A Thanksgiving To Remember

by Margaret Watson

  “I’ll see you in the morning, Tina,” he said, opening the door. He didn’t want her to leave, but if she stayed any longer, his good intentions would fly out the window. “And don’t forget to call when you get home.”

  “I won’t.” She hesitated on the porch. “Good night, Tom,” she finally said. He thought she wanted to say more, but she turned away and hurried to her car. The night air was cold, and he watched her breath form a cloud as she unlocked her car door. He wanted to walk out and kiss her goodbye, but instead he gripped the doorknob and waited for her to get into the car. Only then did he let go of the knob. He raised his hand in farewell and watched her drive away.

  He couldn’t sit down. He paced the room, calculating how long it would take for her to drive home, then get in the house and lock up. He was just about to call her himself when the phone rang.

  “I’m home,” she said.

  “Thank God. Have you checked the house?”

  “I’m going through it as we speak. That way, if there’s an intruder, you’ll hear me scream.” He heard the teasing laughter in her voice.

  Fear gripped him again, and he didn’t answer. After a moment, she said, “I’m sorry, Tom. I shouldn’t have said that.” All the laughter was gone from her voice. “Please, forgive me. I’m not making fun of you. It’s just that I’m not worried.”

  “I know,” he muttered. “And I’m not sure why I am.”

  “I’ll be careful.” He heard a muffled noise, and then she was back. “I checked all the windows and they’re all locked. So are all the doors.”

  “If you hear something tonight, will you promise me you’ll call the police?”

  “If it will make you feel better, I will,” she said.

  “Good.” He took a deep, shuddering breath. “Even if you think it’s a neighbor, or a cat.”

  “Even if I think it’s harmless,” she repeated. “I’ll call the police.”

  “Good night, Tina. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Good night.” He heard the soft click of the phone disconnecting, but stood holding it in his hand for a while before he replaced it. He’d be damned if he’d be trapped in this hotel for another day. He was going to get a car tomorrow. He needed to be able to get to Tina’s quickly if she needed him.

  Tina was sure there was nothing wrong, he reminded himself. And he couldn’t remember why he was sure there was. He sank down on the couch, trying to dredge up a reason, but all he could find was a deep-seated terror that wouldn’t let go of him.

  He was pacing the house when Tina arrived the next morning, a half hour before he expected her. He opened the door and ushered her inside.

  “What happened last night? Did you hear anything?”

  “Nothing. And this time I was listening for it.”

  “Thank goodness.”

  “Are you ready to go, or do you want to wait for a while? I’m early, I know. I figured you’d be worried about last night, so I thought I’d better get here ahead of time and let you know everything was okay.”

  “Thank you,” he said, moved by her thoughtfulness. “I was worried. And I’m ready to go.” He gave her a small smile. “It’s not like I have lots of other things to do.”

  “Why don’t we get started, then? Where would you like to go first?”

  He thought for a moment, then said, “How about the place the ball was held?”

  “The Grand Springs Empress Hotel,” she said. “Let’s go.”

  As they drove, he peppered her with questions about the hotel. Finally she held up her hand. “You can see it for yourself in a few minutes. It’s a new hotel, less than three years old. We’ll park and walk through the ballroom, although it’s not going to look the way it did for the ball.”

  Tom stared out the window as they pulled into the grounds of the luxury hotel. The landscaping was carefully tended and the building gleamed in the morning sunlight.

  A valet took the keys to Tina’s car, and Tom frowned. “How much do you know about what happened here that night?”

  “Only what other people have told me.”

  “Did I have the valet park my car?”

  “I don’t think so. Apparently you parked it yourself, close to the door. The witnesses said they heard the gunshots, saw one man running out the door and you followed almost immediately. They heard your car start just moments later.”

  “So I was watching him.”

  “Or waiting for him. Nobody knows exactly what happened. The detectives can probably tell you more.”

  “Okay, let’s take a look.”

  They walked through the sumptuously decorated lobby, and Tina walked over to the concierge and asked a question. The woman pointed down a hall, and he saw Tina nod her thanks.

  “The ballroom is right down this hallway,” she said as she rejoined him.

  “Let’s take a look.”

  Tom tried to keep his mind blank, tried not to push himself to remember. It didn’t matter. Nothing looked familiar. It merely looked like a large, impersonal luxury hotel, with the requisite chandeliers and elegant furniture and polished wood.

  “Here’s the ballroom,” Tina said, as she opened the door.

  They stepped inside. The room was a wide expanse of wood floor and mirrored walls. He walked to the center of the room and closed his eyes. There would have been people in fancy clothes, and an orchestra, and the murmurs of voices. There would have been the subtle blend of many perfumes and the rustle of silk and satin.

  He opened his eyes and looked around, but all he saw were the blank walls and the empty space. There was no glimmer of recognition, no burst of memory.

  Slowly he shook his head. “Nothing,” he said to Tina, who was standing beside him.

  He saw the disappointment on her face. “Do you want me to see if I can find pictures of that night? I’m sure there was a photographer here.”

  “Okay.” But he wasn’t sure it would help. This place had no resonance for him. It didn’t tug at him. If he were going to regain his memory, it wouldn’t happen here.

  “Where would you like to go now?” she asked, taking his hand. She touched him almost hesitantly, as if she weren’t sure of his response. Twining his fingers with hers, he brushed his mouth over their joined hands.

  “Do you have any suggestions?”

  “How do you feel about tracing the route you took that night after you left the hotel?”

  “Do you know what it is?”

  “The police are fairly sure where you went.” She gave him a quick smile. “There aren’t all that many places to go in Grand Springs.”

  “That sounds like a good idea.”

  They got back into her car and drove silently out of the grounds of the hotel. “You probably drove down the main street of town,” she said as she maneuvered through traffic. “You were found on the outskirts of town, on this same street. So it would be logical to assume this is the way you went.”

  He nodded, looking out the window. It was as if he’d never been in this town before. And according to the police, he’d been here at least two weeks before the accident.

  In only a few minutes, the houses had become scarce and the landscape had turned lonely and uninhabited. Tina pulled off the road and parked the car.

  “Here we are,” she said. “This is where they found your car.”

  He was reluctant to get out, but he embraced his hesitation. It must mean something. Slowly, he stepped out of the car. The wind was biting, and he zipped up his jacket as he stood and looked around.

  There were faint skid marks on the pavement, which he studied. Tina came to stand next to him. “I called Stone Richardson to ask him exactly where your car was found,” she said. “He told me that they thought the skid marks might have come from two different cars.”

  “You mean there was another car involved in the accident?”

  “Possibly. But yours was the only car here.”

  He studied the faint black marks on the road, but they didn’t tel
l him anything. Finally, fighting the uneasiness that gripped him, he said, “Where was my car?”

  “Over here.” Tina led the way through the tall weeds that grew at the side of the road. About ten feet from the pavement, there was an area where the weeds were crushed and trampled. There was a dark stain in the center, and he couldn’t help staring at it.

  “What’s that?” he finally said.

  “Probably fluids from the car,” she said, squatting to look more closely. She turned to look up at him, and he saw the understanding on her face. “It’s not blood, if that’s what you think.”

  “That wouldn’t bother me.” He was surprised by the statement, but realized it was true. “I was wondering if it could help explain how the accident happened.”

  “It might.” Tina stood up and brushed off her hands. “You should talk to Detective Richardson.”

  “I’ll do that.” Something stirred in his mind, a flicker of recognition. But it disappeared, and he couldn’t force it to return. All that was in his mind was an edgy tension. “Let’s go, Tina,” he said abruptly. “I don’t remember anything.”

  As they drove away from the accident scene, he turned in his seat to watch it disappear from sight. “How did they find me so quickly?”

  “You were lucky,” she said. “The police department had everyone available out looking for the two men who ran away from the ball. The officer who found you noticed that the weeds were crushed by the side of the road. He thought that the killer might have driven off the road to hide, so he went looking. That’s when he found you.”

  “What were the damages to my car?” he asked abruptly.

  “I don’t know. You’ll have to talk to the detectives to find that out.”

  “I will.” He wasn’t sure why it was important, but he wanted to know. “Where are we going now?”

  “I thought we might park the car and walk around town a bit. That is, if you’re up to it.”

  “I’d like to do that. I think I’m going stir crazy after being confined to my hotel the last few days.”

  They drove into downtown Grand Springs once again, and Tina parked her car. Then they started walking.

  His ribs ached a little, but the crisp air tasted wonderful. “Thank you for suggesting this, Tina. I’m not sure it helped with my memory, but it’s good to be moving around.”

  “I thought you would enjoy it. You strike me as the kind of person who is active,” she said idly.

  “Why do you say that?”

  She didn’t look at him, and he saw a faint flush on her cheeks. “You’re pretty fit. Your muscles are toned, you’re not overweight. It’s one reason why you’re recovering so rapidly.”

  “You’re very observant.”

  Her color deepened. “It’s part of my job. We need to know a patient’s level of activity, so we know how to help rehabilitate them after an accident.”

  “And here I was hoping it was personal,” he teased.

  When she mumbled a reply, Tom realized that she wasn’t really comfortable flirting with him. He wondered why. Tina was a beautiful woman and he was sure men had pursued her. But she had built fences around herself, and he was only just beginning to realize how high they were.

  “Hey, you need to kick my butt if I get out of line,” he said.

  She flashed him a smile. “Don’t worry. I won’t hesitate.”

  They walked slowly through town, and as they waited to cross the light, someone walked up behind them. Tina looked over her shoulder, then turned around.

  “Julie! How are you doing?”

  “Pretty well,” a soft voice said.

  Tom turned around, and Tina grabbed his hand. “Julie, this is Tom Flynt. Tom, this is Julie Harrison. She’s a teacher here in Grand Springs.”

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Flynt.”

  The other woman, hugely pregnant, gave him a sweet smile, and Tina asked, “How are you feeling, Julie?”

  She smiled and touched her abdomen. “Pretty well, actually. I can’t believe the baby will be here in a month.”

  “Is there anything I can do? Anything you need?”

  Julie hugged Tina. “It’s wonderful of you to ask, but I think I’ll be fine. You can be sure I’ll call you if I need help.”

  “Make sure you do.” Tina watched as her friend walked away, then turned back to Tom. “I worry about Julie being alone. She got divorced just recently. Her marriage fell apart when her husband cheated on her while she was pregnant.”

  “What kind of a worm would do something like that?” he frowned.

  “The kind of worm Julie was married to.” Tina scowled. “She’s better off without him.”

  “It must be tough, though, to be pregnant and alone.”

  “I’m sure it is. But she never complains.”

  They continued to walk down the street, and Tom realized that the kindness and generosity Tina had shown him were an essential part of her. It just reinforced his determination not to do anything that would hurt Tina. She was too special. She didn’t deserve the kind of grief she could be courting by getting involved with him.

  “What else would you like to do?” she asked.

  “Are we far from the Grand Springs Police Department?” he asked abruptly.

  “A couple of blocks. Why?”

  “I’d like to go talk to Detective Richardson again. Maybe something he says will trigger a memory.” He had to find out who he was. For Tina’s sake. Because he wasn’t at all sure he was going to be able to stay away from her.

  Chapter 9

  Tina watched as Tom leaned across the desk in the police station. “Have you found out anything else, Detective Richardson?” he asked, his voice urgent.

  The detective shook his head. “Nothing. I haven’t been able to trace the driver’s license, and the credit card company says you’ve been paying your bills on time.”

  “Where does the money come from?”

  “They get a money order every month. They come from different banks, mostly in the Midwest. Completely untraceable.”

  “What about my fingerprints?”

  “We haven’t identified them yet.”

  Tom slumped back in his seat. “So you still have no idea who I am.”

  “That about sums it up.” The detective’s eyes filled with sympathy. “Listen, Flynt. I learned from my last case with an amnesiac that the more you push it, the longer it takes to remember. Just let it go. Don’t worry about it.”

  Tom scowled. “That’s easy for you to say. You don’t have possible criminal charges hanging over your head.”

  “True enough. But what else can you do?”

  “I’ll keep working on it.”

  “Don’t work too hard.” The detective looked concerned. “I’m serious, Flynt. You’re just going to make yourself nuts.”

  “What would you do in my position, Detective?” Tom shot back.

  Stone gave a short, sharp laugh. “Exactly what you’re doing. But that doesn’t mean it’s the smart thing to do.”

  “It’s what I’m going to do, though.”

  The detective nodded. “Good luck, then. If you think of anything that will help us find more information about you, let me know.”

  “And don’t leave town,” Tom added. “Right?”

  “Right.” Stone studied him for a moment. “You know the drill, apparently.”

  “I guess I do.”

  As they headed out into the cold air again, Tina grabbed his arm. “I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong.” Her voice was fierce.

  “What am I thinking?”

  “You think that all that business about the money orders and your credit card payments being untraceable must mean that you’re a criminal.” She shook his arm. “You’re figuring you might just as well save everyone a lot of trouble and turn yourself in right now.” She turned to look in his face. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

  He scowled. “What am I supposed to think? All the evidence is pointing that way.”

/>   “You can take a look inside yourself.” She shook his arm again, infuriated. “Do you think you’re a criminal?”

  “I don’t know what I think, Tina. I have no idea.”

  She sighed, her anger gone. “I’m sorry, Tom. I lost my temper. But I can’t bear to watch you beating yourself up.”

  Tom smiled, but the humor didn’t linger in his eyes. His smile faded quickly. “It’s good to know that someone believes in me,” he said, his voice wistful. “Thank you, Tina, for that.”

  “You’re welcome,” she said, aware that she was holding his arm far too tightly and standing way too close to him. But when she tried to move away, he drew her closer.

  “You know why I’m so determined to find out who I am, don’t you?” he asked in a low voice.

  “Of course. Everyone needs to know that.”

  “There’s more to it than that. It wouldn’t be so urgent if you weren’t involved.”

  “What do you mean?” Her heart began to pound.

  When he looked at her, she saw the desire in his eyes. “I’m attracted to you, Tina. Hell, I’m a lot more than attracted. But I don’t have any right to get involved with you right now. I have nothing to offer you. I don’t even know if Tom Flynt is my real name.”

  “I know a lot about you, Tom. I know you’re a kind man, and a good one.”

  “Tina, I don’t even know if I have a future,” he said roughly. “What if I was involved in the Steeles’ murders?”

  “I refuse to believe that.”

  Tom sighed. “I appreciate your support, Tina, more than you know. But all the evidence is pointing toward my involvement in something shady. Why else would I have a falsified driver’s license? Why would I have given the post office the wrong address for my box?”

  “There is more than one explanation,” she said firmly. “I’m sure of it.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “I’m not sure, but I know there is one.”