A Cache of Trouble: A Cassidy Callahan Novel. Kelly Rysten

an agility course. The fact that deer visit there…anything. Rusty looked at me, waiting for an answer. Oh, okay…

      I whispered in his ear, “The shower.”

      Another curious look. “What’s so special about the shower?” he whispered.

      “It’s… different, you didn’t notice?”

      “I barely even glanced at the bathroom.”

      Kelly and Rhonda were really curious now.

      “Then I’m not going to tell you. I’ll save it as a surprise for June first.”

      “Cass…”

      “You have to see it for yourself.”

      He gave up with a defeated sigh, but at least he wasn’t thinking about the mine any more.

      “You two staying for dinner?” Rusty asked.

      “Nah,” Kelly answered, “I think you two need some time. We were just checking up on you.”

      After Kelly and Rhonda drove away I led Rusty up the stairs.

      “Now, why did you have to go and remind me about that shower? I can’t think about that shower without seeing both of us in it. And I really need a shower before dinner.”

      “So, tell me about this shower. I must have missed something.”

      I started stripping down.

      “It’s big enough for two.” I dropped my filthy clothes in a pile. “It’s got big clear glass doors, so you can see everything.” I unbuttoned his top two buttons. “It’s got this big bench across it.” A couple more buttons.

      “Oh yeah?”

      “Yeah.”

      I unbuckled his belt.

      “It’s got two shower heads. A regular one and a handheld one.”

      He dropped his pants and followed me into the bathroom. I reached for a second bar of soap from under the counter and handed him the big bar.

      “I couldn’t help it. When I saw that shower I saw both of us in it. Finding interesting ways to use that bench. Giving soapy, steamy massages. Trying out different positions…”

      I stepped into the water and rolled the smaller bar of soap around in my hands until they were slick and sudsy. He stepped in and I moved over so he could get under the water too.

      “This shower will do for now. But June first... June first I want to try the other shower.” His soapy hands found my body, caressing and teasing, washing away three days of dirt and grime with shivery, delicate touches. And my hands found him and eased away the cares of the past. Two bodies slipping and sliding. Kisses, lots of kisses. Deep passionate kisses. Delicate playful kisses. A celebration of another day together.

      Later, as we were lying lazily in bed he asked quietly, “Can I just take you away? Can we just go somewhere for a few days? Would you come to San Diego with me?”

      “You know I will.”

      “I’ll see what I can do.”

Chapter 5

      Mission Beach was busy with beach walkers, tourists and kids. Rusty, decked out in swim trunks and a loose t-shirt, was scanning the crowds. I was trying not to study the ground. Ignore the tracks, Cass, just enjoy the day. I’d started out this morning in shorts and a t-shirt over my swimsuit but the beach beckoned and I’d left my clothes in the Explorer. The sun felt good and the beach stretched out in front of us.

      “Let’s see if the water is cold,” I said.

      Rusty smiled, continuing his search. Rusty was on a mission at Mission Beach. “We will, but first we need to make contact, then we can do whatever we want.”

      “What are we looking for?”

      “A grown up kid on a red bike, or a worn out skateboard, or a yellow surfboard or talking to a group of girls, who knows. You won’t recognize him until you meet him once. Let’s try the taco stand.”

      We walked over to the taco stand and the old man at the booth smiled broadly.

      “Rusty! Long time no see! Where have you been?”

      “I’m looking for Cody. Any idea where he can be found these days?”

      “Good luck. I think he lost his job at Belmont Park but last I heard he was trying to get on at Tacky T-shirts. There was a cute girl working the morning shift. He was trying to decide if she was worth getting up at eight o’clock for.”

      Rusty smiled. All this sounded normal to him. We walked down to Tacky T-shirts. I looked around and saw a few tacky t-shirts that I liked. I’d have to remember this place on the way back to the truck. Rusty approached the counter.

      “I’m Rusty Michaels and I’m trying to find my brother, Cody. Sam said to check here.”

      A girl in short shorts, a Hawaiian shirt and a flowered name tag that read Alissa answered, “He’s out for his tenth break of the afternoon. He should be back any time. He didn’t tell me he had a brother.”

      “He’s got two. What time does he get off today?”

      “Four.”

      “Tell him not to leave, we’ll be back at four.”

      We left the shop and headed for the water.

      “It’s always like this finding Cody. At least all the locals on the boardwalk know him. I’m surprised the t-shirt shop hired him except that he draws in customers. Well, when he’s there. He gets a kick out of having his picture taken with young tourists, makes a point of maintaining a surfer dude look just for the pictures. I think he makes more money off the pictures than he does at any job he’s had.”

      We waded out into the water. It was cold but not too cold. After an hour of getting nearly soaked in the surf we figured we might as well just get wet so we swam. It was so pleasant to have a day with no one’s life hanging on the line, no searches, no uniforms, no work pressing. After swimming we walked the beach and ate tacos. Sam had worked the taco stand for twenty-three years and would have told me all about Rusty’s wild childhood at the beach but Rusty suddenly found something else to do. Late afternoon rolled around and we were laying on the beach soaking up the sun. I’d dozed off, and the voices above me were faint.

      “It’s not four o’clock yet. Go finish your shift.”

      “Aren’t you going to at least introduce me?”

      “She needs the rest.” Rusty gave me a kiss on the shoulder. “I’ll be right back.” He got up and followed Cody back to the t-shirt shop, talking as they walked. “…seen the news lately?” He was going to tell Cody about the mine. Maybe that’s why I was so tired. Maybe my days and nights were still mixed up. I turned over to keep from frying my back. When the skin on my front felt toasty I thought I’d had enough sun for the day and headed for the water to cool off. I came up out of the water after a wave washed over me and noticed Rusty standing on our towel looking up and down the beach. I hoped that wasn’t a worried expression on his face. He worried too much and I hadn’t been gone five minutes. When I waved my hands so he would see me a younger version of Rusty came up behind him and pointed me out. Wow, I thought, he’s a Coppertone model, a Hawaiian cruise poster boy. I hoped Jesse’s marriage was stable. They met me halfway up the beach. Rusty handed me a bag.

      “I never would have taken you for a camouflage girl,” Cody said.

      “That’s because you’ve never seen me in the woods,” I answered.

      “Cassidy, this is my brother, Cody. Cody, this is my fiancée, Cassidy Callahan.”

      Cody flashed me a toothpaste commercial smile.