Into Dust

by B. J Daniels

  “Who hired you to do that to me?” she had asked, terrified he would say it had been Buck, the father of her children, the man she loved. She hadn’t wanted to suspect Buck, but the man who’d found her when she’d literally been dropped back into Montana, Russell Murdock, had been convinced that her husband had been behind the brain wiping. Russell believed that there was something Buck didn’t want her to remember. Something so terrible that it had driven her to attempt suicide all those years ago.

  “I saved your life, Sarah,” Dr. Venable had said. “That winter night you drove into the Yellowstone River, your car breaking through the ice, the freezing water washing you downstream? I’m the person you called after that old hermit rescued you. You begged me to help you. The reason you called me was because you knew I was the one person you could turn to. The one person who understood and would help you.”

  “It makes no sense why I would try to kill myself. I loved Buck. I loved my children. I loved my life. What would make me agree to leave them for any reason?”

  “You had your reasons, though misguided, and that is why I sent someone to pick you up and bring you to my clinic in White Sulphur Springs, a half day away from Hamilton Ranch. You and I are friends, Sarah. We’ve been friends for years—long before you met Buck.”

  “How is that possible? I don’t remember any of it!” she’d cried. “You stole that from me.”

  “Only because you begged me to. You couldn’t live with the memories. That’s why you tried to kill yourself.”

  She hadn’t believed him. She’d snatched up her cell phone, but his calm, reassuring voice had stopped her.

  “Who are you going to call, Sarah? The sheriff? Your former husband? One of your daughters?”

  She had looked down at the cell screen, her fingers momentarily frozen over the keys. Russell. He’d said to call him. He’d known Dr. Venable would come for her again. He’d known that Dr. Venable wasn’t finished with her.

  “Even Russell can’t help you like I can,” the doctor had said, surprising her that he knew about Russell. Knew that was who she was thinking of calling.

  “I can clear this all up for you, Sarah. You want answers? I can provide them. I am the only one who can. Put down the phone. I’ve come back to help you—just as we planned.”

  She had looked from the phone to his face. Even as she’d tried to deny what he’d been saying, she’d known it was true. She had called him that night. She had trusted him. Even if she didn’t remember, there was one thing she had known. Dr. Venable had all the answers she desperately needed.

  That day last spring, she’d asked, “You know why I tried to kill myself?” The knife had wavered in her hand, the cell phone forgotten.

  He’d nodded. “I know everything from the first time you and I met all those years ago.”

  She had begun to cry. He’d stepped to her, taking the knife, then the cell phone and putting them aside before he’d taken her in his arms like a kindly father comforting her.

  “It’s all right, Sarah. You’re going to be all right now. I’m here. I’m going to help you. It’s time.”

  Now, months later, she still felt afraid and angry. She still wanted to kill him. But they both knew it was true. He was her only hope if she ever wanted to get the memories back. She needed answers before she could be with Buck as his wife again. Dr. Venable kept telling her they had to return her memories slowly. She wasn’t sure she believed him, but she’d had little choice.

  “I can’t keep living like this,” she said now. “I have to know what it is you’re hiding from me before I can commit to Buck. I don’t care if that’s your plan or not.” She dug her heels in. Just the fact that Dr. Venable was determined that she get back together with her husband made her resist.

  He didn’t just scare her. It was clear from the moment she found him standing on her doorstep that he wasn’t just here for her. Whatever his ulterior motive was, it had something to do with her—and Buck.

  Dr. Venable opened the small black bag he carried. He could have passed for a country doctor fifty years ago. He took out a tiny dark blue velvet bag. “I promise you that by the time he arrives, it will all be very clear.”

  Her mouth went dry. She stared at the bag in his fingers, suddenly terrified. “What are you going to do to me?”

  “I’m going to help you remember everything you need to know so your husband will be the next president and you will be by his side. Right where you are destined to be.”

  Destined to be? Something in those words... Sarah felt her heart shudder. Suddenly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to remember.

  * * *

  WHILE CASSIDY CHANGED into the clothing he’d bought her, Jack stepped out into the hall and called his father.

  Tom Durand answered on the second ring. “Son, I didn’t expect to hear from you.”

  Jack took a breath and let it out slowly. Had Ed recognized him earlier? Had he told his employer what had happened? “I didn’t like the way we left things the last time we talked,” he said, feeling his way cautiously.

  “Neither did I. So I’m glad you called.”

  “How’s LA?”

  “Crowded compared to Texas.”

  Jack could hear something in the background. “Are you on a plane?”

  His father laughed. “A boat. Headed for Catalina Island. I have a meeting out there.”

  It was several hours earlier on the West Coast, so not evening there quite yet. But still, there was no way his father could have gotten from Texas to California unless he’d jumped right on his private jet after Jack had seen him.

  “How’s the weather?”

  “It’s beautiful. Amazing sunset.” Tom Durand sounded downright cheerful. Jack was beginning to wonder if he had misread what happened at the cemetery. Maybe the money had nothing to do with the abduction of Cassidy Hamilton. Maybe his father was in California. Maybe he was on a boat to Catalina Island. Otherwise—

  “Jack, if you’re at the ranch, could you do me a favor?”

  He felt the hair rise on the back of his neck. “Sorry, I’m in town. Had to run a few errands. Is it something I can do when I get back there?”

  “No, it can wait.” The sound of the boat motor seemed to be getting louder. Or was it an automobile motor and the sound in the background wasn’t waves but actually traffic on the highway? “I think I’m going to lose you. We’ll talk later. I’m glad you called.”

  “Me, too.” He disconnected, more confused than ever. His father had sounded too cheerful. Also, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his father had only asked if he was at the ranch because he wanted to know where Jack was.

  He was just putting his phone away when the hotel room door opened and Cassidy stuck her head out.

  “I thought I heard you out here,” she said, her expression tensing when she saw that he’d been on the phone.

  “I had to cancel a dinner engagement I had.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No,” he quickly assured her. “It wasn’t anything important.” Stepping back into the hotel room, he closed the door, winging his story as he went and hoping she bought it. “I was just verifying something. I saw a logo on one of the men in the van’s jacket sleeve. It’s a local warehouse company. It might be a place to start.”

  She raised a brow in admiration he didn’t deserve. “Nice job. What company?”

  “T.D. Enterprises Inc.” He saw from her expression that she’d never heard of it. “You look nothing like Cassidy Hamilton,” he said, glad to be able to change the subject. He’d picked up a pair of dark-framed glasses for her with clear glass lenses. The clothes, the hair, the glasses. The change was truly remarkable. No one would recognize her as the perky blonde she’d been hours ago.

  Cassidy did a twirl, then smiling, asked, “So what’s our next move?”


  Our next move? “I’m not sure you should go with me for this part,” he said, but she was already shaking her head before he finished.

  “Like you said, I look nothing like Cassidy. So whatever you’re planning to do, I’m going with you.”

  That was a bad idea on so many levels that Jack was at a loss for words. First off, they would be going to his father’s business. He didn’t want Cassidy knowing yet who he was or that his father might be behind this. Add to that the danger. They could be caught. They could even run into Ed.

  “I’m going with you,” she said, standing her ground. “I’m the one who got you into this. So stop trying to think of reasons I shouldn’t.” She looked around the dingy hotel room and hugged herself. She was still scared and didn’t want to be left alone here. He couldn’t blame her.

  And it was true. She didn’t look like the cute blonde Ed had tried to abduct earlier. Since he had a key to the facility, the two of them could waltz into his father’s offices without being questioned should the night guard catch them. Also, he could tell by her determined expression that she wasn’t going to sit tight and wait for him to figure this out.

  If he hoped to help her, he couldn’t keep her locked up in this hotel room. Which meant he had no choice but to take her to T.D. Enterprises Inc. with him later tonight.

  But first he had to retrieve his truck. If Ed had found it, then Jack was pretty sure he’d be waiting for him. It was why they’d taken a taxi earlier. He couldn’t leave the truck there overnight, though. Also, it was the best vehicle to take to the office. Which meant he was going to have to risk it.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CASSIDY LICKED GUACAMOLE off her fingertips as she studied the man sitting across from her. Jack had taken her to a small Mexican restaurant in a funky neighborhood that went well with the clothing he’d bought her. She felt downright Bohemian. Her stomach had been growling by the time the waitress slid a huge plate of enchiladas, chiles rellenos, and beans and rice in front of her.

  Earlier, he’d left her at the hotel, but only long enough to get his vehicle. He’d returned with a ranch truck. At first she’d thought he’d stolen it.

  “I live on a ranch outside of Houston,” he’d told her. “I have use of the vehicles.”

  “So what do you know about this company, T.D. Enterprises Inc.?” she now asked between bites.

  “I gather it’s an import/export business.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “They buy and sell based on surplus, bringing in what Americans want and sending out what other countries want from us.” He shrugged.

  “Hmm,” she said thoughtfully. “What would someone in the import/export business want with me?”

  He shook his head.

  She took another bite. Accidentally catching her reflection in a mirror across the room, she was momentarily startled.

  “What?” Jack asked, sounding worried as he glanced over his shoulder.

  “I just can’t get over how I look. I’m shocked when I see my reflection, but not in a bad way. I think I look more...interesting.” She touched her short hair, wondering why she’d never cut it. She and her twin, Harper, had had the same exact hairstyle since they were kids—long straight blond hair. “I like the clothes, too. I should shop flea markets more often.”

  He laughed at that. “You’d look good in anything, even rags.”

  She smiled at the compliment. Jack, however, seemed embarrassed, as if afraid it hadn’t come out the way he’d meant it. As she studied him, she realized something. “You know everything about me, but I don’t know anything about you.”

  “There isn’t much to tell.” He seemed to concentrate on the food on his plate, as if embarrassed to have the topic turned on him. “I’m an only child.”

  “I can’t imagine how wonderful that would be,” she said, only half joking. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my sisters, but it’s hard being one of the youngest and having five sisters bossing you around.”

  “It must have been fun growing up, though,” he said as if truly interested. “You grew up on a ranch?”

  Nodding, she said, “It was fun. We rode horses, swam in the creek, camped up in the mountains. The Crazies, at least that’s what people call the Crazy Mountains, are right out our back door. But there were drawbacks, too. I’m sure you’ve read in the papers about my mother, who supposedly died when I was just a few months old. She returned over a year ago after being dead for twenty-two years.” Cassidy shook her head, realizing that he’d turned the conversation back on her. “I bet your family is completely normal, right?”

  He nodded. “Boringly normal. I was raised on a ranch, where I tried to ride any animal that would hold still long enough.”

  “You rodeoed?” she asked. He had the look of a bronc rider.

  Jack seemed to relax as he grinned and nodded. “There wasn’t a bucking horse on the circuit that didn’t leave me in the dust. I realized finally that I wasn’t born to rodeo. About then my father bought a ranch and I began to run it. It was my twenty-first birthday present. Don’t look so impressed. It was a tax write-off for him.”

  “Still, nice present,” she said. “So what do your parents do?”

  “My father is a businessman. My mother was a homemaker.”

  “Was?”

  “She died. A car accident.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

  “I miss her.” He grew silent. “It’s been a few years.”

  She could see that the years hadn’t lessened the pain. She picked at her food.

  “My oldest sister, Ainsley, pretty much raised us girls,” she said into the silence that followed. “Dad was always involved in politics. When he became a senator, he was gone a lot.”

  “But you had a stepmother?”

  “Angelina, the ice queen.”

  Jack laughed and she laughed with him. “I take it you didn’t get along?”

  “She ignored us, we ignored her. The only time we had to deal with her was when we got into trouble.” She mugged a face. “Then we’d have to hear about how we were ruining our father’s career with our selfish behavior,” she said in a stern voice.

  “What kind of trouble did you get into?” he asked.

  “Kid stuff. You know, caught with some young neighbor boy in the barn or getting busted at a local underage kegger or taking one of the ranch vehicles without permission and ending up in a ditch on the way home. I remember once when she caught me trying to ride one of the wild horses.”

  “Seriously? You tried to ride a bucking horse?”

  “You did the same thing.”

  He nodded. “But you’re...”

  “Female? You noticed.” She grinned at him and realized she was flirting about the same time he did. Instantly, he turned back to his food.

  Cassidy took a few bites of her meal. She’d been having fun a few minutes ago, enjoying Jack’s company. For a while she’d forgotten why they were here and what was at stake and it had felt good.

  But somewhere beyond this Mexican restaurant with its Latin music and wonderful smells were men who might at this moment be looking for her. She pushed her plate away.

  “So how do we get into the offices at T.D. Enterprises Inc.?” she asked.

  * * *

  JACK GREW SERIOUS AGAIN as well. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had this much fun on a date. But this wasn’t a date. He was Jack Durand, the son of a man who as far as he could tell had tried to abduct the daughter of the future president. If Cassidy even knew who he was or why he’d just happened to be around to help her...

  He couldn’t let himself think about that. Or what would happen if his father was really behind this. Instead, he concentrated on her question. He couldn’t simply admit to using his key to get into the warehous
e tonight. “I know someone who knows a guy who works out there who owes him a favor. He’s going to leave a key for me at the back entrance.”

  “Wow, the guy must owe him a huge favor,” she said.

  “Houston is a small town when you lived here all of your life,” he said and she nodded, but still seemed a little dubious. He sighed. “Also, I told him a little white lie about having worked there for a short period of time and that I needed to get my personnel file. I told him my boss was an ass and I was trying to get into a graduate program and I needed to make sure that personnel file didn’t turn up.”

  “Is any of that true?”

  “I had to think fast on my feet.”

  She smiled. “Clearly, you’re good at that, otherwise who knows where I would be right now.”

  He felt a healthy jab of guilt. She was looking at him as if he was some kind of hero. He told himself it would be easier just to come clean and tell her who he was. Who his father was. But first he had to be sure that what he’d seen at the cemetery was exactly what he thought it was.

  He needed her to trust him a little longer and then he would tell her everything. He couldn’t do anything until he knew if his father was involved.

  Jack watched her drawing circles in the condensation on her iced-tea glass. From her expression, she was either reliving what had happened earlier on the street or having second thoughts. Was she suspicious of him and his explanations?

  “Are you worried about us getting caught, because if you are, Cassidy—”

  “No, and maybe you should call me something other than my real name.”

  He hadn’t thought of that. “What would you suggest?”

  She shrugged. “My sisters used to call me Beany.”

  “Beany?”

  “They had this silly little rhyme that went with it.” She looked embarrassed. “It was cute at the time.”

  “Beany it is.”

  Cassidy smiled that big, breathtaking smile of hers and he felt his heart do a few loop-de-loops before he told it to knock it off. He needed to keep both feet on the ground given that he was risking not only his own life, but also hers.