Dangerous Waters (Lantern Beach Book 4) Read online

  Dangerous Waters

  Lantern Beach Mysteries, Book 4

  Christy Barritt

  Copyright © 2018 by Christy Barritt

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Complete Book List

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Coming in Late May:

  Also by Christy Barritt:

  Other Books in the Lantern Beach Mystery Series:

  You might also enjoy …

  Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries:

  The Worst Detective Ever:

  About the Author

  Complete Book List

  Squeaky Clean Mysteries:

  #1 Hazardous Duty

  #2 Suspicious Minds

  #2.5 It Came Upon a Midnight Crime (novella)

  #3 Organized Grime

  #4 Dirty Deeds

  #5 The Scum of All Fears

  #6 To Love, Honor and Perish

  #7 Mucky Streak

  #8 Foul Play

  #9 Broom & Gloom

  #10 Dust and Obey

  #11 Thrill Squeaker

  #11.5 Swept Away (novella)

  #12 Cunning Attractions

  #13 Cold Case: Clean Getaway

  #14 Cold Case: Clean Break (coming soon)

  While You Were Sweeping, A Riley Thomas Spinoff

  The Sierra Files:

  #1 Pounced

  #2 Hunted

  #3 Pranced

  #4 Rattled

  #5 Caged (coming soon)

  The Gabby St. Claire Diaries (a Tween Mystery series):

  The Curtain Call Caper

  The Disappearing Dog Dilemma

  The Bungled Bike Burglaries

  The Worst Detective Ever

  #1 Ready to Fumble

  #2 Reign of Error

  #3 Safety in Blunders

  #4 Join the Flub

  #5 Blooper Freak

  #6 Flaw Abiding Citizen

  #7 Gaffe Out Loud (coming soon)

  Raven Remington

  #1 Relentless

  Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries:

  #1 Random Acts of Murder

  #2 Random Acts of Deceit

  #2.5 Random Acts of Scrooge

  #3 Random Acts of Malice

  #4 Random Acts of Greed

  #5 Random Acts of Fraud

  #6 Random Acts of Iniquity (coming soon)

  #7 Random Acts of Outrage (coming soon)

  Lantern Beach Mysteries

  #1 Hidden Currents

  #2 Flood Watch

  #3 Storm Surge

  #4 Dangerous Waters

  #5 Perilous Riptide (coming soon)

  #6 Deadly Undertow (coming soon)

  Carolina Moon Series:

  Home Before Dark

  Gone By Dark

  Wait Until Dark

  Light the Dark

  Taken By Dark

  Suburban Sleuth Mysteries:

  Death of the Couch Potato’s Wife

  Cape Thomas Series:

  Dubiosity

  Disillusioned

  Distorted

  Standalone Romantic Mystery:

  The Good Girl

  Suspense:

  Imperfect

  The Wrecking

  Standalone Romantic-Suspense:

  Keeping Guard

  The Last Target

  Race Against Time

  Ricochet

  Key Witness

  Lifeline

  High-Stakes Holiday Reunion

  Desperate Measures

  Hidden Agenda

  Mountain Hideaway

  Dark Harbor

  Shadow of Suspicion

  The Baby Assignment

  Nonfiction:

  Characters in the Kitchen

  Changed: True Stories of Finding God through Christian Music (out of print)

  The Novel in Me: The Beginner’s Guide to Writing and Publishing a Novel (out of print)

  Prologue

  18 Weeks Earlier

  “I’ve got an assignment for you.” Raul Sanders’s words blasted an arctic chill across the small room.

  With more than a touch of trepidation, Cady Matthews stepped closer, carefully concealing her apprehension. She’d been called—summoned, more like it—into Raul Sanders’s lair, the place where he served like an evil king over his foot soldiers. Even the leather chair he sat in acted as a throne, and his gold teeth were his crown.

  She licked her lips and glanced beside her, noting that Orion had shown up also. He was one of Raul’s right-hand men. Raul’s other sidekick, Sloan, had disappeared two days ago, and no one had heard from him. Cady had a sickening feeling she knew exactly what had happened to the man.

  Raul had killed him . . . or he’d had his men do it for him.

  “What’s this assignment?” Cady finally asked.

  “You and Orion need to go do a job for me. You’re the only two I trust.”

  She swallowed hard, not liking the sound of that. Raul’s jobs were always bad news, and another name for committing a crime—against the government and against herself.

  But Cady, an undercover detective, was here for a reason—to gain Raul’s trust. So she did what she had to. “Sure. What do you need?”

  He flipped a picture from his pocket and held it up. “You need to kill him.”

  Her stomach sank and squeezed and tried to heave as possibilities raced through her mind. “Who is he?”

  “Reginald. He’s someone I once trusted.” Darkness rolled over his features. “He was one of us, but he left and joined the Blood Brotherhood. Betrayed us. Broke my heart. No one breaks my heart. No one.”

  The last lines were a threat more than a signal of grief. Again, it went back to loyalty.

  Loyalty given was a gift. Loyalty broken was a curse—a curse the perpetrator would pay for dearly. Cady would be wise to keep that in mind.

  Orion shifted and folded his bulky arms over his chest, looking more like a bodyguard than Raul’s minion. “How do you want the job done?”

  The brawny man was over six feet tall, with light brown skin and stark black hair that was shaved on the sides and hung long and straight on top. His hands were constantly fisted, and he didn’t know how to smile.

  In other words, he scared the dickens out of Cady.

  “I’ll let you two figure it out.” Raul pulled out another piece of paper. “Here’s his address. Reginald won’t know you’re coming. We’ve got to send a message loud and clear that no one walks away from DH-7. You got it?”

  Cady nodded, covering her fear for the assignment and her repulsion for the man with her cold aloofness—a mask she had perfected. “Got it.”

  “Don’t disappoint me.” Raul locked gazes with her, his eyes holding a
challenge.

  “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “And I want it done tonight.”

  Tonight? That didn’t give Cady much time to think things through, to figure out a better solution. It definitely didn’t give her time to call Samuel Stephens, her task force leader and the one who could pull the plug on this if necessary.

  “We got this, boss.” Orion glared at Cady. “At least, I do.”

  “Don’t discount me, Const.” That was Cady’s nickname for him—Constellation. She hadn’t given him a nickname as a means of affection. No, she abhorred the man. But she was here on a mission that required attempting, at least, to develop comradery with the man.

  “I’d rather work with anyone else,” Orion snapped back, his top lip rising in disgust.

  “Quiet, you two.” Raul’s voice sliced through the air. “You’re like siblings. Like Cain and Abel.”

  “Cain killed Abel,” Cady muttered.

  A glimmer of . . . something . . . filled Raul’s gaze. “So you know your Bible. Then you also know that even though Cain may have been a killer, he helped father generations to come.”

  What did that mean? Was he saying Orion would lead the gang? That they planned to take over the world? Maybe even just a generation?

  She didn’t know, and it didn’t matter at the moment.

  Cady had bigger issues to face right now. Like how to complete this assignment without losing her soul.

  Chapter One

  Today’s Goals: None. Just live and treasure the time with the people I’m with. Maybe collect a seashell or two.

  Cassidy Livingston smiled as she watched Ty Chambers. With the sun rising behind him as he stoked the small bonfire, he looked like he could grace one of those touristy beach brochures that were as plentiful in the area as the constant waves. He was fit, handsome, and looked like he belonged in this land of sun and sand.

  Ty was showing off his cooking skills by making a rugged yet gourmet breakfast for the two of them. Some kind of whitefish cooked on a cedar plank resting on the flames. The savory aroma mixed with the salty air smelled heavenly.

  On another piece of wood sat two bagels. Some cream cheese and fruit were in a wooden tray beside everything. If Ty’s retreat center didn’t work out, maybe he could become a personal chef.

  “It looks delicious,” Cassidy said.

  Even though it was warm outside—typical for August—she’d worn her favorite sweatshirt and jeans. Mornings and evenings could still be chilly, despite the scorching heat during the day. She sat on a striped blanket provided by Ty, drinking coffee from the travel mug he’d also provided.

  He’d thought of everything.

  “Conditions have to be just right to cook like this,” Ty said, turning the fish with a metal spatula. Smoke billowed up, and the crackle of the fire almost sounded like applause. “That’s why this had to happen this morning. We rarely have days where the wind is at less than seven knots per hour.”

  He leaned toward the fire, absorbed in what he was doing. He’d had shoulder surgery a month ago, and he was recovering nicely. Cassidy almost couldn’t tell he’d even had the operation, as far as recovery and ease of motion. All his physical therapy must be paying off.

  Cassidy’s eyes fastened on his broad shoulders, the rippling muscles on his broad back, and his face as the early morning sun bathed him in a golden glow. He was a sight to behold, and it wasn’t just because of his good looks. No, it was who he was as a whole. The protector. The one who put others before himself. The only person who had the ability to make Cassidy forget her troubles.

  Ty glanced back at her and did a double take. “Uh oh. Do I have something between my teeth?”

  He sat back beside her, resting his arms against his bent knees as he waited for her answer. Birds circled overhead, crying out to be included in their moment.

  Not a chance.

  “No, nothing between your teeth.” Cassidy looped her arm through his and leaned against his shoulder. “I was just thinking about how incredibly lucky I am.”

  “Why’s that? Because you live on Lantern Beach?” His voice held that teasing tone Cassidy had come to crave.

  “Well, that’s one reason.” She stared at the fire and the Atlantic Ocean beyond it as the waves lapped onto the sandy shores. “But it’s mostly that I get free ice cream as one of my job perks.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Uh um. And . . . well, because I’m here with you.”

  “You’re getting pretty good at this sweet talk thing.” Ty nudged her playfully.

  “Well, it’s hard, but I’m trying.” Funny how her voice seemed to smile when she talked to him.

  “It’s hard, huh?” He turned toward Cassidy, his tone low, husky, and mischievous.

  “You can be impossible sometimes.” Cassidy raised her head from his shoulder in order to look him in the eye—in his twinkling eyes.

  “Well, I’m glad you’re never impossible.”

  She let out a short, blunt chuckle. “Me too.”

  Ty’s eyes lost the amused look, and his gaze turned serious. He reached for Cassidy and pulled her close before skimming his hand down the side of her face. He’d never told her he loved her, but the look in his eyes right now said it all.

  He was falling for Cassidy just as quickly as Cassidy was falling for him. They’d officially been a couple for a month and had enjoyed lots of time together here on this beach, just relishing each other’s company, friendship, and kisses.

  During the day, Ty worked on transforming his cottage from a 900-square-foot bungalow into a 3,000-square-foot retreat center. With the help of his friend Austin, they’d figured out a way to rework the bones of the place to accommodate more people by creating an open floor plan and adding a new wing onto the back. Eventually they’d add a couple of guest houses on the property as well. He was remodeling it in order to start Hope House, a retreat center for injured veterans.

  Meanwhile, Cassidy sold ice cream from her truck, Elsa. On Sundays, they went to church together, and during other free time they played volleyball with their friends or took walks along the majestic shoreline. Ty had even been teaching her how to surf fish.

  There wasn’t anything Cassidy would change about her life here.

  Well, maybe one thing.

  The fact that she couldn’t tell Ty the truth about who she really was. Cady Matthews, Seattle detective, who’d infiltrated a dangerous gang. She’d killed the gang’s leader, Raul Sanders. As a result, she had been forced into hiding. A million-dollar bounty had been placed on her head, and gang members across the country were now clamoring to find her and make her an example to anyone else who dared defy them.

  All of that wasn’t too much for someone to swallow . . . was it?

  Ty slowly pressed his lips to Cassidy’s. As he pulled away, his face remained close to hers, and he caressed her jaw.

  Often what’s simple is what’s ultimately important.

  Cassidy relished the advice from the Day-at-a-Glance calendar that used to belong to her best friend, Lucy. But, before she could savor the advice too long, there was something she had to say.

  “Kujo is trying to eat the bagels,” she whispered.

  “What?”

  “Kujo.” She nodded toward the dog.

  Ty snapped out of the moment and turned toward his golden retriever just as the dog snatched a bagel from the tray.

  “What do you think you’re doing, dog?” Ty shooed him away, and the dog happily bounded down the beach with his bounty.

  “I’d say he’s being smart.”

  “Well, you’re always on Kujo’s side. But maybe it was good timing because I think the fish is ready.” He wiped his hands on a towel before using the spatula to finish making their breakfast. Bagel with cream cheese and smoked fish with fruit on the side.

  It smelled—and looked—divine.

  Ty presented her plate to her, watching closely as she tried her first bite.

  The smoky, creamy f
lavor of the fish and cheese burst to life on her taste buds. “This is actually good.”

  “You doubted me?” He looked mockingly offended.

  “I’ve gotta say that between you and Lisa, my palette has expanded in recent months. To think I used to be addicted to salads.”

  “A Texas girl who likes salads?”

  “Yeah, well that was the old Cassidy.” She remembered the life she’d left behind—how empty it had felt. And it wasn’t just because of salads. “I like the new version a lot better.”

  They ate in silence for a few minutes until Ty cleared his throat. “So, I have an ulterior motive for fixing breakfast this morning. I wanted to tell you something.”

  “What’s that?” Cassidy ate her last bite and put her plate on the ground, then wiped her mouth with a napkin Ty provided. Again, he’d thought of everything. He always did.

  “I got that grant from Alpha Tech that you told me about.”

  Cassidy’s heart lurched into her throat. It was her dad’s company. Telling Ty about the grant program had been a risky move, but Cassidy knew exactly what her dad was looking for, and she’d helped guide him as he wrote the proposal. Her father handpicked the grant recipients himself.

  Nothing about that process should trigger anyone to look for her here in Lantern Beach. There was no way they could link Ty and this grant back to her. No way.

  She ordered her heart to slow and smiled up at Ty. “That’s fantastic news.”

  “It means I’ll be able to put my plan in motion. I’ve just been working on things as I have the money. But with this check . . . I’ll be able to work steady and hard until the project is complete.”