Dead on Arrival Read online

  Dead on Arrival

  Lantern Beach P.D., Book 4

  Christy Barritt

  Contents

  Complete Book List

  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

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Coming in May: Plan Of Action

  Sample Chapter

  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 Sweep

  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

  #8 Joke and Dagger (coming soon)

  Raven Remington

  Relentless 1

  Relentless 2 (coming soon)

  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 Outrage

  #7 Random Acts of Iniquity (coming soon)

  Lantern Beach Mysteries

  #1 Hidden Currents

  #2 Flood Watch

  #3 Storm Surge

  #4 Dangerous Waters

  #5 Perilous Riptide

  #6 Deadly Undertow

  Lantern Beach Romantic Suspense

  Tides of Deception

  Shadow of Intrigue

  Storm of Doubt

  Lantern Beach P.D.

  On the Lookout

  Attempt to Locate

  First Degree Murder

  Dead on Arrival

  Plan of Action (coming in May)

  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

  Fog Lake Suspense:

  Edge of Peril

  Margin of Error (coming soon)

  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

  The Cradle Conspiracy (coming soon)

  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)

  Chapter One

  Moriah Gilead laced her fingers with her husband’s as they walked through the crowd, shaking hands and offering words of affirmation. Everyone around them adored this man—and for good reason.

  Anthony Gilead was amazing.

  The two of them had arrived back from their honeymoon only one day ago. Her new husband had taken her to a secluded cabin in the mountains of North Carolina. They hadn’t left the location all week.

  Her cheeks flushed at the thought.

  They continued to walk past the residents of Gilead’s Cove and ended their trek with Gilead taking the small stage at the front of the room.

  Today was the big day—election day here on the island of Lantern Beach.

  Up until three days ago, Moriah had no idea Gilead was even running for mayor.

  A lump formed in her throat at the memory.

  She thought Gilead would have mentioned that fact to her earlier. But he must have had good reason not to. Moriah had to stop being so quick to judge.

  She remained by the wooden steps leading to the aged stage, staying to the side of the crowd and holding her hands in front of her like a good, supportive wife. A submissive wife. Gilead had had many conversations with her about this new role she’d taken on and what it meant.

  “Residents of Gilead’s Cove and followers of the Cause,” Gilead started, gripping the podium as his engaged expression latched onto anyone listening. “It’s great to be back with you.”

  Everyone cheered.

  Today’s event was a change from the normal morning pep session Gilead led. Something about him getting married, going away, and running for mayor seemed to ignite a new excitement in his followers.

  “Today is going to be a good day.” He flashed a bright smile.

  More cheers.

  Gilead obviously felt confident he was going to win this election. And why shouldn’t he? The man was smart and charming. He had a way about him that made people want to do things for him. Only great leaders possessed that trait and could use it so masterfully.

  “So, how was your honeymoon?” someone whispered.

  Moriah glanced over and saw Ruth had sidled up beside her. The woman had been Moriah’s mentor when she’d first arrived here at the Cove. The two of them hadn’t spoken since Moriah had returned from her trip, and Moriah had no desire to talk to the woman about anything personal now.

  Though it would be nice to talk to someone about personal things. To whisper secrets and to share the highs and lows of her new marriage. Maybe even someone Moriah could ask advice from without fear of being reprimanded and judged.

  I
nstead, Moriah offered a tight smile at the quiet question. “It was wonderful.”

  Ruth quirked a shaggy eyebrow as she studied Moriah’s face. “Glad to hear that.”

  Moriah nibbled on the inside of her cheek. If she were talking to a trusted friend right now, she might tell the truth. Might share that her honeymoon hadn’t been anything like she’d imagined.

  In her mind, the trip would be full of tender moments where she and Gilead bonded together as husband and wife. After all, they still had so much to learn about each other. Their courtship had been short and hurried, to say the least.

  Instead of tender moments, the whole experience had felt like an exercise in . . . greed and insatiability.

  Moriah swallowed hard. She would never make that admission aloud. Besides, no one would believe her. Everyone thought Gilead was God. That he was perfect. Blameless. Righteous.

  Her expectations for their trip had simply been unrealistic. Still, she ran a hand over her lips, wishing she could erase the feel of her husband’s mouth against hers.

  What had once seemed forbidden and romantic now caused nausea to rise in her.

  She would adjust. Eventually, she’d tell Gilead her concerns over their relationship. Certainly, something between them would change when she shared with him. He’d understand that Moriah needed more of a personal connection and that otherwise she simply felt like a cheap escort.

  “Why do you look pale?” Ruth’s eyes bore into Moriah.

  Moriah tensed at the question. “I don’t look pale.”

  “Don’t tell me you don’t look pale. I’m looking right at you.”

  Moriah shrugged, unwilling to take the bait. “It’s a big day. That’s all.”

  As Gilead continued to captivate everyone in the room, Ruth’s attention remained on Moriah. “We’re all headed into town to vote later. You too?”

  “I haven’t registered to vote in Lantern Beach, and I didn’t know—” Moriah stopped herself before she said too much.

  “You didn’t know your husband was running for mayor?” Was that delight in Ruth’s voice? Was the woman looking for cracks in their marriage so she could exploit them? Or so she could feel better about herself and her own problems?

  The last thing Moriah wanted was anyone feeling sorry for her—or that they had the upper hand.

  “We didn’t have much time to talk before we got married.” Moriah kept her voice placid and professional. “It’s not a big deal.”

  Ruth leaned closer to be heard over Gilead. “I’d say it was. If your husband wins this election, your life is going to look different. He’s going to have other responsibilities besides Gilead’s Cove. Other priorities besides you.”

  Something ached inside Moriah at Ruth’s words, but she raised her shoulders, desperate not to show her doubts. “I trust my husband, but I’m still not sure why he wants this.”

  “Power, my dear. Power.”

  Just as Ruth said the words, the doors to the Meeting Place opened. A group of people Moriah had never seen before flooded inside.

  She sucked in a quick, surprised breath. “What . . . ?”

  “We’re busing them in,” Ruth whispered. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

  Moriah’s hand clutched the fabric of her dress near her neck. “Busing them in from where?”

  “Everywhere. The scouts have begun recruiting. We’re expecting another busload later, and we’ll probably get twenty or thirty more people every week from here on out. We need to expand. But first we need the proper permits.”

  Realization hit Moriah. Permits? Was that really why Gilead was interesting in taking over Lantern Beach? So he could do what he wanted when he wanted how he wanted?

  That sounded like her husband—in more than one way.

  Moriah tried to push aside her anxiety, but it wouldn’t subside.

  Something bad was going to happen here on this island.

  Moriah could feel it in her gut. And she had no choice but to trust her husband. Otherwise, she’d face the wrath of the Council . . . wrath that Gilead had told her included punishments she couldn’t even imagine suffering.

  Her chance at a new life was suddenly feeling like a new chance at retribution against her for all the mistakes she’d made in her past.

  Why had she ever thought coming here was a good idea?

  Chapter Two

  As a chilly breeze swept across the shore and over the sand dune that stood guard in front of her cottage, Cassidy Chambers pulled her blanket closer around her shoulders.

  She stood in her favorite place—the screened-in porch that faced the ocean. As her husband, Ty, stepped up behind her, she melted into him and let herself get lost for a moment in the spicy scent of his cologne. With a cup of coffee in hand, their dog, Kujo, at her feet, and the morning sun shining just above the horizon, the day promised to be a good one.

  She could use a good day. In her short tenure as police chief, too many things here on Lantern Beach had gone wrong. Too many crimes. Conspiracies. Threats.

  Stress had accumulated in Cassidy, evidenced by shoulders that were constantly tight, a body that continually craved caffeine, and a distant headache that frequently wanted to pulse at her temples.

  “Things are going to turn around,” Ty murmured in Cassidy’s ear, as if sensing her heavy thoughts.

  “I know.” Cassidy rested her free hand on top of her husband’s, treasuring the fact that he was her safe place. Always. “I’ll just be happy to have this election over with.”

  Today the town would elect their new mayor. Three people were in the running: current mayor Mike Tomlinson, former police chief Mac MacArthur, and newcomer Anthony Gilead.

  “You don’t really think Anthony Gilead is going to win, do you?” Ty seemed to read her thoughts yet again.

  Cassidy caught her bottom lip and nibbled on it as she frowned. “I want to say no. I really do. But I’ve seen crazier things happen before, so I never say never.”

  “Yeah, I get that.”

  She drew in a deep breath, trying to wrap her mind around everything that would be transpiring today. Though she’d been a detective in Seattle, this would be her first small-town election. It was proving to be more stressful than she ever imagined.

  “We have one voting site here on the island,” Cassidy said, voicing her thoughts aloud as she raised her coffee mug and continued to stare out over the water. “My crew and I will be busy all day monitoring the location. We don’t anticipate any trouble but . . . we are on Lantern Beach.”

  “Plus, there are county officials who will be monitoring the location for election fraud. Everything will be okay, Cass.”

  “You think?” She wished she felt as confident, wished that statement was as certain as the smell of salty air present each morning.

  “I do. And tonight we will be celebrating Mac’s win. He’s going to make a great mayor.” Mac wasn’t only the town’s retired police chief, he was also their good friend.

  “He will. He deserves this position. That’s for sure.” The ocean mesmerized her as it lapped the shore in wave after wave. The constants in her life were what reassured her—not only the water, but also God, Ty, and her circle of friends.

  Ever since Cassidy had received some text messages threatening to reveal her past identity, her peace of mind had scattered like papers in the wind. Someone knew who she really was, and that put her—as well as everyone she cared about—in danger. Looking over her shoulder all the time was no way to live, yet it seemed to be a permanent reality for Cassidy.

  “That was some party we had for Mac last night.” Ty’s chin dipped down and rested near her neck.

  Cassidy took another sip of her coffee. “I wish I could have stayed. I’m still not sure why someone would try to steal a car on an island. As soon as they try to leave on the ferry, they’re going to be caught.”

  “No one ever said criminals were smart.”

  “I can’t argue with that. But I heard Lisa really hit it out of the park with
her ‘Mac-themed’ food and drinks.” Cassidy had only stopped by for a few minutes before she’d been called out to work. Though she hated to miss the party, it was her turn to be on evening duty.

  “Mac and cheese with bacon, fast food knockoff Big Macs, Mac Daddy Sliders with french fries, fried mac-and-cheese balls,” Ty said. “Lisa always goes above and beyond.”

  “Yes, she does.” Their friend Lisa Dillinger had just gotten back from her honeymoon in time to host the event at her restaurant. The turnout had been great.

  Cassidy would guess, based on what she’d briefly seen and heard, that nearly two hundred people had shown up at some point. Considering there were only six hundred locals on the island, Cassidy thought those numbers were outstanding.

  Now, Cassidy hoped the turnout at the polls today would reflect all the campaigning that had been done and the qualifications Mac would bring to the office.

  Cassidy’s cell phone rang from its position on the railing in front of her.

  She sighed and stared at it a moment, tempted to pretend she didn’t hear it.

  Of course she couldn’t do that. Instead, she grabbed the device and answered, knowing all too well that early morning phone calls were never good. “Chief Chambers.”

  “Cassidy, it’s Doc Clemson. We have a situation I thought you’d want to know about.”

  She tensed when she heard his serious tone. “What’s going on?”

  “We’ve had about twenty, twenty-five people come to the clinic this morning with food poisoning.”

  “Food poisoning?” She glanced at Ty, and he raised his eyebrows.