by Hope White
“Don’t you dare fire that thing.”
“Then come with me.”
Cassie grabbed her purple bag as Tony pulled her toward the sliding door. Bree’s insistent pounding and the dog’s echoed barking filled the room with chaos.
Going with him was her best choice. She didn’t think Tony was a violent guy, but right now he seemed irrational beyond words. She wouldn’t risk him discharging the weapon out of frustration and hurting her family.
Tony led her outside into the dark night, his fingers pinching her arm. He picked up his pace, half jogging toward a beat-up car. Cassie kept her head down and her eyes averted, not wanting to draw attention from innocent bystanders. She didn’t know what Tony might do.
“Cassie!” Aiden shouted from the south entrance.
She was simultaneously relieved and terrified. Aiden would jump into a burning fire for someone he cared about, which meant he’d charge Tony and get a bullet in the gut for his trouble.
“I’m fine!” she shouted back. “Going to see a friend!”
“You’re not supposed to leave!”
Tony rushed to his car and shoved her into the passenger side. “Move over. You’re driving.”
She did as ordered, glancing once in the rearview mirror. Both Aiden and the resort’s security manager, Scott, Bree’s boyfriend, were racing toward them.
“Go!” Tony shouted.
Her trembling hands put the car in Drive. Pressing down on the accelerator, she felt a tear warm her cheek.
I can’t die yet. I haven’t been to Australia or France.
I haven’t been on a date with Nate Walsh.
Oh, what ridiculous thoughts flooded her brain when her life was being threatened.
“Faster!” he shouted.
She applied more pressure and they sped off. Her fear dissolved into anger. Once again, she was at the mercy of someone else’s control, just like the disease that had dominated her childhood.
“If you’re going to kill me you should at least tell me what’s going on,” she snapped.
He sighed, and it seemed like all the air was sucked out of him. “I’m not going to kill you,” he said, and lowered the weapon.
“Then what’s with the gun?”
“I need your help and I can’t involve the police.”
“Because you broke the law?”
“No...maybe... I don’t know.”
He sounded so defeated that she started to feel sorry for him, but caught herself.
“Don’t you ever threaten my family again, you hear me?” she said.
“Yeah.”
“I want my phone back.”
He tossed it onto the dashboard.
“Is Becca okay?” she said, pocketing her phone.
“I don’t know.”
“You mean you’re not taking me to see her?”
“No, sorry. I had to do something to get you to come with me.”
Cassie raised an eyebrow at the gun in his lap. “Like that wasn’t enough?”
“You’re more stubborn than I thought. You have to help. I’m freaking out here.”
“Tell me what happened.”
“Becca was supposed to meet me at three this afternoon, but she didn’t show up. No call, no text, nothing.”
Cassie couldn’t bring herself to tell him about the mystery phone call from a man claiming Becca was dead. It could send him into a downward spiral, and besides, the call might have been a manipulation to rattle Cassie’s nerves.
“I went by her apartment and cop cars were everywhere,” he continued.
“That’s because someone broke in. They slashed cushions and tossed furniture. Do you know what they were looking for?”
He leaned back against the headrest. “Maybe.”
“Clue me in.”
“Money.”
“Becca works two jobs to make rent. What money?”
He shook his head. “I can’t.”
“You’d better.”
“I messed up, okay? There was so much of it and I didn’t think they’d notice.”
“Notice what?”
“Stop asking so many questions!”
“Hey, bub, you’ve taken me hostage so I’m allowed to ask as many questions as I like. Where are we going, by the way?”
“Somebody wants to meet you.” He glanced at her, then away. “He’ll help us get Becca back if you meet with him.”
“Because he thinks I have something he wants? I don’t have anything, Tony. You’re dragging me into—”
“Just shut up!” he shouted.
Cassie pursed her lips, wanting to give him a lecture of a lifetime. Instead, she strategized ways to get help without being accidentally shot by Becca’s crazy boyfriend.
“What’s that?” Tony said, staring out the front windshield.
A car straddled the two-lane road up ahead, blocking traffic.
A patrol car.
“Go around it! Go around it!”
“But there’s a drop off!”
Tony pressed his foot on top of hers, gunning the engine. To avoid a collision, she jerked the wheel right. They clipped the cruiser and slid off the road, barreling into the forest.
Heading straight for a tree.
“No!” she cried.
She jerked the wheel.
The car spun.
The back end slammed into a tree. The engine sputtered and died. She pinched her eyes shut, her heart pounding in her throat.
Breathe, she coached herself. You’re okay.
“Cassie!”
Hearing Nate’s voice made her feel better than okay.
She pried her eyes open and tried to focus on the man running toward her in the distance.
Then she remembered: Tony had a gun. She wanted to call out to Nate, to warn him, but struggled to get her voice back.
* * *
Backup was on the way. Nate couldn’t wait. He sprinted toward the car Aiden had described as the kidnapper’s.
Whoever had taken Cassie was in for a long night’s interrogation. As he got closer, Nate could tell Cassie’s eyes were open and she looked fairly coherent. He reached for his firearm, but was hesitant to use it. Opening fire on an assailant with Cassie in the middle was not an option.
“No!” she shouted at Nate just as...
A gunshot pierced the crisp night air.
Nate ducked, but not quick enough. A slow burn seared across his upper arm. Nothing, not even a gunshot wound, would stop him from getting to her. He’d have to be smart about it. Dropping to the ground, he crawled toward the car, clenching his teeth against the pain.
A young man in a black hoodie and jeans took off into the forest. Nate was about to pursue him when the perp turned and fired off multiple shots in Nate’s direction.
With the car still between them.
Nate could only hope Cassie had the presence of mind to duck.
Staying low, Nate continued toward the car, assuming the perp’s goal was to get away quickly and he couldn’t do that with a hostage. Nate peered above the surrounding brush. The guy had disappeared into the forest. It made no sense for Nate to pursue him. The perp had the advantage of camouflage, and Nate would be an easy target.
He reached the car and cracked open the driver’s side door. The old car didn’t have an air bag. Nate searched Cassie’s face for cuts and bruises.
“You okay?” he asked.
She glanced at his jacket and her eyes widened. “You’ve been shot.” She started to unbuckle her seat belt.
“Don’t move until the ambulance comes.”
“I’m not hurt, but...” Her voice trailed off. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then another.
He suspected the full impact of what just happened—kidnapping and gunfire—must have finally hit her.
“Cassie?”
“I’m okay,” she said. “Just scared.”
He stroked her golden-blond hair. “There’s nothing ‘just’ about being scared. Did the guy threaten you with a gun?”
She nodded. “It was Tony, Becca’s boyfriend.”
“Why did he take you hostage?”
“To meet someone who would help Tony find Becca, I think, I don’t know for sure. But before that, at the resort, a man called my room. He had a deep, scratchy voice and said my friend was dead and I’d be next unless, but I hung up. Tony banged on the door. I let him in, I shouldn’t have, because Bree and Mom wanted to come in and Tony pulled a gun and aimed it at the door and—”
“Shh, it’s okay. Breathe.” He continued to stroke her soft hair, hoping it would ease her anxiety.
She glanced at him. “I should be helping you. Let me out so I can put pressure on your wound.”
“It’s a flesh wound, no big deal. Relax until the EMTs check you out.”
The wail of a siren echoed down the two-lane highway.
“What happened in the mountains?” she asked.
He hesitated, not wanting to upset her further.
“Nate, what is it?”
“We’ll talk about it later.” He took her hand. “I’m glad I got to you in time.”
“Me, too.” She brought his hand to her cheek and smiled.
An ache exploded in his chest. She could have been hurt or even killed. He slipped his hand from hers. “I’ll flag down emergency. Stay put.”
“Yes, Chief.”
Nate stood, waving down the ambulance and squad car. Maddie, Cassie’s cousin and a local EMT, came bounding toward them.
“Cassie?”
“She’s okay.”
She noticed Nate’s wound. “Whoa, what about you?”
“I’m fine. Take care of your cousin.”
Detective Vaughn screeched to a stop and flung open her car door. She marched toward Nate.
“Tony Miller took Cassie at gunpoint,” he said.
“Where was he taking her?”
“Not sure, something about meeting a guy that would help find Becca.”
“You want me to question her?”
“No, I’ll take care of Cassie. I need you to figure out what they want from her. She received a threatening call at the resort.”
Nate’s phone vibrated, but he didn’t recognize the number. “Chief Walsh.”
“It’s Agent Nance. I have some information to discuss with you.”
“I’ll send Detective Vaughn.”
“I’d rather speak with you.”
Nate wanted Detective Vaughn to take the lead so Nate could protect Cassie. But he was police chief and couldn’t shirk his duties.
“Meet me at Healthy Eats in an hour,” Nate said.
“Will do.”
Nate ended the call and studied his phone.
“Who was that?” Vaughn asked.
“FBI agent wants to meet.” He glanced back at Tony’s car. Maddie was checking Cassie’s vitals. Cassie smiled at Nate.
“Want me to meet with the Fed?” Detective Vaughn said.
“Actually, we’re all going.”
* * *
An hour later Nate and Detective Vaughn were seated across a booth from Agent Nance, while Cassie hid in the kitchen. That was the best way to keep her safe: make her invisible.
Nate’s sister, Catherine, owner of Healthy Eats, was happy to brew them a pot of coffee after closing. Not that they’d stay long. Nate wanted the meeting with Nance to be quick so he could take Cassie someplace safe.
“That’s what we suspect,” Agent Nance said. “The Sartuchi family is smuggling their guys, who are out on bail, out of the country by way of Echo Mountain, Washington.”
“Why here of all the places in the country?” Nate said.
“Haven’t figured that out yet.”
“Well, figure faster, people are getting hurt,” Detective Vaughn shot back.
Agent Nance narrowed his eyes at her. “Did I do something to offend you?”
“Smuggling, how?” Nate redirected before Vaughn and the agent got into a shouting match.
“We think they hide out in the cabins for a week or two where they’re given passports for their new identities, money and plane tickets,” Agent Nance continued.
“But Sea-Tac airport is two hours away,” Detective Vaughn said.
“They could take the airport bus,” Nate offered. “For that matter, they could take a bus north into Canada.”
“Whatever the case,” Agent Nance continued, “we think they book lodging through Echo Mountain Rentals, and Becca Edwards and Tony Miller were hiding the passports and money in the cabins.”
“Becca Edwards has no criminal record, and her employers say she’s a hard worker,” Detective Vaughn said.
“Yet she’s disappeared and her boyfriend took Cassie McBride hostage,” Agent Nance countered. “Where is Cassie, anyway?”
“Safe,” Nate said.
“She could be our best leverage to get Len Pragner to talk.”
Nate didn’t like the sound of that.
“How do you figure? She didn’t see him commit the murder,” Nate said.
“No, but she can put him at the scene.” Nance leaned back in the booth. “I could take her off your hands, put her in federal custody to protect her, and give you time to work the murder case.”
That wasn’t happening. Before Nate could say so, Vaughn spoke up.
“How is Marilyn Brandenburg, the dead woman Cassie found in the tub, involved in this?”
“We’ve found no connection between her and the mob.” Agent Nance glanced at Nate. “I was hoping you could share what you’ve got so far. Maybe we can piece together some answers.”
Nate nodded at Detective Vaughn. “Go ahead.”
“Marilyn was a nurse from Moscow, Idaho. Worked at Pullman Regional Hospital. Her sister said she wanted a little time away in the mountains. She’d been stressed out at work. She’s divorced, kids are grown and married. She’s squeaky clean, so why kill her?”
“Maybe she came across something at work?” Agent Nance said.
“She’s a pediatric nurse,” Vaughn countered.
“We’re not going to solve this tonight,” Nate said. “We appreciate you filling us in, and we’ll give you information on the case as it develops.”
“Becca and Tony could be the key to shutting this thing down and sending these guys away for serious jail time,” Agent Nance said.
“So let’s work together and make that happen,” Nate said.
Agent Nance slipped out of the booth. “I’m getting a to-go coffee. Want one?” he asked Nate.
“Sure, thanks.”
The FBI agent crossed the room to the coffee station and grabbed a few cups from the counter.
“He didn’t offer to get me a coffee,” Detective Vaughn said, crossing her arms over her chest.
“You don’t drink coffee,” Nate countered. “What do you make of all this?”
“Something feels seriously off.”
“Agreed. For now, I’m taking Cassie someplace safe. I’ll call Chief Washburn back in to help out.”
“You sure you wanna do that? It might look like—”
“I don’t care how it looks. Having his experience on the team is invaluable. This kind of thing shouldn’t be happening in our town.”
“No kidding,” she said softly.
“I’ll fill in Chief Washburn. His presence will keep people calm. You need to find Becca. Pull Red off patrol if you have to. I kn
ow he’s been wanting to do more detective work.”
“Will do. And the Marilyn Brandenburg murder?”
“Keep on forensics for results. Dig into her past. If she’s involved, there’s got to be a trail. I’ll have the chief do background on Len. If he’s a mob enforcer, we could use that to help the ADA build a case against him.”
Agent Nance returned to the table with the coffees.
“Thanks.” Nate got out of the booth and shook the agent’s hand. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Sounds good.” With a curt nod at Detective Vaughn, Agent Nance left the restaurant.
Vaughn frowned. “I don’t trust him.”
“Go home and get some sleep.”
“What about you? I could relieve you at three a.m.”
“No, I need one of us functioning on a full night’s sleep. I’ll conference call with you and Chief Washburn tomorrow morning at eight.”
“You got it, Chief.”
* * *
As Nate drove away from the restaurant, Cassie noticed how tired and defeated he looked, which only made her more determined to figure out a solution to this mess. It wasn’t even her mess; it was obviously a mess of Tony’s making, and he’d put Cassie’s friend in danger.
“It was nice of Catherine to lend you her son’s car so no one would recognize us,” she said.
“Yep.”
“Did it go well with the FBI agent?” she asked.
“Well enough.”
She wanted to be a part of the investigation, to help solve the mystery of the dead woman and demanding stalkers. But it seemed like Nate wasn’t up to more than one-or two-word answers. He kept checking the rearview mirror to make sure they weren’t being followed.
“Did the agent have information about Tony?” she asked.
“Some.” He took a sip of coffee.
“Can you share?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Well, I could tell you what Tony said about getting into a mess because he didn’t think they’d—”
“Cassie, save it until we get there, okay?”
“To the resort?”
“No, a safe house.”
“Can you at least tell me who Tony and Becca got involved with?”
He shot her a quick glance. “We suspect this is mob-related.”
“Wait, what, here? In Echo Mountain?”