First Degree Murder

by Christy Barritt

“She’d better.”

  “She will.”

  But as Cassidy hung up, her unease grew. Too many things were going wrong. Way too many things at one time.

  On the way back to the scene, Cassidy and Dane swung by Moby Rick’s. Apparently, that was the man’s real name, and his mother had a killer sense of humor. Even more ironic was the fact that he had opened a tackle shop.

  Cassidy had met him once before, and the man, in his late twenties, seemed to have a similar personality to Isaac. He liked to keep to himself and preferred to spend time with fish rather than people.

  She asked him about the sinkers. The man was almost as much help as Isaac had been. He didn’t remember anyone buying them in bulk and couldn’t remember anything strange about the product. He promised to call if he thought of anything, though.

  Cassidy headed back to the lighthouse beach and joined Abbott there. She had two hours until Lisa and Braden’s wedding shower at the church. She’d promised to attend and didn’t want to let her friends down. Police work was important, but it couldn’t consume her entire life.

  She paused on the sandy beach, watching as the sun set behind the scene. The peaceful colors were a stark contrast to the grisly cemetery they’d found. Abbott’s team was still there, still in their hazmat suits, and still working to collect the bodies without damaging them.

  Abbott scowled when he saw Cassidy and moseyed toward her. “You came back.”

  “Of course I did.” She gave him the update on the sinkers and handed him the photos, finishing with, “How about you? Anything new?”

  He shook his head. “No, nothing at all. Hopefully we’ll know more soon. It’s hard to even search missing persons reports until we know the age of the victims.”

  “Makes sense.”

  Abbott paused and studied Cassidy a moment before saying, “The mayor came out here and asked for you.”

  Cassidy bristled. “Did he?”

  “I told him that we’d be handling the case.”

  Cassidy was sure that Tomlinson had loved that answer. “Got it.”

  “We should be wrapping up here in about an hour. We’ve gone through everything.”

  “And you didn’t find any clues?”

  “Nothing that seems to mean anything. Not yet, at least.”

  “I am the police chief on the island, so I expect you’ll keep me updated.”

  He scowled. “Of course.”

  “Will you be staying in town?”

  “No, I’ll be traveling with the remains to Raleigh. But I’ll be back as needed.”

  “Of course.”

  “And if you hear anything, I expect that you’ll share that information with me.”

  “It’s only professional.”

  The two exchanged frosty nods. Despite their differences, they had a lot of work to do to bring justice to the victims they’d discovered today.

  Chapter Eight

  Cassidy arrived at Lisa and Braden’s wedding shower ten minutes late. But the important thing was that she’d arrived. After leaving Abbott, she’d gone to the station to write reports about today’s discovery.

  Ty had saved a seat beside him in the semi-circle in the fellowship hall of the community church. And it was a good thing because it looked like half the town had turned out for the event.

  “Everything okay?” Ty whispered, his breath rushing across her cheek.

  Cassidy nodded, flashing a smile at another couple a few seats down. She still wore her police uniform. She hadn’t had time to go home and change, and she felt out of place as police chief right now.

  “It was a long day,” Cassidy muttered, glancing around.

  Lisa and Braden sat in the center, facing the semi-circle, both smiling and looking happier than ever as they opened gifts and marveled at their new towels and plates.

  Skye scooted into the seat beside Cassidy, her eyes still red with tears as she whispered, “Did you hear anything?”

  Cassidy glanced around again, trying not to draw any attention to the conversation. Finally, she took Skye’s hand. “Let’s go to the bathroom.”

  Cassidy stepped from the fellowship hall and into a dark hallway lined with bathrooms and several Sunday school classrooms. She paused there and gripped Skye’s hand.

  “I talked to Dietrich earlier,” Cassidy explained. “Twice for that matter. Serena is supposed to call later.”

  She filled her friend in on the rest of the story.

  “So, he’s saying Serena joined Gilead’s Cove willingly?” Skye’s voice sounded thin enough to break.

  “That’s what Dietrich said. We’ll talk to Serena. We need to hear it from her own lips.”

  “Can’t you just go get her? Force her to go home?”

  Cassidy wished that were the case. “Not if Serena went willingly. She’s an adult. If she wants to go join a cult, she’s allowed to do just that.”

  Skye squeezed the skin between her eyes. “Cassidy, if Serena joins Gilead’s Cove, I may never see her alive again.”

  The pit in Cassidy’s stomach grew. Her friend’s words were true. These people were dangerous. Maybe even deadly.

  “We’re going to figure this out,” Cassidy murmured. “No one stands alone, remember?”

  It was the theme of their Bible study, and Cassidy had clung to that mantra many times. Her friends had been there for her and even put their lives on the line to save Cassidy. They were like the family she’d always wanted.

  As if on cue, Cassidy’s phone rang. It was Dietrich’s number.

  She stepped farther into the darkness and motioned for Skye to follow. Quickly, she put her phone to her ear, anxious to hear what he had to say.

  “Hello?” Cassidy rushed.

  “It’s me,” a female voice said with a flat, unenthusiastic tone.

  “Serena?” Cassidy glanced at Skye, and her friend leaned in closer so she could hear also. “Where are you?”

  “I’m at Gilead’s Cove,” Serena said. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

  “Serena, we are worried about you.” Skye reached for the phone and pulled it closer. “You need to come home. Now. I told your mom I would take care of you. What are you thinking?”

  “Aunt Skye, I’m fine. Gilead’s Cove is a peaceful group. We’re all about love and acceptance.” Serena’s voice lacked her normal enthusiasm, but she didn’t sound scared. No, more matter of fact than anything.

  “Serena—” Skye started.

  Cassidy raised a hand. They didn’t have much time, and she couldn’t let Skye fuss at her for the entire conversation. That would get them nowhere.

  “Skye, did you go to Gilead’s Cove willingly?” Cassidy’s heart thumped as she waited for an answer. She desperately wanted the girl to say no. She wanted an excuse to go get her, to know she was safe and to maybe even bring this group down.

  “Of course I did,” Serena said. “Did you really think Dietrich abducted me? He’s actually a really nice guy. If you got to know him, you’d see that.”

  Serena’s monotone almost took on a bitter edge. The tone didn’t even sound like Serena. The girl had more personality than anyone Cassidy had ever met—and she was always happy and perky.

  “Serena, there’s more to these people than meets the eye,” Cassidy continued. “Can’t you consider this a little more? A little longer?”

  “I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but I knew no one would approve. This is where I want to be. I’m sorry it’s not what you want, Aunt Skye. But in my gut, I know this is right. It’s time for some changes in my life. It’s time for me to grow up. Haven’t you told me that before? That I was immature?”

  “You know this isn’t what I meant!” Skye’s voice cracked. “You can’t twist my words like that.”

  “I’m not twisting them,” Serena said. “That’s what you said. I listened to your advice.”

  Skye started to respond, but Cassidy urged her to stay quiet another moment. “Serena, we can talk about this later. Right now, I’
d really like to see you face-to-face. I want to see your eyes so I can know this is legit.”

  “Not right now.”

  “Serena, for all I know, someone could be holding a gun to your head and forcing you to say this,” Cassidy said.

  “They’re not. I promise. I’m okay. But I can’t see you right now.”

  Impatience clenched at Cassidy’s spine. “Then when?”

  “I . . . I don’t know. I need more time, I guess.”

  “Because they won’t let you leave, will they?” Skye yelled into the phone.

  Cassidy glanced behind her, wondering if their voices had carried into the wedding shower. She put her hand on Skye’s arm and squeezed, trying to get her to calm down.

  “That’s not true,” Serena said. “But we value privacy. Now, I really need to go—”

  “Serena, don’t you get off this phone,” Skye yelled. “I need you back. You can’t stay.”

  “You’re wrong. This is my choice.”

  “Serena—”

  But the line went dead.

  Skye turned to Cassidy, sobs billowing out from the depths of her and seizing her entire body.

  “Cassidy, I feel like Serena has been thrown into the deep end of the water, and she has no idea how to swim, and I have no means of helping her. I can’t stand this!”

  Cassidy pulled her into a hug. “I know, sweetie. Don’t worry. I’m not giving up. Not by a long shot.”

  “But—”

  “Is everything okay?” The door opened, and Lisa stepped toward them. Even in the dark, Cassidy could hear the worry in her voice. “I thought I heard someone crying.”

  Skye sniffled and straightened, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt as she tried to quickly compose herself. “It’s fine.”

  “You don’t look fine.” Lisa stepped closer, her eyes narrow with concern. “What’s going on?”

  “You should go back and enjoy your celebration,” Skye said. “I didn’t mean for you to see me like this.”

  “You’re my friend. I want to help. Now would you please tell me what’s going on?”

  Cassidy and Skye exchanged a look. Finally Skye nodded her approval, giving Cassidy permission to share.

  “Serena joined Gilead’s Cove,” Cassidy said softly.

  Lisa gasped. “What? No . . .”

  Skye nodded. “She did. And I can’t get her back. She doesn’t want out.”

  Lisa put her arm around Skye. “I can’t believe this. I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

  “But this is your time, Lisa.” Skye sucked in a shaky breath. “I don’t want to ruin it. I want your big day to be perfect. I’m so sorry—”

  “There’s no such thing as perfect. Ever,” Lisa said. “Besides, I can get married and still be there for you. The two aren’t exclusive.”

  A sound behind them drew Cassidy’s attention. She jerked her head toward the dark hallway leading to various Sunday school classrooms.

  A footfall.

  She’d heard a footfall.

  But who would be walking through the utter blackness here? Especially without announcing himself?

  Her spine tingled and her jaw clenched.

  Had someone been there, listening to her and Skye this whole time?

  Cassidy reached for the gun she still had holstered at her hip, her body going on alert.

  “Guys,” she whispered. “Do me a favor. Go back into the fellowship hall. Stay there. And tell Ty I need him.”

  Her friends froze, but only for a minute. They must have recognized the tone in her voice because they jumped into action, darting through the swinging doors.

  As they did, Cassidy gripped her gun and turned toward the darkness.

  She had to find out who was down the hallway.

  Now.

  She reached for the wall and flipped on the light switch just in time to see a man in black sprint toward the back door. As illumination hit him, she saw the gun holstered at his waist.

  “Cassidy said she needs you.” Skye’s voice pulled Ty from his conversation with Braden as the two of them ate cake and chatted. “Now. In the hallway.”

  Ty left his plate on the table and quickly turned. Seeing the alarm on the faces around him, he tried to control his steps as he dashed toward the hallway. “Is she okay?”

  “I think . . . I think she heard something.” Skye’s eyes were red-rimmed and her hands shook. “She didn’t really leave any room for questions.”

  Just as Skye’s voice trailed off, Ty heard someone in the distance yell, “Stop!”

  Cassidy. That had been Cassidy.

  Ty took off in a sprint. He pushed through the double doors into the hallway in time to see Cassidy disappear around the corner. Upping his speed, he took off after her.

  As Ty burst through the back door and into the dark night, he nearly collided with his wife.

  She put a finger over her lips, motioning for him to be quiet as she glanced around the parking lot.

  He followed her gaze but saw nothing. No movement. Nothing suspicious.

  Cautiously, Cassidy took the first step down the cement stairs at the back of the building. The parking lot, filled with probably thirty cars, surrounded them, offering easy hiding places for anyone who might try to conceal himself.

  Just as their feet reached the gravel parking lot, noise erupted. A car roared to life and squealed away at breakneck speed.

  “Come on!” Cassidy yelled.

  Ty followed Cassidy to her police SUV. She cranked the engine and pulled out of the lot, trying to follow the car.

  But it was too far in front of them, probably clocking one hundred miles an hour.

  As the road curved half a mile ahead, the car disappeared from sight.

  “You want to tell me what’s going on?” Ty grabbed the bar above his head.

  Cassidy seemed to grit her teeth before saying, “Someone was hiding in the hallway, listening to us.”

  “A bad guy?”

  “If it was a good guy, why would he have a gun and run off?” Her grip looked white-knuckled on the steering wheel.

  They rounded the bend, and an empty road stared back.

  “What?” Cassidy muttered. “Where did he go?”

  “There are a lot of roads here,” Ty told her. “The driver could be on any one of them.”

  “Then I’ll search each of them until I figure out where he went.”

  Cassidy made a hard-right turn onto a street and slowed as she cruised down it. There was no sign of the car or the person inside.

  Three streets later, she hit the brakes and pointed at a driveway beneath a house. “There. That’s the car.”

  She threw her SUV into Park and drew her gun.

  “I’ve got your back,” Ty said.

  He pulled his gun from his waistband. He hardly ever left home without it. It was one of the effects of being a SEAL. He was always on guard.

  Slowly, they moved side by side through the darkness.

  There was no movement around them. No signs of life.

  But that car was clearly parked beneath a house. Lights off. Not moving.

  Cassidy reached the driver’s side door and jerked it open.

  Ty peered in behind her.

  It was empty.

  They glanced at each other.

  That meant the driver was on foot. Or that he was hiding.

  Still together, they searched the property. And the next property. And all the houses on the street and the next street over.

  “He’s gone,” Ty said as they paused on some brittle grass between houses.

  Cassidy frowned. “You’re right. Maybe someone picked him up.”

  “Any idea who he was?”

  “I have no clue.” Cassidy’s gaze met his. “But there’s something I need to tell you, Ty. Something important.”

  Ty could see the tumultuous thoughts tossing inside her, and he braced himself for whatever she had to say.

  Chapter Nine

  Ty leaned back in his seat
in the dark SUV and stared at the text message on Cassidy’s phone. His stomach clenched so tightly that he felt himself jerk. “You got this message this morning, and you’re just now telling me?”

  Cassidy frowned, not bothering to start the car. She probably realized that with the way things were going, this might be their only moment of privacy, Ty mused. She could be right.

  “I’m sorry.” Her words sounded soft, gentle, as she shook her head and stared off into the darkness. “I should have mentioned it sooner.”

  “You should have.”

  “But we found those human remains, and then Serena disappeared, and . . . I don’t know. Maybe I’ve been in denial.” She swung her head back and forth, looking as if a heavy weight had been draped over her shoulders. “Besides, I knew if I told you that you’d want to drop everything to keep an eye on me.”

  “Of course, I would have.”

  Cassidy turned toward him, that same agony still present in her gaze as she studied him. “You have a life outside of me, Ty. You have to get things ready for your next session at Hope House. I don’t want you to drop everything for this.”

  Ty considered bringing up his issues with Hope House, but now didn’t seem to be the time. He had other more pressing points to drive home. “But you’re my wife. You’re always going to be my first priority. Always.”

  Cassidy skimmed her hand along his face and jaw, a sad smile tugging at the edge of her lips. “I love it that you’re protective of me. I really do. But I can’t live the rest of my life in fear or only thinking about the what ifs. This is my new reality. Forever.”

  “I understand that.” Ty took her hand into both of his and planted a kiss on her knuckles.

  He closed his eyes and let his lips linger there against her soft skin, battling thoughts of worst-case scenarios. He breathed in the clean scent of her skin and the faint aroma of her favorite vanilla-infused perfume.

  “I found three hidden cameras at the house this morning,” he admitted.

  Cassidy tensed. “What?”

  He told her about his discoveries.

  “You have no idea where they came from or how they got there?” Cassidy asked.