidy stood on her tiptoes, trying to keep Melissa in sight.

  They were going toward the parking lot, she realized.

  There weren’t but so many places they could go if they got into a car. The streets were closed.

  Then again, the police were occupied so this just might be the perfect time for someone to make a move. A criminal move.

  “Cassidy, they’re getting in a car,” Ty said.

  “Come on.” She grabbed her keys.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m parked right over here also. We’ve got to follow them.”

  “I don’t know where they think they’re going to go.” Ty shook his head, still looking every bit as masculine as ever, even with his arm in a sling.

  “Wherever it is, we’ll be right behind them.”

  Ty didn’t argue. “Let’s go then.”

  Ty’s mind raced as he climbed into Elsa. He wished he could drive, but he was in no state to do that with his arm. Besides, Cassidy seemed to know what she was doing.

  Which left him unsettled again.

  He knew she had secrets. He’d found that stash of guns in her place. He’d seen her handle herself with training beyond what the average person should have. She could claim all she wanted she’d taken self-defense courses, but Ty knew there was more to the story.

  Was she running from an abusive ex? It was a possibility. It would explain how jumpy she was. How she always watched everything around her. How she’d learned to defend herself.

  Or what if she was a witness to a crime? That was another possibility. Or maybe she’d been accused of a crime. What if she’d come to Lantern Beach to hide? Either from law enforcement or criminals?

  He wasn’t sure. He only knew when he’d done an Internet search for Cassidy Livingston, none of them were for his Cassidy. And, in this day and age, that was suspicious in itself.

  Ty glanced at her, noting the determination on her face. Cassidy had tried to hide it more when they’d first met. But now there was no denying it.

  The woman had a penchant for justice—a fire deep inside her—that reminded him of some of the best soldiers he’d ever met. And he’d met some of the best.

  When would she trust Ty enough to open
up? Or would she?

  “They’re heading toward the lighthouse,” Cassidy muttered. “There’s a third man in the car. The driver. He could be the Cobra.”

  She was right. This road only led one place—the lighthouse and a state park beyond it. This street was otherwise deserted right now, surrounded by only trees and narrow ditches.

  “And what do you plan on doing when they finally stop? I have to say that confronting him doesn’t sound like the best idea.” He was trying to let Cassidy take the lead here. It was her rodeo, after all. But he’d feel better if he knew the game plan.

  “Confronting him is a terrible idea,” Cassidy agreed. She tossed her phone toward him. “Can you call the police? Tell them that a man in a black sedan headed toward the lighthouse stole some jewelry?”

  “Jewelry?”

  “It’s actually a locket, but jewelry sounds more extensive. I’ll explain later.”

  He didn’t bother arguing. Ty knew that Cassidy had some sort of reasoning for this. There would be time to ask about it later.

  He hoped. But he desperately wanted to figure her out and put an end to his questions.

  As soon as he made the call, Cassidy sped up until she was right behind the sedan.

  “What are you doing?” he asked. Had she lost her mind?

  “Is your seatbelt on?”

  He glanced down to confirm. “Yes. Why?”

  “Hold on.” With steely determination, she gripped the wheel and stared ahead.

  And before Ty could say anything else, Cassidy rammed Elsa into the sedan.

  Chapter 29

  The sedan in front of them wobbled before jerking, pulling off to the side of the road, and coming to a stop.

  Cassidy smiled. If she had to guess, the car had shut down on impact. That’s what she’d been hoping for. The model was just old enough that the fuel pump should have triggered the entire vehicle to stop.

  “Cassidy . . .” Ty muttered, the concern on his face causing her pulse to race. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, trying to keep her thoughts together. Having Ty here made everything so much more complicated. Yet, at the same time, so much better.

  “I’m fine,” she started. “Look . . . I know what I’m about to do will seem odd. I’m just trying to save a woman’s life. So . . .”

  His jaw tightened. “I understand. But I’m not letting you do this alone.”

  Cassidy released her breath. She only hoped she didn’t get him killed. And the questions he was going to ask after this . . . she wasn’t sure how she would answer. But she’d cross that bridge later.

  Channeling her inner ditzy blonde again, she sprang from the truck, certain to keep the cross-body purse on. She’d need it later. She rushed toward the sedan just as the driver stepped out.

  “I’m so sorry,” she started. “My truck takes on a mind of her own sometimes, and the brakes weren’t working. It was the craziest thing. I just couldn’t stop, and the accelerator jammed. So much for selling ice cream to the crowds down at the lighthouse. Is everyone okay?”

  She kept her sunglasses on and her baseball cap pulled down low, just in case anyone might recognize her—including Melissa.

  The man who stared back at her was definitely Savage. Or, the man who’d called himself Savage at the police station. The man also known as the Cobra.

  She glanced at his arm, hoping to see a tattoo, but his shirt covered it.

  However, a bandage did protrude from one of his sleeves. Was that from the cut he’d gotten while trying to abduct a woman in Myrtle Beach?

  “What were you thinking?” the man demanded, hulking over her as anger shot through his words.

  “Hey, hold up.” Ty stepped closer. “It was an accident. The truck has been malfunctioning.”

  “Well, this is highly inconvenient.”

  “I know, and I’m so sorry,” Cassidy continued. “What can I do? How about some ice cream? My treat.”

  The Cobra’s eyes narrowed. “No, thank you.”

  “How about your friends in the back? Would they like some?” She glanced in the back and saw Melissa. She couldn’t get a read on the woman, though. Was she frightened? Or was she clueless about what was really happening?

  The Cobra scowled again. “We’re fine. I just need to get the car started. I have an appointment.”

  At just that moment, the police pulled up. Bozeman, just as Cassidy had hoped.

  She closed her eyes a moment, hoping her plan worked. There were so many things that could go wrong.

  Bozeman strode out, tucking his shirt into his pants and looking rather annoyed. “What’s going on here?”

  “It’s all my fault, chief,” Cassidy started, making sure to blather. “My brakes went out, and I ran right into this nice man and his friends. Now I’ve made them late, and mosquitoes are probably eating them alive.”

  Cassidy slapped an imaginary bug from her neck.

  The chief’s gaze went to Savage. “Is that correct?”

  “Yes, but I’d really just like to get out of here.” Savage’s voice was even, but rage still simmered in his gaze. A little fender bender was stopping his grand plan—and that was exactly what Cassidy had hoped for.

  A state police officer also pulled up behind them. They’d called in reinforcements for the festivities today, apparently. That was good because they needed all the help they could get right now, especially if things played out the way Cassidy hoped.

  “License and registration,” Bozeman said. “Why don’t your friends get out of the vehicle also? I’m sure they’re going to get warm in this heat.”

  “They’re fine. This won’t take long.”

  Cassidy glanced in the back. “No, actually the girl back there looks like she might pass out. It’s probably 95 degrees out here now and with no AC . . .”

  Savage scowled. “It’s really not necessary.”

  Ty opened the door. “Of course it is. Besides, your car won’t even start right now. I can take a look if you’d like.”

  A man climbed out, pulling Melissa beside him. Cassidy scanned them all, but she didn’t see any weapons. Guns could still be concealed by the men’s clothing, however.

  Cassidy looked at the girl, hoping she didn’t show any recognition. She didn’t.

  But she did look pale. She was getting the idea that these men weren’t who they claimed. They’d probably told her a boatload of lies, said they were taking her to a private yacht. And she’d wanted to believe them, even though deep inside, she knew something didn’t sound right.

  Cassidy had heard similar stories too many times.

  As they climbed out, Cassidy enacted step two of her plan.

  Carefully, she leaned down. As she did, she slipped a hand into her purse, stood, and raised a spray paint can.

  “Oh, look what you dropped. Some red spray paint.” She giggled. “It matches the paint on your car, chief.”

  The chief’s face went from all business to totally ticked off. “You’re the ones who’ve been tagging my car? Calling me Bozo?”

  The Cobra’s eyes widened. “I have no idea where that came from.”

  Cassidy shrugged. “Like I said, it fell out the back when they opened the door. That’s all I know.”

  “I’m going to have to take you in for questioning,” the chief said, grabbing the Cobra’s arm.

  “I’m telling you, I have no idea what this is about. It’s a mistake.”

  Cassidy tugged Melissa away from the men. “You look like you could use some ice cream.”

  “No, I’m . . .” she started.

  “I insist.” She pulled her toward the back of the truck. Ty followed.

  Once they were out of sight, Cassidy lowered her voice. “If you leave with those men, no one will ever see you again. Understand?”

  “You’re the woman from the clinic,” she muttered.

  “It’s a long story,” Cassidy said. “But stay here.”

  Just as the final word left her mouth, the air around t
hem changed.

  Cassidy jerked her head toward the scene and saw that the state police had drawn their guns.

  “Stay down!” Ty said, covering them with his body.

  Cassidy remained behind the truck. Right now, they needed to keep Melissa safe.

  Gunfire sliced through the air. Melissa let out a scream. The air lit with shots and the smoky scent of ammunition.

  One of the state police officers within Cassidy’s sight grabbed his arm. He’d been hit.

  More shouts. More movement. More gunfire.

  Ty continued to shield them from what was happening.

  But Cassidy could hardly breathe. What was happening out there? She itched to be a part of it.

  Finally, silence cut through the air.

  An ambulance pulled up, followed by more state police.

  “What’s going on?” Cassidy whispered.

  Ty peered out. “The man driving the car was shot, as was one other man. The third surrendered.”

  “Bozeman?” she asked.

  “He appears to be okay.”

  Cassidy released her breath. Maybe everything would be okay. She could hope.

  And now she needed to review her cover story because there were sure to be a lot of questions.

  “So these guys were going to sell me into a human trafficking ring?” Melissa said.

  They still stood behind Elsa, in an area that was shaded. Most of the other law enforcement officers were gathered by the sedan—in the area where the men had been shot. There were two ambulances behind them, however. Ty was busy filling in the gaps of conversation about what had happened with Bozeman.

  Cassidy nodded in response to Melissa’s question. “I’m sorry. I know you thought you’d met your perfect match. That’s what they want you to think.”

  She frowned. “I just wanted someone to turn my life around, to get me out of this pit that’s been trapping me.”

  “You can turn your life around. It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be a lot of work. But it’s entirely possible.”

  Melissa studied her face. “Why are you so certain?”

  “Because my whole life people have only liked me for what I could do for them,” Cassidy whispered. “No one’s ever liked me for me, and that’s one of the loneliest feelings in the world. I had to walk through fire, but things are finally turning around. Besides, Lisa and I will be there for you, if you need someone.”