Sunset Over Misty Lake

by Margaret Standafer

  “Yeah. Trey. Good guy, been there a long time, knows what he’s doing. Told him you had a possible situation and you’d appreciate his cooperation.”

  “The situation’s no longer a possibility. It’s a reality. I need access to the security office and the security cameras, if possible. I’m heading there right now. Please call again and if Trey’s in, remind him of your talk. If Trey’s not there, speak to the person in charge, explain, and see if he or she will cooperate. Pull whatever strings you can pull. It’s important.”

  Not much got to Will. In the years Cort had known him, he’d often thought Will one of the most unflappable people he’d ever dealt with. When Will yanked his feet from his desk, dropped the file he’d been reading, grabbed a pen and a pad of paper, and pushed his glasses into place, Cort got his first glimpse of Will in crisis mode. He liked what he saw.

  “I know Trey’s there. Some of us hold an online meeting once a month to keep each other updated. It was this morning. I’ll call him and tell him you’re on your way. Anything he needs to know? Anything I need to know?”

  “It’s an isolated situation, a personal matter but with far-reaching legal implications. There’s no danger to Mystique, no danger here.”

  Will nodded as he made notes. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can do.” He reached for the phone, getting to work without any unnecessary questions neither had the time for.

  “Thanks, Will.”

  Cort texted Opal on his way across the lobby. Once outside, he found the four cabs he’d ordered lined up in front of the hotel. After a quick word to the drivers of the other three, he hopped into the first and was on his way to Mystique.

  The first test of their texting tree came only a few minutes after they all parted ways. Shauna read Cort’s text regarding the cabs and quickly forwarded the information to everyone else.

  Cabs out front. Grab the first cab in line, give the driver the name Mackenzie, and he’ll drop you at Mystique. Fee and tip are covered.

  They wouldn’t all be ready at the same time, and they shouldn’t all arrive at the same time. Cort had planned accordingly. The familiar flutter in her belly whenever she thought about him, about how much she loved him, and now, how he continued to amaze her with his determination and never-ending stream of ideas and suggestions to catch Joshua, delighted her.

  Of course, it could also be nerves at the thought of what they were trying to pull off. She chose to go with the former rather than the latter.

  As fast as she could, she grabbed what she figured she’d need: phone charger, the notes they’d compiled outlining their plan as well as contingency plans, the list of various managers of the hotel and casino at Mystique she’d either found online or had wheedled out of Cort’s manager in case she had to call for reinforcements, binoculars because they seemed like a spy movie kind of thing to have, extra hair bands because she tended to twist her hair and break the bands when she was nervous, and a stack of protein bars because she knew Karen hadn’t eaten breakfast, maybe not dinner.

  After one last glance around her room, she took a deep breath, summoned her courage and every positive thought she could think, and headed for the lobby.

  Riley was gone by the time Joe got back to the room they’d shared, but Jake was there, tapping furiously at his phone.

  “I tried Bud again. No answer. Left another message and texted him again. If I don’t hear in five minutes, I’m going to call the department to either help me track him down or to listen to my story. I hope, if it comes to that, I can get Bud’s supervisor who’s at least somewhat familiar with the case. If not, it could take some talking to get the manpower we need.”

  Joe threw on clean clothes and brushed his teeth while Jake talked. He opened his computer and shot off a quick email to his students apologizing for the short notice but cancelling the tutoring sessions scheduled for that morning.

  “Find him, Jake, find Bud. I have a feeling we have a better shot at the result we want if Bud’s there rather than someone else.”

  “I think you’re right. I’ll find him.”

  “Heading out. See you when I see you.”

  Jake snagged Joe around the neck and hugged him with one arm. “Be careful, little brother.”

  “You too, big brother.”

  Riley searched out Joshua then sat down at the bar as close to him as he could get. Riley stretched out his legs, yawned, and reached his arms over his head. When Joshua approached, Riley greeted him with a smug grin.

  “What can I get you?”

  “What can you get me? Let’s see. It’s been a good night, a very good night, so I’m celebrating. The Eagles were playing on my phone when I hit the jackpot. Not that I can tell from in here, but I assume it’s morning. A Tequila Sunrise, it is.”

  Joshua fought it, but Riley saw the hint of a grin.

  “Coming right up. And congratulations.”

  As soon as Joshua stepped away to mix the drink, Riley sent a text to Shauna.

  At the bar, ordered a drink, ready for Cassie.

  Karen gave Joe a quick kiss, then she and Shauna left him outside to watch the entrance. She knew he didn’t like his job, but he didn’t argue.

  “Do you think we can walk through the casino and get a peek at everyone in action before we go up to the room,” Karen whispered to Shauna.

  “Absolutely. Just keep your head down. Don’t let Joshua see your beautiful face. We can’t have him recognizing you.”

  Karen nodded and pulled her wide-brimmed hat lower on her head.

  Shauna’s phone hummed with another text. She paused just inside the door and tapped, forwarding the information.

  “Frank has a spot at a slot machine where he can see the bar,” Shauna told Karen. “Cassie should be getting into position.”

  Karen and Shauna strolled through the casino, purposely meandering. They spotted Frank sitting in front of a slot machine, pushing buttons with one hand and holding his camera at his side with the other.

  When their meandering took them within view of a second bar and Karen spotted Opal, surprise had her sucking in a sharp breath. She wanted to stop, to talk, to thank, but knew she couldn’t. Just before Karen turned, Opal spotted her and gave her a tiny one-finger wave without missing a beat in her scrubbing of the bar.

  So many people looking out for her. The thought threatened to overwhelm Karen, but she kept walking.

  When they rounded the row of slot machines and had a clear view of the main bar, Riley and Cassie weren’t hard to spot. Riley was seated, Cassie was sauntering to the bar. Karen wanted to grab Shauna by the arm and demand to know if she was seeing what Karen was seeing. Instead, she forced her eyes to focus straight in front of her and she wandered out of the casino toward the bank of elevators.

  Knowing once she spoke, she wouldn’t be able to stop, Karen bit her lip until they reached the fourth floor, until they’d walked down the hall to room 418, and until Shauna opened the door, they were inside, and the door clicked shut behind them.

  “Did you see her? Oh, my gosh, did you see her?”

  “Uh, yeah. How…when…I’d never be able…How?”

  “No idea. She had her hair in a ponytail, she was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, and I don’t think she had on any make-up. That was only, what, twenty minutes ago?”

  Shauna looked down at her own jeans and t-shirt and frowned. “I had the same amount of time.”

  “Cassie has a special set of skills,” Karen said.

  “Then there’s the special set of everything she was born with.”

  Karen had to agree. Cassie was stunning in a ponytail, jeans, and a t-shirt, but what they’d just glimpsed put stunning to shame.

  Cassie had chosen a strapless, white dress that sheathed her long, slender frame, showed off plenty of her sun-kissed, olive skin, and stopped well north of her knees. If she had an extra ounce anywhere on her body, there’d have been no way to hide it under that dress. The hair that only minutes ago had been bundled into a
messy ponytail cascaded over her shoulders and down her back in a perfectly tousled mass of black curls. The strappy, gold sandals with four-inch spiked heels completed her Greek Goddess image. Forget image, Karen thought, she was a Greek Goddess.

  “Joshua doesn’t stand a chance,” Karen said.

  “That’s the idea.”

  “Now what?” Karen asked.

  “Now, we wait.”

  Cort walked purposefully to the reception desk at Mystique, his shoes clicking on the marble floor. He watched the young woman behind the counter eye him from head to toe. It made him uncomfortable, but it was confirmation that his decision to change from khaki trousers into his grey Armani had been the right decision. He searched out her nametag.

  “Good morning, Camilla. Cortland Mackenzie to see your security manager, Trey.”

  She cleared her throat. “Good morning, Mr. Mackenzie. Do you have an appointment with Mr. Dawson?”

  “He should be expecting me.”

  “Of course. One moment.”

  Cort tried to be patient as she picked up the phone and searched a list for Trey’s extension.

  “Mr. Dawson will be with you shortly. May I get you something to drink while you wait?”

  “No, thank you. I appreciate your help, Camilla.”

  She blushed and busied herself with straightening the pens and papers on the counter.

  Cort had to wait only a minute before he heard his name. A short, wiry man with red hair combed over from the side in a futile attempt to hide his ever-growing forehead hurried toward Cort.

  “Mr. Mackenzie, this way.”

  He made brief contact with Cort’s hand in something resembling a shake but turned and led Cort out of the lobby before Cort had a chance to react. Cort hurried to catch up as Trey led him through a maze of hallways.

  “Will said you need our help with something serious. He assured me it’s not a lapse in our security, but also hinted at police involvement. I’d appreciate your confirmation that we don’t have a breach.”

  “No breach. It’s a personal matter. Rather, it started that way. It’s grown to more than we anticipated and yes, I expect a police presence shortly. With your help, I know they’ll do their best to keep the situation from your guests as much as possible.”

  “I’d appreciate that.”

  They’d arrived at a room with a wall of monitors projecting security feeds from the casino floor. Four bored-looking technicians sat toying with keyboards and occasionally glancing at the screens. Trey led Cort to a small, private room with a table and a few chairs. Once he closed them in, he said, “I think you’d better tell me what’s going on, Mr. Mackenzie.”

  Cassie waited until Joshua slid the drink in front of Riley before she took the seat next to him. She smiled and nodded at Riley when he cocked a brow and looked her up and down. Joshua was there, easing a coaster onto the bar in front of her before she’d settled herself in the chair.

  “Good morning.”

  Cassie turned on her full-watt smile. An instant later, she let her face drop into a dejected frown.

  “Is it? Are you having a good morning?”

  “I am now,” he answered. “You’re not?”

  Cassie sighed and dropped her head to the side. “I thought I would be, but it’s not starting out that way.”

  “Here at Mystique, we aim to please. What can I do to change that?”

  Cassie turned her smile back on and laid her hand lightly over Joshua’s. She watched his eyes spark and his arm twitch with the contact. So far, so good.

  “Aren’t you the sweetest? I guess you could make me a drink.” Cassie turned her head and looked at Riley’s drink. “That looks good. I’ll have one of those.”

  “One Tequila Sunrise coming up. And it’s your lucky day. Today only, every Tequila Sunrise comes with a guarantee to turn a bad day into a good day.”

  Joshua winked at her and stepped down the bar to mix the drink. Cassie shifted in her seat, directing her attention to the activity in the casino. While she watched the tourists and the gamblers, she loosened the clasp on her bracelet.

  As soon as Joshua finished and started back toward her, Cassie spun to face him.

  “Ooh, it looks too pretty to drink.”

  Cassie reached for the drink before Joshua could set it down. With the twist of her wrist, her bracelet dropped behind the bar.

  “My bracelet. I’m so clumsy.” She leaned forward and stretched to see behind the bar. “There it is. Would you grab it for me, please?”

  Joshua set the drink on the coaster. “Sure.”

  He bent down and for a moment, disappeared behind the bar. It was all the time Cassie and Riley needed to swap their drinks. When Joshua stood, beaming at Cassie and her bracelet in his hand, she held out her wrist for him.

  “Oh, thank you. My boyfriend just gave that to me yesterday. Would you mind?”

  Joshua fumbled, but got the bracelet fastened in place. When he finished and looked at her, Cassie spotted a new twinkle in his eye.

  The last place Joe wanted to be was on a sidewalk staring at a door. He followed the stream of texts from Shauna with updates on everyone but Jake. Since a lot hinged on Jake finding Bud or at least successfully reaching out to another cop, the lack of communication bothered Joe. But he knew Riley and Cassie were in place, that Cort was with Mystique’s head of security, that Frank had already snapped some pictures, and that Shauna and Karen were safe in the hotel room.

  And that he stood on the sidewalk. With nothing to report. It took every ounce of self-control he had to stay on that sidewalk instead of walking into the casino and claiming a ringside seat. If something went wrong, if Cassie found herself in danger, would he know soon enough to get there in time to help?

  He’d taken a few steps closer to the door, just for a better look, he told himself, when he got a text.

  Jake reached Bud. They’ll meet and get to Mystique ASAP.

  Finally. Joe retraced his steps away from the entrance. He’d stick to the plan. For now, at least.

  “His name is Kellen Brown. According to his nametag, anyway. He’s had several. He’s working the main bar. Reddish hair, medium build. We should be able to spot him.”

  Cort had explained the situation to Trey, who’d looked more horrified by the moment. Before Cort had finished, Trey had moved them from the conference room back to the main surveillance room, had shooed one of the technicians from his chair, and had started pressing buttons, homing in on the bar, and had shot off three emails.

  Trey let Cort speak without interruption, but once Cort finished, Trey had a list of questions.

  “You don’t have any knowledge of incidents that have occurred here? We could search old surveillance video if you have dates.”

  “There may have been incidents here, but we don’t have evidence of that, no.”

  “There,” Trey said. “Is that your friend?”

  Cassie was on the screen. Cort saw her twirl her straw in her drink, take a sip, and smile at the bartender Cort could only see from the back.

  “That’s Cassie.”

  “And she’s not a cop? She’s just bait?”

  Cort heard the less-than-subtle reproach in Trey’s voice.

  “We had to act fast. The police are on their way. I just got confirmation of that.”

  “Tell them to go to the front desk, ask for Bianca, and she’ll lead them here.”

  Cort tapped out the text to Shauna.

  “Done.”

  “And the room number?”

  Cort checked his phone to be certain.

  “418.”

  Trey pushed buttons again until a fourth-floor hallway appeared on another screen. An email alert pinged on Trey’s laptop.

  “Kellen Brown. Employed for five months, sixteen days. HR is pulling his file right now. It will be ready for the police. They’re also going to get a list of days and times he’s worked so we can start reviewing video. If there have been incidents here,” Trey twitched,
“we should be able to spot something now that we know what we’re looking for. Men and women, you say?”

  “That’s the information I have.”

  “Then that’s what we’ll go on.”

  Cassie twirled the straw in her drink, making sure the bracelet Joshua had just fastened for her jingled and twinkled. She took a tiny sip.

  “Delicious. I feel better already.”

  Joshua chuckled. “See? Guaranteed.”

  Cassie fiddled with the bracelet.

  “I was hoping there was a diamond ring in the box. I had myself convinced he was going to propose on this trip, but I’ve hardly seen him, golfing every day with his buddies.”

  “And leaving you all alone?”

  Cassie sighed. “For most of the day. He left again about an hour ago, I know he won’t be back for at least four more. He told me to go to the spa or shopping, but I’m getting tired of that. Money can’t always make up for missed time together.”

  Cassie dropped her gaze in embarrassment as she dabbed at a damp eye. She made sure her eyes were still glistening when she looked back up at Joshua.

  “He did promise a special dinner tonight, just the two of us. It’s our four-year anniversary, so maybe tonight’s the night.”

  “I hope so. You deserve to be happy.”

  She touched his hand again. “Thank you.”

  This time she took a bigger sip. “This is really delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever had one before. What did you call it?”

  “Tequila Sunrise. Perfect drink for a perfect morning.”

  When he looked down the bar and then around the casino, his eyes narrowed and for a moment his friendly, helpful demeanor was replaced with a cold, calculating one.

  Frank watched Cassie take one sip, then another. Even though he knew what she was drinking wasn’t spiked, watching the events play out in front of him was more difficult than he’d anticipated.