It’s been a long day for Cassie. I’m surprised she’s still on her feet.
From what I can piece together, most of what happened today would not have happened if not for her. She’s been in the thick of everything.
I can see the restaurant area emptying. We’re down to just us locals – me, Wanda, Bitsy.
Finally, Cassie joins us. She runs through the day’s events like reading a detailed grocery list:
- Spotting Armand (“quite the grubby little man”) as he approached the Lady Lux
- Speed-dialing Silas and Mercury for help (“This didn’t feel right to me at all.”
- Searching the ship with Silas, Mercury, and Lindy (“I had forgotten how big it was …”)
- Watching as the police arrest Armand (“He barely put up a fight.”)
- Linking Nico to Armand, and realizing it was he who brought Armand to the Lady Lux (“Tricky son-of-a-gun.”)
- Seeing Nico slip through the perimeter and escape (“Dude can run.”)
“So Armand is in jail at this point?” I ask, timidly. I can tell she’s running on fumes at this point and needs a good night’s sleep.
She nods. “I think he’s on the same floor as Sheriff Paul.”
My spine stiffened. “Well, there’s a pair.”
Cassie nods again, then sighs deeply. “Indeed,” she says. “Well, friends, I think it’s time for me to close up shop here.”
Of course, everyone understands. I step outside into the chilly street and dial the phone.
“Hey, Julian, sorry to call you this late. I need you to redo my travel arrangements to push everything – flights, car, hotels — out by a day.
“There’s someone I need to see tomorrow. … Many thanks, I appreciate it.”
Jenny Page