Witness Pursuit (12 page)

“No, you should hear this, too,” Cassie said.

“Hear what?” Nate said.

“I made a decision while you were unconscious last night.”

He eyed her. “I have a feeling I'm not going to like this.”

“My bad timing will not prevent you from solving this case.”

“Bad timing?”

“You know, wrong place, wrong time.”

“Cassie—”

“You should be investigating that woman's murder, not babysitting me.”

“You're a potential witness to a homicide, and someone is after you because they think you have something that belongs to them. My job is to keep you safe until we solve both the murder and the smuggling operation.”

“Well, my new goal is to stop being a victim and help you do just that.” She hesitated. “If you're up to it.”

“I'm fine.”

“Good.” She glanced at Spence. “Do you have paper and pens?”

“I think I might have some in the office, hang on.” Spence disappeared into a spare room.

She pushed Nate's oatmeal closer to him. “Eat.”

“What's with the paper and pens?”

“I'm going to help you do your job.”

He started to protest.

“I may seem like a ditz,” she said, cutting him off. “I talk too much and act happy all the time. But when I was stuck in bed as a kid, I read anything and everything to help me escape my life. I'm pretty smart, Nate, and I plan to help you solve the murder and find Becca.”

Although he was tempted to tell her there was no way he'd allow her to get more involved in these cases, he had to appreciate her enthusiasm.

“I suppose nothing I say will change your mind,” he half joked.

“You know me so well. Now eat, or do you need me to feed you?” She reached for the spoon.

“Don't even think about it.” He grabbed the spoon and caught her smiling at him. They were sharing a playful moment while embroiled in a crisis.

But he couldn't risk the distraction.

He took a bite of his oatmeal and considered ways of distancing himself without hurting her feelings.

“Who's the call with?” she asked.

He swallowed his oatmeal. “Detective Vaughn and Chief Washburn.”

“Chief Washburn? But he's retired.”

“I called him in to handle things while I'm out in the field.”

“Oh, you don't think, I mean, will that look like—”

“I don't care.”

“But you like your job.”

He glanced into her eyes, but had no words. What could he say? That he liked his job, but he liked her more? That somehow over the last year her sweet nature had gotten under his skin and he hadn't realized until just today how much he cared about her?

No, he couldn't say any of that.

“The chief's presence will make folks feel safe,” he said.

Cassie didn't look convinced.

“I'd better call in.” He started to get up, but she stopped him.

“Oh no, you stay right there. And put it on speaker so I can hear.”

“I don't think—”

“I won't say a word, promise.”

Spence came back into the main living area and placed paper and pens on the kitchen table. “How can I help?”

“When's your next shift?” Nate asked.

“I'm supposed to stop by the urgent care later this morning, but I can find someone to cover.”

“No, don't. Continue your normal routine. I don't want to put you in danger because they suspect you're helping us.”

“Got it. You two can stay here as long as necessary.”

“How many people know about the cabin?” Nate asked.

“Well, you're my first guests, so no one.”

“I'm sorry we had to impose on your sanctuary,” Cassie offered.

“It's not like that. I just haven't had time for a social life.”

Nate sensed there was more to it. Spence was a skilled doctor and a dedicated SAR team member, but he kept his secrets to himself. Nate suspected Spence had experienced some sort of trauma before coming to Echo Mountain that haunted him.

“We appreciate everything you've done for us,” Cassie offered.

“Of course.” Spence bundled up. “I'm off to get more wood. There's an extra SAR T-shirt for you on the end table.” Spence left and the cabin grew oddly quiet.

Nate and Cassie usually seemed comfortable with each other, but for some reason tension stretched between them.

“I charged your phone last night.” Cassie went to the counter and grabbed Nate's phone.

“You think of everything.”

“I hope so.” She placed it in front of him.

“You may not want to hear this call,” he said. “If they found Becca—”

“It's okay. I can handle it. I need to help, Nate.”

With a nod, he called the station.

“Good morning, Chief,” Chief Washburn said.

“Good morning. Is Detective Vaughn with you?”

“Yes, sir,” she responded.

“And Cassie McBride is with me,” Nate said. “Do we have an update?”

“Got preliminary forensics,” Vaughn said.

“That was quick.”

“I called in a few favors,” Chief Washburn said.

“Thanks.”

“Our victim in the cabin died from blunt force trauma, but they found no blood evidence on the shovel to indicate it was the murder weapon. It confirms what we suspected, that she hit her head on the tub,” Detective Vaughn started. “Not helpful, I know.”

“What about prints?”

“Couldn't find Len Pragner's anywhere. He's in the system so they should have popped pretty quick.”

“So we can put him outside the cabin, but not inside,” Nate said. “Must have been wearing gloves.”

“The thing that bothers me is there's no connection between Marilyn Brandenburg and this whole mob thing,” Chief Washburn said.

“Okay, so let's look at this as two completely different crimes: Marilyn's murder, and smuggling bail jumpers out of the country. Vaughn, you've interviewed people in the victim's life. Is there any clear motivation why someone would want her dead?”

“None, sir.”

“Maybe she's like me,” Cassie interjected, then placed her hand over her mouth.

“Go ahead,” Nate encouraged.

“Well, maybe she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She was late checking out of the cabin and Shovel—I mean Len Pragner was looking for Tony or Becca, but found Marilyn instead. I mean, Becca was originally supposed to be there.”

“Which still doesn't explain why Marilyn was murdered,” Detective Vaughn said. “Why risk killing a random tourist?”

“Finding Becca and Tony will help us fill in the blanks,” Nate said. “Let's focus our efforts in that direction.” He glanced at Cassie. “What did Tony say to you in the car?”

“That someone wanted to talk to me and in return that person was going to help Tony get Becca back.”

Nate fisted his hand at the thought of Cassie being taken to a meeting with mob thugs.

“Sounds like the mob's got guys in town,” Chief Washburn said.

“We have to assume so, yes,” Nate said.

“Tony also said something about messing up, that there was so much of it and he didn't think they'd notice?” Cassie offered.

“Now it's making sense,” Nate said. “These two were skimming.”

“From the mob,” Chief Washburn added. “What were they thinking?”

“We have to find them before the mob does,” Nate said. “If they haven't already.”

“Maybe it's time to enlist the town for help,” Chief Washburn said.

“I don't want to cause panic or put innocents in danger,” Nate countered.

“It wouldn't hurt to have a few key folks keep an eye on things, let us know about strangers in town,” Chief Washburn said.

Nate stood, feeling suddenly like a failure. “It's my job to protect them. I don't want to put them at risk.”

“You won't, son. I'm talking about folks like Harvey, and Grace Longfellow of SAR. They always know what's going on in town. It's in their nature.”

“If you think they will respect the boundaries and not risk their safety.”

“Absolutely,” Chief Washburn said.

“Then I trust your judgment,” Nate said. “Detective, put out a BOLO on Becca and Tony.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You keep that young lady safe,” Chief Washburn said.

“That's the plan. I'll check in later.”

Nate collapsed against the wooden chair. Cassie offered a halfhearted smile. “You didn't finish your oatmeal.”

“Lost my appetite.”

“Hey.” She touched his hand resting on the table. “You're doing the best you can. That's all anyone can ask.”

“I've been chief for less than a year and it feels like it's all coming apart on me. You'd think, with my experience, I could get ahead of things.”

“No one could have expected something like this to happen in our town. The mob? Come on.”

Nate eyed her. “Hang on, you're right.”

“I am?”

“There has to be a direct connection between the mob and Echo Mountain.” Nate stood and paced to the sofa. He shucked the blanket and put on the long-sleeved shirt Spence had left him. “We need to approach this from a different angle. The mob wouldn't randomly pick Echo Mountain, so what's the connection?”

“That's why I've got pen and paper. We'll write everything down and—”

The front door burst open and Spence hovered in the doorway. “You've gotta get out of here. Now!”

TWELVE

“W
hat happened?” Nate said.

“An SUV is coming up the drive. Take this.” He grabbed a jacket off the coatrack by the door and tossed it at Nate. “It will keep you warm in the mountains. Cassie, get my spare pack out of the closet. It's well stocked with food and supplies for a couple days.”

Cassie did as ordered, trying not to think about the potential danger headed toward them. She flung her shoulder bag across her body and waited for further instruction.

Spence grabbed car keys off the table. “Let's go.”

Cassie handed Nate the backpack, and they rushed out of the cabin.

Once outside, the doctor pointed toward a trail that disappeared behind a cluster of spruce. “The other end of that trail will drop you at the mouth of Lake Serene. You can find your way back to town from there.”

Nate gripped his friend's arm. “You're coming with us.”

“No, I'll throw them off by driving your car in the opposite direction.”

“Spence—”

“Go, I know what I'm doing.”

“But—”

“I'll call 911 if I need help. Move it.”

As they headed for the trail, Nate glanced over his shoulder.

“I've got this!” Spence called.

Nate shifted Cassie ahead of him and they practically sprinted into the woods. Neither spoke for a good few minutes. Once out of sight, Nate touched her shoulder. “Hang on a sec.”

Nate peered through the thick mass of western red cedar and Douglas fir trees to the cabin below.

Cassie looked as well, trying to calm her frantic heartbeat. The SUV slowly rolled up the driveway as if the men inside were deciding the best way to approach the cabin.

“Come on, Spence, get out of there,” Nate muttered.

The air seemed colder, crisper, than a minute ago as they anxiously waited to make sure their friend had escaped. The front door to the cabin was still open and Dr. Spencer was nowhere in sight. She automatically dug her fingers into Nate's arm.

The ominous dark SUV stopped at the end of Dr. Spencer's driveway. Was the doctor still inside?

“Call for help,” Cassie said to Nate.

“They wouldn't get here in time.”

Three men got out of the SUV. One wore a black trench coat that could easily conceal a weapon. They scanned the mountain range, as if looking for Cassie and Nate.

“Hang on,” Nate said. “I recognize one of those guys from Becca's tour group. The one with the ski cap.”

The obvious leader in the trench coat said something to the other men. They approached the cabin.

“I need to help Spence,” Nate said.

Panic shot through Cassie's body. “He said he had a plan.” She was desperate not to lose Nate to these violent men.

He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. “Cassie, I can't abandon my friend.”

She nodded, understanding that guilt about his partner's death was driving him to protect the doctor. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

It was a goodbye kiss.

“Follow the trail like Spence told you,” he said, taking off the backpack. “And don't look back, no matter what you hear, got it?”

She didn't nod this time; she couldn't.

He turned to hike down the trail when Cassie noticed something out of the corner of her eye.

A car speeding away from the cabin.

“Wait, look,” she said.

It was Dr. Spencer driving Nate's nephew's car. “He must have been hiding in the car the whole time.”

“He was waiting for them to go into the cabin so he could get a head start.”

The guy in the trench coat hit the horn and the men scrambled out of the cabin. One got into the car with trench coat man, while the third remained behind.

The SUV took off after Dr. Spencer, just as he'd hoped.

“Why aren't they both going?” Cassie said.

“They can't be sure we're in the car.” The third man went into the cabin and shut the door.

“So they're leaving him in case we come back?” Cassie said.

“Looks like.” Nate pulled out his phone and called Detective Vaughn. He gave her the make, model and license plate for the car he'd borrowed from his sister. “Spence is driving and he's being pursued by some suspicious-looking men. Get him help. Also, they left one of their guys at the cabin. Yep...we're headed into the mountains, gonna attempt to disappear for a while.” Nate pocketed his phone and nodded at Cassie. “All right, let's go.”

* * *

They hiked for hours, and Cassie figured it was nearly noon when they finally reached Lake Serene. She had been pretty good about monitoring her questions and general chatter. Asking Nate every ten minutes if he was feeling okay wasn't going to make him any healthier, and would probably drive him nutty. Still, she worried about his bullet wound and his energy level.

“We should probably stop for a snack,” Nate said.

She touched his jacket sleeve. “Are you tired? Hungry? Dizzy?”

“Cassie.” He paused and offered a smile. “I'm fine. But it's been at least four hours since you've eaten. I imagine Dr. Spencer has snacks in his backpack.”

He shucked the pack and eyed her. “What's wrong?”

“What do you mean?” Cassie sat down on a nearby rock.

Nate took out a bag of trail mix. “You've been too quiet. Are you worn out from hiking?”

“No, hiking is invigorating.”

“But you haven't said much.”

“I figured you liked the quiet.”

He offered her the trail mix and she dug out a handful.

“I like it quiet, sometimes,” he said, scanning their surroundings. “Other times I appreciate the sound of your voice.”

“Yeah, it's like background music,” she joked.

“It's more than that.” He reached over and tipped her chin with a bent forefinger.

“You know I'll do my best to protect you, right?”

“Yes.”

With a confident nod, he popped some trail mix into his mouth. They ate in companionable silence. It struck her that she didn't feel the need to jabber away when she was with Nate. Totally comfortable in his presence, she was simply enjoying the fresh air and a moment of peace.

Nate's ringing phone shattered the serenity.

“Detective?” he answered, then frowned. “I see.” He stood and took a few steps toward the lake.

Cassie wondered if he didn't want her hearing details about the case. Bad news, perhaps? As she watched him pace back and forth, she realized he was frustrated.

“I'm not sure yet. Our goal was to make it to Lake Serene... Yes. Thanks.” He glanced at Cassie. “They lost track of the car following Spence, but he's okay.”

“You don't sound happy.”

“I shouldn't have let him lure those guys away like that. It put him in the eye of the storm.”

“It was his idea, and he's okay, right?”

Nate nodded. “He took the risk because he wanted us to be safe, so we should keep going.” She picked up the backpack, but Nate took it away from her.

“I got it.”

“Your wound—”

“It's fine.” He strapped on the pack and motioned her ahead.

The trail was wide enough that they could walk side by side, a good thing since she sensed he needed to talk.

“What's the plan, Chief?” she said.

“Find temporary shelter until we can get to the safe house, which has been a challenge. I still can't figure out how they found us at Spence's cabin.”

“Speaking of temporary shelter, I have an idea. Echo Mountain Rentals has a few properties under construction. What if we stayed in one of those?”

“But the work crews—”

“Construction is on hold for two of the cabins due to some kind of contract issue or something, I don't know the details. The properties are sitting vacant. I think the closest one is Horizon Point.”

“How far?”

“I'm guessing about three miles east of here? Let me check the map.” Nate hesitated and she dug it out of the side pocket of the pack. “Yep, here it is. Actually, we might be able to avoid major roads and cut through here.” She pointed to a trail. She folded the map. “We should probably notify Mr. Anderson so no one calls the police on us.”

“Not a good idea. I don't know who I can trust.”

“Mr. Anderson's a good guy, a little scattered, but that's why he has Carol.”

“Yet she couldn't keep the personnel files safely locked.”

“We all make mistakes. Even you,” she teased.

Nate didn't smile and seemed to fall into deep thought. She wondered if he was still beating himself up about Dr. Spencer.

Rather than try to talk him out of his self-recrimination, Cassie silently asked God to lighten the burden from his heart. He was such a good, kind man, a man who could seem impenetrable on the outside, but she knew he was gentle on the inside. He didn't deserve to suffer.

“I know what you're doing,” he said.

“Excuse me?”

“You're praying for me, aren't you?”

“What if I am?” She glanced sideways at him.

“I guess—” he hesitated “—I'd say, thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

They continued along the trail, Cassie pleased that he appreciated her prayers. Silence once again stretched between them like a line connecting a boat to a buoy. Even in silence they'd become close. She never imagined that could happen, especially with a man like Nate.

“I've been negligent,” Nate suddenly said.

“What do you mean?”

“With God. Actually, I've been without God since, well, I'm not sure I've ever had a relationship like that.”

“God is always there for you, Nate. ‘An ever-present help in trouble,' according to the Bible.”

She took his hand, thinking the contact might make him feel less alone, less distanced from both her and the Lord.

“You are...remarkable,” he said, squeezing her hand.

In that moment she felt something much stronger than friendship blossoming between them, and it wasn't one-sided on her part. Could it be that a life-threatening crisis had brought them together and made them realize they had feelings for each other? The corners of his lips raised slightly as he glanced at her.

Sudden movement caught her eye over his shoulder. Before she could register what was happening, a man hurled himself out of nowhere at Nate.

“No!” she cried.

Nate automatically pushed her aside and whipped around as the attacker slammed into him. The men hit the ground and rolled a few times, the guttural sounds sending shivers down her arms. The awkward pack put Nate at a disadvantage.

Cassie scanned the immediate area looking for a weapon and spotted a thick branch a few feet away. But could she use it on the attacker? The guy, in his forties wearing a blue knit cap, wrapped his arm around Nate's neck and strangled him from behind.

“Let him go!” she shouted.

The man tightened his grip. Nate swung his arms, trying to break free.

The guy jerked his arm again.

Nate's legs buckled.

Both men went down.

“God forgive me,” she whispered.

She grabbed the branch, about the length of a baseball bat, and swung, hitting the man in the back.

He jerked in response, but didn't let go of Nate.

She was not going to watch a criminal murder Nate.

The love of her life.

“I said, let go!” she warned.

The guy squeezed tighter. Nate's arms went limp by his sides. Complete and utter panic drove her to swing the branch again and again. The third swing connected with the guy's head.

He suddenly let go of Nate and stumbled to his feet. Nate rolled onto his side, coughing and gasping for air.

He was alive. She sighed with relief.

The attacker took a step toward her, his eyes flaring with rage.

She fought back paralyzing fear and considered her next move. Much bigger than her five-foot-three-inch frame, the guy could easily take away the branch and even use it on her. Yet she knew they didn't want her dead because they thought she had something of theirs.

“Stay away,” she threatened, clinging to the branch. She just needed to buy enough time for Nate to regain his strength.

The man took another step toward her.

She was not a defenseless woman. She'd taken a self-defense class with her sister, Bree, when she'd returned to Echo Mountain.

He took another step.

“What do you want?” she demanded.

A sinister smile eased across his lips.

He stepped closer.

She jabbed the branch at his crotch. He instinctively pitched forward to protect himself and she swung the branch, hard, nailing him on the side of the head.

He collapsed, seemingly dazed. She stood there for a few seconds, heart pounding in her ears, a little dizzy from the adrenaline rush.

Cassie scrambled to Nate. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

The attacker moaned.

Adrenaline reignited her body. She grabbed Nate's gun out of his holster and aimed at the guy.

“Don't move!” she threatened, even though she didn't know much about guns and the safety was probably still in place.

The guy went still, either because she'd threatened him or because he was unconscious.

She glared down the barrel of the weapon, hoping the threat of being shot would be enough to keep him from coming after her or Nate.

“Cassie,” Nate said, his voice hoarse.

She couldn't speak. Couldn't even form words. A metallic taste filled her mouth. She could see her hands trembling as they gripped the gun, but she was not letting go.

Had to protect Nate. He'd been hurt enough.

“Cassie.”

She felt Nate's hand touch her shoulder from behind, then slide down her arm. “It's okay. Release the gun.”

With gentle pressure, he eased her arm down so she was no longer aiming at their attacker.