Capturing the High Priestess: A Cassie Thornton Mystery

By Dawn Leger

Book Three of the Cassie Thornton Mystery Series begins with a bang, and Cassie’s conflict with her former mother-in-law Merina, the “High Priestess,” ramps up.

What does Merina want from her? How will Cassie’s boyfriend, Detective Ty Friday, manage the conflict between his job and their romance? As the threats

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lefora Publishing Company LLC
• Release date: Apr 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9780960001712

Book preview

Capturing the High Priestess

Fiction by Dawn Leger

The Cassie Thornton Mysteries:

  Embracing the Fool, 2017

  Freeing the Magician, 2017

  Capturing the High Priestess, 2018

Eagle Scouting, 2013

In Flight, 2009

Capturing the High Priestess

A Cassie Thornton Mystery

Dawn Leger

First Edition             www.leforapublishing.com

Copyright © Dawn Leger 2019

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher. This is a work of fiction. The events, persons, and places portrayed in this work are products of the author's imagination and are not intended to represent facts.

Sale of this book without a front cover may be unauthorized. If this book is coverless, it may have been reported to the publisher as unsold and destroyed and neither the author nor the publisher may have received payment for it.

Author photo by Lindsay Vigue Photography. 

Published by Lefora Publishing LLC. www.leforapublishing.com

Visit the author's website at www.dawnleger.com

Printed in the United States of America.  ISBN 978-0-9600017-0-5

Dedication

For all the great women in my life, past and present, who have been mentors and advocates for me: Wisdom and courage like yours is needed now more than ever, and I am thankful to have had such strong role models to inspire and support me throughout my life.

In memory of Cecile LaMothe, Mary Edward Richards, Audrey Beck, Beverly Bain, and Patti Ewen.

In honor of Alice Leger, Tracey Leger-Hornby, Mary Polci, Margareta Nordin, Cathryn Addy, Katherine Weed, Cheryl Dumont-Smith, Joanne Lauretano West, and Debra Shapiro.

I.

I threw the box into the front yard, slammed the door and leaned against it. No one knew I was here—who could be sending me something? Was it anthrax?  I wondered. No—that usually came in an envelope. A bomb—I was starting to hyperventilate. I looked down at my hands. Was the box heavy enough to contain an explosive device? Just how heavy is that?

Ty came into the hallway. What’s going on? he asked. Why are you looking at your hands like that?

There was a box, I said.

Uh-huh, he said.

About this big. I moved my hands to approximate the size of the eight inch square parcel.

Where is it now? he asked. And why are you out of breath?

Outside, I said. I put my hands on my knees and tried to take a couple of deep breaths.

He reached for the door.

No! Wait, I said. It’s a bomb.

No, it’s not, he said. Why would somebody deliver… Oh.

I grabbed his arm. It’s got to be a bomb, and it’s from her, I know it. Just leave it out there. Call the bomb squad, and have them come to get it.

It’s not from her. I’m not calling the bomb squad, and I’m not leaving it out there for someone else to touch, he said. Cassie. Get a grip.

I sat down on a chair. You get a grip—remember why I’m here? The shots fired at us on New Year’s Eve? If anyone goes outside, it’s going to be me. Don’t argue with me.

Maybe it’s just a regular package, you know? Something my parents ordered, he said. Was there a return address?

No, it just had my name on it. And who knows I’m here? No one, I said. It’s got to be a bomb. Or a threat of some kind.

So, what do you propose, then? he asked.

I want to see if I can get any vibes from the package, I said.

I don’t like this, he said.

How about you get a bucket and fill it with water. If it feels like a bomb, I’ll drop it in there, I said.

That doesn’t always work, he said. It can still explode.

What do you suggest then, officer? I asked.

We’ll put it in the cast iron stove and close the cover. If it explodes, that should contain it.

So you believe me?

No, but I’m not willing to take a chance, he said. We’ll do this and then call the bomb squad, how’s that?

Fine, I said. I’ll go out the front door, pick it up, and meet you in the back yard. Do you know anyone with a bomb-sniffing dog at home?

Can I ask you to put on some gloves? he said.

Why? I have no fingerprints, remember? I asked. And I already touched it.

Yeah, but you might smear some that are already on there…

Fine. Give me the gloves. Anything else? I asked. I pulled on my coat and slipped my feet into my boots.

Don’t jiggle it. Hold it steady, he said.

I laughed. Ty, I just threw the damned thing out the door, and it didn’t explode. So now I have to be careful not to jiggle it?

That’s true, he said. He looked grim. Or it could mean there’s really nothing in it, except maybe a severed ear or something like that.

Great, I said. I wouldn’t put it past Merina to do that, or her lovely son. I shook my head. What a family I had gotten mixed up with when I married Yurgos—if the marriage was even real. They sure thought it was, and they were taking the till death do us part thing very literally.

Or, it’s possible someone is sitting out there waiting to activate the device with a cell phone, Ty said.

Jeez—you got any more good news? I asked. So, are you saying we should sit here and wait for something to happen?

No, he said. We turn out the lights, and we make a run for it. How’s your night vision? He turned off the interior and exterior lights, and started pulling on a jacket.

Where are you going? I asked.

I’m coming with you, he said. We’re doing this together.

But… I started.

No, remember—we agreed, if we are going to try this relationship thing, we have to be open and honest, no more secrets, and we take the good and bad stuff together, he said. Let’s go. Stick close together so anybody watching won’t be able to tell who’s who.

I don’t think I agreed to any of that, I grumbled, following him out the front door.

We walked close together until we got to the box, where Ty reached down and grabbed the box in one quick swoop. He had it in his hands before I even realized what happened. We walked to the backyard, where Ty quickly opened the cover of the stove.

Wait, I said. Hand it to me first. I want to see if I can get anything by holding it.

All right, he said. Just…be…careful.

You have to stop freaking me out, I said. That does not get my head in the right place to do this.

Sorry. You go ahead and do your magic. He handed me the box. But try to be quick with the ‘woo-woo’ stuff, all right?

I closed my eyes and concentrated. First, I had to relax and let go of all the tension in my body. If I was going to be blown to smithereens, then so be it, but I realized why I couldn’t shake it off and I opened my eyes.

Ty, I need you to step behind the stove, please, I said.

No, Cassie, I’m staying right here, he said.

You’re interfering with the energy, and I can’t get a read on this. You have to move. I’m not kidding, just get behind the stove.

Oh for crying out loud. He huffed but stepped aside. I closed my eyes. At least he’d be somewhat protected if the thing exploded now. It was the best I could do, I thought.  I let my energy flow to my hands and then surround the small box. It was a cube of about eight inches square, and it weighed almost nothing. If there was a bomb inside, surely it would weigh more than this. But if it was a biological weapon, such as ricin or anthrax, it could be very lightweight… I struggled to turn off my mind and allow my third eye to work on the problem.

My hands grew warm and began to tremble. I felt something tighten around my neck.

I’m pretty sure it’s not a bomb, I said. But it’s not entirely benign, either. It could be something toxic. I don’t think we should open it—it needs to be opened in a lab, just to be sure.

Okay, he said.

I slowly put the box in the stove, and Ty snapped a photo of it before closing the cover. Taking my arm, he led me to the back door. You’re shaking all over.

I’m just cold. Can we go back in the house now? I asked.

Yeah, he said. I’ll send this photo to the station and ask how they want to handle it.

Are you sure no one will take it out of there? I asked. I wouldn’t want anyone else to get hurt.

Are you kidding me? It’s January—who’s going to be looking in the cast iron stove for something in January? And anyhow, anyone who steals from a cop’s backyard deserves to get hurt, he said.

Not if opening that box unleashes something that can spread to all of us, I said.

Fine, he said. Since you put it that way, maybe I should lock it in the trunk of my car and call the station right away. You go in the house—I’m right behind you.

I watched from the porch as he moved the box to the trunk of the Buick. He was on the phone when he came up the stairs and we went in the house together.

You know what this means, don’t you? I paced while Ty sprawled on the couch.

I’m sure you’re going to tell me, he said.

They know where I am now, I said. So your house is no longer a safe haven for me.

He nodded slowly.

What do you think I should do? I asked. I went over and closed the curtains. I couldn’t believe I was asking for his advice, because I knew what I needed to do—run and hide. But for the first time in my life, I really didn’t want to do that. Damn, this is what happens when you get involved with people.

I don’t know, Ty was saying when I tuned back in. How about we find out what’s in the box first. Maybe it’s something innocuous, and we’re getting all excited for nothing.

Sure, it could be a cupcake from Michael. Or better yet, some kind of exotic gift from my father. I sighed. Except that neither one of them knows your address. And in fact, no one was supposed to know that I’m here, remember? And now, somebody does. So that’s a reality.

Okay, he said, coming over and wrapping his arms around me. Hey, maybe it’s a little gift from Detective Gardner. He might be sorry that he treated you so badly the last time you two were together, and he’s trying to make nice.

Sure, that sounds plausible, I said. Let’s look at the picture.

He took out the cellphone. We both leaned in to look at the photo of the box. Well, that doesn’t tell us anything, does it? he said.

Not really. Plain typed label, no return address. No postage. Nada, I said. In the meantime, I need some distraction. Tell me about your day

He paused. Maybe that’s not a good idea, he said.

What happened? I asked. Just spill it.

Come and sit down first, he said. So, you’ll never guess who came to visit the precinct today.

Do tell, I said, snuggling against him.

Your lawyer friend Phil, he said.

Phil Galanes? He’s not my friend. What was he doing there? I asked.  My kitten Louie came stealthily onto my lap, climbing up my sweater and digging to create a nesting place under my arm.

He was poking around, mostly asking questions, Ty said. Looking for you, of course.

And what else? What kind of questions was he asking? I asked. Ty looked like Louie after he stole a piece of chicken off my supper plate.

Okay, okay, he said. We got the results of the autopsy on Giselle Carros today. Remember her? Your long lost sister—or at least that’s what she claimed. Well, I got the DNA back, and you’ll be happy to know that you’re not related to her. And she didn’t die from the beating that she took, which was what we believed initially. It turns out she was poisoned. The beating was really gratuitous—she was practically dead when it was administered, so it was just a decoy.

Huh, that’s interesting. What kind of poison? I asked.

Deadly nightshade, if you can believe it, he said. 

Wait a minute, I said. Wasn’t that the same thing that killed the boat captain?

Sort of, he said. It’s also called Belladonna. But where the hell does somebody get that?

Central Park, probably, I said. If you know what you’re looking for, I bet you can find it there.

He looked at me strangely. Okay, I won’t ask how you know that, or even what this is. He took a big swig of beer. The thing is, these were pretty big doses, strong enough to kill someone fairly quickly, but they were mixed with something else, some other unknown toxin. So the lab folks haven’t been able to pinpoint what exactly killed them.

Hmmm, I said, nodding. I wonder how they got to the captain.

And who is ‘they’? Ty asked.

I rolled my eyes. You know it’s Merina, right?

Probably, yeah, he said. But listen to this: We found out that Giselle was related to Yurgos. So her claiming you as a sister wasn’t that far off the mark. But why would Merina kill her own child?

Maybe she wasn’t Merina’s daughter. Can you tell if they shared both parents, or just one? She was Yurgos’ sister, but she could be a half-sister, I said.

True. He pulled some folded papers from his back pocket. I can’t tell. Maybe just the father was the same. Here, you look at it.

I took the papers and studied them. It was a mess of tables and numbers. How does anybody understand what this means? I asked.

You don’t, he said. I’ll stop by the lab tomorrow and see if I can get somebody to explain it to me.

I pulled the computer onto my lap. Googling deadly nightshade, I found several sites that described not only where to find it but also how to make a potion suitable for murder.

Oh boy, the Internet is a dangerous thing, I said, showing Ty the links.

I know, he said. You can find instructions for just about anything on there.

The doorbell rang and Ty got up to open the door. I could hear him speaking to someone on the porch. He turned to me as he shrugged into a jacket.

The guys are here to pick up the package. I’ll be right back, he said. As he turned to go outside, there was a huge explosion that shattered the glass in the front windows and sent car alarms screaming up and down the street.

The noise echoed inside the house and I ran to the door. The driveway was a fireball that was so bright it hurt my eyes to look. I pulled Ty into a seated position, lifted his eyelids and checked his pulse. He fought off my hands.

I’m fine, he said loudly. He looked over at the driveway where random pieces of metal stood engulfed in flames.

You were knocked out, I said.

He handed me his phone. Dial 911, and tell them there’s an officer down, he shouted. Give them this address. He stood up, holding onto the porch railing, and tried to see if there was any sign of the two men who had been on the porch just seconds before.

I’d like to report an explosion, I said to the 911 operator. There’s a couple of police officers down. I gave the address but all I could hear was ringing so I hung up. In five minutes the fire trucks arrived.

Ty, your parents—is anyone upstairs? I asked.

He shook his head. They’re at my sister’s place.

Can you see anyone? I asked. What about those officers?

No, he said. He sat down abruptly on the doorstep. I went over to him.

Are you all right? I asked. He waved me away.

I think my ears are blown out a little, but I’m fine, he said, again speaking in a loud voice. But… I sent those guys out there. You said you thought it was safe.

That box was too light to have a bomb inside, Ty, I said. I think there must have been something planted on your car. Maybe the box was a decoy.

It’s going to be hard to figure out now, he said. He dropped his head between his knees. Oh, God. I’m going to be sick. He stood up, leaned over the porch railing and vomited.

The fire engines pulled up in front of the house and there was a flurry of activity, and then the cops arrived, and Ty joined them on the street and pretended that he was okay. I held onto Louie and watched. Eventually, the fire was extinguished and we could see the burnt remains of the car, the other cruiser sitting untouched in the street, and police officers taking photographs and milling around. Someone approached the house.

Detective Gardner, I said. Can I help you?

Why don’t we go inside? he said.

Okay, I said. It’s not much warmer inside, though. The front windows got blown out.

I’ll get somebody to board them up. Hang on, he said, turning and signaling to one of the uniformed officers. I went in the house and waited for him there. It wasn’t terribly cold in the kitchen yet, so I started a pot of coffee and sat at the table. Louie was still snuggled inside my sweater so I let him stay there, warming me and keeping him from mischief.

They’re going to bring some plywood and nail it up, Gardner said. Should be here within the hour.

Thanks, I said. I started some coffee.

Okay. So, tell me what you saw, he said. He pulled out a notebook and stood over me, trying to intimidate me as usual. Fine, I thought. No coffee for Gardner.

Where do you want me to start? I asked. When the guy brought the package?

What package? he asked, slapping the pad against the table. Are you two hiding something from me again? I swear to God, I have had it with you and your amateur sleuthing.

Cut the crap, Gardner, Ty said as he entered the room. She didn’t withhold anything from you. You just came late to the show, as usual.

Ty sat down and detailed the chain of events that led to the unknown box being placed in the trunk of the car and the two officers coming to retrieve it. When I opened the door to accompany them to the vehicle, the whole damned thing exploded, Ty concluded.

I’m not sure it was the box that exploded, I said.

And what makes you say that? Gardner said.

It doesn’t matter, Ty interjected. Because the evidence is gone. So it’s irrelevant.

Nevertheless, I’d like to hear what Miss Marple has to say over here, Gardner said.

Ty got up to get some coffee. Behind Gardner’s back, he shook his head at me.

Well, because I handled the box, it’s my opinion that it wasn’t heavy enough to contain a bomb. That’s all I wanted to say, I said.

How big was it?

I held my hands out about eight inches. Yea tall and wide, I said, making a cube with my hands.

And how much would you say it weighed? he asked.

I closed my eyes. Less than a five pound bag of sugar, I said.

Ty put three cups on the table and poured the coffee. Anybody want milk or sugar? he asked.

No thanks, I said.

Gardner waved his hand. I’m good, thanks. So, Friday, did you hold this box? Do you agree with this assessment?

Ty nodded. Yeah, that sounds about right.

So let me get this straight, Gardner said. You get this strange delivery, which you fear may be a bomb, so you decide to first chuck it into the yard and then put it in the grill? And then you decide, no, it’s not safe in the grill, so you bring it back out front and stick it in the trunk of your car and then you call the bomb squad. Do you see any flaws in the logic you followed here? Like, at any step along the way, you might have blown yourselves to kingdom come, and maybe the house, and the neighborhood? Did you ever think about that?

Ty shook his head. I feel terrible about this.

Well, you should, Gardner said. I’m going to make sure that you have some explaining to do downtown. In the meantime, we have some awful business to do. The chief is outside, and we’ve got to go and make some notifications. So drink up. This is going to be a long night.

I don’t think you should blame Ty for this, I said.

Cassie, don’t make it worse, Ty said. I’m responsible. I should’ve called it in right away.

There was a shout from outside. Gardner got up and ran, first pausing in the doorway to say, Sit tight.

Damn, Ty said. We held hands and waited. The sound of a siren disrupted the quiet. What the hell is going on out there?

They found someone, I said. One of those men—he was thrown by the explosion, and he’s not dead. Like you, he was knocked out, but he wasn’t killed. Maybe he just came to, or someone stumbled on him in the dark. Oh, that’s good. Maybe… No, I can’t get any sense of the other one.

Ty dropped my hand and went out to the living room. I followed him and we watched from the window as two EMTs loaded a man into an ambulance. The flashing red and blue lights had transformed the quiet neighborhood into a nightmare. Gardner turned and looked at the house and saw us standing in the window. He spoke into a walkie-talkie and headed in our direction.

How did you know that? Ty asked.

I saw it, I said. Too bad it was so late.

And the other one, definitely dead? he asked.

I think so, I think he was already standing next to the car when it blew, I said.

I thought I told you two to sit tight, Gardner said. I got a couple of guys ready to hang some plywood over these windows for you.

Thanks, Ty said. Who was in the ambulance?

Dinelli, Gardner said. He has a concussion, but it looks like he might be okay. Pretty incredible. He was stuck under the neighbor’s shrubs, believe it or not. We have everybody beating the bushes now, just in case we missed anything else.

That’s terrific, Ty said.

Well, look, I’ve got to take you in, Gardner said. Cassie, can I give you a lift home? You can’t stay here. It’s a crime scene and there’s no heat anyway. So pack up your duds and get ready. We’re going to the Big Apple, kids!

II.

Once we were on the way back to Manhattan, I asked Ty if he thought the townhouse was secure.

Should I stay in a hotel for a couple of days, or should I just go home and take my chances? I asked.

Are you still bellyaching about that Merina woman? Gardner asked. We looked all over creation for her, and she is not in New York, I’m telling you. She did not come by plane, she did not come by train, she did not come by boat, she did not bring a goat.

Gardner, stop being such an a-hole, Ty said. Cassie has a legitimate reason to be afraid of this woman. Merina tried to kill her. Cass, I don’t know what to tell you. We installed a really good security system in the house, so you should be okay there. And I’ll come as soon as I can.

Don’t count on it, babe, Gardner said. But, what do I know? You two lovebirds have a way of getting away with things that no one else seems to understand. So, where do you want to be dropped, Perfessor?

Oh, just bring me home, please, I said. I’m not going to keep running away from this woman. It’s time to face the music.

I’ll keep my cell phone on, and if anything happens, you just call me, Ty said.

I’ve come to save the day! Gardner sang.

Jesus, Ty and I said in unison.

Gardner pulled over in front of my townhouse and Ty got out with me. Five minutes, Gardner shouted. No quickies!

We went up to the door and I unlocked it, deactivated the alarm, and pulled Louie out of my jacket. He immediately ran around in circles sniffing the carpets and meowing loudly. I turned on lights as we went further into the house, deposited my laptop on the kitchen table and turned to take the handle of the rolling luggage from Ty.

You going to be okay, really? he asked.

Yes, I will if you will, I said.

Oh, those guys downtown? he shrugged. Piece of cake. Now, dealing with my insurance agent tomorrow, that is going to be hellish.

He pulled me close and rubbed my nose with his. You’re safe here, remember that. I’m only a few blocks away, and I can get here in five minutes if I need to. Plus you have this monster protector with you. He reached down and pulled Louie off his leg, handing the mewling kitten to me. I think he might be hungry, he said. He kissed me, gave me a long hug, and was gone.

Louie was quickly satisfied with a small dish of kitty kibble and I poured myself a warming glass of Merlot while I watched him enjoy his meal. The alarm was on, the house was warm, and I kept telling myself I was safe—but I was afraid to climb the stairs to my bedroom, so instead we retreated to the living room and turned on the television.

I woke up around three in the morning. I was hungry and thirsty, and uncomfortable from sleeping on the couch, so I got up and went to see what, if anything, I could scrounge from the refrigerator. My cell was dead so I plugged it in and checked for messages. Ty had texted to say they were still berating him about his lapse of judgment. Why wouldn’t he just say that he didn’t think the box was suspicious at all, and blame me for the backyard histrionics? I