by Lena Gregory
Cass blew out a breath. She’d suspected as much, especially after finding what she was pretty sure had to be the murder weapon, but having it confirmed threw her for a loop. “Speculation has it, Fred may have confided who attacked him even as Miss Donovan worked to save him.”
She lowered the paper to the counter. “Oh, no way. I never said anything like that.”
“Hello . . .” Bee tapped the page. “That’s why it says speculation. This way you can’t sue him.”
She ignored Bee. Even though he wasn’t asking what she’d seen at the lighthouse and had kept from him in front of Luke and Tank, he was glaring daggers at her. As soon as the other two walked out, she had no doubt she’d get ambushed. Which wouldn’t matter to her as much if the look beneath the glare wasn’t filled with so much hurt that she hadn’t trusted him.
Dealing with Luke’s rising anger was easier than knowing she’d hurt Bee’s feelings. “Look, Luke, all I asked Emma to do was make sure people knew I didn’t talk to Fred.”
“Yeah, well, how’d that work out for you?” Bee snorted and muttered, “That’s what happens when you send an amateur to do the job of a professional.”
As if the article wasn’t bad enough, it was accompanied by a photo of Cass bent over Fred. Though she knew full well she was in the process of administering CPR at the time, the photo had captured her profile, frowning as she hovered over him, looking to all the world like they’d been having a serious conversation. “Where did the picture come from?”
Luke shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter. The fact is, now whoever killed Fred DiCarlo thinks you may be able to point him out.”
Great. The exact scenario they’d been hoping to avoid.
Bee strode toward the door.
“Hey, Bee. Wait. Where are you going?” She needed Luke and Tank to leave so she could talk to him, explain that she hadn’t even been sure she’d seen anything.
He whirled back to face her. “I’m going to see if I can undo the damage this has caused and, hopefully, keep you from getting killed.”
“Bee . . .”
He shook his head and walked out.
Tank laid a hand on her arm. “Look, Cass—”
“. . . stop him . . . take . . . lighthouse . . . four . . . take him . . . four . . . treasure . . . tide . . . take him . . . four . . .”
The litany continued, two distinct voices, a man and a woman, the woman’s pleas filled with fear. “Kitty and Thomas?”
“What?” Tank gently shook her arm. “Have you heard a word I’ve said?”
“Oh, uh. I’m sorry, Tank.”
He stepped back.
“Cass, you do realize how serious this is, right?” Luke frowned at her.
“Yes, thank you, I do.” Take him? Lighthouse? Treasure? Did the spirits want her to take Bee to the lighthouse to look for the treasure? Were they hoping it would be found at long last? Or were they warning her away? As they had last time. “I promise I’ll be careful.”
“Yeah, well, zoning out like that isn’t exactly careful,” Luke said.
Touché.
She offered a shaky smile. “I promise I’ll try to do better.”
“Try hard.”
“You weren’t able to find the lighthouse figure I told you about?”
“No. Nothing. The entire box was gone.”
“I’m sorry, I should have waited.”
“No, you shouldn’t have, especially since the killer obviously returned to remove them, had probably been in the process when you walked in.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ve gotta run. I’ll see you later on.”
“Sure. See ya.”
“You know they both just worry about you, right?” Tank leaned in and kissed her cheek.
“Take him!”
Cass gasped and grabbed Tank’s hand.
“Four . . . four . . . four . . .”
“Tank, listen to me, please. I know you don’t really understand or believe in what I do—”
“It’s not that I—”
“No, it’s okay, really. I understand, and I appreciate that you always support me despite your feelings.” She squeezed his hand. “But you have to listen this time. There’s something going on. I can’t explain what—I’m not even sure myself—but I keep getting a frantic plea from a terrified woman begging me to ‘take him’ and then repeating the number four, it seems like three times. At least, I think it’s the number four. I guess it could be saying ‘take him for something,’ but it doesn’t feel right in my gut. You know what I mean?”
Tank seemed to chew that over for a few minutes before finally nodding. “I might not understand the rest of it, but gut instincts I do understand. And either way, I trust you. So, why are you telling me this?”
A surge of relief washed over her. Her own? She couldn’t be certain. “I’m not sure, but I’ve been hearing a jumble of voices lately, two of which have begun to stand out among the others. When it just happened a few minutes ago, I thought the voices were somehow related and telling me to take Bee to the lighthouse to search for the treasure—”
“Cass—” His tone held a note of warning.
“No, it’s okay.” She waved him off. “Then, just now, when you touched me, the woman’s voice said ‘take him’ again and repeated the number four three times.”
He shrugged. “So, what do you think it means?”
“That’s just it. I don’t know.” And she should be able to latch on to more. If the other voices would just leave her alone to concentrate, she might be able to figure it out. Because she had a feeling it was important. And that time was running out. “But it’s happened a number of times now, and I realized I only hear that woman’s voice when either you or Stephanie is around, especially when either of you touch me in any way.”
His demeanor shifted immediately as he stiffened and went into protective mode. “What does it have to do with Stephanie?”
“I’m not sure it has anything to do with either of you, but I’m afraid it does, and I’m afraid one of you may be in danger. Since the voice is saying ‘take him,’ I am assuming it’s you.”
His posture relaxed and he nodded. “Okay, Cass. I’ll keep it in mind.”
“For real, Tank? You’re not just humoring me?”
He studied her for a moment and smoothed a hand over his buzzed hair. “You know what, Cass? I don’t claim to understand what you do, or to believe in anything paranormal, but I can’t deny your instincts are spot-on most of the time. Thank you for reaching out to me, especially when you didn’t even know if you’d end up getting laughed at, or worse, ignored. I promise I’ll be careful and try to be aware of any situations where those phrases might be meaningful. Thank you for trusting me enough to talk to me.”
She rounded the counter and hugged him. The voices remained deafeningly silent. “Thank you for trusting me enough to set your disbelief aside.”
“Aww, Cass.” He rubbed a hand up and down her back. “I’d never turn away a friend’s offer to help.”
“I’ll call Stephanie and talk to her as soon as you leave.” If she could make sure Stephanie wasn’t alone any more than necessary, maybe she could keep her safe.
“Thank you. I appreciate that. And she does believe in what you do, with every last ounce of trust she has, so I know she’ll listen.” He grinned. “But I’ll still call her or stop by in a little while to make sure she does. And if you figure out anything else, give a yell.”
“You’ve got it.”
When Tank left, she finished straightening up the counter and headed to the back room to finally change her clothes. The instant she picked the pile of clothes up, the chimes alerted her to a customer. She tossed the clothes onto the couch, with a little more force than necessary. “Ugh.”
When she walked out to the front, Bee stood in the middle of the shop, hands on his hips, disapproving expression on his face. “Do you call this being careful? Going into the back room, when Beast’s not even here, and leaving the doors unlocked?
”
“Oh.” Oops. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
She’d grown so used to having Beast with her at the shop, she hadn’t realized she’d come to rely on him for protection. Not that he had a vicious bone in his body, but people were generally wary of dogs that weighed in at close to a hundred and fifty pounds. Seemed Beast’s protective streak ran as strong as that of the other men in her life. “Look, Bee, I just want you to know I’m sorry for not saying anything about the shadow I saw in the window.”
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.” He crossed the room and kissed the top of her head. “Luke caught up with me and explained that he’d asked you not to, said you weren’t even sure you saw anything. He also didn’t want witnesses coming forward at a later date thinking they remembered something based on anything you might have said. I can understand that.”
“Thanks, Bee.” And she’d have to remember a giant thank-you to Luke later for making him understand. With everything else on the fritz already, the last thing she needed was to be on the outs with Bee. He was her rock.
“Of course.” He shooed her toward the back room. “Now, hurry along and change those clothes so we can pick Beast up before the groomer closes and head out to the lighthouse. I’ve got me a treasure to find.”
Chapter Sixteen
The sun dipped below the horizon just as Cass pulled into the lighthouse parking lot.
Beast poked his head between the seats to see why they were slowing down.
“Sit back, Beast.” She ruffled his mane quickly then, remembering Herb’s warning about rewarding him when he wasn’t doing what she’d asked, dropped her hand back onto the steering wheel. “Sit back, now, Beast.”
His tongue dropped out and he crouched lower to peer out the windshield beneath the rearview mirror. He barked once.
“Hey.” Stephanie, who sat in the passenger seat, turned toward him and rubbed her ear. “Watch where you’re barking there, buddy.”
Beast licked her cheek.
Though Stephanie had taken what warning Cass could offer well enough, she’d been kind of quiet since they’d spoken, no doubt worried about her husband, who was a detective on an active murder investigation.
“Come on, boy. Sit back with me.” Bee gripped Beast’s collar and pulled him back to sit beside him on the backseat. “Between the seats is the last place you want to be when your mama’s driving.”
“Ha ha, Bee.”
He smirked into the rearview mirror at her.
“You okay, Steph?”
She looked out the window. “I am. I can’t help worrying about Tank, but really, what’s different? I always worry about him. I’m not gonna lie, I can understand that birth mother’s hesitation to place her baby with us.”
“Oh, Stephanie.” Cass rubbed her arm. “Tank is going to make a great father. And you’ll be an amazing mother. And, the honest truth is, something can happen to anyone. None of us is going to live forever.”
“I am.” Bee grinned.
Stephanie laughed and patted Cass’s hand. “You’re right, Cass. Come on. If Beast wags his tail any harder, he’s going to go right through the back window.”
“Hey, wait till you see his new trick.” If he’d do it in front of an audience.
Bee lifted a brow. “Does it involve getting you all messed up again?”
Indignant, Cass stared him down in the mirror. “Actually, it doesn’t.”
He pouted. “Too bad.”
“Cass, look out!” Stephanie braced her hands against the dashboard.
Cass threw her arm across the gap between the seats to keep Beast from flying forward, slammed on the brakes, and skidded to a stop in the gravel and seashell-covered lot. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.” Stephanie shoved the passenger door open and hopped out. But then she simply stood, staring toward the lighthouse, using her hand to shield her eyes from the last rays of the setting sun.
Cass got out and went around the car, gravel and pieces of broken seashells crunching beneath her feet, then stood next to her. “Did you see something?”
“I did, but I’m not sure what it was. A flash of white that looked like it was headed toward the car and then nothing.” She continued to block her eyes from the sun as she scanned the beach and jetty. “With the sun setting, it’s difficult to see across the jetty, but I got a flash of movement just as we rounded the curve into the lot. I thought something was going to run out in front of you.”
“Hey,” Bee yelled out the back window. “Do you want me to put Beast on his leash?”
The parking lot stood empty but for Cass’s car. And, despite whatever Stephanie saw, the beach and grounds seemed quiet. Even if Stephanie had seen an animal of some sort, Bay Island had no natural predators that could harm a hundred-forty-pound Leonberger. Except maybe deer ticks, but she’d already had him vaccinated against Lyme disease since they walked along the beach so often and he loved a good romp in the dunes. “Nah, don’t worry about it. He’ll be okay. But bring it with you, just in case.”
Bee contorted himself out of the backseat and stood.
Beast bounded out behind him then and trotted at his side.
“Is everything okay?” Bee stared out over the bay toward Long Island.
“I think so. Stephanie thought she saw something.” Pinks, blues and lavenders painted the sky in beautiful pastel shades, and a soft warm breeze ruffled her hair. The perfect night.
“Must have been my imagination.” Stephanie shrugged it off.
Cass closed her eyes, breathing in deeply the briny scent of the sea. She braced herself against the barrage of voices and opened her mind. Okay, I’m here. Now what?
“. . . let them know . . . cold here . . . not to worry . . . four . . . take him . . . four . . . four . . . afraid.”
Cass latched on to the last word. Afraid. A chill rushed through her as the woman’s fear seeped into her, penetrating all the way to her bones. Her eyes shot open and she scanned the beach, then shivered.
“Hey, you okay?” Bee frowned at her.
She shook off whatever had gripped her. Whatever spirit had lured her to the lighthouse had been a man. Of that she was certain. So, whose fear had crossed into this world to seek her out, and did it have anything to do with the past or Fred’s death? Or was it, as she expected, something to do with Stephanie, who was once again standing next to her when the woman’s voice appeared.
Bee handed her Beast’s leash and crossed the lawn, then walked through the dunes and jogged across the beach, to the jetty.
Stephanie and Cass followed with Beast happily prancing beside them, sniffing around the fence, the shrubbery, the flowers. Since inside the lighthouse was one of the few places pets weren’t technically allowed, for their own protection, he’d never been there before, so everything was new and exciting.
When Bee started climbing the boulders that made up the jetty, Beast barked.
“Beast, stay.” With the memory of Beast’s rebellion against authority this morning fresh in her mind, and not wanting to take a chance of Beast trying to follow Bee onto the rocks and getting hurt or falling into the bay, Cass clipped the leash to his collar. “Hey, Bee. What are you doing?”
He scrambled across the jagged stones to a large flat rock in the center. Then he sat, folded his legs, and stared out at the bay. “I’ll bet this is where she sat waiting.”
Stephanie looked back and forth between him and Cass as if he’d lost his mind. “Who sat waiting?”
“Kitty Garrison.” Though they’d brought Stephanie up to speed on the ride over, she still didn’t seem to grasp the full impact the story had had on Bee. Plus, her mind was now fully occupied with concern for her husband. Cass couldn’t blame her. Her own mind was pretty caught up on that too.
“Oh, right.” Stephanie nodded.
“Could you hold him while I go get Bee?” Cass held Beast’s leash out to her. “I heard the voice again when I got out of the car and stood beside you, and I
need a few minutes without you next to me so I can see if the voice continues. Who knows? Maybe I’m wrong about it having to do with you and Tank. Maybe it’s a coincidence that one or the other of you happened to be standing very close to or touching me each time I heard it.”
But she already knew she wasn’t wrong. Mostly. No matter how badly she wanted to be.
“Sure. Come on, Beast. Let’s take a walk while your mama makes sure Bee is okay.” She headed for the beach.
Cass climbed onto the jetty, wary of the slick surfaces of the rocks. When she reached Bee, she sat down next to him, tucked her legs beneath her, and took his hand. “You okay?”
“If it was me, I’d have sat right here. That way, I’d be sure to see any ships making their way toward the island from the ocean.” He sighed.
“You do realize whatever happened it’s been over for a long time, right?”
He squeezed her hand. “You know I don’t really believe you speak to the dead, right?”
“Um . . . I guess.” She had no idea what had brought that on or where he was going with it, so she simply agreed and let him get around to it in his own way.
“I actually don’t even know if I believe there’s anything beyond this world.” He ran his thumb back and forth over her fingers. “Sometimes, though, like now, I’d really like to believe there is, and that she and Thomas are finally in each other’s arms and at peace.”
“Aww, Bee.” Cass rested her head on his shoulder, gripped his arm with her fee hand, and looked out over the water. Bee had the unique ability to put himself in someone else’s shoes, to feel what they would certainly be feeling, to understand their pain. If more people shared his empathic abilities, the world would be a much nicer place. What could she possibly say to him that would ease his pain? “I know it’s not always easy to believe in something you can’t see. And I can’t see into another world or anything like that, but I do feel a connection. And I do believe there’s an afterlife, with every ounce of my being. That being said, I’m very sure Kitty and Thomas finally found their happily ever after.”