Never Say Goodbye: Lynne Garrett Series, #2

By Mary Jean Kelso

Seeking to prove a friend's innocence of a theft, Lynne Garrett and Jeremy Hastings work as a team to try to solve the problem and keep the ailing woman from going to prison. Lynne looks for clues to solving the crime while noting ones that make her wonder where her relationship with Jeremy is going.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781613092262

Book preview

Never Say Goodbye

Mary Jean Kelso

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A Wings ePress, Inc.

Mystery Romance Novel

Edited by: Leslie Hodges

Copy Edited by: Jeanne R. Smith

Senior Editor: Leslie Hodges

Executive Editor: Marilyn Kapp

Cover Artist: Richard Stroud

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All rights reserved

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Wings ePress Books

Copyright © 2015 by Mary Jean Kelso

ISBN  978-1-61309-226-2

Published by Wings ePress, Inc.

Published In the United States Of America

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Wings ePress Inc.

3000 N. Rock Road

Newton, KS  67114

Dedication

To all the strong women I have known and those in the past, including my pioneer ancestors who helped settle this country.

One

Lynne Garrett struggled to unlock the door of her apartment as she heard her cell phone ringing in her bag. She juggled a stack of packages while she worked the key in the lock, eager to empty her arms and answer the cell before it went to voice mail.

Lynne, help me! Please! a strained female voice pleaded when Lynne pushed the icon to answer the call before the phone reached her ear.

Shrugging her rain-soaked jacket off, she saw a sack drop to the floor from the chair where she’d set it the second before. The thud was secondary to the plea in the tone of voice as she listened. The voice was vaguely familiar and she searched her mind to put a face to it.

Remaining quiet while her mind attempted to recognize the caller, her mental search was soon interrupted by the woman’s voice.

This is Cassandra Potter. Vicki’s aunt. You do remember me, don’t you? the frantic-sounding woman asked.

Oh, Cassie, Lynne said. Lynne and Vicki were close friends, but it had been nearly a year since she had seen or talked to Cassie. Lynne had spent some time at Cassie’s house the previous summer when she helped search for Vicki’s abducted fiancé prior to their imminent wedding.

Lynne shook the unpleasant memory from her mind and quickly recalled her last visit with Cassie. It was at Vicki and Frank’s wedding in Virginia City, Nevada. She remembered an attractive, quiet-spoken woman in her late thirties. Cassie was a librarian who was sensitive to cigarette smoke—so allergic to it, Lynne remembered, that she seldom left her home. Except for the smoke-free environment of the Fallon Public Library, where she worked, or restaurants with a lengthy distance away from casino floors, where the intrusive odor didn’t reach, Cassie remained reclusive.

Yes, of course I remember you! What’s wrong? Lynne asked, wondering why Cassie would be calling her and, with such panic in her voice. Cassie lived in Nevada and Lynne had grown up in Oregon. Lynne still lived in Oregon while she finished school, although she had considered transferring to the University of Nevada, Reno.

She wouldn’t expect a call from Cassie unless something had happened to Vicki or someone in her family. They weren’t inclined to chat on the phone unless Lynne was invited to a special occasion that offered an opportunity to see her friend when she was in town.

That was a rare occurrence. And it certainly never started out with such an alarming tone.

She focused on what Cassandra Potter said.

Is Vicki all right?

Yes. Yes, Cassie answered abruptly. It’s me. I’m in a bit of trouble down here.

‘Trouble?’ What kind of ‘trouble’?

I don’t know if Vicki told you, but I’ve switched jobs, Cassie began to explain.

No.

Well—I’ve been having even more trouble breathing this past year. I thought my allergy had developed into asthma or emphysema, or some such thing. Maybe COPD. Anyway, it got to the point even the cigarette odor lingering in my supervisor’s clothes at the library, after she smoked outside, bothered me. Sometime back, I got a chance to go to work at a new museum when it opened in Carson City—in the Manuscript Department. I thought it might be a nice change, so I sold my house in Fallon and moved to Carson City, close to the location of my new job, Cassie explained. Her voice was calming as she filled Lynne in on her exciting position.

As Lynne listened to Cassie, she thought how appropriate the museum job would be. If the controlled environment was good for the artifacts, it surely would make breathing easier for Cassie. She had made a sensible decision, Lynne was sure.

Now, there’s a problem here, Cassie continued with her voice in a higher pitch. Artifacts have begun missing. I feel terrible because it started happening right after I arrived. It has gotten serious. Lynne, I’ve been arrested!

Arrested? Lynne gasped.

I didn’t do it! Cassie protested.

I believe you, Cassie, Lynne assured her.

Well, the museum officials don’t! They think they caught me with the goods in my hands. I found some of the pieces, some arrowheads, on the floor. I was replacing them in their case when Security jumped out of the darkness at the museum. I know it looked bad—and no one would believe I wasn’t stealing them.

Are you in jail? Lynne asked with shock.

No. Not now. My attorney convinced the judge they didn’t have enough evidence to put me on trial—yet. So, he was able to get me home on my own recognizance. At least, until they see if they think they can make a case. I can’t leave town. I’m basically confined to the house what with my breathing problem and now this!

How can I help?

You’re so good at these sorts of things. You found Frank last summer, Cassie stated. I thought, well, I thought, maybe you could come down and help find out who the real thief is. Maybe you’ll have some idea how to get me out of this mess! Maybe you can do it before they decide to take me to court?

Lynne thought for a moment before answering. She knew, if there was any way at all for her to help, she would have to. It was not in Lynne’s nature to let a friend, or someone close to a friend, down. And, although she wasn’t that connected to Cassie, she was Vicki’s friend.

School’s basically out and I’ve been looking for a summer job, Lynne answered, breaking her sentence off as she tried to calculate a way to rescue Cassie. But, I’ve also thought about checking out the campus in Reno as well.

Deep in concentration, Lynne rubbed the back of her neck. She pulled her fingers through her long blond hair from behind to relieve the tightness she felt where the strands stuck against her skin. How could she manage to go to Carson City and help Cassie when she knew she needed a job to supplement her school fund for the coming year?

I don’t have much money, but I could pay your expenses and a small wage, Cassie offered eagerly. "I can’t afford to hire a high-priced detective and the police are convinced I did it. I don’t think they’re even looking for anyone else. My attorney got me out of jail and no court date is set, yet. But, I fear we’ve only got a short time before they do come up with enough circumstantial evidence to at least try me. My attorney said they may even form a Grand Jury! Lynne, you know I’m not a felon."

I don’t believe that you would do it at all, Cassie! Vicki is my friend and so are you! You know I really wouldn’t want to take your money, Cassie. But, why didn’t you call me sooner, before it went this far?

"I just couldn’t believe all this was really happening. How could anybody think I would do such a thing? Cassie’s voice lowered and Lynne could tell she was near tears. I tried to clear this up by myself, but, well, I just don’t have the strength anymore. Lynne, I was so... so embarrassed!" Cassie’s voice broke as she searched for the words to describe how humiliating the situation was.

I called my brother, Jake, thinking because he’s the sheriff in Virginia City, perhaps he could do something. He seems to keep running into dead ends, too. Finally, I decided to see if you would help. And, I insist, you must let me pay your expenses and something for your time.

I’m glad you called. I’ll be happy to do what I can.

Lynne, I haven’t told you about all of the stolen artifacts. Many of them are priceless. If we don’t find the rest of them and clear this up, according to my attorney, I could go to prison for a long time. And any amount of time would be too much. The holding cell at the county jail was bad enough even for the short time I was there. I don’t think I could survive actual prison. Cassie’s voice broke off with a low shriek.

Of course, I’ll help. I’ll schedule a flight to Reno and you can fill me in on the details when I get there in Carson to your place. Would you call Jeremy and let him know I’m coming?

Jeremy Hastings was a friend of Lynne’s who had helped her out of sticky predicaments twice before. Once, shortly after she lost her left leg in an auto accident.

Lynne met Jeremy on her first visit to Nevada at her Aunt Pat’s home in Virginia City. She had opted to visit her father’s sister, Pat, instead of going to Disneyland with the family. It was her first plane trip and a time to experience life somewhat on her own. That summer, a sinister doctor imprisoned her at a private institution in Carson City where he planned an unauthorized surgery. Jeremy helped her escape. The second time, the following summer, Jeremy helped her find Frank, Vicki’s then soon-to-be husband, and his abductors.

Now, Jeremy was just starting out in his veterinary career. And, he had transportation. He had a Jeep. If she could get his assistance, she wouldn’t have to rent a car and run Cassie’s bill up further.

She formed plans in her mind about how to keep the costs as low as possible and still work to protect Cassie. She responded to Cassie’s despair with reassurance.

Cassie, try not to worry! I promise, I’ll make reservations for the next available flight from Portland to Reno the minute we hang up. And after I let my parents know where I’m going, she thought.

Thank you! I am so relieved. You have no idea how much this means to me. Do call back and let me know when your flight arrives so I can arrange to pick you up.

Since Lynne had graduated from high school and enrolled in the local community college, she’d lived off-campus in a small apartment. With no dorms available, she found a place close to Lane Community College. She was finishing her first year there. Finals were over and school would soon be completely out for the summer.

She had tried to save her parents money by getting her prerequisite subjects out of the way before enrolling in a larger college as a Journalism major at the end of next year. She thought, perhaps, she could study the second year where she would work toward her degree, if it wasn’t too expensive. Or, at another community college in Reno. It was a matter, now, of choosing which college to attend.

All of her school commitments for this year were over and Cassie’s call couldn’t have come at a better time for her to be able to go to her aid.

Lynne was seriously considering the Journalism School at the University of Nevada, Reno. She was sure her parents wouldn’t disapprove of a visit to the campus. The sidebar, so to speak, of helping Cassie was something she would add