by Laura Scott
“Then who?” Nate asked.
“For Gabby.”
“Wait a minute,” she protested with a frown. “Don’t I get a say in this decision?”
Shane nodded, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Of course you do. I can’t force you to talk to Kristine. But Gabby, what’s the alternative? I think it’s clear we need to understand what memories you’ve repressed. Without that link, we won’t know what Creighton is after.” He cleared his throat. “And he obviously hasn’t found what he’s looking for yet, not if he’s killed Ambrose just to prevent him from torching your house.”
“Hawk’s right,” Nate agreed, scrubbing his hands over his face again. “But we can’t call Kristine until morning.”
“It is morning,” Shane said drily, looking at his watch. “But you’re right, I don’t think she’d appreciate being woken up at zero two hundred hours.”
Nate didn’t so much as crack a smile, his eyes dull with fatigue. “Call her whenever you want. I’m beat. I think it’s time to head home to get some sleep.”
“Stay here,” Shane advised. “There are two beds in my room, and quite frankly, you shouldn’t drive when you can barely keep your eyes open.”
Nate reluctantly nodded. “Okay. Griff has called off all the extra manpower he sent to the hospital, so everyone else will be using this time to recharge, too.”
“Good. That’s good.” Shane rose to his feet. “Take the bed closest to the bathroom,” he said to Nate.
“Thanks.” The deputy pushed himself away from the wall, making his way across the room toward the second double bed. “Oh, Shane?”
“Yeah?” He paused, turning to look at Nate.
“My police-issue vehicle is parked on the other side of the lobby.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out his keys and tossed them to Shane. “In case you want to move it.”
He caught the keys midair. “Thanks. Get some sleep.”
Shane followed Gabby through the connecting door to enter her room. “I’m willing talk to your psychologist as soon as possible,” she said in a quiet voice. “Just tell me when.”
“I will.” Shane knew Gabby was probably dreading the interview with the department shrink, but she was strong and courageous, willing to do whatever was necessary to find Creighton. “Try not to worry about that now. You should relax and get some rest.”
She grimaced and shook her head. “Not likely.”
“Do you want to talk?” he asked, sensing Gabby didn’t want to be alone.
She hesitated and then shook her head. “No need for both of us to lose sleep.”
Shane couldn’t make himself leave her alone, so when she sat down on the edge of her bed, he pulled out the desk chair to sit across from her. “I’m not that tired. I’ll stay, at least for a while.”
This time Gabby’s fleeting smile was real. “Thanks, Shane.”
“No problem,” he said gruffly. “I’m sure Nate’s snoring by now, anyway.”
She smiled again, brighter this time, and he was glad she was able to find a little humor in their otherwise grim situation. But then her brief smile faded. “It’s so frustrating. I wish I could be more help to your investigation.”
“What about memories that don’t cause a headache?” he asked. “Surely there are some happy ones.”
Gabby scooted back so that she was propped comfortably against the headboard. “Yes, but those memories won’t likely be of any help to us,” she murmured. “I wish my mother was still alive. Then we could simply ask her what happened.”
Shane lifted his eyebrows. “Do you think it’s strange your mother didn’t confide in you?”
Gabby shrugged. “Yes, a little. Especially once she knew that she was dying.”
“And you’re sure she didn’t give you any hints?” he pressed.
Gabby let out a pent-up sigh and spread her hands wide. “Not that I can recall. Toward the end, she was pretty confused...at times she called my stepfather Travis, thinking he was my father.”
He grimaced. “I bet that didn’t go over well.”
“No, it didn’t,” she said. “But that didn’t happen too often. There were other times my mother mumbled words and phrases that didn’t make sense.”
Shane leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Like what?”
Gabby looked thoughtful for a moment. “She muttered a lot about the circus and drums, repeating those words over and over like they were stuck in a loop rolling through her mind.”
“Circus? Drums?” he repeated with a puzzled frown. “What does that mean?”
“I don’t know for sure,” she confessed. “The only thing that makes sense is that she was remembering one of the last days we were together as a family.”
“Go on,” Shane said.
“When my father was alive and we were still living in Las Vegas. We all went to the circus together—me, my godfather, Leo Lewis, and my parents. We had an amazing time. It was a special day for me, and I think it was probably a special day for my mother, too.” A nostalgic expression filled her green eyes. “That was the day my father bought her the circus charm bracelet and she wore it all the time. Despite the fact that she married Richard so soon after we relocated, I know she loved my father. I know she must have been shocked and devastated when he died.”
He noticed Gabby wince a bit and understood that just thinking about her father caused her headache to return. “Did your mother say anything else?” he asked, trying to divert the subject from anything that might cause her to experience horrible pain.
“Nothing that sticks out as unusual,” Gabby whispered. “That was—a very stressful time for me. Made worse by the fact Richard resented my visits.”
Shane tried to tamp down a spurt of anger toward her stepfather. Richard Strawn was gone and no matter what he’d done to hurt Gabby in the past, he deserved forgiveness.
Odd how forgiving the people who’d wronged him was easier than forgiving those who had hurt Gabby.
Another indication of how much he cared about her.
“Do you really think your psychologist friend will help?” Gabby asked, interrupting his chaotic thoughts.
“I’m sure she will,” he assured her. “Even though I really hate the thought of making you go through that.”
She smiled and tucked a curl behind her ear. “I’ll be fine. And who knows? Maybe the headaches will go away once the secret is out.”
He nodded. “I think that’s a distinct possibility. And remember, God will be with you the entire time. He can help you fight through the pain.”
Her gaze turned thoughtful. “I hadn’t considered that before, but you’re right. I think praying could help get me through it.”
Shane was thrilled that Gabby was open to believing in God and prayer. Oh, he knew that she had a long way to go—praying with him and attending church once wasn’t going to make her a Christian overnight. But she was on the right path.
He wanted to be with her throughout the rest of her journey, too. By her side. Helping her. Supporting her.
Gabby yawned and he knew that she was relaxed enough to sleep. He rose and crossed over toward the connecting door. “Time for you to get some sleep,” he told her gently. “Good night, Gabby.”
“Good night, Shane.”
It took every ounce of willpower he possessed not to kiss her again. He slipped through to his room and made sure the connecting door wasn’t open more than a half inch to give her the privacy she needed.
He grinned wryly when he heard Nate’s deep breathing from the other bed. After pulling the keys out of his pocket, he considered moving Nate’s SUV but then decided against it.
Time to restrategize, and maybe even go to a new location in the morning. But only after setting up a meeting with Kristine to work with Gabby.
Shane drifted off to sleep, convinced that once they had the information they needed, they’d be able to track down and arrest Creighton.
Before he found Gabby.
&n
bsp; * * *
Gabby woke up early feeling refreshed despite Nate’s late arrival and his disturbing news about Eric Ambrose’s death. For a little while she simply enjoyed the tranquil moment, opening her heart and her mind to prayer.
Thank you for this wonderful day, Lord, and help me follow Your chosen path. Amen.
Peace settled over her like a soft, comfortable blanket, making Gabby realize how important it was to believe in God and to have faith in Him. She owed Shane a debt of gratitude for showing her the way. She had no idea how she’d managed to exist before, without having faith or believing in God.
Maybe that was the whole point. That believing in God helped bring true meaning into her life.
Deep thoughts for so early in the morning, she thought with a rueful smile. She crawled out of bed and freshened up in the bathroom. When she finished, she made herself a cup of coffee with the courtesy coffeemaker provided by the motel.
Her stomach rumbled with hunger and she wondered if there might be a continental breakfast available in the lobby. When they’d arrived early yesterday morning, she thought she remembered seeing some food on the counter.
The more she thought about the possibility of breakfast, the more she wanted to walk over to get something to eat. Crossing over to the connecting door, she opened her side and listened for any sound coming from Shane’s room.
Total silence.
Knowing the guys deserved to sleep, she grabbed her plastic room key and eased outside.
The crisp autumn air made her shiver and she was surprised to see there was a dense fog hovering over the motel parking lot. So thick she couldn’t make out Nate’s car, which she knew he’d parked on the other side of the lobby entrance.
Her sweater didn’t provide much warmth, so she crossed her arms over her chest and hurried along the sidewalk toward the lobby. She ducked inside, grateful for the warmth.
The lobby was pretty much empty, but thankfully there was a platter of bagels and muffins, along with a large pot of coffee. There was also a mini juice bar. Gabby helped herself to a blueberry muffin and a small glass of orange juice before carrying her breakfast to one of the square tables.
There was a flat-screen television hanging on the wall, and the weatherman was talking about the fog being caused by their proximity to Lake Michigan.
She knew from experience the fog wouldn’t hang around for long. Lake Michigan was large, but it wasn’t the ocean, so they didn’t have the same problems that places like San Francisco had. Gabby took her time eating breakfast, feeling a little guilty when she added a cinnamon and raisin bagel to her plate once she finished the muffin.
The bagel was just as delicious, and she told herself it was better not to let the food go to waste, but just then two semitruck drivers walked in to eat breakfast, too, loudly complaining about how the fog would put them behind schedule.
She listened to them as she finished eating, feeling much better once she had food in her belly. From their conversation she knew they were headed south, toward Chicago, and they weren’t happy about the fog being a problem down there, too.
After finishing her breakfast, she debated taking plates of food back for Shane and Nate, but the way the motel clerk was staring intently at her from behind the counter made her uncomfortable. Was he upset that she’d eaten more than her fair share? Ridiculous, the two truck drivers had piled their plates high with baked goods.
She tried to ignore the clerk’s glare but decided against taking anything back for Shane and Nate. The guys could come here to get their own food, and if they didn’t hurry, there probably wouldn’t be anything left.
“Drive safely,” she said when she walked past the truck drivers to toss out her garbage.
“We will. Have a nice day, ma’am,” the older of the two replied.
Gabby went back outside, hunching her shoulders against the chilly air. She wasn’t particularly thrilled to go back to the stuffy motel room. Maybe Shane would allow her to go for a run. She hadn’t been able to exercise since this nightmare started.
She quickly shoved the wave of self-pity aside. What was wrong with her? She was lucky to be here at all. And she needed to remember that it was only due to Shane that she was still safe and sound.
As she approached the door to her room, she noticed that the maid’s cart was parked adjacent to the entranceway, about a foot from the side of the building. She was surprised the maids were up and about so early, it was barely seven in the morning. And why would the maid be cleaning her room? Her things were still inside and checkout time wasn’t until eleven o’clock in the morning.
Although it could be that the maid was cleaning the truck drivers’ rooms. Maybe they’d checked out, despite the fog.
She was about to pull out her key when a warning tingle lifted the hairs on the back of her neck. She hesitated a second too late. Before she could move, a man’s arm grabbed her from behind, wrapping tightly around her throat, cutting off her supply of oxygen. Then he pressed the cold tip of a gun firmly against her temple.
She froze, struggling to breathe.
“You’ve caused me a lot of trouble, Gabriella,” the man hissed in her ear. “But it’s over. You’re going to give me what I want, what’s rightfully mine, aren’t you?”
Gabby tried to nod, but the viselike grip around her neck prevented her from moving. She considered kicking him in the kneecap or stomping on his instep, but what if the gun went off?
No, she couldn’t risk it. Better to go with him now, and look for a chance to escape later.
“Come on,” he muttered harshly, easily dragging her backward as if she didn’t weigh more than a feather. His movement tightened his arm around her throat and tiny red dots danced in front of her eyes as she struggled to breathe around the thick muscles of his biceps and forearm.
The fog surrounded them, making her feel as if she was completely alone with the gunman.
With Creighton.
How had he found her here at the motel? And especially her room number? Obviously he must have been hiding near the maid’s cart. Had he bribed the motel clerk? Was that why the guy had been staring at her so intently?
She wanted to scream for Shane and Nate, wishing one of them would wake up and realize she was gone. But she could barely breathe, let alone scream. Every step Creighton took drew her farther away from the safety of the motel.
Soon she couldn’t even see the building.
Fear was bitter on her tongue as she tried to think of a plan to escape. She was smart, surely she could outthink a thug like Creighton?
But she didn’t have a scalpel in her pocket this time. Nothing but a plastic motel key. And unfortunately she knew Shane wasn’t in a position where he could run after her, coming to her rescue in the nick of time by hitching a ride on the back of a pickup truck.
Maybe once they reached their destination she’d be in a better position to get away from the gunman. Creighton would have to loosen his grip on her sometime. She couldn’t give him what he wanted if she couldn’t talk or breathe.
Yet she knew with a sick sense of certainty that once Creighton got what he wanted, he wouldn’t need her anymore.
Once she’d served her purpose, he’d likely kill her just as he had all the others who’d dared to get in his way.
Execution-style.
FIFTEEN
Shane woke up, instantly alert, his instincts screaming at him that something was wrong.
He rolled out of bed, barely glancing at Nate’s slumbering form. Thankfully he’d slept in his clothes, so he shoved his feet into his shoes and grabbed his gun as he strode toward the connecting doors.
Rapping sharply against the wood, he only waited a second or two before pushing her side of the door open. “Gabby?”
A chill snaked down his back when he saw the room was empty. The bathroom door was open, but he crossed over to check inside anyway. She wasn’t in there, either.
Where in the world was she?
He noticed se
veral details seemingly at once. The coffeemaker had been used, her duffel bag was still sitting on the floor beside her bed and her shoes were missing.
Rushing toward the door, he yanked it open, peering out into the foggy mist. The maid’s cart was sitting to the right side of Gabby’s door, but there was no sign of cleaning personnel.
Or of Gabby.
Muttering under his breath, he raced back into his room to rouse Nate. He bent down and shook the other man’s shoulder. “Get up, Gabby’s missing. We need to search for her.”
“What?” Nate rolled over, blinking the sleep from his eyes. It didn’t take long for the news to sink in, and his buddy quickly shot out of bed. “Don’t panic, it’s possible she went to the lobby to get something to eat.”
“I’ll check there, you sweep the grounds,” Shane ordered.
Nate nodded as he shoved his feet into his shoes. They quickly split up, heading in opposite directions.
Shane found the lobby was empty and there were a few stray bagels sitting on a platter next to a coffeepot and a juice bar. He strode over to the guy behind the counter who was eyeing him warily. “Have you seen a woman in here this morning?” he demanded. “A slender woman with red-gold curly hair?”
The guy’s eyes shifted right and then left, beads of sweat popping out on his pale half-balding forehead. “Um, yeah. I saw her. She was here, eating breakfast.”
Shane’s instincts went into overdrive and he grabbed the guy by the front of his shirt, yanking him forward. “What did you do?” he demanded in a stern tone. “Did someone ask about her? Did you tell someone where she was?”
“Lemme go,” the clerk whined. “I didn’t do nuthin!”
“Where is she?” Shane growled, not believing his innocence for a second. He tightened his grip on the guy’s shirt, hanging on to his temper with considerable effort. “Who paid you?”
“Some guy came in earlier this morning, asking to see the pretty redhead. Mentioned something about being her long-lost uncle and traveling quite a distance to see her, that’s all.” The clerk looked scared to death, but Shane wasn’t about to let him off the hook that easily.
