Chapter 25
Cassie
As I listen intently to Lincoln tell a story of one of the last cases he solved with my dad, my phone rings. Pressing the silence button, I tense when I see the caller ID. It's the private investigator from New York.
“Give me one minute,” I interrupt Lincoln mid-sentence. “I’ve got to take this.”
I leave the room before anyone can ask me who it is. The last thing I need is Lincoln trying to control who I receive calls from now.
“Hello?” I figured he'd given up the search since I never confirmed paying extra. However, it seems I was mistaken.
“Cassandra? Do you have a minute?” He sounds frazzled and worried. I’ve never heard him sound that way. He is a proud man, usually throwing his weight around, as well as his expertise.
“Sure. I’m sorry about not getting back to you. I?—”
“I only have a few minutes,” he interrupts. “I don’t usually do this, but I figured I should let you know as a common courtesy— you should consider leaving well enough alone when it comes to your acting career. Just do something else.”
“What are you talking about?” I strain to hear what's happening in the background. It almost sounds like he's running.
“I kept poking around since I figured you would eventually reach out. There’s more going on here than I first thought. It’s too much. I’m telling you to leave it alone.” He draws a sharp breath. “I like you as a client, Cassandra, which is why I’m making this call. Free of charge. If you value your life, you’ll find something else to do instead of acting while all this sorts itself out.”
“My life ? What do you mean? What happened? What if I pay you extra to investigate?”
“I’m off the case, Cassandra. I was just doing you a favor. I have to go now.”
“Wait, I need to know?—”
I'm not able to finish before he hangs up the call. My stomach twists with dread. What is going on? What on earth could possibly shake a private investigator? Their job is to dig into stuff no one wants them to know about, to get to the truth. If he was really scared for his life, it makes me feel like I should take his warning seriously.
I flip through my contacts until I find Greg’s name. I consider calling him briefly before continuing down the list and reaching Rosie.
Maybe it’s time to confront her. If it’s really her jealousy that ruined my career, we should just talk it out. Pressing call, I put the phone up against my ear.
After two rings, Rosie picks up.
“Rosie speaking, how may I help you?”
“Rosie, it’s Cassie. Do you have a minute to chat?”
“Cassie.” Her tone changes. It’s not unfriendly, but closer to cautious.
“I know this is forward, but did I ever do anything to upset you?”
“Upset me?” Rosie sounds shocked I would even insinuate such a thing. “I always liked you, Cassie.”
“Do you know why Greg replaced me or what’s happening with my lack of auditions?” I hope Rosie hears the urgency in my voice and tells me something, anything I could go off of.
“I don’t really know. I have to go now. I hope everything is going well for you out there.” She genuinely sounds like she means what she’s saying. My whole theory about her being bitter seems to flit away. She sounds like, if anything, she feels bad.
“Wait, what have you heard?” She has heard something. Secretaries always hear things. People don’t notice them or think they’d have a reason to remember what they heard. There’s no way she hasn’t a clue about what’s happening with me.
Pity seeps through the phone line as she speaks. “I shouldn’t even be talking to you, but fine. Word is, people evaluate their jobs, they don’t bring you up, and they certainly don’t call you for auditions.”
I shake my head in frustration. It’s all more of the same. Who is powerful enough and hates me enough to want to destroy everything I’ve worked for?
“Why?” If only I could get the gist of what I did wrong and who I made angry, maybe it would make more sense and give me somewhere to start. Without knowing, I am just poking in the dark, and it is getting stranger by the day. There are no answers.
“I don’t know. It’s just something everyone is saying. You must have made somebody mad, somebody pretty high up, and now they want to destroy you. I’m sorry, Cassie. I have to go.”
“Thanks for telling me. I’ll talk to you another day.” Rosie can’t hang up fast enough, and I hold my phone in my hand, looking down at it in despair for a moment.
I’ve enjoyed my time back in town and helping Lincoln solve mysteries, but deep down, I thought I would return to my acting work. That’s looking less and less likely each day.
When I get back to the dining room, Quinn is gone. Lincoln is sitting at the table, his phone out, his fingers moving as he types. He looks up at me, curiosity filling his features.
“What was the urgent phone call about?”
“Believe it or not, the private investigator.”
“The snake? I thought we agreed we would investigate what happened ourselves. He’ll make you even more broke than you are now.”
“Who told you I’m broke?” My smile falters and falls flat. “He said he couldn’t continue the case and that if I valued my life, I wouldn’t, either.”
“He said that? Are you sure?” Lincoln’s voice is almost a growl, protective and powerful. His eyes narrow.
“I’m positive. He sounded scared. I called Rosie, too; she didn’t seem angry with me. She told me that people were getting instructions to steer clear of me. What do you think is going on?” It feels natural to turn to Lincoln with this issue.
“I don’t know, but I’ll help you find out.” He reaches across the table, his hand covering mine. “We are in this together, Cassie.” His expression is earnest and full of determination.
“Thanks,” I shake my head. “Where’s Quinn?”
“She went to get some vanilla ice cream for the pie she made. She’ll be back soon. So, you’re sticking around a little longer?”
“I really am.”
His eyes are full of relief, which catches me off guard. I was starting to believe he really didn’t want me here.
“Cassie, if you’re going to be here long-term, we should talk about… well, our kiss.” There’s no time for me to react or say anything before he plows on. “We can’t be together, I mean, not like that. I never should have kissed you. It’s not that you aren’t a beautiful, independent, intelligent young woman. It’s just…” He hesitates, giving me my opening.
“You, not me?” My eyebrows raise, and I force a smile, even though that’s the last thing I want to do.
“Don’t be like that, Cassie. You know things would be complicated if we went down that road. If things didn't work out, our friendship would never be the same.” Sadness flickers in his eyes.
“So, you’re saying you wouldn’t want to because you’re scared of how it might end? It sounds like you would plan on it ending before it even begins. How could you expect it to work like that?” Frustration fills my tone despite my determination to accept his rejection gracefully.
“Are you saying you would want it to work?” His gaze softens, and I can’t take it. Of course, he thinks I am being overly affected by him turning me down.
“No, I mean… You’re right. I was going to say the same thing. Let’s forget it ever happened.” I push back the hurt he’s causing me, hoping he doesn’t notice how much I’m trying to appear normal.
“Cassie…” Concern is present in his features, and he reaches for me, but I pull back.
“It’s fine. Friendship and partnership are much more important than a little bit of mutual attraction. I can be professional.” I plaster on my best grin. “This will work out for the best. I think we work well together overall.” If that’s the case, why do I feel like crying?
“You’re right. So, just partners?” He’s smiling, too, but it’s just as forced as mine.
“Just partners.” I swallow down the feeling of sadness that grips my stomach. When I was young, I would have jumped at the chance to have a relationship with Lincoln. When we had the opportunity, he turned me down first. Even though I know things wouldn’t have worked between us, it still hurts.
Being professional will be my top priority until I can make it back where I belong, far away from Lincoln and my hometown. There’s just the pesky problem of my entire career tanking in the way for now. It won’t be for long if I have anything to do with it.