Witness on the Run
Hope White
A gun firing. A man killed.Running for her life. That's all Robin Strand remembers of the shooting she saw. With fear-induced amnesia, she can't identify the killer, no matter what the police say. The only one who believes her is private investigator Jake Walters. And he's the one who steps in to rescue her when her safe house is discovered. As they struggle to stay one step ahead of danger, Robin needs Jake more than ever. With his faith and training as a guide, they work together to bring back her memory. Before the killer can ensure that she never remembers.
“My mind is a complete blank,”
Robin said, her eyes tearing.
“It will come back to you in time,” Jake said. Hoped.
“I get the impression I don’t have time.”
Jake shoved his hands into his leather jacket pockets.
“Someone’s after me, aren’t they?” she said in a soft voice.
“You’re safe here in the hospital.”
“You’re kidding, right? I almost died in the E.R., then a crazy cop handcuffs me and accuses me of being involved.”
Jake took a step closer. “It won’t happen again. I’m here and I’ll make sure no one gets to you.”
“I’m afraid of what comes next,” she said.
“Don’t be. Just rest. That’s the best thing you can do for yourself.”
She nodded and closed her eyes and he suddenly wondered if this was his chance at redemption. He’d see Robin through to the end and make sure she wasn’t another innocent victim of violence.
HOPE WHITE
An eternal optimist, Hope was born and raised in the Midwest. She began spinning tales of intrigue and adventure when she was in grade school, and wrote her first book when she was eleven—a thriller that ended with a mysterious phone call the reader never heard!
She and her college sweetheart have been married for thirty years and are blessed with two wonderful sons, two feisty cats and a bossy border collie.
When not dreaming up inspirational tales, Hope enjoys hiking, sipping tea with friends and going to the movies. She loves to hear from readers: hopewhitebooks@gmail.com.
Witness on the Run
Hope White
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.
—Psalms 31:24
To Larry, for your amazing support,
encouragement and love.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
EPILOGUE
LETTER TO READER
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
ONE
Monday couldn’t come fast enough for Robin Strand.
As she packed her briefcase with the printouts of checklists and sign-up sheets for tomorrow’s pediatric cancer walkathon, she took a deep breath and reminded herself she loved her job as a special events coordinator. And she really did, but sometimes having alternate hours than the rest of the world was a drag.
On cue, her cell rang. She eyed the caller ID. Jenn.
“Hey, Jenn, what’s up?” Robin said.
“We’re waiting for you at the Five Spot.”
“What time is it?” She swung her briefcase over her shoulder and flicked off the desk lamp.
“Nearly nine.”
“I don’t know, Jenn. I’ve got so much work to do before the walkathon Sunday.”
“You’re not at work, are you?” she scolded.
“Uh…”
“You so shouldn’t be there, Robin. Come on, swing by the Five Spot. Right now. I’m ordering you a longhorn burger as we speak,” Jenn said.
Robin’s mouth watered. “You’re cruel, you know that?” She locked up the office and headed to the elevators. Being a parttime receptionist, Jenn didn’t have the same level of commitment that Robin had for her work.
“You really need to come join us,” Jenn added. “I got us a two-for-one deal on dinner.”
Robin noticed light streaming through an office down the hall. She thought she was the only one dumb enough, or most lacking a social life, to be at the office on a Friday night. Then again the building was home to its share of overachievers like Destiny Software Design, Remmington Imports and Vashon Financial.
Then there was Robin, whose job was her life. Since she was in charge of Sunday’s walkathon for the Anna Marsh Pediatric Cancer Foundation, she would probably be back here tomorrow working on volunteer rosters and donation lists.
“Hey, Trevor just showed up,” Jenn announced.
“Great. My hair’s a mess, my make-up is nonexistent, and I’m exhausted.”
“Tough. Get your fanny down here.”
“Thanks, but…” Her voice trailed off as movement caught the corner of her eye. Robin glanced into the Remmington Imports office on her right.
And froze at the sight of a tall, bald man aiming a gun at a second man who slowly raised his hands. Shocked and unable to process what she was seeing, Robin couldn’t move.
A resounding bang made her shriek. Every cell in her body screamed run! But for half a second her legs were paralyzed.
“What was that?” Jenn’s voice cried through the phone.
Robin stared through the window at the limp body on the floor. Blood spread across his crisp white shirt and seeped into the carpeting.
“He shot him.” Then her gaze drifted up from the wounded man to the shooter.
Cold, black eyes stared back at her. Death eyes.
He stepped toward Robin, pointed his gun…
She took off like the eighth-grade, track-and-field champ that she once was. Do it for your brother. Make him proud.
Her brother, Kyle. Looks like she’d be joining him soon. In heaven.
“No,” she groaned, turning a corner. She had more to do. She wasn’t ready to leave. She had to raise money for children’s cancer research. And, she wanted to raise a few kids herself someday.
Swiping her card, she ducked into the break room, flipped the lights off and crouched low to keep out of sight. She’d hide in here and call the police. Her phone, where was it?
The door beeped, and her heart jumped into her throat. The shooter had a passkey? She dropped to the floor, crawling through the darkened break room away from the killer.
Killer. She’d just seen a man murdered. In cold blood.
“No use running,” a male voice called out.
Robin took a slow deep breath and continued her crawl toward the exit. Think! Pull the fire alarm. That would bring help. But they wouldn’t show up fast enough to save Robin from this monster.
“I like the dark, too,” he taunted.
In the window’s reflection she spied the guy pointing his gun under tables, ready to pop off another round.
Into her.
She whipped open the door at the other end of the room, lunged into the hallway and pulled the fire alarm. Water sprayed from the ceiling as she scrambled to the stairs and hurled herself toward the ground level.
Pfft!
A bullet ricocheted off the wall mere inches from her head. Focus, girl!
“Get back here!” the man called. “A witness is on her way down. North stairs,” he said in a calm voice. “Take her out.”
Hoping to throw him off, Robin flew down three flights, whipped open the door and raced to the south stairwell. She couldn’t die tonight. There were a thousand people depending on her to run the cancer walk Sunday.
Strange, the odd things that rush through your brain when you’re being chased by a killer.
She practically tumbled down the last two flights of stairs to the street level and threw open the door. Now that she was outside, she couldn’t get to her car in the basement garage.
“Hey!” a tall, broad-shouldered man called, crossing the street.
“Take her out,” the killer had ordered.
She spun around and sprinted in the opposite direction, braced for the bullet that would surely hit her square in the back.
But he didn’t shoot her. She sensed he chased her, but she was fast, fueled by adrenaline.
For Kyle, Robin had said, as she’d placed her medal on her brother’s trophy. His one trophy. He hadn’t had time to win more.
“Stop!” the man called out.
Closer. He sounded too close.
She glanced over her shoulder—
A car horn snapped her attention to an SUV careening toward her, brakes screeching. Before she could react, it hit her, slamming her to the pavement and knocking the wind out of her lungs. As she struggled to breathe, all she could think about was how disappointed Mom would be. After all, it was Robin’s job to make her parents doubly proud in order to ease the pain of losing a child.
Robin glanced up at the dark sky, hoping her brother would be the one to take her to heaven. Suddenly, her view was blocked by a man’s blue-green, intense eyes.
“Don’t move,” he said. “Everything will be okay.”
She closed her eyes, and a tear trailed down her cheek. I’m coming, Kyle, I’m coming.
Jake Walters paced the emergency room like a man waiting on the birth of his first child—only the woman he worried about was a complete stranger.
He couldn’t shake the terrified look he’d seen in her eyes.
Or the look of surrender before she’d closed them.
He’d thought for sure she was dead, killed running away from him and into the path of a moving vehicle.
But he’d meant her no harm. He’d been on a stakeout for his cop buddy Ethan Beck when he’d seen the petite woman flee the building as if she’d just seen a ghost.
Or a murder.
Minutes after the ambulance arrived at the scene, Ethan, a detective with the Seattle P.D., had called Jake to let him know a report of shots fired at the Chambers Building had been called in by a cleaning crew, and Ethan was on his way with backup.
Jake had told Ethan about the woman fleeing the building, and Ethan had asked Jake to stay with her until the ambulance arrived. Yeah, like anything could have ripped Jake away from the woman’s side? He’d felt responsible for her condition.
Now, an hour later at the hospital, Jake paced the E.R. waiting area and fisted his hand. The brunette was a stranger, and Jake had no legitimate reason to be here, but he’d stay close until he knew she was okay.
He leaned against the wall next to the E.R. doors and waited. He’d done his share of waiting with Mom as she’d fought the cancer that had taken her life.
Waiting drove him nuts.
“Jake?” Ethan said, walking toward him. Two of his men trailed close behind. “Hey, man, thanks for hanging around.”
They shook hands. Ethan and Jake had grown up together, fought off bullies in their Seattle neighborhood together, and joined the army together. Although they’d been split up in Iraq, they’d reconnected after they’d shipped home and had ended up in similar fields: Ethan, a detective for the Seattle P.D., and Jake, a Homeland Security agent, recently turned private investigator.
“How is she?” Ethan asked.
“They’re not telling me anything. I’m not family.”
Realization colored Ethan’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you to hang around a hospital. Go on. Take off.”
“I’d rather stay, thanks. I feel responsible for this woman.”
“Yeah?”
“She was running from me when she got hit.”
Ethan eyed him. “Was she running from you or someone else?”
“She tore out of the building like it was on fire.”
“I’ll bet she witnessed it,” Ethan said, his voice low. “Detective Cole Edwards was shot and killed tonight.”
“Man, I’m sorry.”
“Did she say anything, give you any indication she saw what happened?” Ethan pressed.
“She whispered a name—Kyle, I think—then fell unconscious.”
“Thanks, buddy.” Ethan slapped Jake’s shoulder. “I’ll take it from here.”
“I don’t think she’s in any shape to talk to you.”
“Oh, she’ll talk.”
Ethan nodded to his men to stay in the hall and pushed open the E.R. door.
“E,” Jake called after him, but Ethan had disappeared. Jake didn’t like that Ethan might plan to pressure a fragile woman.
Robin Strand. Jake had looked at her ID in her wallet so he’d be able to give the hospital a name to go with that adorable face. There, he’d admitted it. The woman was adorable with her round face and subtle freckles dotting her nose. He glanced at the E.R. door. He hoped Ethan was being gentle with her, but considering a cop had been murdered, Jake wouldn’t be surprised if Ethan had a hard time being sensitive to her condition.
“You’re Beck’s army buddy?” asked a tall cop with a crew cut. He had a scar running across his right eyebrow.
“Actually, we’ve been friends since grade school.”
“Long time.”
“Yep.”
“I’m Detective Henry Monroe.” They shook hands. “This is Gabe Dunn.”
Gabe nodded and shook hands with Jake.
“You were with Homeland Security?” Monroe asked.
“Yep. Took a leave of absence and decided to go into business on my own.”
“How’s that working out?”
“Long hours, but it pays the bills.”
“Your connection to the girl?” He nodded toward the examining area.
“Don’t know her. ID says Robin Strand. Lives in Seattle, Greenlake, I think. I’m guessing she works in the Chambers Tower. She had a building pass.”
Detective Monroe pulled out a small notebook. “What were you doing at the Chambers Building?”
“Stakeout for a client.”
Jake suspected that Ethan hadn’t told his men that he had enlisted Jake’s help. Ethan had called last week asking if Jake had time to keep an eye on the after-hours activity at the Chambers Building, keep track of who came and went and at what times. Ethan knew something was going on in that building after hours, he just didn’t know what.
“What client?” Monroe asked.
“Confidential.” Jake wasn’t giving that up until E gave him permission to do so. When he’d called Jake, he’d said he suspected some kind of police corruption and needed to keep Jake’s involvement on the q.t.
Monroe narrowed his eyes at Jake. “Uh-huh. What time did you see her leave the building?”
“At 9:07.”
“Was she alone?”
“Yes.”
“And she was running?”
“She was. I got out of the car and called out to her. That freaked her out even more, and she took off down Seneca. She didn’t get more than a block when the SUV nailed her.”
“We’ve got officers at the scene questioning the driver.”
“It wasn’t his fault.”
“Perhaps, but there’s a good chance Ms. Strand witnessed the shooting of Detective Edwards and needed to be silenced.”
“Was Edwards working a case?”
“That’s confidential.”
“Where did you find the body?” Jake asked.
“I’m supposed to be asking the questions,” Monroe said.
The E.R. doors swung open and Ethan marched out, worry lines creasing his forehead.
“Well?” Detective Monroe asked.
“She doesn’t remember anything.”
“About the shooting?” Jake asked.
Ethan pinned him with angry eyes. “Anything. As in, she can’t remember her name, where she’s from, what day it is.”
“That’s convenient,” Detective Monroe said, snapping his notebook shut.
Jake eyed the detective. “Convenient?”
“Sure, if she’s involved.”
Not in a million years, Jake thought. Fragile Robin Strand was no more a criminal than Jake was good father material.
“Doctor is calling it traumatic amnesia due to the blow to her head,” Ethan explained. “It’s temporary.”
“How temporary?” Monroe pushed.
“They don’t know,” Ethan said. “We all want this guy, Monroe. We’re just going to have to be patient or find him another way.”
“If the perp thinks she’s a witness and doesn’t know about this amnesia thing, then she’s still in danger,” Jake said.
“Then she should remember quick so we can put the guy away,” Detective Monroe snapped.
“It’s not like she’s choosing to forget,” Jake said.
“No?” Monroe challenged.
Ethan stepped between Jake and Detective Monroe. “Dunn, you stay and watch over Ms. Strand. Monroe and I will get with the crime scene investigator.”
Detective Monroe didn’t move at first. He stared at the E.R. doors.
It was devastating to lose a brother in blue and frustrating to know the eyewitness was unable to help.
Or unwilling?
“Thanks, buddy,” Ethan said, shaking Jake’s hand again. “You’ve done more than enough.”
“Hey, E, I need to—”
“Later, okay?” He started down the hall with Monroe, turned and said, “Go home, Jake. Get some sleep.”
“Hey, I don’t take orders from you anymore,” Jake said in reference to their childhood roles. Ethan had played an army major and Jake a sergeant. Even then, they’d dreamed of serving their country.
Ethan waved him off and disappeared outside.
Jake glanced at Detective Dunn, who stood rigidly beside the E.R. doors pressing buttons on his cell phone. Dunn was tall, husky and angry-looking. Sure he was. A brother had just been killed, possibly a friend. Jake had lost his share of those in Iraq.
“How long have you been a cop?” Jake asked.
“Ten years,” Dunn said, not looking up.
“Before that?”
“Military.”
“Yeah. Me, too. Which branch?”
The E.R. doors burst open and a young nurse glanced at Jake, then Detective Dunn. “Who came in with Miss Strand?”
“That would be me,” Jake said. “Jake Walters.”
“She’s asking for you.”
Detective Dunn raised a brow.
Jake shrugged and followed the nurse. Dunn shadowed Jake—a bit too close, in Jake’s opinion.
The nurse hesitated beside a curtain and turned to Jake. “We had a hard time calming her down and didn’t want to oversedate her because of the head injury, so please don’t upset her.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The nurse slid the curtain open. “Robin? This is Detective Dunn and Jake, the man who brought you in.”
Robin slowly opened her eyes.
“I’m Detective Dunn.” Dunn identified himself.
“You wanted to see me?” Jake said.
She looked at Jake and furrowed her eyebrows as if she struggled to focus. Then she frowned. “You. You were in the street. When I was… I was running.…” Her breathing quickened and she looked like she was going to hyperventilate.
The nurse eyed the blood pressure monitor. “It’s okay, Robin.” She motioned to Jake. “Please leave.”
He hesitated, not sure what had just happened or how to fix it. “Sure. Okay.” Then he shot Robin a comforting smile. “I’ll be right outside.”
She looked away, the nurse hovered over her, and Jake walked out, running an anxious hand through his hair. What had just happened?
He’d frightened her; that’s what.
A burn started low and spread through his gut. Jake’s memories surged to the surface. Her terrified expression looked way too familiar.
It reminded Jake of what he feared most. Becoming his old man.
Robin might have drawn a blank on ninety-nine percent of her life, but for some reason Jake Walters had spiked panic in her chest.
Being chased, threatened.
She knew the man named Jake, wearing a leather jacket and a silver chain that peeked out from beneath a black, V-neck T-shirt, hadn’t threatened her. She’d never forget the sparkle of those amazing blue-green eyes as he’d leaned over her.
Everything will be okay.
Her panic eased remembering the sound of his voice.
She’d been running for her life. She knew that much. But who had she been running from, and why had Jake been there?
A sudden bang made her grip the sheets to her chest with white-knuckled fingers. She’d heard that sound before. Twice.
Red filled her vision. Oozing across the floor. Blood?
“Robin?”
Robin glanced at the nurse.
“Someone dropped a tray. That’s all,” the nurse said.
Robin nodded. She remembered her name. That was a good sign, right? Or had someone told her Robin was her name? Rats.
“You’re safe now,” the nurse said.
Hardly. Robin knew it deep in the core of her bones.
“I have to remember. I have to…” Images flashed across her thoughts so quickly, she couldn’t hold onto any of them.
She felt vulnerable and terrified. Come on, Robin, you remembered your name, you can remember the rest: your friends, where you work, maybe a boyfriend?
Did she have one? She hoped so. He’d protect her, right?
“She’s right. You’re safe, Miss Strand,” Detective Dunn said.
She glanced at him. His voice didn’t calm her, not like Jake’s. Detective Dunn was a bulky, tough-looking man with a permanent frown, and almost vicious glint to his eyes.
Oh, cry. You are so overreacting.
“Are you afraid of Jake?” Detective Dunn pushed. “You think he tried to hurt you?”
“No, I’m not afraid of him. I’m…” Robin shook her head and closed her eyes.
“Do you remember anything that can help us?” the detective said.
“Yes. No. I’m not sure how real it is.”
“Real?”
She opened her eyes. “It looks like a dream, in my head. It could have happened, but maybe not. I’m sorry. They tell me I have amnesia.” She fingered a gold locket at the base of her neck. “Sounds stupid.”
“We’re getting ready to move her to a room,” the nurse said.
“I’ll check back later,” the detective said. “But I have to ask, are you sure Jake wasn’t trying to hurt you?”
She thought it odd that he asked. “I’m sure.”
“Even though you can’t remember what happened?”
“What do you want from me?” Her voice went up an octave.
“Please,” the nurse said to the detective. “We’re trying to keep her calm.”
“Sorry. I’ll be close, ma’am.”
She didn’t care if Detective Dunn stayed close, but she hoped Jake would keep his word and be right outside. What was happening? Was she developing some kind of syndrome for the handsome stranger? Sure, why not? He was the only thing she remembered before waking up in the hospital.
With a sigh, she laid her head back against the pillow. The nurse checked the minor contusion on her head, probably the cause of her memory loss.
“I’d like to call someone,” Robin said, then hesitated. “But I don’t know who to call.”
She sounded sad, even to her own ears, yet she didn’t think she was a sad person.
“Here’s your briefcase.” The nurse placed it on Robin’s lap. “I’ll bet you’ve got an emergency number in your cell phone.”
“Great, thanks.”
“They’ll be down shortly to take you to a room.” The nurse wrote something on a chart and hovered beside Robin, probably afraid she’d have a complete mental breakdown if left alone.
Robin began the search of her messy briefcase. She dug and shuffled things around, but came up empty. No cell phone.
She zipped open a side pocket and found her wallet, keys, gum and lip gloss. She pulled out her driver’s license. “At least I’ll know where to tell the cab to drop me,” she muttered.
The nurse shot her a sympathetic smile.
Gripping her briefcase to her chest like a security blanket, Robin inhaled, hoping the scent would trigger some kind of memory. She closed her eyes and sighed.
A few seconds later, someone cleared his throat. She opened her eyes and Jake stood there, not too close, offering a tentative smile. “I thought… I wanted to make sure you were okay. You looked scared before.”
“Sir, you shouldn’t be here,” the nurse said.
“No, it’s okay.” Robin sat up a little and fought the urge to brush flyaway hair off her face. Sheesh, girl, he’s not interested in you that way. Not to mention she must look like she’d just gone ten rounds in a boxing ring.
“I’m glad you came back,” Robin said. “What happened tonight, to me?”
“We’re not sure.” He took a slight step closer, but just one. “I was outside the Chambers Building and saw you running. Something spooked you, big time.”
“They think I saw a murder?”
“Yes, but they don’t know for sure.”
Robin attempted a smile. “It’s a good thing you were there.”
“Glad I could help.”
A few seconds of awkward silence stretched between them as the nurse checked a monitor. Jake seemed uncomfortable, but Robin couldn’t figure out why.
“Well, anyway,” he said and turned.
Panic shot through her chest. “Are you leaving?”
He glanced back at her. “I wasn’t going to, not until you’re settled. If that’s okay.”
“Yes, very okay. I mean I’d rather you stay around if you’ve got nothing better to do, which I’m sure you do, but if you didn’t—” She stopped herself. “Sorry. I’m rambling.”
The nurse smiled as she checked Robin’s IV.
“You’ve been through a lot tonight,” Jake said. “You’re allowed.”
“Guys hate ramblers.” She remembered that from somewhere.
“Not all guys.” With a half smile he pointed to the door. “I’ll be right outside that door.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
She liked Jake and wished he’d been a permanent part of her past. Then again, this could be part of a goofy syndrome that happens when someone is saved by another person.
A handsome man with gentle eyes.
That hit to your head really messed you up.
“I’ve got to check on another patient. I’ll be right back, okay?” the nurse said.
“Sure.”
But Robin was far from okay. She had to get a grip on her discombobulated brain and focus on the problem at hand: remembering.
She clutched her briefcase to her chest, closed her eyes, took a slow, deep breath, determined to remember. Instead, anxiety washed over her. Something important was happening soon, and she was in charge of a lot of people. Yet she’d be lucky if she could cross the street on her own. Her knee was banged up, her head was wonky, and she’d sprained her wrist when she fell to the ground.
You were very lucky.
She’d heard those words at least five times since they’d brought her in. Yes, it could have been so much worse. She considered thanking God for her good fortune, but stopped herself. Somehow she sensed He’d never answered her prayers before, so why give Him the credit?
“Miss Strand, how are you feeling?”
She opened her eyes to the back of a doctor in green scrubs. He was doing something, probably looking over her chart.
“I’ve been better,” she said.
“I’m going to put something in your line to help you sleep tonight.”
“Oh. Okay.” The other doctor had said he didn’t want to completely zonk her out. Oh well. Different doctors, different styles.
The doctor stood just behind her bed and fiddled with her IV. “A good night’s sleep might help you move past the trauma.”
“And help me remember?”
“You don’t remember anything about what happened tonight?”
“No. Well, yes. I remembered the guy who helped me. That’s good, right?”
“Remembering anything is good.” He paused. “You don’t remember what you witnessed in the office building?”
“What I witnessed?” she repeated, feeling suddenly cold. “No, I don’t…” Her head felt like a lead weight sinking into the pillow.
“Rest, Miss Strand,” he said, his voice sounding far away. “Everything will be fine.”
The doctor turned to her, a surgical mask covering his face, except for his eyes.
Cold eyes she’d seen before.
“Death eyes,” she whispered as unconsciousness swallowed her.
TWO
Jake should leave. There was nothing more he could do here. Even Ethan had told him to go home, that he’d done enough.
That look on Robin’s face kept Jake glued to his chair in the waiting area. At first he thought she’d been terrified of him. Then, just now, she’d looked at him as if she needed him to protect her.
She was vulnerable and alone, and the only thing she remembered about her life before she’d woken up was Jake.
Ironic since they’d never even met.
“Who did you say your client was again?” Detective Dunn pressed.
“I didn’t. I’d have to get his permission to share that with you.”
“There’s no attorney-client privilege here, Walters.”
“True, but he asked me to keep it confidential and since he’s paying my light bill at present…” Jake shrugged.
“How about I take you to the station and question you?”
“Why are you busting my chops?”
Jake eyed a doctor breezing out of the E.R. to the exit, still in his scrubs and face mask.
“I know you’re furious about losing Edwards, but I’m not the bad guy here.” Jake defended himself.
“Well, the least you did was chase the woman into traffic, ruining our chance of her IDing the perp.”
Jake clenched his jaw against the frustration ripping through his chest. He felt bad enough without this guy twisting the knife deeper into his conscience.
“Look, I was there. It was a coincidence.” Jake stood and paced a few feet away, beating back the guilt.
He’d never been able to defend Mom. He’d been scrawny as a kid, skinny and uncoordinated. It wasn’t until he’d joined the service at eighteen that he’d developed his fighting skills and his muscular physique.
“I saw you go in there while I was on the phone,” Dunn said. “What did you say to her?”
Jake was about to shoot the detective a mind-your-own-business retort when he was nearly taken down by two residents rushing past him. They flew into the examining area in a panic.
No. It couldn’t be Robin. A doctor had just left and—
Instinct setting him on edge, Jake headed for the examining area. Dunn blocked him.
“Please get out of my way,” Jake said, as calmly as possible. His heart raced at the thought of his worst fear coming true.
The killer walking right past him and Detective Dunn…
…and killing Robin Strand while they stood there, just outside the door.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Dunn said.
Any second now the cuffs were coming out. Jake couldn’t protect her if he was sitting in lockup.
“To check on the woman,” Jake said.
“She’s fine.”
Another doctor and nurse scrambled past them into the E.R. as a Code Blue echoed through the hospital’s PA system.
Jake glared at Detective Dunn. “She’s not fine.”
He stepped around Dunn and marched into the examining area. Medical staff shifted around Robin’s bed in a mass of frantic motion.
“Still dropping,” a nurse said. “Ninety over sixty.”
Jake stepped closer. Robin looked pale and weak. He felt incredibly helpless. Like before, like all the times he couldn’t protect Mom.
This woman, so young and vibrant, didn’t deserve what had happened to her tonight. She didn’t deserve to die because she’d been in the wrong place at the worst possible time.
But a few minutes ago she’d been fine, coherent and strong considering she’d woke with no memory and was probably terrified.
Dunn grabbed Jake’s arm. “Let’s go.”
“She’s dying,” Jake shot over his shoulder.
Jake and Detective Dunn watched the medical team struggle to bring Robin back from the edge of death.
“What did you give her?” the doctor barked.
The resident rattled off some medications but Jake could hardly focus on what he was saying. Robin was dying. Right in front of him.
“Increase her IV fluids,” the doctor said, then glanced at a monitor. The monitor stopped.
“Get me calcium chloride.” The doctor started doing CPR as the nurse added something to Robin’s IV.
“Look at the bizarre complexes on the heart monitor,” the doctor said. “I’m guessing she got potassium chloride by accident.”
By accident? Hardly. Jake was right. The killer had been here, inches away from Robin, sticking something in her IV to end her life.
He’d seen plenty of death during his time in the service but nothing like this. An innocent woman nearly killed twice in one night.
“What about—”
“Stop talking,” the doctor interrupted his resident.
Jake’s pulse pounded against his throat. He couldn’t stop Dad from hitting his mom or prevent the cancer from killing her in the end. Nor could he stop little kids from being used as target practice in Iraq.
But he had honestly thought he could protect Robin Strand.
“Come on, Robin,” a nurse whispered.
They all looked shell-shocked, like they were holding themselves personally responsible for her condition.
He knew the feeling.
Jake said a silent prayer, one that had seen him through the darkest days overseas.
“Eighty over fifty-five,” the nurse said.
“Thatta girl,” the doctor whispered, easing up on the CPR.
The numbers on the monitor continued to rise.
“Page me if her condition changes,” the doctor said, then turned to the other resident. “Find out everything you can about her medical history.”
“She has amnesia.”
“Have the police help you.” The doctor eyed Dunn. “I need her medical history ASAP.”
“I’ll get on it.” Dunn grabbed Jake’s arm and pulled him out of the examining area. “Sit.” He motioned for Jake to sit in the waiting area.
Jake clenched his jaw and Dunn paced outside to make the call to track down everything he could on Robin. Jake was tempted to bust out of the hospital and do his own digging, but he wouldn’t leave until he knew that she was safe.
He leaned forward in his seat and interlaced his fingers. He needed to talk to Ethan, tell him about the mystery doctor who had exited the room minutes before chaos erupted. The guy obviously gave her the potassium chloride that messed with her blood pressure.
Which meant whoever had tried to kill her wasn’t going to stop. Yet it didn’t seem like Detective Dunn was all that concerned about Robin’s well-being. In Dunn’s eyes she was a witness, a means to an end. That’s all.
Jake hated feeling helpless and had promised himself never to sink into that dark place again. He’d lost count of how many times he’d walked into it and out the other side.
With help from God.
He shoved the helplessness back and strategized ways to protect Robin. She was the key not only to a cop’s murder but potentially to something bigger. Why else would a guy walk into a hospital, impersonate a doctor and spike her IV?
The question was, how far up the chain did it go? And how was Jake going to protect her if the cops were blocking him every step of the way?
An hour later, the glass doors slid open and a red-faced Ethan marched toward Jake. Jake knew that look, that I’m-frustrated-and-want-to-slug-something look.
Jake shifted in the vinyl chair.
“What happened?” Ethan said.
“Her blood pressure dropped and she nearly died,” Jake explained.
“Where’s Dunn?”
“I’m here.”
Ethan turned to him. “Where were you when someone tried to kill my witness?”
“Making a call about the case. Just checked on the witness. She’s stable. They’re moving her to a room.”
“You find anything out at the scene?” Jake asked.
“You’re not a cop, Jake,” Ethan said. “I can’t talk to you about it.”
Jake cocked his head in question but didn’t challenge Ethan. He was under a ton of pressure and Jake didn’t want to add to it.
“Dunn, call Monroe. He’s working on the woman’s background: school, hobbies, bank balances. Everything.”
Dunn pulled out his phone and marched outside.
“You’re not looking at her as a suspect, are you?” Jake asked his friend.
Ethan put his hand on Jake’s shoulder. “Seriously, go home.”
“Not happening.” Jake eyed Ethan. “A doctor left the E.R. just before her B.P. dropped. Gut tells me he’s the one who spiked her IV.”
“Did you tell Dunn about this?”
“No.”
“Good. Let’s keep this between us.”
“You don’t trust your own men? You need to fill me in, buddy,” Jake said.
“Not now. I’ll call you later.”
“I’ll be here.”
“Jake, seriously, this isn’t your problem.”
“The woman’s here because of me, someone tried to kill her while I was sitting outside the door, and you just said you can’t trust your own guys. It is my problem.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t trust them. It’s just…this is complicated. The chief of D’s is breathing down my neck on this one, probably because Detective Edwards wasn’t supposed to be at the Chambers Building tonight.”
“Meaning?”
“I don’t know,” he snapped. “Was he dirty? Or doing undercover work someone isn’t bothering to tell me or the chief about?” Ethan took a long, deep breath and exhaled. “Don’t you have other clients who need you?”
“They pay me, they don’t need me. Go find the shooter.”
“As long as you’re here, maybe I’ll take Dunn back to the scene.”
“Take him, please take him.” Jake smiled.
They shook hands and Ethan went outside to confer with Detective Dunn.
In truth, Jake didn’t have anything pressing to deal with. He was still getting his act together after his mom’s death six months ago, going through her things, getting the house ready for sale. He was taking his time and slowly easing into his P.I. business.
Yet clients had conveniently appeared over the past few months when word got out that a former federal agent and army vet was offering his services as a private investigator. Jake had promised himself he’d be selective about his clients. He’d work with the fragile ones who were in trouble and didn’t know where else to go.
Fragile, like Mom. He had taken a leave from work when he’d learned his mom had six months to live. He could finally be there for her, take care of her during her last months on earth. He felt he was finally making up for letting her down time after time growing up.
Yet she never saw it that way. She actually blamed herself for the abuse, which had driven Jake even crazier.
“Let it go,” he whispered under his breath.
He’d been a good son in the end and now offered his services to clients who needed him most. He offered hope when they suffered from despair. That’s where he did his best work. God’s work.
The E.R. door swung open and a nurse glanced at Jake. “She’s asking for you.”
Jake pointed to his chest. “Me?”
“You’re Jake, right?”
“Yeah.”
“They’re taking her upstairs in a minute, but she wanted to see you first.”
With a nod, he followed the nurse and fought the urge to rush to Robin’s bed.
He approached with caution, steeling himself against how she’d look. She’d almost died a few minutes ago.
The nurse pulled the curtain aside and Robin glanced up at him with tired, brown eyes. She looked worn out but much better than she had an hour ago.
“Hey, you look good,” he offered.
“Don’t lie. It’s a bad way to start a relationship,” she joked.
“And a sense of humor. Amazing.”
“No, the bad guy luckily didn’t kill that.” She sighed and glanced at the nurse. “May I have a few minutes alone with Jake?”
“Sure.” The nurse pulled the curtain closed to give them privacy.
“Look, I’ve heard things about you,” Robin started, studying her fingers while she fiddled with the blanket.
“Don’t believe everything you hear.”
She glanced up. “What about the military background?”
“The hospital grapevine is pretty good.”
“And you used to be a federal agent?”
“True. How did—”
“It doesn’t matter. But I have a question—actually a favor—to ask, and I completely understand if the answer is no.”
“Go for it.”
She leveled him with desperate, cocoa-brown eyes. “I think I was almost killed tonight. Twice. I don’t know who I am, or who I can trust. Is there any way you could like, be my bodyguard or something, until this is all over?”
“Sure, I’d be honored.”
She tipped her chin. “You didn’t even think about it.”
“I don’t have to.”
She blinked, and a tear trailed down her cheek.
He fisted his hand, wanting to stroke her hair or hug her. But he knew better. He’d only break her.
“Wow, my luck is looking up.” She swiped at her face with the back of her hand. “Sorry about the tears. I know guys hate that, too.”
“Who are these guys you’ve been hanging out with?” he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
“I don’t remember,” she said with a slight smile.
The nurse pulled back the curtain. “Time to move her to a room.”
“Where?” Jake asked.
“Three-fourteen.”
He glanced at Robin. “I’ll meet you up there.”
She nodded and sighed as if everything was going to be okay. She was relying on him to protect her, save her from whatever threat planned to hound her until she was dead.
God, please let me be up to the task.
THREE
Where am I this time?
Robin opened her eyes and glanced across the room. Sunlight streamed through the curtains as she struggled to remember where she was. Right, she was in the hospital. Yet no flowers filled the window ledge, no balloons or notes from wellwishers.
Sadness settled in her chest. She felt so utterly alone and frightened, yet she knew she had friends. Her memories might be temporarily lost, but in her heart she knew some things as surely as she knew she was in a hospital bed.
Robin had friends and family who would be worried about her. If she could only figure out how to contact them.
“Can I see some ID?” Jake’s voice echoed from her doorway. He was keeping guard outside her doorway, having promised to protect her.
“Who are you?” a woman challenged. Her voice sounded familiar.
“ID,” Jake repeated.
A few seconds passed, then heels clapped against the vinyl flooring, and a cute blond woman came into view.
Jake stood beside her. “She says she’s a friend from work.”
The blonde rushed over and gave Robin a hug. Jake started to intercede and Robin waved him off. “It’s okay.”
There was something familiar about the woman, and Robin didn’t feel frightened. Actually, she appreciated the hug.
Jake nodded and left them alone.
“Oh, my God.” The blonde analyzed Robin’s bruised check and bump on the head. “When I heard the gunshot, then nothing, I was up all night trying to track you down. I’m sorry it took me so long to get here.”
“What time is it?”
“Three in the afternoon.”
“You—” Robin hesitated “—heard the gunshot?”
“We were on the phone, remember?”
“No, actually. I’m memory-challenged at the moment.”
“Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry.”
Another hug. Robin fought back tears.
The blonde looked at her. “We were on the phone. You were at work, and I ordered you to join us for dinner, then bang!”
Robin jerked. Closed her eyes.
“Sorry, that was insensitive.” The blonde placed a hand on Robin’s shoulder. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. I—” she hesitated “—can’t remember.”
“Anything? I mean, you don’t remember what happened last night?”
“Nope.”
“Good.” The woman sighed. “I mean who wants to remember seeing someone get shot, right?”
“Yeah, right, I guess.” Robin clutched the blanket. “It’s all one, big blob of nothing.”
“That’s probably normal.”
Robin glanced at her friend. “I mean everything.”
The blonde frowned. “You don’t know me, do you?”
“I remember the sound of your voice, and you look familiar, but I don’t remember your name. Sorry.”
The blond woman shot Robin a sympathetic smile. “Don’t be sorry. It’ll come back. I’m Jenn. We work together.” With a bright smile, she extended her hand, and they shook.
Robin liked this woman. She was bright and positive, and her presence eased the ball of anxiety in Robin’s chest.
“I should call work and let them know you’ll be out for a while,” Jenn said.
“Where do I work?”
“You’re an events planner for the Anna Marsh Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Tomorrow is the walkathon to raise money for pediatric cancer research.”
Sadness washed over her. “I knew something big was happening.”
“See? It’s coming back to you. I’ll call Ruth, the executive director. Where’s your phone?”
“I think I lost it when…”
A scene flashed in her mind: crawling on her hands and knees. Pitch black. The monster stalked her. Closing in. Would she make it to the door? Pull the fire alarm!
“Robin?” Jenn said.
Robin glanced up. “I was remembering…something.”
Jenn frowned with concern.
“Never mind. It’s nothing,” Robin said.
“And your phone?”
“I don’t know where it is, but my briefcase is around here somewhere.”
“I’ll get it. Who else do you want me to call? Your parents?”
“Are they in Seattle?”
“Actually, they moved to Phoenix a few years ago.”
“No, don’t call them yet. I don’t want to worry them. Just for now, let’s keep this between you and me.”
“Well, the group kind of knows. They were with me when I was talking to you. Trevor was so worried.” Jenn winked.
“Trevor?”
“The guy you’ve been crushing on for the past three months. I could make up a playbill of people in your life to help you remember.”
“That would be great.”
“What’s causing the memory loss?” Jenn said.
“Trauma to the brain. I banged my head when I hit the ground. They say it’s a miracle I didn’t sustain more serious injuries.”
“No kidding.” Jenn went into the closet and pulled out Robin’s briefcase. “You want to…” She held the briefcase out to Robin.
“No, you go ahead.”
Jenn rested it on the bed, dug around and pulled out a file folder. “This should have Ruth’s home number. I’ll give her a call. Oh, and it looks like you printed out the sign-up sheets. Want me to get those to her?”
“That would be wonderful.”
“No problem. It’s a bummer you lost your phone.”
“Yeah.” It probably had all her information, names and contact information, special dates and deadlines, and even personal information. She nibbled her lower lip. If she’d dropped it at the scene, the killer probably had it, which meant he might know everything about her.
“Hey, it’ll be okay,” Jenn said, sensing Robin’s trepidation. “Here.” Jenn pulled a small notepad out of the briefcase, wrote something down and handed it to Robin. “My contact info if you need something or remember anything and want to talk it out. Whatever.”
Robin smiled as she eyed the notepaper. Jenn had written down her name, address and phone number, with the message, Call me anytime!
“If you want, I can stop by your apartment and bring back some things.” Jenn said. “Stuff that’ll make you feel better.”
And help you remember. Robin heard the inference.
“Thanks,” Robin said. “My keys should be in the briefcase.”
Jenn dug them out just as a tall, serious-looking man with a crew cut stepped into the room. A scar ran across his right eyebrow. Did Robin know him?
“Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” the guy said to Jenn.
“Who are you?” Jenn asked.
And where was Jake? Robin wondered.
“Detective Monroe, Seattle P.D.” He flashed his badge.
A cop, an ally. Not a threat. Robin relaxed a little.
“Okay.” Jenn glanced at Robin. “I’ll be back later.” Jenn smiled and left.
Narrowing his eyes, the detective took a step closer to her bed. Robin felt small and cornered.
“You can fool the rest of them with your amnesia ploy, but I know what’s really going on.”
“What are you talking about?”
“What’d you do, promise Cole a lead on a case?”
“I didn’t promise anything, and I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Why Cole? Huh? Was he onto something, so they sent you to lure him in?” He clenched his jaw as if he was about to snap.
“You’d better leave,” she said, her voice trembling.
“Not until you give me something.” He grabbed her wrist and cuffed it to the edge of the bed.
“What are you doing?” Her heart slammed against her chest.
“Making sure you stay put until I can get answers.” He stalked around to the other side of the bed and poured her water. “Maybe this will help.”
“I can’t remember! Let me go!” She pulled on the handcuffs.
Caught. Snared. Stalked. About to be…killed?
She repeatedly pushed the nurse call button.
He closed in on her. No matter how far she leaned away, she couldn’t escape his stale coffee breath or the look of hatred in his eyes. “Cut the nonsense, lady.”
“Get away from her!”
Jake grabbed Detective Monroe’s arm and yanked him away from Robin. Anger arced through Jake’s chest at the look in her eyes. Terror didn’t begin to describe what he saw there.
Monroe glared at Jake. “You’re interfering with an ongoing investigation.”
“And you’re bullying a witness. This woman is a victim, not your perp.”
“I’m not so sure.” He eyed Robin.
She pulled on the handcuffs.
“She nearly died in the E.R.,” Jake said. “Uncuff her and get out.”
“Not until she answers some questions,” Monroe said.
“I don’t know anything!” she cried.
A young nurse rushed into the room. “What’s going on in here?”
“Police, ma’am.” Monroe flashed his badge. “I’ve been ordered to ask Miss Strand questions.”
“She’s not ready to answer your questions,” Jake said.
Monroe glared at him. “You’re a doctor now, Walters?”
“Stop it,” the nurse ordered. “She’s not up for visitors or interrogation. Now remove these cuffs and leave. Both of you.”
Monroe fisted his hand, and Jake realized the guy was dangerously close to doing something he’d regret. There were few things worse than losing a brother in blue. Jake understood the man’s emotional state but didn’t condone it.
“Let’s call Detective Beck,” Jake said.
“You do that.” But he didn’t move to uncuff Robin.
“And I’m calling security,” the nurse threatened.
Monroe snapped his glare from Jake and went around to release Robin. She turned away, her eyes connecting with Jake’s. He offered a slight smile, wanting to let her know it would be okay. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to her.
“We’re not done,” Monroe shot at Robin.
The nurse motioned for him to leave. “You, too,” the nurse said to Jake.
“No. Can he stay?” Robin asked.
The nurse frowned. “For a few minutes.”
Monroe stormed out with the nurse on his heels.
“You okay?” Jake asked.
“I’ve been better.”
She had a resilience about her that fascinated him. A cop, one of the good guys, had threatened her. but she hadn’t backed down.
“They think I was involved in the shooting?” she asked.
“They think you might have witnessed something. A police officer was killed tonight.”
Her eyes widened. “And that cop thinks I shot him?”
“I doubt it, but cops get crazy when a fellow officer is killed.”
“Yeah, he’s crazy and wants answers.” She sighed. “And my mind is a complete blank.”
“It will come back to you, in time.”
“I get the impression I don’t have time.”
Jake shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. He couldn’t argue with her.
“Someone’s after me,” she said in a soft voice.
“We don’t know that.”
“But if I saw something…”
“You need to focus on healing. You’re safe here.”
“You’re kidding, right? I almost died in the E.R., then a crazy cop handcuffs and interrogates me.”
Jake took a step closer. “It won’t happen again. I’m sorry I let Monroe question you.”
“He’s a cop. It’s not like you could have stopped him.”
“It doesn’t matter who it is. You asked me for help. I’ll make sure no one gets that close again.”
She leaned back against the pillow but didn’t look convinced. A distant memory flashed to the surface to taunt Jake. I won’t let him hurt you again, Mommy. But Jake had failed to keep that promise.
“You know the doctor in the E.R., the one who probably put something in my IV?” she said.
“Yeah?”
“I’ve seen him before.”
“You recognized him?”
“Just his eyes.” She hesitated. “Death Eyes.”
The nurse came into the room and checked Robin’s blood pressure. “Your few minutes is up,” she said, not looking at Jake.
“How are her vitals?” Jake asked.
“Everything looks good.” The nurse smiled at Robin.
With a nod, Jake started for the door.
“Wait, Jake?”
He turned to her.
“Thanks, for coming to the rescue.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Do you…?” She hesitated. “Would you want to sit in here?”
Robin glanced at the nurse.
“If it would make you feel better,” the nurse said.
“It would.” Robin motioned to a chair.
It hit a little too close to home, having recently spent months sitting beside Mom, but Jake read panic in Robin’s eyes. She would feel better if he stayed close.
“Sure.” With a nod, Jake collapsed in a corner chair where he had a clear view of the door.
The nurse finished up and left Robin and Jake alone.
Robin leaned against the pillow and eyed him. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why are you here?”
“Excuse me?” He sat up straight. Had she forgotten asking him to protect her?
“Don’t look so worried. I remember asking you to stay,” she said as if she’d read his mind. “I’m wondering why you came to the hospital with me in the first place.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, he said, “I guess I feel responsible. It’s my fault you ran into the street.”
“You weren’t trying to shoot me.”
“No, but I frightened you, and you tore off to get away from me.”
“I wish I could remember.” She closed her eyes and pulled the blankets up to her chin.
The woman was a mess. Who wouldn’t be? The hospital should be a safe place, a healing place. Instead, it had turned into a war zone where enemies hid in every corner from the E.R. to her hospital room.
Detective Monroe. A complete jerk. Jake couldn’t believe the guy had gone after her like that, handcuffed her to the bed. What on earth was he thinking?
“I wish you could remember, too,” Jake said.
With a sigh, she rolled onto her side, facing him. Wrapped in blankets, she looked childlike and fragile.
“I’m afraid of what comes next,” she said in a soft voice.
“Don’t be. Just rest. That’s the best thing you can do for yourself.”
She nodded and closed her eyes. He folded his hands behind his head and leaned back. This woman tapped into all his protective instincts from his mom, to his ex-girlfriend, to innocents in Iraq. He was overthinking again.
He glanced at the door as someone passed. That’s what he should be focused on, not the tender beauty wrapped in white.
He suddenly wondered if this was his chance at redemption, his chance to make it right. He’d see Robin through to the end and make sure she wasn’t another innocent victim of violence.
Robin awakened with a start, terrified all over again. She glanced around to get her bearings and spotted Jake in the corner of the dark room, asleep in the chair.
She hadn’t slept well, tossing and turning, her thoughts driving her into a deeper sense of foreboding. She’d seen something she shouldn’t have, and couldn’t remember anything clearly enough to help the police find the killer.
Those buried memories were going to get her killed.
She didn’t want to die. She had a lot to do, things to accomplish. Too bad she couldn’t remember what they were.
A creaking sound from the doorway made her jackknife in bed. She squinted through the dark room toward the light in the hallway, but no one was there.
She was tempted to ask for a sleep aid, but didn’t like taking drugs of any kind, even an over-the-counter pain reliever, although she’d accepted a few of those earlier to ease her pounding head.
Placing a hand to her heart to calm herself, she flopped back against the bed and eyed Jake, her self-proclaimed bodyguard. His arms were folded across his chest, his head tipped forward. Guilt snagged her insides. He looked so uncomfortable. She shouldn’t have asked him to stay, but she didn’t know who else to turn to. She needed someone’s help, and so far Jake had been the only person in her life who seemed to be more concerned about Robin than the murder case.
The shrill sound of the phone made her jump. She grabbed it, not wanting it to awaken Jake. “Hello?” she whispered.
“Death Eyes is coming for you,” a gravelly voice whispered.
She slammed the receiver, ripped out her IV and jumped out of bed, backing up against the wall.
“Robin?” Jake said, clearing his throat and sitting up. “What’s wrong?”
“Phone,” was all she could say.
The walls closed in. She wasn’t even safe in the hospital. The cops considered her a suspect, the killer had spiked her IV, and although Jake was here, he didn’t owe her anything. He could abandon her at any time.
She felt like a revolving duck at a carnival shooting gallery, ready to be picked off as she made the next turn.
Although much of her memory was lost, she knew she was a strong and determined woman. She was not going to be terrorized by a phantom and lie in bed waiting for him to finish the job.
“It’s okay,” Jake said, edging toward her. “Why don’t you get back into bed?”
“And wait to be killed or arrested? No, thanks. I’ve got to get out of here.”
She hobbled to the closet, her sore knee giving her a little trouble.
“Robin, be reasonable.” Jake blocked her.
“Please get out of my way.” She planted her hands on her hips.
He stepped aside. She grabbed the bag with her clothes and went into the bathroom. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Who was that woman?
“Very funny,” she muttered. She recognized herself, she just didn’t like what she saw staring back at her: a bruised and pathetic-looking woman.
“You are not pathetic. You’re just hurt. And scared.” She searched her briefcase and found her wallet. “Awesome.” She had forty bucks and a few credit cards plus her driver’s license with her address.
The cash was enough for a cab. She remembered what Jenn had written on the slip of paper: Call me anytime!
But it was the middle of the night, really not a good time to call a friend and ask for a ride. Robin could take a cab to Jenn’s place, at least that way her friend wouldn’t have to get dressed and drive to the hospital to get her.
Robin slipped on her pants and buttoned her dirt-smudged, cream-colored blouse. Her head was still foggy, but she was okay, surprisingly okay. She slung her briefcase over her shoulder and opened the bathroom door.
Her gaze locked on Jake’s amazing blue-green eyes.
“Don’t argue with me.” Robin went to the bed and searched the table for Jenn’s note.
“Why are you leaving?” he challenged.
“I can’t sleep.”
“Who was on the phone?”
She snatched Jenn’s note off the floor and shoved it into her pocket. “It doesn’t matter.”
Robin stepped around Jake, marched to the door and glanced down the hall toward the nurse’s station. A nurse sat at a desk with her back to Robin.
He stepped in front of her. “I wish you’d reconsider.”
“Please get out of my way.”
“A doctor should release you.”
“I can’t wait for a doctor.” She walked around him and opened the stairwell door.
“It’s not safe to go home,” he said, following close behind her.
She gripped the railing as she climbed down the stairs, slowly, favoring her right leg. “It isn’t safe here, either.”
He stepped in front of her and blocked the door to the ground level. “What happened?” He narrowed his eyes as if trying to read her mind.
She gripped the strap of her briefcase. Besides Jenn, this stranger was the only person she could trust. “He called my hospital room.”
“Who?”
“Death Eyes.”
“How do you know it was him?”
“He identified himself.”
“How did he know you called him that?”
“I think I whispered it before I passed out. What does it matter? He’s coming for me, and I’m not waiting around to be killed!” She closed her eyes, embarrassed by her outburst.
Jake’s warm, solid hand brushed against her sleeve. “It’s okay. Take a deep breath. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you, remember?”
With a sigh, she opened her eyes. “I’d like to believe you, I really would. But let’s be real. I don’t know you. Why should you help me?”
“I’ve given you my word.” He opened the door. “My car’s in the garage.”
Great, now she was going off with a strange man?
“You can drop me at Jenn’s.”
“Please stay close,” Jake said, his hand on something inside his jacket. A gun? Did he expect Death Eyes to pop out from behind a car?
She hoped by morning the fog would lift from her brain, and she’d recall exactly what happened. At this point all she could remember were flashes of memory, frightening flashes.
She glanced at her briefcase and rubbed her fingers against the smooth leather. She remembered doing this before, brushing her hand across it while holding her cell phone to her ear.
Memories echoed in her brain.
I’m ordering you a longhorn burger as we speak.
Walking toward the elevators…noticing a light from an office spilling out into the hallway…she glanced right—
“Stop!” she gasped.
“Robin?”
She struggled to breathe, gripping Jake’s jacket with trembling fingers. “I saw the light from the office. Someone was there.”
“In the Chambers Building?”
She nodded, but words couldn’t make it past her throat.
“It’s okay.” He glanced across the half-empty garage. “Let’s get you out of here.” He put his arm protectively around her shoulder and led her to a small pickup truck.
Robin couldn’t stop trembling as the memory clawed at the edge of her mind, taunting her, terrorizing her with the unknown.
A bang made her shriek.
“Shh, it’s okay. Someone just slammed a car door,” Jake said, squeezing her shoulder.
As they approached the pickup, a security officer stepped in front of them. “Ma’am, are you okay?”
“I’m…I’m, no,” she said wanting to destroy the memories circling her brain like crows over a dead animal.
“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to step away from the woman,” the security guard ordered.
“You don’t understand—”
“The woman obviously feels threatened by you.”
Jake released her and Robin felt utterly vulnerable all over again.
“Robin, stay close,” Jake said.
The security guard stepped between them. “Sir, please keep your distance.”
“She’s suffering from a head injury.”
“Hands on the car.”
Jake turned and placed his hands to the roof of his truck. “Robin, it’s okay.”
He was being patted down and was still trying to take care of her.
“What’s this?” The guard pulled a gun from inside Jake’s jacket and waved it in his face.
She shivered at the sight of the black steel. A chill started deep in her bones and permeated her entire body to her fingertips.
“I’m a private investigator. I have a permit for that.”
Robin had seen one of those before, black steel aimed at her…
She backed a few steps away from Jake and the guard as she fought back the memories.
A red stain spreading across the carpet…
Saturating a man’s crisp, white shirt.
Her pulse raced as she turned away from the sight of the gun. She looked up just as blinding headlights pinned her in place.
The squeal of tires pierced her eardrums.
She couldn’t move, couldn’t cry out.
“Robin!” Jake shouted.
FOUR
Jake lunged at Robin and yanked her out of the way of the moving car. Blood pounding in his ears, he turned his back and held his breath.
The roar of the engine bounced off the low ceiling as the car clipped another car, then sped away. Jake glanced up to catch what he could of the plate number. The guard chased after the car, probably with the same idea.
The feel of Robin clinging to his shirt snapped Jake’s attention back to the trembling woman in his arms.
“It’s okay. Shh.” He stroked her hair, held her against his chest. He couldn’t remember ever comforting a woman like this. Was he doing it right?
“He tried to hit her,” the guard said, marching up to them. “What was that about?”
“Call Detective Ethan Beck. He’ll explain it.”
Jake gave the guard Ethan’s number. While the guard made the call, Jake opened the passenger door to the truck and placed his hands on Robin’s shoulders.
“Why don’t you get in the truck?” he said.
She nodded with a look of utter devastation. Her beautiful eyes were clouded with fear.
“Hey.” He tipped her chin up with his forefinger. “You’re okay. He’s gone.”
She absently shifted into the front seat. He started to shut the door.
“Wait,” she said. “Can you…leave it open?”
“Sure, no problem.”
The guard walked around the truck to Jake and held out his cell phone. “He wants to talk to you.”
“Are we good?” Jake asked the guy.
“Yes.”
“My gun?”
The guard slipped it from his belt and handed it to him.
Jake took the phone and stepped away from the truck. “Ethan, someone just tried to—”
“I know. Listen, I’m going to text you the address of a safe house. Get her there, ASAP. My guys are waiting.”
“Are you sure you can trust them?”
“Yes. Just go with me on this, okay? I’ll fill you in later.”
“I got a partial plate on the vehicle that tried to run her down. Washington plate, starts with one-six-four. Honda Civic probably seven, eight years old.”
“Thanks. I’m depending on you, buddy,” Ethan said.
“So is Robin. She’s asked me to stay close.”
“Robin might be involved in something pretty nasty. Drop her off and drive away.”
“You keep asking me to do that, but you know I won’t.”
“Jake—”
“Talk to you later.” He ended the call and handed the phone to the security guard. “I’ve got to get her to a safe house.”
“Right. Sorry about before.”
“You were doing your job.”
Jake went to the passenger side of his truck. Robin’s eyes were closed. She leaned back against the headrest.
“Robin?”
She looked up, fear tinting her chocolate-brown eyes, and something pinched Jake’s chest.
“I’m taking you to a safe house, okay?”
She nodded, clinging to her leather briefcase.
Jake shut the door and glanced across the parking garage. The guard was halfway to the elevator, but otherwise there was no movement. His shoulders knotted with tension. He got behind the wheel of his pickup and took a deep breath.
“It’s going to be okay.” He kept saying that and yet it never was okay. Everywhere Robin went it seemed like danger was lurking in the shadows, ready to jump out and attack her.
Kill her.
He shoved the car in gear and pulled out of the garage, gripping the steering wheel with more force than necessary. Would her attacker be waiting on a nearby side street? Tail them and make another attempt on her life?
“Can you talk to me?” she said.
“About what?”
“I don’t care, you know, small talk? I’m spinning again and need to stop it.”
“Spinning?” He headed north on State Route 99 and kept a keen eye on the rearview mirror.
“I get stuck in a bad head space and spin like a top. I’m afraid I’m going to have a full-blown anxiety attack.”
“Don’t beat yourself up for that. You’ve had more threats against your life in the last thirty hours than the average person has in two lifetimes.”
She sighed and glanced out the window. Light rain tapped against the glass.
“Sorry, that didn’t make you feel better, did it?” he said. “Okay, small talk.” He searched his mind. “The Mariners look good this year.”
She tipped her face to study him. “Tell me something about yourself.”
He redirected his focus to the traffic ahead of them. “What do you know so far?”
“You’re a war veteran and federal agent.”
“Was a federal agent.”
“You’re too young to have retired.”
“I took personal leave to help out my mom.”
“So, now I know you’re a good son.”
He shrugged. If he’d really been good, he would have defended her long before the cancer took hold. He would have stood up for her instead of hiding when the old man swung his way through the house.
“You have brothers and sisters?” she asked.
“One sister. Older.” Always absent. Jake understood. Amy had to take care of herself. She’d done pretty well in life, earned her degree, married a decent man and had kids. She’d settled in eastern Washington, far enough away to be safe from the old man.
“Your parents?” Robin asked.
“Old man’s been gone for five years, and Mom passed in January. Cancer.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. She’s in a better place.”
“That expression never makes me feel better.”
“You remember hearing it before?” He winked, trying to lighten the moment.
“Yeah, I guess I have.”
A minute passed. She fidgeted next to him, and he guessed the silence made her uncomfortable.
“So,” she started up again. “You took a leave of absence from…”
“Homeland Security.”
“Do you intend to go back?”
“Probably not. I’m doing pretty well as a P.I. and private security.”
“You mean, for me?”
“I’ve done private security for other people.”
“How much do you charge?”
“Depends on the case.”
“What about my case?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Jake—”
“Really. Don’t. I figured pro bono work into my operating costs. I won’t starve by helping you out.”
“Are you…?” Robin hesitated.
“What?”
“Never mind.”
“Aw, don’t tease me like that.”
“I was going to ask if your family will be upset with you for spending so much time protecting me.”
“Nope.”
“Your wife and children?”
“No wife. No children. Why did you think I was married?”
“You just seem the type.”
“Yeah? What type is that?”
“The settling-down type.”
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my thirty-one years, it’s never to assume you know someone.”
He thought he knew Mom, but some days she was a mystery. After all, why would the woman stay with an abuser?
Cassandra, his near-fiancée, wasn’t any easier to understand. She’d said she’d wait for him to return from his tour of duty. She’d said a lot of things that had turned out to be lies, but not everything. Like her accusation that he had violent tendencies. She’d hit the mark with that one.
“Why did you join the military?” Robin pushed.
He understood her need to keep talking, even if he was uncomfortable answering her questions.
“Couldn’t afford college,” he lied. He was offered a few scholarships, but he carried so much anger inside of him he figured he’d put his violent tendencies to good use and fight for his country, maybe exorcise some of his angst.
“Your turn,” he said.
“I can’t remember anything, remember?” She shook her head. “That sounded dumb.”
He wanted to remind her she remembered something about last night, but the goal was to keep her calm, not upset her again by stirring up the memory of the man she called Death Eyes. He’d bring that up later, after she calmed down.
“I think you remember more than you think.” He smiled, hoping to ease her anxiety. Maybe this was a bad idea, but he had to try. For her sake. “What’s your favorite color?”
“Blue,” she said, raising her eyebrows in shock. “How did I know that?”
“See, you do remember some things. How old are you?”
“Twenty-nine.”
“Where do you live?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Afraid I’m going to stalk you?”
“No, I saw my address on my driver’s license. That would be cheating.”
“You’ve got integrity. Add that to the list of things you know about yourself. How about, favorite movie?”
“Sound of Music.”
“Book?”
She nibbled her thumbnail and gave it some thought. And for a few seconds she didn’t look so scared. The tension eased in Jake’s shoulders.
“Nope,” she said. “I’m drawing a blank.”
“Well, two out of three is good.” He exited 99 and slowed at the stoplight. He punched the safe house address into his GPS and glanced in the rearview mirror. No cars behind him. He wasn’t followed.
“Try another one,” she said over the monotone voice of the GPS.
“Favorite food.”
“Easy. Donuts from Pike Place Market.”
“Powdered sugar or plain?”
“Powdered, definitely. I could eat those for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
“Not with that figure you can’t.” He shook his head. “Sorry.”
She cracked a slight smile, at least he thought she did.
“Favorite TV show?” Jake continued.
“Castle.”
“Brothers or sisters?”
Her smile faded and she gazed out the side window. The GPS directions echoed in the car between them. “Robin?”
“How much longer to the safe house?”
“Five minutes.”
He’d said something wrong and didn’t even know what. Suddenly he felt the need to do his own background check on Robin to make sure he wouldn’t walk into trouble again. The last thing he wanted was to upset her.
He followed the GPS directions and made a right, drove three blocks and made another right. They pulled up across the street from the address Ethan had given him. A light glowed behind the curtains in the small ranch.
He turned to her. “This is it.”
She glanced at the house. “How long will I be here?”
“I’m not privy to that information. Sorry.”
“Probably until this case is over, huh?” she whispered.
“Let’s get you settled.” Opening his door, he shot a glance one way up the street, then the other. It was nearly three in the morning, and the neighborhood was quiet. He came around the truck and offered his hand to steady Robin as she got out. She took it without hesitation.
“Thanks,” she said.
He closed the door and he cupped her elbow as they crossed the street. She didn’t pull away, and it felt natural to touch her like this.
“I was really lucky tonight,” she said.
“How do you figure?”
She hesitated at the bottom of the porch steps and looked at him with worry in her eyes. “I’d hate to think what would have happened if you hadn’t been at the Chambers Building.”
“Then don’t think about it. Come on, let’s get you inside.” He continued, glancing right and left across the neighborhood.
They started up the stairs and the door opened. Detective Monroe motioned them up the stairs as he scanned the neighborhood. “Let’s go, let’s go.”
Robin stepped onto the porch and hesitated. “I’m not staying anywhere with you.”
“We don’t have time to discuss it. Get in the house.”
“But you handcuffed me.”
“I know. I’m sorry, okay? I’m a jerk.”
“That’s one word for it,” Jake muttered.
Monroe motioned with his fingers. “I’ll apologize more inside, okay?”
Robin looked at Jake for guidance. “Come on.” He guided her in front of him toward the door. Once she crossed the threshold, Monroe blocked him.
“Sorry, Walters. Not you.”
“No. Jake is protecting me,” Robin argued.
Detective Dunn stepped out from the kitchen sipping a cup of coffee. “Yeah, he’s done such a great job so far.”
Jake tried to ignore the guy’s comment, but it hit its mark. She’d been threatened twice while under Jake’s unofficial protection.
“Beck told you to drop her off and leave,” Monroe said to Jake. “That’s what you’re going to do.”
Jake didn’t want to get into a territorial fight with these guys. They were following orders and didn’t like outsiders. He knew how it worked.
He also knew he’d made a promise to Robin.
“This isn’t fair,” Robin said.
“Look, Miss Strand,” Monroe started. “We’re going to protect you. You’re involved in a criminal case and we don’t want to risk screwing it up by involving civilians.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You treated me like a suspect.”
He sighed. “That was inappropriate. I was upset about Detective Edwards. I’m sorry you got the brunt of that. Truly.”
It seemed genuine. Ethan told Jake he trusted these guys, and Jake didn’t want to upset Robin with a turf war between him and the cops.
“He’s right, Robin,” Jake said. “It’s their job to protect you. I have no jurisdiction here.”
“I gave you jurisdiction.” She cocked her chin up in defiance.
“Someone’s got a case of transference,” Detective Dunn said.
She glanced at him with furrowed eyebrows.
“Robin,” Jake said to get her attention.
She refocused on Jake and he looked straight into her eyes.
“Remember what I promised?”
“Yes.”
“I keep my promises.”
Understanding dawned in her eyes. She understood that although he was leaving her at the house with the detectives, he wouldn’t be far. Transference or not, he’d given his word.
“So, we’re good?” Monroe said, looking from Jake to Robin.
“I guess,” she said.
“Good night.” Monroe shut the door in Jake’s face.
Shoving his hands into his pockets, Jake walked down the steps to his car. He’d move it in case the cops looked out the window to make sure he’d left. Still, he wanted Robin to see him, to be assured by his presence.
Man, you’re just feeding into her psychosis. Which is what it was, right? Detective Dunn had nailed it: she’d developed a healthy case of transference and was looking up to Jake as her protector.
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