Memory Reload

by Rosemary Heim

  Ryan twisted in his seat to double-check the cross street and verify the address. Excitement buzzed along his nerve endings. The Bureau could do a little property owner check at the same time they ran the sedan’s plates.

  As he turned back in his seat, AJ straightened. She’d been slouched down a bit to watch their six through the passenger side mirror.

  “What do we do now?” She began nibbling on her lower lip.

  “Now, we go shopping.” He merged back into traffic.

  “Shopping? But what about that guy?” AJ swung around to stare at him.

  “Sugar, even if that gate is unlocked, you can bet there’s going to be a guard close inside. And we’re not exactly invisible in this toy of Jamie’s. There’s nothing more for us here. Not today.”

  “So we just quit?” She sank back onto her seat.

  “No. But there are a couple other things that need to take priority right now. Like finding you something other than my jeans to wear, running Slim’s license plate, deciding where we’re going to have dinner. If we’re lucky, maybe we’ll find your memory in the process.”

  He began compiling a mental list as he negotiated his way through the light traffic. The first chance he got, he’d be making a call into the Bureau, get them working on a bit of fact-finding. He’d have to talk to Jamie, too, about switching to a different car, something a little more common for the neighborhoods they’d be driving around.

  The gallery lead would take a little more time to follow up. A few phone calls and they should have her name, presuming she wasn’t showing under an alias. From there, it would be relatively simple to find more details. If they were lucky, with all the information flowing in, her memories would begin resurfacing.

  At some point, regardless of AJ’s reservations, they would have to go to the local police. The gun she had tucked in her camera bag raised a few too many questions not to. He added checking the gun’s serial number and running it through the database to his task list. It might prove interesting to see if the gun was registered and who the owner of record was.

  Traffic halted at a stoplight. He turned to her, ready to start making the case for going to the police. The words died unspoken.

  AJ huddled in her seat, hugging herself, one hand covering her mouth. The unmistakable sheen of tears robbed her eyes of all color. He’d been so wrapped up in planning his investigation, he hadn’t noticed her silence.

  While he was enjoying the challenge of what lay ahead, she was grappling with problems the likes of which he hoped never to face. The look on her face left no doubt of the struggle she was having.

  “AJ?” He tucked a strand of her silky hair behind her ear.

  “Who were they, do you suppose?” AJ’s voice broke. She took a shuddering breath then continued. “The men Uncle Kimo mentioned, David and Justin.”

  Her voice seemed to caress the men’s names. Whether or not she remembered the men, the very manner in which she spoke their names told of some deep emotion tied to them. The stab of jealousy lasted only a second, long enough to register, short enough he could ignore for now.

  “Who do you think they were? What do you feel when you think of them?” The light changed. He forced himself to look away from her and turn his attention back to driving.

  The ring on her finger tingled in the silence as she rolled it back and forth over her knuckles. The action seemed to help her formulate an answer to his questions. After several long minutes, she finally answered. “Loss, loneliness. Fear of getting lost.”

  The short phrases gave Ryan a very strong sense of her emotions. She maybe couldn’t put it into words, but she needed this David and Justin, and they weren’t there. They were failing her.

  He wouldn’t. This time, he’d succeed.

  “I wish I could go home.” Her whispered words were barely audible.

  “I know, baby.” He reached over and covered her white-knuckled fists with his hand. “I know.”

  Chapter Five

  AJ stared at the chaos surrounding her. Clothes hangers were hooked everywhere and more clothes littered every available surface. She’d done nothing except try on clothes since arriving at the trendy little boutique an hour ago. Ryan had kept a steady flow of shorts, blouses, swimsuits, even lingerie coming through the curtains.

  When they’d first arrived, all she’d wanted to do was avoid any more efforts to release the blocked memories. The constant activity had provided the hoped-for reprieve. Now she was exhausted and she just wanted to sit down, but the only open space left in the tiny cubicle was the floor.

  “Your husband asked me to bring this back for you to try on.” The floral curtains that passed for a dressing-room door parted and the salesclerk’s arm invaded the space. A bright red slip dress dangled from the hanger in the outstretched hand.

  Husband? AJ’s heart skipped a beat. No. Ryan. She’s talking about Ryan. She pushed a swallow past the knot in her throat and took the proffered garment.

  “He’s so sweet.” The clerk, Cassie, peeked through the curtain. “Most guys can’t get out of here fast enough, but your guy is like a kid in a candy shop.”

  “Umm, actually, he’s not my—we aren’t—we’re—friends.” AJ stammered through the explanation.

  “Whatever he is, in my book any man who knows how to shop is definitely a keeper. Play your cards right and you’ll have a whole new wardrobe before you leave.” She stepped back and the curtains fell into place.

  AJ stared at the swaying cloth. Cassie seemed to have a somewhat skewed idea of what constituted a good relationship.

  While the clerk might think it was great to have someone else pay for a new wardrobe, AJ did not like the idea. Not one bit. She didn’t know herself let alone Ryan, and, in spite of an undeniable attraction to the man, she couldn’t feel comfortable with him buying her anything. Certainly not such a personal gift as clothes.

  Had Justin or David taken her shopping? A sense of guilt threatened to intrude on her hard-found composure. She fought it back, pushing the emotion into a tight little box and forcing the box into the recesses of her thoughts.

  Whoever they were, they weren’t here. She was on her own and she needed to stand on her own two feet. Which brought her back to the condition of the dressing room.

  Cassie’s misperception of the situation was understandable. If AJ didn’t make some decisions in the next five minutes, Ryan would have the store’s entire inventory hanging in here.

  She eyed his most recent selection. The red minidress looked outrageously short. Shorter than anything else she’d tried on so far. The fabric shimmered in the overhead light, practically radiating a heat of its own.

  She slipped the dress over her head and sighed as the soft fabric settled into place. The silk caressed her body, bringing her senses to tingling alertness with every breath. Cool air from the store’s air-conditioning washed over the expanse of skin left naked by the low-cut back.

  For a moment, as she stared in the mirror, her mind’s curtain parted and a phantom memory flickered into view. A man held her in his arms as they glided across a dance floor. She could almost hear the music and an echo of laughter as her partner spun her in a circle and caught her in his arms again.

  “How’re we doing?”

  The image splintered and disappeared, shattered by the return of the saleswoman. AJ almost cried. So close.

  Cassie peeked through the curtain before pulling it open. “I brought some cute little strappy sandals that would look absolutely fabulous with that dress.”

  AJ shook off her frustration. Maybe, if she could get rid of Cassie’s constant distractions, the images would return.

  Hope of a quick end to any discussion died when she spotted the sandals.

  Little was the perfect description. Evidently the designer thought three narrow strips were sufficient to keep the wearer’s foot in place atop the thin leather sole. The three-inch heels practically shouted “sprained ankle.” She’d fall off them at the first step.

>   “I don’t think so.”

  “They’re really comfortable.”

  “I doubt that.”

  “Really. You’ll be amazed. All you need to do is change your toenail polish from that pale pink you’ve got on to red. I think I’ve got the perfect shade on the display by the counter, and you’re ready to go. And the best part is, they’re on sale.” This last bit of information was imparted as though it made all the difference in the world. “At least try them.”

  AJ gave in. She’d never get out of the shop if every accessory became a negotiation.

  “Perfect.” Cassie sighed. “You have got to show your guy this one. It’ll drive him wild.” She grabbed AJ’s hand and pulled her onto the sales floor.

  Ryan looked up from the rack of dresses he was leafing through. He only stared for ten seconds before he crossed the store to stand in front of her. It seemed like hours.

  Her skin heated at the intensity of his look. Breathing required conscious effort. So this is what it means to be devoured by a man’s eyes.

  “You look….” He stopped. His Adam’s apple bobbled around a swallow. He turned to the saleswoman and handed her a credit card. “We’ll take it. And whatever else she needs.”

  “Ryan, no. You can’t—”

  He turned back to her. “Sure I can, sugar.” He ran his hand down her arm and a trail of fire followed the path of his fingers. Glancing at the saleswoman, he stepped closer. “You need something to wear until we get a few things sorted out and find your place.” The caress in his low voice released an answering warmth deep inside. He took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Consider it a favor from a friend. Please?”

  She nibbled at her lower lip for a moment, debating the wisdom of accepting so much from him. Finally, she nodded. “But only a few things and only temporarily. When we do find my place, I’ll repay you.”

  “My mama taught me never to argue with a lady.” He grinned a lopsided grin and winked at her. “Why don’t you change and we’ll head back to the cottage.”

  Cassie followed her to the dressing room and waited with outstretched arms as AJ made the final selections. She opted for the plain T-shirts and a couple pairs of the longer shorts along with a pair of plain white Keds.

  Lingerie options in the boutique were a far cry from the serviceable cotton underwear she had on, but she needed at least a couple changes and there didn’t seem to be any other choice. The wispy bits of silk joined the growing pile.

  “I’ll wait outside while you slip off the dress and shoes.” Cassie waggled her eyebrows.

  AJ dismissed the possibility of winning any discussion involving the dress and snapped the curtains closed.

  By the time she re-dressed in her borrowed clothes and exited the dressing room, everything had been rung up. Ryan stood waiting for her by the door, holding two large shopping bags. From the satisfied look on the salesgirl’s face, AJ suspected she’d find the red nail polish and who knew what else added to the day’s purchases.

  “You need these.” Ryan pulled a pair of tortoiseshell cat’s-eye sunglasses and a straw hat from one of the bags and handed them to her. He slipped his own black Wayfarers into place and pushed the door open. “It’s mighty bright out there.”

  Her protest to the accessories faded to nothing. The bright sunshine provided more than enough justification for the additional purchase.

  Ryan nudged her across the sidewalk. Awareness of him hummed through her body as they walked to the car. Tension and heat radiated from his hand where it rested at the small of her back. The incredible sensuality of that simple touch had her standing a little straighter, trying for a little distance between them.

  His relaxed saunter fooled her for a moment. Then she caught the movement of his eyes behind the dark sunglasses. He constantly scanned their surroundings, holding watch over their path to the car.

  A warning to stay alert whispered through her memory. As she slid into the car, she glanced over her shoulder, searching for anything that might seem out of place. She didn’t say anything until they were back on the road, safe from any eavesdroppers. She checked the side mirror before turning to him and asking, “Are you expecting someone?”

  A subtle change crossed his features. If she didn’t make a living from noticing subtleties, she might have missed it. As it was, she saw it but didn’t know what had prompted it or what it meant.

  A few seconds ticked off before he answered. “I find it’s usually best to expect the worst. That guy we followed could have taken our license number just as easily as I got his. Depending on when he made us, he could have someone following us. If he has the right connections there could be someone waiting at the estate entrance by the time we get there.”

  “Why would we be targeted for a stakeout? For that matter, why would anyone be watching Kimo’s in the first place?”

  “Now that is an interesting question. Do you have any idea why Ole Slim was looking for you?”

  “I haven’t a clue. I’m not even sure why you decided the shop was being watched.”

  “Let’s just say I recognize the operating methods. But don’t worry, sugar.” His smile held a sharp edge, all boyish charm gone. “They may be good, but I’m better.”

  His statement sounded more like a warning than an assurance. An uneasy wariness scraped her nerves. The intensity of his expression, the certainty in his tone, even the way he drove, it all held a sense of familiarity. It was like looking at a photograph through foggy glass. The wrong face looked back, but too many other details matched. She pressed back into the leather car seat.

  The familiarity didn’t comfort her.

  A QUICK CHECK DOWN THE HALL assured Ryan that AJ had entered her room to change and put away her new clothes. He dialed the phone, running through a series of numbers from memory. The line clicked through several forwarding relays while he began making some sandwiches.

  “Kingston.” A human voice finally came on the line.

  “Miss Jacquelyn, shouldn’t you be headed home by now?”

  “Williams. You wouldn’t be calling me if you really thought that was true. You shouldn’t be calling at all.” Special Agent In Charge Jacquelyn Kingston didn’t hide her displeasure. “You’re supposed to be on R and R. Why are you sending me e-mail and why are we talking on a secure line?”

  “Well, I’ve got something of a situation here. I’m hoping you can help me out a bit.”

  A sigh came across the line. He could picture Jacquelyn, perfectly turned out in discreet good taste, leaning back in her chair, rubbing at the frown lines between her eyes. She always seemed to have frown lines when she talked to him. “What have you gotten into, Williams?”

  “I’ve met a woman.” He positioned the plateful of ham sandwiches in the middle of the table and added two plates and napkins to the arrangement.

  “Nothing new there. What makes it a problem this time?”

  “I think she’s in some kind of trouble.” He poured two glasses of lemonade and added them to the table setting, positioning them just so on coasters.

  “Trouble. Wonderful.” Another sigh. “What kind of trouble?”

  “Don’t rightly know just yet.”

  “Did you try asking her?” Jacquelyn’s voice sounded tired.

  “Yeah, well now, that’s where it starts to get real interesting.” Ryan tugged on his earlobe. “She’s got amnesia.”

  “I suggest you take her to the police, then.”

  “Not an option. She’s afraid of the police.” He checked down the hallway to make sure AJ was still in her room. Once her fear had come out, there’d been no further discussion of going outside for help, and he wasn’t sure how she’d react to him making this call. The Bureau was really just an extension of him, so she couldn’t get too upset. Could she? Besides, he needed to tap into the Bureau’s resources if he was going to discover who was watching the lab.

  “That’s rather convenient, wouldn’t you say? You’re sure about the amnesia?”
>
  “There’s no sign of injury, but so far, her behavior has been consistent with the information I found on the Internet. Jamie gave me a referral to a doctor who might be able to help. We’re seeing him in a couple hours.”

  “What makes you so sure she’s legitimate?”

  Ryan didn’t answer immediately. He didn’t know, not really. He leaned against the kitchen counter.

  “Williams?” Jacquelyn warned.

  He’d recognize that tone of voice anywhere. It was the tone every mother figure in his life had used every time he stepped out of line.

  “I admit, right now I don’t have much solid to go on, but my instincts say she’s telling the truth.” Over the years those instincts had saved his behind more than once. His reputation was that of a man with rock-solid judgement, and Jacquelyn knew it. Silence hummed across the line as Ryan waited for her to make a decision.

  “What do you expect us to do?” she asked.

  Ryan pumped his fist in a small victory salute. She still hadn’t agreed to anything, but she hadn’t shut him down, either.

  “I thought maybe you all could do a little checking with the locals. See if they have any missing-person reports, find out why there might be a stakeout on a little photo shop in an out-of-the-way Honolulu neighborhood?”

  “Stakeout? Ryan, tell me you didn’t interfere with a local police op.”

  “Now, don’t go gettin’ riled. I don’t know that it was official cop business.”

  “Well, what do you know? Give me something, anything a little more solid than your instinctive reaction to a pretty face.”

  “First off, she’s more than a pretty face. She’s…” Ryan searched for some way to explain what he saw when he looked at AJ. “There’s something in her eyes, something deeper….”

  “Fine, she’s not some beach bunny. Why don’t we start with an easy question? What are her stats?”

  “Age 28 to 32 years. Height about five-eight, weight about 130, straight black waist-length hair, gray eyes, a small mole below the right corner of her mouth, dimple in her left cheek when she smiles, no other visible marks. The initials AJD seem to be significant.”