Page 100 of Boss

Chapter 20

Kassidy walked out of the bedroom with her first aid kit. Reese lowered her cell phone. It looked like she was in the middle of texting when Kassidy returned.

“Girl what the hell is going on? I was going to come in there and check to see if you drowned or something. Two hours?” Reese asked.

“I needed some time to get myself together. Thanks for waiting.”

She walked but her movements were slow and awkward. Her body was on autopilot despite her discomfort. She sat on the sofa to Reese’s left and opened the first-aid kit, removing the ace bandages, gauze, and antiseptic ointment. She turned her foot up and Reese gaped at the cuts.

“Can you help me?” she asked.

“Yeah, yes, of course. My God, how are you able to stand? Wait, how the hell did this happen to the bottom of your feet? Where are your shoes?”

“Glass”, Kassidy said. “I walked on glass.”

“I don’t remember where my shoes are. Some place at the ranch.”

“Okay, I’ve waited long enough. Who are you really and what the hell happened between you and Tarek Marshall?” Reese asked. “And I mean from the beginning?”

“You know the beginning. My name is Kassandra Turner, and I'm from Crystal Beach. I was hired by Daniel Messina at the E.P.U. to steal information. The Marshalls are right. From the day Tarek brought me into the company I’ve been spying for the E.P.U. And Tarek Marshall found out the truth. He caught me and Daniel during an exchange and went crazy. He hit Daniel. In the process of them fighting and my trying to break them up, he knocked me out.”

“He attacked you, physically?” Reese paused. “Tarek Marshall attacked you?”

“No and yes. The point is his actions knocked me out cold.” Kassidy sighed. “The next thing I know he was dragging me off with him to his ranch. He said he was going to turn me into the police but he wanted a confession first. Wanted to know everything I stole, what the press had, what the E.P.U. had. Everything.”

“Tarek kidnapped you?” Reese repeated. “He killed Daniel Messina?”

“No. No.”

Kassidy glanced to the television and there was a breaking news event. She then saw the Marshall’s ranch on the television set. She picked up the remote and turned up the volume.

I’m standing in front of the Marshall farm. Owned by oil tycoon Alek Marshall, founder of Marshall Global Solutions. This has been a place of historical significance and prominence for over a century in the Haslet community. That was until the bloody discovery made by the police here yesterday. Two men brutally murdered, and the son of Alek Marshall is at the center of it all...

The screen flipped to an image of Daniel Messina and Cash Dagwood in a side-by-side view. The men both wore broad smiles in what looked to be separate social events. Kassidy was surprised at how harmless Cash Dagwood appeared on screen. From her memory, he was a gun-toting monster straight out of the Wild West, with hands large enough to snap her neck. She could still see the snarl on his face from under the black brim of his hat, as he tried to choke the life out of her.

Daniel Messina is a YouTube celebrity and the founder of the very controversial activist group E.P.U., based out of Fort Worth. An advocate for endangered sea animals, and the ecosystem in our oceans, he claimed the Marshalls have been destroying both with their offshore drilling. And also a strong opponent against Marshall Global Solutions’ expansion project into South America. And Cash Dagwood is a rancher, here in this very county. He often works part time as a private investigator.

“Does anyone know how these men were murdered, Lainey?” The news reporter asked from her news desk.

No. The police are not commenting only saying that the investigation is ongoing. If you look behind me there, they have several forensic teams working the farm. Earlier we saw the FBI arrive...

The FBI! The newswoman asked in surprise.

Yes. Not sure how they fit into all of this. We did receive a statement from the Marshalls’ publicists: It says we are deeply saddened and concerned about the death of Daniel Messina, and close family friend Cash Dagwood. We are cooperating fully with this investigation, and extend our regrets and prayers to their families.

“Interesting, any news on who else was at the ranch at the time of the murder?” the news reporter asked.

Sources close to the investigation tell us a woman was found here with Tarek Marshall, beaten and in a desperate state. I’m sure more will be made clear as this story develops. I’m told that the chief will hold a press conference this afternoon. This is Lainey Diamond reporting for Channel 10 News.

“Thank you, Lainey,” the news reporter said.

Kassidy switched the television set off. That wasn’t the news. Just some poor attempt to understand the unexplainable. When she looked over to her former boss, she saw less compassion in her eyes, and understood. She was no victim like the reporter said. No one was innocent.

“Is any of it true?” Reese’s gaze bore into her.

“Those men are dead,” she answered. “That part is true.”

“You know what I’m asking you!” Reese said.

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