Exposing Ethan (Cassidy Kincaid Mystery Book 4) by Amy Waeschle

Author:Amy Waeschle [Waeschle, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Savage Creek Press
Published: 2020-07-12T16:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

Cassidy boarded the ancient cable car and found a seat facing sideways. Though still early, the summer sun beat down on the waiting area next to the trolley’s turnaround, heating the metal and concrete, and she craved to feel the breeze on her face once they were underway. Her quick text to Bruce had boomeranged back with a terse reply: See you soon.

After leaving Quinn a note and his burner phone, she had taken a rideshare to Ghirardelli Square and then hiked up to the station to join a small queue of tourists. She merged into the line behind a large family, all with matching hats and speaking a language she didn’t recognize. Soon, a couple holding hands and kissing fell in behind her, the woman in a tight tank top and tiny shorts, the man wearing mid-shin-length, wide-cuff pants that Quinn would call “man-pris.” The line filled with several other travelers—tall, short, talking loudly or not at all, one donning sunscreen, another trying to hand-feed a seagull the remains of her muffin.

Finally, the two conductors climbed aboard and after taking tickets, donned their gloves. The car lurched to life and Cassidy held on as they ascended a steep hill, passing The Buena Vista where already a line stretched out the door. They left the waterfront behind. Beneath her feet, the spinning cable hummed while the trolley clunked and shuddered. The breeze found her, cooling her forehead. At the top of the hill, the car turned left as the conductor rang the bell.

“Is this seat taken?” a voice asked.

Startled, she looked up to see Bruce’s tanned face shaded by a San Francisco Giants ball cap. He wore dark jeans, and a navy-blue t-shirt that looked to be freshly ironed, or else brand-new.

“No,” Cassidy said, sliding left to make more room.

Next to Bruce, the couple she’d observed kissing like newlyweds were working through several selfie poses.

“Thanks for getting here so quickly,” he said, barely audible over the rumble of the wheels. Because of the tight space, their thighs pressed together. Bruce’s hand rested only inches from hers.

“Of course,” she said, suppressing the million questions rattling around in her mind.

She felt the deep sigh he exhaled by the way his chest expanded against her side. “We’re now moving into a new phase. Everything is riding on the success of turning him. We need to wait for him to make the next move.”

“How long do you think that will take?”

“No idea. The ball’s in his court.”

“I’m assuming this means I’ll need to stay in town.”

He gave her a sideways glance. “Yes. Can you manage that?”

The cable car had reached the apex of the route and slowed to let some of the passengers get off. She realized that she was holding her breath. “Do I have a choice?” she replied, forcing her lungs to cooperate.

“Yes, but I think you know the consequences if you leave.”

Cassidy gripped the side of the bench as the cable car lurched forward. “Yeah, I know.”

“You’ll stay, then?”

The cable car coasted down the hill, passing into the shade of the tall buildings.

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