Deep Into The Night (Hartz Island Series) (8 page)

Jeannie smiled, and Cassie wondered what happened to the island of her childhood.

“So, Jack, what do you want Cassie and me to do?”

“Walk on the beach, take your time, and relay back to me what you see.”

Cassie cleared her throat and caught Jack’s attention. “My Mom and I used to look for agates on the beach. We would stroll up and down. It would be a good, slow thing to do.”

“Perfect. Montana, take Cassie back to your place and find the right sort of items you need for beach strolling and meet us back at the Ryan’s, say in an hour, give or take fifteen minutes.”

“Great. We’re out of here. Let’s go, Cassie.”

Once again, Cassie’s insecurities surfaced. It sounded simple enough, safe, and basically an acting job. Jack touched her shoulder, and she looked up. He gave her a nod. She sucked in her breath, grabbed her purse, and followed Montana out the café door.

Jack waited until he saw Montana pull away from the café before he said, “I need to get a hold of Anacortes’s CCTV from yesterday and see if we can spot who dropped off those guys at the dock. They didn’t get there by bus.”

“How did she get to the ferry if she was a walk-on?” asked Kip.

“I think she was driving a very old pick-up truck that died at the terminal. I was just getting on and passed her, but at the time, I didn’t think it was her. Normally, you wouldn’t find her without make-up and her hair done perfectly, wearing the latest fashion. Yesterday, she looked like a drowned rat that hadn’t slept in days.”

“When was the last time you saw her?”

“Her parent’s funeral.”

“Jesus… Did she show up with anything?” Kip asked.

“Not that I could see. No phone, laptop, nothing electronic. Just a few clothes. Obviously, she left in a hurry.”

“Jack, I heard she was an actress in Los Angeles on some daytime TV soap opera,” Jeannie said. “Is this true?”

“You wouldn’t know it this morning, but…” Jack paused. “She’s actually pretty good. Or she used to be. When she first got on the soap opera, I tuned in.” He laughed. “It was sort of funny to see her. She played some person from the south and had a goofy accent.” Thinking about it, he shook his head and smiled.

“I don’t understand. What happened?”

“My guess is the guy she was living with did a number on her. She was always confident and mouthy, gutsy too. But something has changed.”

“Well hell, if she’s been hanging out with that fu—” Kip glanced at Jeannie. “That Russian, who knows what went on. I sure hope for her sake she wasn’t involved.”

“Are you two talking work?” Jeannie asked.

Kip cleared his throat. “We might be.”

“If she’s in trouble, then we need to watch out for her. You two need to fess up on what’s really going on. Keep in mind, I might not be good on the computer, but I know Betsy is, so spill the beans.”

Kip sighed. Jack cleared his throat, thinking about how much to reveal. Did Jeannie really need to know about the Russian Mob and the possible connection to her husband Brian’s death? He thought not.

“Cassie left Los Angeles in a hurry. The fellow she’d been living with was arrested for a high-end auto theft ring, where he shipped the chopped up vehicles overseas. They’re still uncovering his illegal activities.”

“Interesting. Would he be part of the West Coast auto theft operation Brian had been working on?” Jeannie looked them both in the eye.

“The dots have not been connected. Yet.” Jack glanced at Kip, who nodded his head slightly. This was a wife of a slain police detective who deserved honest answers. “However, I wouldn’t be surprised if he were somehow involved.”

“Did she know this?”

“No. I’m pretty certain she didn’t. Cassie was in the Hollywood scene, trying to get her career to take off.”

“Then she has to be scared. Those people are vindictive. Is he after her?”

Jack shrugged. “He might think she ratted on him, though I don’t think she knows anything to rat. The problem is the Russian Mob can be ruthless in their pursuit of their version of justice.”

“Well,” Jeannie said. “It looks to me like you two have your work cut out for you. Kip?”

“Let me make some phone calls down to L.A. and see what I can find out. I’ve got a few contacts.” Kip slipped off the counter stool and leaned over and gave Jeannie a quick kiss. “Honey, we are off to my office.”

When Kip and Jack were clear of the café Kip asked, “Is there a warrant out for her?”

“As of this morning, no.”

“Do you expect one?”

“I’m not sure. I hope not. At the moment, the FBI thinks his latest squeeze is the artist girlfriend, not Cassie. By all appearances, you’d think so too. Cassie might be in the clear from the FBI, but not the mob. I’d like to connect all the dots and nail that bastard’s ass.”

“No doubt in my mind you will.”

“Sometimes things are easier said than done.”

Chapter Twelve

"W
e’re almost there.” Montana turned and smiled at Cassie. Cassie continued to gaze out the window. “This is really turning out to be a quite a morning. I had no idea when I picked you up yesterday that you knew Jack.” Montana peeked to see if there was any sort of acknowledgment. Nothing. Very odd. She’d watched the subtle interaction between them. Their vibration was strong and intertwined, and Montana guessed it had been for a long time. “So how long have you known Jack?”

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s hard to say. A while.”

Montana turned her face away so Cassie couldn’t see her biting her lip to keep from laughing. Not much had changed from last night. Maybe what she should have asked her was, “What was the date you met Jack Wyatt?”

Montana turned into her driveway and slowed her car to a crawl. The old two-story farmhouse sat back from the road. “This is where I live.”

“I don’t remember this.” Cassie peered out of the windows.

“But why would you, unless you were pedaling around on your bike. It’s in the middle of the island.” Montana parked next to the back door. “Everything we need is up in the attic. I’ll need your help hauling the boxes down.”

She didn’t wait for a reply because she knew none was forthcoming. Montana hopped out of her old Saab, unlocked the door, and waited for Cassie to join her.

Cassie wondered what to expect when she walked into Montana’s home. From her comments, she seemed similar to Madame Sofia in Los Angeles, which might not be a bad thing since she’d saved her from the FBI raid.

“Welcome to my home.” Montana smiled and gestured her in.

Cassie couldn’t have been more wrong in her expectations. Bright bold colors were everywhere, with a ton of windows and French doors leading out onto a courtyard that was filled with rhododendrons, bird baths, and wind chimes. A large butcher block table sat near the window, surrounded by chairs.

“Wow, this is lovely.” She smiled, closed her eyes, and breathed deeply. “I smell?”

“Lavender. I’m drying it in the front room. I’ll give you a quick tour.” When Montana finished, they were on the second floor standing by a door that led up to the attic. “We can either haul the boxes down or go through them up there.”

Cassie stared up the steep, narrow stairs. “Let’s sort through them up there. I’m feeling cautious.”

Montana laughed. “Good idea.”

The attic was high enough you didn’t need to worry about hitting your head. Montana pulled out two boxes and handed one to Cassie.

“You have the wigs, and I have the costume wear.”

They sat down and started sorting through them.

“What exactly do you do?” Cassie asked, holding up a platinum blond wig. She pulled it on and tucked her hair under it. “You mentioned something about role playing and stuff.”

“In addition to my botanical farm, I mend broken souls.”

“Oh.” That was not the answer she expected.

Cassie waited for her to continue, but she didn’t. An odd feeling settled in her stomach. Montana stared at her, smiling. Not wanting to be put on the spot, she swished the blond wig to let it fly.

“So what do you think?” Cassie found a mirror in her box and studied her reflection. A couple of times she’d thought about taking the plunge and going blond.

“I find when people play around with the wigs, it allows them to be someone else that is hidden away. Maybe someone more enticing and less inhibited, like with flirting and sex. Try this strawberry blond one and see if you feel a difference.”

Cassie adjusted the hair and studied her image. It was different, and she didn’t expect it. She’d always been her original color, sable to almost pitch black, but maybe she shouldn’t have.

“Sassy. Definitely flirty. Sexual.”

She replaced it with the blond one to compare. Montana handed her black framed glasses, which she put on. Cassie laughed when she saw her image.

“Stripper. I could see a strip act going on.” She played around with the glasses and expressions. “What’s weird is I should have known all this.”

“Why?”

Cassie shrugged. “I just should have, that’s all.” Tugging off the wig, she put it aside and continued to sort through the box.

“What do you want to be?” Montana asked. Cassie looked at her sharply. “You know, walking on the beach. What color?”

“Oh. I see. Do you have any gray wigs? I could be an old woman.”

“No, but we can stop off at the variety store and get gray hair spray. Halloween is coming, and they should have supplies in. Pull out some wigs you think you might use. I have a feeling if Jack is like Kip, this will not be the only time we go out in persona. There should be a honey-colored wig in the box, which I’ll wear. We need jackets, coats, and scarves. What do you have at the house?”

“Not much. I’m guessing none of my mother’s clothes are there any longer.”

“We can stop at the secondhand shop and see what they have.”

They sorted through the two boxes and filled a bag with what they thought they needed. Montana had Cassie search the downstairs closet for coats and hats while she retrieved a box of Wellington-style boots. Within a few minutes, they were back in Montana’s Saab heading toward the store. Cassie stared out the window, looking at the island that she’d ignored for the last eight years. At that moment, she wanted a break of being Cassie Ryan on the run. Unsnapping her seatbelt, she flipped around in her seat and grabbed the bag with the wigs. She glanced over at Montana, who looked a little startled.

“I think I want to be someone else for a bit.”

“I understand.”

It was between the platinum and light auburn. She chose auburn. Cassie flipped down the visor mirror and adjusted the hair. A slow smile formed.

“I like you as a redhead.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.”

Montana pulled in and parked by the church-sponsored thrift store. “The good thing about this store is Margery Anne, the minister’s wife, has been taking lots of trips to other thrift stores to exchange for product that’s been donated here.”

“That’s very nice of her.”

“Hmm, yes it is. I think she has an ulterior motive.” Montana laughed. “But then that’s me. The bottom line is she has nice taste and really keeps things moving, bringing in great choices. The store has quite a little tourist trade following. The money is used for various charities like the woman’s shelter and…”

Montana stared out the window, so she did too. Other than the backside of a slender, blond woman in a black trench-style coat leaving the store, she couldn’t see who or what Montana was looking at.

“Quick, put those black glasses on. I don’t want her to know who you are. I mean see you.”

“Who?”

“Margery Anne. She’s exiting the store.”

Cassie couldn’t see what the big deal was, but she followed Montana’s order. The woman waved to someone in the store, then turned around and exited the thrift shop. She hesitated but then got in her car and left.

“She was on the ferry yesterday, too.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. She had a designer handbag just like my friend purchased recently. I was sitting across from her at a nearby table, and I was impressed she had the same one. Very few places carry them.”

“We need to tell Jack and Kip. How fast can you shop?”

“Recently, I’ve learned not to linger.”

“Good. While you go in there, I’m going to the Five and Dime just down the street to see if they have gray hair spray. I’ll meet you back here.”

Cassie was impressed with the secondhand store, to the point she needed to come back and shop for herself when she had time. She found everything she needed, all appropriate for an October day. She exited the store the same time Montana pulled up, barely allowing her time to buckle up before speeding away. She still didn’t understand Montana’s urgency.

Montana finally slowed to turn onto Blue Heron Lane. Before she could tell Cassie to hide, she did.

“I wished I knew what was going on around here, because all I feel like I do is duck down. If I were having an affair with a married man, I could understand it, but I’m not.”

Montana laughed, put on large sunglasses, and slightly covered her face. “Didn’t Jack tell you?”

“No, Jack did not. But you seem to know.”

“Hmm…I don’t want to divulge information, but I will tell you this, Jeannie and I stumbled across something last spring involving Rob Armstrong. He’s the guy who is renting your neighbor’s house.”

“And?”

Montana parked her car out of view, along the side of the Ryan house. “That’s a good question. Now that I think about it, I’m not sure I know much more. But I need to. Let’s go and be ready when Jack shows up.”

They loaded their arms with the items and headed in. Cassie thought they should take everything upstairs to the loft bedrooms. That way, they could lay everything out and see what they had.

Montana picked out a honey-colored wig and pulled a brimmed cap down around the hair. She dressed in a navy blue woolen poncho and boots. Cassie knotted her hair in a bun, and tied the scarf around her head to see how much hair showed. Next, she bulked up her body with a hooded sweatshirt, rolling the hood into a collar, and then covered it all with the car coat she’d just purchased. The jeans and boots added additional visual weight. Cassie checked her appearance in the mirror. She swore under her breath. What in the world had she been thinking? Jack had eyed her thoroughly in Los Angeles. With gray hair, she was only one skin tone away from Maria. She couldn’t take the chance.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m feeling a redhead moment instead of an older woman.” Cassie quickly removed everything but the jeans and boots. She adjusted the shoulder-length auburn hair, and then slipped on the coat. From a distance, no one would recognize her.

“Cassie? Cass? Montana?” Jack hollered.

“Jack, we’re up here,” Montana called. “We’ll be right down.” She turned to Cassie. “Wait until he sees us.”

“Yes, wait,” she replied under her breath.

Taking a deep breath, she followed Montana down the stairs. Calm on the outside, queasy on the inside. If she got past Jack’s initial reaction of her being in a disguise, Cassie thought she would be fine.

Jack watched the two women descend the stairs. Montana was grinning, but Cassie seemed nervous.

“Hey, I hardly recognized you two. You look great.”

Montana’s smile widened, but Cassie looked relieved.
And why was that
, he wondered. The thought had occurred to him she’d pulled a quick one in Los Angeles. After all, she was an actress. He studied her a bit closer and really liked her with auburn hair.

“Jack, you’re never going to believe who Cassie saw on the ferry yesterday. Margery Anne. She was coming out of the thrift store, and Cassie recognized her.”

“Interesting. Do you remember seeing her with those two men in the photo?”

Cassie closed her eyes for a few minutes before answering. “If they did, I don’t recall them together, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t. I was waiting in the snack bar area when she sat down at a table away from me. No one joined her. The only reason why I paid attention to those men was because they were walk-offs with me, and…rude.”

“But you remember her?”

“Yes,” she nodded her head.

“Just out of curiosity, why did you notice her in the first place?”

“Her purse. Unless it was a knockoff, she paid well over a thousand dollars for that purse.”

“Oh. Thank you for being observant.” Cassie’s mouth twitched in a way that reminded him of when she was a teen and had information. Jack raised his eyebrows. “And?” She hesitated for a moment, which he found amusing.

“There are only two places in the United States where you can buy one. Los Angeles and New York. Period.”

“I’m not even going to ask how you know this. When we get back, write down all the information you know about her purse. So, what car was she driving today?”

Montana said, “I think the usual gray sedan. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Let’s get going then. I don’t have any of the equipment from my work, so we’re going to improvise. Kip loaned me these cellphones that have a protected line. We’ll use them instead of an ear piece and microphone. You’ll each have one on you, taped to your body or clothes. I’ll have the receiving cell with me, so when you’re walking, you can describe what you see.” He pulled the phones out of a small box, along with a roll of duct tape and handed them to the girls. “I’ll let you figure out where to put them.”

He watched while Montana taped hers to the inside of her poncho. Cassie tried taping hers to the shirt, but it was too heavy and kept falling open. She might be on the thinner side, but her breasts were still nice and rounded and had been since she was fifteen. When he and Mike were there in the summer, Marie Ryan had made Cassie slip on a T-shirt over her skimpy bikini top. That didn’t stop Cassie one iota. Somehow, her white T-shirt ended up very wet and very see through. At twenty-one he’d noticed and still did at forty-two. He chuckled.