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CASPER’S GAZE DARTED between his mother, her mouth set in a firm line that spoke volumes of her disapproval, and his brother, whose sly grin hinted at mischief. His command to leave rang in his ears, but determination surged. He couldn’t abandon his quest to gather evidence and protect Nettie, ensuring she could safely return to her everyday life.

Obediently, he pivoted and stalked away, the tires of his Jeep screeching in protest as he tore out of the driveway, anger boiling within him.

His mother had never been so furious with him, and to hear her say never to return home was a depth of disdain he had never witnessed before. She’d always favored Aaron over Casper, but this marked a strange and unsettling shift. It was as though her love had transformed into a harsher, more formidable force. Her disapproval was palpable, intensifying the tension in the air when he posed a question to his brother—one she found intolerable. The idea that she might entertain the notion of Aaron being involved in something so evil was unfathomable to her.

In the past, he would have been compelled to comfort her after Aaron found himself in trouble, enduring her lengthy tirades about the perceived injustices that befell Aaron, no matter the context or circumstances. However, this time, it felt different. He was relieved of the burden of navigating the storm of her emotions. Or was he? The looming question haunted him: Would he find his way back to her side once they took Aaron away in handcuffs?

The thought of inadequately gathering evidence to hold Aaron accountable gnawed at him, sitting like a heavy stone in his stomach. And Nettie—such a fragile spirit—was tangled in the relentless web of protective custody, condemned never to experience a life free from trepidation, forever glancing over her shoulder, waiting for the next threat to materialize in the dark.

He reached over and pressed the Bluetooth button on his dashboard, feeling anxious. “Call Devon,” he instructed.

After a few rings, Devon’s voice replaced the familiar tone. “I was about to call you,” Devon said, an undertone of urgency lacing his words.

“What do you have?” Casper inquired, leaning forward in his seat, eager for insight.

Casper could hear the faint rustle of papers and the rapid clacking of keys as Devon typed away on his computer. “Well, I couldn’t connect your brother to the shootings. Aside from the initial shooter—who was a complete loner—I couldn’t link anyone else either.”

“So,” Casper replied, disappointment creeping into his tone, “you have nothing.”

Devon quickly corrected him. “I didn’t say that. I can tell you who’s been sending her the notes. He left DNA on the last one. It was just a trace but enough to identify him.”

Casper was taken aback—he hadn’t realized that the sheriff had shared such sensitive evidence with the HIS. But then again, it was no surprise. Devon had a knack for extracting information from anyone when solving a case.

“You’re not going to believe this,” Devon began, “but it’s her colleague, ADA Baker. I’ve already dispatched the sheriff to the hospital to speak with him and uncover the truth behind this chaos. My instincts scream jealousy. She was not just a favorite but a shoo-in to ascend to the DA’s position when he stepped down next year.” He paused to clear his throat, the tension palpable through the phone line. “But that’s merely my intuition for now. We’ll have a clearer picture once the sheriff gets back to me.”

“Why didn’t you send me there?” Casper asked, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice, feeling slighted by being overlooked for such an important task. He saw the turnoff for Gulf Island and decided to meet with JD and Cassie to discuss this development and how to trap his brother before he succeeds at his task.

“Because,” Devon replied, his tone firm, “you need to prioritize Nettie’s protection above all else. This situation pales in comparison to the severity of the shooting.”

Though Casper nodded, agreeing with the rationale, a sense of disappointment lingered. He still wished he’d been the one contacted before the sheriff. But he brushed off those thoughts—after all, he would survive this oversight.

As he steered his Jeep into the white shell parking lot of Coastal Investigation, a sense of resolve washed over him. He thanked Devon for the vital news before ending the call. Leaping from the vehicle, he felt a powerful determination surging to unveil the truth and assist Nettie. The weight of his supposed betrayal loomed large. She would never forgive him for the intimate night they shared after his brother’s cruel words. He knew he had some serious atoning to do, and yes, he would beg for her forgiveness because his need for her was that profound.

As he stepped into the softly lit office, two tiny kittens launched themselves at him, their playful energy palpable. Their razor-sharp claws clawed at his worn denim jeans, dragging them upward until he scooped each one into his arms and cradled them to his chest. “Hello, Callie and Madam,” he said, grinning. “Have you missed your mistress?”

The kittens responded with a chorus of soft purrs and enthusiastic meows, their little faces radiating joy. He couldn’t help but laugh, the sound bursting forth and momentarily lifting the heavy weight of anxiety that had settled in his chest over the mountain of problems awaiting resolution.

“Yes,” Cassie said, a warm smile spreading across her face. “They’ve become quite the troublemakers at home, driving Cooper and Phoebe absolutely bonkers! We thought we’d bring them here today to tire them out before tonight’s big reunion.”

JD approached with a curious expression, extending his hand toward him. “Hey, what’s brought you in so late?”

He glanced at the clock. It was indeed late in the day. The sun had dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows across the office. He knew JD and Cassie didn’t adhere to the conventional banker’s hours.

“Well, I talked with my brother,” he replied, glancing at Cassie.

Her lips formed a perfect “O” of surprise while JD let out a chuckle, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. “I can only imagine how that conversation went,” he said, gesturing for him to sit down. “I’m guessing he didn’t admit to being a party to the shootings, did he?”

Casper settled into the sleek conference chair, the polished surface of the conference table gleaming under the bright overhead lights. With a playful grin, he placed each cat on the tabletop, watching their playful antics unfold. Callie, with her enthusiastic energy, pounced on Madam, and they both tumbled into a furball of joyous chaos, their soft purring punctuated by the occasional meow. For a fleeting moment, Casper felt a lightness in his heart, almost forgetting the gravity of the situation that had brought him there.

Suddenly, Cassie’s laughter pulled him back to reality.

Casper let out a heavy sigh. “No. I mean, I didn’t get an answer because my mom overheard and sent me packing.”

“Ouch,” JD remarked, sensing the weight of Casper’s words. “What are you going to do?”

With a determined gaze, Casper replied, “I need to solve this mess and get Biloxi in my rearview mirror as quickly as possible.” His tone was resolute, masking the undercurrents of anxiety that bubbled just beneath the surface.

After Casper shared the insights he had gathered from Devon, there was a consensus that JD would promptly contact the sheriff to extract any pertinent information from ADA Baker regarding their ongoing investigation. Although Casper had a strong inclination to tackle this task personally, with Cassie’s guidance, he recognized the necessity of concentrating on unraveling the core aspects of the case, leaving the more routine matters to her and JD.

“Have you uncovered any evidence linking my brother to the shooters?” Casper asked, anxiety in his tone.

JD shook his head, his expression grim. “No,” he replied. “The first shooter was a ghost—he left behind no clues, not even a trace of where the money might have come from. As for the second shooter, we have a grainy still from the security camera. He was caught with a stolen license plate and a mask obscuring his face completely. So, unfortunately, we have nothing solid to go on from that angle either.”

“It’s going to have to be confession, then,” Casper said, determination radiating from him. “I’ll find a way to speak with my brother and worm it out of him, somehow.” A chill of doubt crept into his thoughts for the first time in his life. He wasn’t confident he’d succeed at this daunting task. His brother could outtalk Casper any day of the week and twice on Sunday, a master of words woven with charm. Yet, he had to muster the courage to try—a gamble to catch Aaron in a lie or perhaps uncover a thread that could tie him to the mysterious incidents gnawing at Casper’s mind.

As the sound of car tires crunching on the shell parking lot reached her ears, Cassie glided to the front window, her eyes sparkling with recognition. “It’s Doc, Cowboy, and Nettie,” she announced, turning back to see Casper’s face contort in frustration, a curse slipping past his lips.

Without hesitation, she made her way to the door, her heart fluttering with excitement as she swung it open to welcome the trio inside. Throwing her arms around Nettie, she exclaimed with warmth, “It’s good to see you, my friend.”

****

Nettie pulled back slightly, her eyes darting anxiously around the room, each glance revealing her unease. “I saw Casper’s Jeep out front,” she exclaimed.

Cassie scrutinized her, an eyebrow raised as she turned away to locate Casper. “He’s—Well, he was here just a moment ago. JD, where’s Casper?”

JD shrugged nonchalantly, rising from his seat with two tiny kittens in his arms. He gently handed the furry companions to Nettie, a playful grin spreading across his face. “I bet you missed these little gals.”

Nettie felt her heart swell at the sight of the adorable kittens—her little angels who filled her days with joy and warmth. Though she constantly reminded herself that she was merely fostering them, deep down, she knew she couldn’t bear to part with these precious creatures. “Yes,” she replied softly, gathering them close and pressing tender kisses on their tiny heads. “Hello, little ones. Have you been treated well?”

JD wrapped his arm around Cassie, pulling her closer. He then turned to Doc and Cowboy, his tone shifting to a more serious note. “Does Casper know you left the safehouse with Nettie in tow?”

Doc’s discomfort was palpable as he shifted his feet awkwardly, his gaze dropping to the scuffed floor before finally replying. “We tried to contact him,” he said hesitantly, “but Nettie was adamant about seeing you both immediately.”

Nettie was grateful he had chosen not to delve deeper into the unsettling events at the house. That conversation would have to wait for a more private moment with Cassie, away from prying eyes and ears. “Yeah, I have questions,” she replied, her expression serious.

“All right, let’s head to the back. We can hash it out at the conference table,” JD suggested, keeping a watchful eye on Nettie as she continued her search for Casper amidst the clutter of the office.

Once they settled around the sturdy wooden table, Nettie cradled Madam in her arms and placed Callie on the surface, where the tiny kitten immediately began to meow insistently, her little cries filling the air with urgency. Cassie reached out to scoop up the fluffy ball of energy, cradling her gently against her chest.

“Just don’t get too cozy with that one, Cassie,” JD warned, a playful glint in his eye. “We’re not bringing home another cat, especially not a whirlwind like that mischievous kitten. We still have Bella to wrangle through her teenage phase.”

Nettie’s laughter rang out, lightening the mood in the room as they navigated the day’s tangled emotions.

As tires crunching against the gravel of the shell parking lot echoed through the air, JD leaned back in his chair and quipped with a bemused tone, “What is this today? Grand Central Station?”

Cowboy, stationed like a sentinel at the entrance, turned to peer outside. “It’s Aaron,” he announced.

Before Nettie could process this information, Cowboy stepped out into the dusk, and Doc, sensing the urgency, grasped Nettie’s arm gently yet firmly, urging her up from her seat. “Where can I stash her?” he asked JD and Cassie, his expression a mix of concern and determination.

JD gestured down the dimly lit hallway toward the back office. Doc didn’t hesitate. With a swift motion, he took the tiny kitten from Nettie’s arms, placed it in JD’s care, and guided her down the narrow corridor, his grip reassuring but insistently protective.

Nettie felt a whirlwind of thoughts as doubt nagged at her. Did they truly think Aaron posed a threat? While she didn’t want to be a burden, the notion of harm directed toward her was chilling. “Is he the shooter?” she managed to ask Doc, her voice trembling slightly as he silenced her with a finger pressed to his lips, his other hand instinctively reaching for the gun holstered at his side.

Goosebumps crawled up her arms as the moment’s gravity hit her, amplified by the tension radiating from the men. If Aaron was indeed the shooter, how would Casper handle such a gut-wrenching revelation? Despite her efforts to convince herself otherwise about her feelings for Casper, the thought of him grappling with this tragedy sent fresh waves of worry crashing over her.