Elizabeth Goddard - Thread Of Revenge

“Someone will investigate on your behalf, Sadie, don’t worry. In the meantime, my office will be looking into the death of your friend Karon again. We’ve learned some new information that gives us reason to believe you could be right that she was murdered.”

Sadie released a heavy sigh. “New information...you mean something more than I told you about what happened to me?”

He nodded gravely, but didn’t look like he was going to reveal anything else.

“Gage, you said your office. You mean the Coast Guard? You were on that cutter. What exactly do you do in the Coast Guard? The deputy called you a special agent. And you’re investigating. You never told me anything. I figured you’d just jumped in the water for me because you were part of the Coast Guard cutter.”

“I’m CGIS. Coast Guard Investigative Services. But I’m a civilian, not military. CGIS is a federal law enforcement agency. We operate outside the Coast Guard chain of command. That said, some agents are active duty military and others are Coast Guard reserve. And others like me are civilian special agents.”

“Oh.” Well, now, that was something. Impressive.

“And... I jumped in the water when I saw it was you. I had to save a friend.” That grin again.

What would have happened to her if she hadn’t had a friend out there today? Still, Karon hadn’t had a friend when she’d needed one. Fatigue tugged at Sadie and she yawned. “I want to help you with your investigation into Karon’s murder.”

“Wait. One, I’m not sure I’ll be the one to investigate. Two, you aren’t helping with the investigation, regardless. Let the authorities do their job without your interference. You don’t want to stand in the way of the process or hinder the investigation...or mess with evidence. Besides, it could be dangerous. Don’t forget, someone tried to kill you today.” He hung his head as if that thought disturbed him deeply, then raised it again.

“I haven’t forgotten, believe me. It’s obviously related, don’t you see?” Her voice pitched higher than usual, and a little too loud for the close quarters.

“Yes, I see. I assure you we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

“Gage, please see if they will let you be the one to investigate.”

“I don’t know. I’m already involved in another case—that’s how I ran into you on the ocean. I was out chasing down drug runners when we learned about your sinking boat.”

“I’d feel so much better if it were you—someone I know and trust. Will you talk to your boss?”

His forehead wrinkled.

“I mean, unless you don’t feel comfortable. I’m sorry. I guess I overstepped.”

“It’s not that.” He leveled his intense gaze on her again. “I’m concerned for your safety.”

And her heart swelled. She had the feeling if the deputy had told her the same thing, it wouldn’t have meant nearly as much.

“I’m back, sweetie.” Aunt Debby entered the room carrying a plastic bag of toiletries and clothes.

Aunt Debby nodded. “Hey, Gage. Good to see you again.”

He smiled. “Same here.”

Sadie grabbed the toiletries and clothes and changed in the bathroom.

When she stepped out fully dressed, Aunt Debby looked her up and down. “Oh. They’re releasing you so soon?”

Sadie chuckled. “You act like that’s a bad thing.”

“Well, no, it’s not. As long as you’re better and they’re not rushing the process.”

“I’ve been waiting on a wheelchair for half an hour. I wouldn’t call that rushing.”

“Why didn’t you call me? I would have come right back and lit a fire under them.”

“Now that you’re here maybe you can alert the nurse so we can get out of here.”

“I will. Just a second.” Her aunt dug around in her pocket. “Oh, I found that item you were looking for.”

She handed it to Sadie, then left the room. Sadie lifted the small dolphin pendant up to examine it in the light.

“What’s that?” Gage asked.

“Proof that Karon was on that same boat that sank today.”

* * *

Gage stiffened. This could be an important piece of evidence.

She held the silver pendant out. “It’s a dolphin. I gave it to her on her twenty-first birthday.”

Scraping a hand through his hair, he paced the room. The nurse pushed a wheelchair through the door, Aunt Debby behind her.

“All right. Your aunt tells me you’re ready to go home,” the nurse said.

Sadie nodded.

Gage couldn’t walk away from this. He’d been to the beach, met with the coroner and watched as Sean’s body was removed. Sean’s death had likely occurred two weeks after Karon’s, but that didn’t mean they weren’t related. And it was tied to the attempt on Sadie’s life somehow. His drug running investigation would normally take second place to a Coast Guard murder investigation, but his SAC wanted to know if the deaths were somehow tied to the drug runners. He could still assign Thompkins and not Gage. Since Gage had absolutely no intention of leaving Sadie without protection, he’d give Jim another call to press him.

And if Jim gave him what he wanted—to work the investigation on Sadie’s attempted murder as it tied to Karon’s death, which would give him the opportunity to protect her, Gage had to be careful. Under no circumstances could he let himself crush on her again.

An image flitted through his mind of them walking the beach together years ago. He’d been enamored with her, but all she talked about was the Coastie she was in love with. Gage had been able to get over her then. He’d moved on and found someone who returned his affection, and he allowed himself to fully, completely love. But that had left him heartbroken in the end.

Lesson learned—love wasn’t for him.

And carrying that lesson in his back pocket, no way would he have a thing for Sadie this time, no matter how much time they spent together. But his protective instincts had kicked into full throttle. He had to stick close enough for long enough to protect her and help her find the truth. He’d make a call to his SAC and hope for the best.

All this he considered as he walked alongside Sadie as the nurse pushed her in the wheelchair down the hallway.

“Sadie. I have a question about the dolphin pendant,” he said. “You woke up on a sinking boat and you thought to grab that?”

“My cheek was pressed into the carpet. The pendant was there when I opened my eyes. It was small but I recognized it, so I grabbed it.”

Gage tugged a latex glove from his pocket and held his palm out as she handed it over.

“You think you’re going to find prints on that after what it’s been through?” Aunt Debby asked.

He eyed her. “Has it been through the wash?”

“Well, if you count the ocean...”

“You never know. Maybe the tiniest fiber could be important, and it’s still there.” He stuck it in one of the small evidence bags he kept in his pocket. The sheriff’s department would take the lead on murder and attempted murder investigations, but the Coast Guard would conduct a parallel investigation of their own since a Coastie had been a victim, and they believed it could be tied to the drug runners. CGIS had jurisdiction over maritime drug smuggling. Gage hoped he could find the evidence he needed for jurisdiction. He would have to consider if he should turn this pendant over to Crowley or send it to be analyzed himself—that is, if he was assigned to the investigation. Otherwise, it would go to Thompkins.

“Wow, you’re prepared, aren’t you?”

“Always. In fact, I’m going to grab my vehicle and meet you at the exit.” He took off down the hallway and headed out the door. He jogged over to his SUV, holding the dolphin, proof, Sadie claimed, that Karon had been on that boat. It could be something. It could be nothing.