Dead Reckoning

by Stanalei Fletcher

  “Just some guy. He offered a ride.”

  “What were you thinking? He could be worse than the jerk you put down back at the park!”

  “I know that.” Did he think she was an idiot? “I didn’t accept his offer, did I?”

  Egan looked at the man’s black sedan for a moment, then pointed at the SUV. “We need to get going.”

  “But I have questions.”

  “Now!” He issued the command with the authority of someone who expected absolute obedience.

  That was all it took. The restless hours of travel. Limited food, water, and sleep. Each passing day draining away a little more hope. The thin thread of civility she’d desperately hung onto snapped. Without considering her actions, she slapped Egan’s face. His head barely moved as the unshaven stubble on his cheek scratched her palm.

  He lifted a hand and brushed his fingertips across reddened skin. “You little—” Through clenched teeth he added, “What’s the matter with you?”

  “Don’t yell at me.”

  He pointed his finger at her. “I’ll let you get away with it this time, considering what you’ve been through—”

  “You have no idea what I’ve been through.” If he could get mad, so could she.

  He continued as though she hadn’t interrupted. “But if you run from me again, I promise you won’t be able to sit on that pretty backside of yours for a week.”

  She felt her cheeks flush at his threat. Another memory burned through her, like heat from a blast furnace. Except for when they were training together on the mat, Egan had always treated her like a child. She’d hated that. Maybe that’s why she’d wanted to avoid him earlier. It wasn’t fear she’d felt, but embarrassment.

  “Take me home,” she demanded.

  “Get in the car.”

  All Kellee wanted was some answers—something to hold on to. A truth she could call her own. She opened her mouth to argue but closed it when she saw the tight line of Egan’s lips. The encounter had sapped her energy, and she was too tired to disobey. She hurried to the SUV, opened the passenger door, and climbed in.

  Egan followed, but before climbing in, he took another moment to scan the immediate area. Apparently satisfied with what he saw, he got in the car and turned on the ignition. After pulling onto the road, he pointed the car east—toward the Atlantic coast.

  Looking back at the now mostly empty parking lot, Kellee almost wished she’d left on the bus with Tresha. A movement from the side of the store caught her attention, and she saw the sandy-haired man staring back, a cell phone to his ear.

  She turned to face front, puzzled that the churning feeling in her stomach had nothing to do the altercation she’d just had with Egan.

  Chapter Five

  As Egan turned the SUV on to the road, Kellee clicked the seatbelt and leaned against the plush leather seat. The comfort of the luxury seat was a welcome relief from the bus. She took a deep breath to relax and almost felt human again.

  “Good Lord, you stink,” Egan said, waving a hand dramatically under his nose.

  “It’s post-hurricane aromatherapy.” She pretended to sniff her arms. “All the rage in the south this season.”

  The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “Maybe some air will help.” He reached out to adjust the air-conditioning vents and accidentally brushed against her shoulder.

  She was unprepared for the shock of awareness that flashed through her body and jumped at the contact. “Give me a break, okay?” Nerves made her voice sharp. “I’ve had a couple of shitty days.”

  His eyebrows raised, but he didn’t take his eyes off the road. “No matter how many bad days you’ve had, there’s no call to get snippy.”

  Kellee glared at him. This reunion wasn’t going as expected. With her memory full of holes, she didn’t know what to expect. Still, he didn’t have to act so self-righteous. She folded her arms across her chest. “I’m not some child you can just boss around.”

  He looked over at her, his gaze lingering for a moment at the open neckline of her button-less shirt before traveling down to her bare legs. The appraisal wasn’t entirely disinterested. “I’ve noticed.” He returned his attention to the road.

  Even as grungy as she felt, her skin tingled as though he’d touched every exposed inch. The look had been blatant, almost hungry. She was totally ill-equipped for the physical stirrings his attention generated. She wanted to reply with something smooth and sophisticated, but her muddled brain wouldn’t cooperate. Wrapping her arms around her middle, she glanced out the window and changed the subject. “Where are we going?”

  “To find you some clothes,” he said gruffly. “And a bath.”

  “Oh, yes! Thank you. A bath, a shower, even just to wash my hair, would be heaven.” She leaned back in her seat. “But that’s not what I meant. Why are we headed east again? Are you taking me home? I thought there was too much flooding.”

  “No.”

  “No?” She sat upright. “No, what? My home’s not flooded?”

  “Your apartment is fine, as far as I know. But I’m not taking you back there.”

  “Why not?”

  “You’re joking, right?” He glanced at her with a frown before turning his attention back to the road.

  “Why would I joke? I want to go home.”

  “Kellee, you left a dead man on your living room floor. I don’t think home is a good place for you right now.”

  “Dead man?” A kaleidoscope of images burst through her mind. When she tried to grasp one, hold on to it for a moment, the blinding headache returned. She pressed her fingers to her temple. “What dead man?” The question came out in a croak.

  Egan cast another glance. “Don’t tell me you can’t remember what happened?”

  She shook her head, which made the pain worse. “I can’t even remember what my apartment looks like. How am I supposed to remember what happened there? You’re the first person I’ve seen since the hurricane who looked remotely familiar. The doctor said I’d remember after a few hours, but—it’s been three days.”

  Egan swore.

  “Right…a double standard. You can get snippy, but I can’t.” How chauvinistic of him.

  He shot her a glance. “You can’t remember anything?”

  She shrugged, and he swore again.

  If he was frustrated, how did he think she felt? “What do you expect? I’ve been living like this since the storm.” She sank heavily into the seat. “It’s sort of scary how I’ve gotten used to not knowing anything.”

  ****

  Amnesia.

  Egan took a moment to let the information sink in.

  Kellee had amnesia. It explained a lot. Especially the inconsistencies in her behavior.

  Earlier, he’d considered it a stroke of luck he’d even found her. Now, learning she had amnesia, he realized the odds of having located her at all, were astronomical. Even if he were a betting man, he wouldn’t have taken that wager. No wonder she hadn’t contacted her father after the hurricane. If O’Neal was right, and someone was after her…His throat went dry. What if they’d found her before he had?

  He stopped the thought. He wasn’t going down that road. She was with him now and he would keep her safe. “If you didn’t recognize me earlier, how did you remember me now?” he asked.

  She took a moment to answer. Her breathing had changed. It came in quick and shallow pants, giving away her distress at his news about the dead man.

  “I…I don’t know, exactly,” she said. “I was sleeping on the bus and had a dream. I’d been thinking about the attack in the restroom—about how I knew what to do. When I woke up, I remembered that it was you who had taught me self-defense. Why did you teach me those things?”

  “Your father wanted you to learn,” he answered absently. “What else do you remember?”

  She shifted on the seat and looked at her hands clasped in her lap. “I remembered your name. Egan.” She looked over at him and shrugged. “Until you said my name, I didn’t e
ven know who I was. Tresha just called me Missy.”

  “Tresha? The girl you were with?”

  She nodded. “She and I hung together during the bus ride.”

  “Who else did you meet? Anyone?”

  “No.” She shrugged. “I mean, there were people everywhere, but I didn’t know anyone. I don’t remember anyone dying in my apartment. I wouldn’t have left him there if I did.”

  “I don’t think you had a choice,” he said.

  “There’s always a choice. I may not remember everything about my past, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t leave someone to die. Especially in my own home!”

  “I don’t think the man was making a social call.” He preempted her next question. “Look, I don’t have all the facts, and obviously, neither do you. So let’s table this discussion for now. Maybe you’ll remember something more, later.”

  She turned sideways in her seat. “If we don’t talk about it, how am I supposed to remember?”

  Egan didn’t keep the edge out of his reply. “Speculating isn’t a good idea. What if we create false memories? If we start guessing, it could muddy the water. We can’t afford for you to get the facts wrong.”

  “You’re treating me like a child. I can tell fact from fiction.”

  “Then tell me exactly what happened in your apartment.” He ground out the words. If she remembered, then he’d turn the car north and drive straight back to Washington, D.C. Enough of this going to ground and hiding. He’d help O’Neal deal with the threat head-on.

  “I can’t.” She sighed and faced forward.

  He was afraid of that. “Until you can, we’re not having this conversation again. Let’s just focus on the bigger problem.”

  “As if a dead man in my apartment isn’t a big problem,” she muttered.

  “Enough.”

  “Fine!” She all but turned her back on him to look out the side window.

  “What else did the doctor tell you?” He needed to understand what her condition meant to their situation. What else couldn’t she remember besides the incident in her apartment? How much of her memory was lost, and more importantly, what if she never regained it?

  She waved a dismissive hand. “He told me to rest. It’s supposed to help my memory return. Unfortunately, it was impossible to do that through the evacuation.” With another sigh, she leaned her head against the seat and a lock of hair fell across her eyes.

  He suppressed the urge to smooth it aside. She remembered him as her instructor, but apparently didn’t remember other things about their relationship. It was best to keep it that way. Having her pissed at him just might be the ticket for him to maintain his distance. Gripping the steering wheel tighter, he cleared his throat. “It’ll be a while before we stop. Why don’t you try to sleep? The seat reclines. Like the doctors said, I’m sure the rest will help.”

  “I don’t suppose I have a choice,” she mumbled. “Where’s the button?”

  “Down at the base on your right.”

  A quiet motor whirred as she tilted the seat. Her head rolled to the side facing him.

  When he glanced over, her eyes were already closed. Long, dark lashes couldn’t hide the heavy circles underneath. The pallor of her skin was stark under grimy cheeks. She’d always been slender, but he could tell she’d lost weight because of her ordeal. The last few days must have been hell for her.

  Except for the bruise on her forehead, she appeared uninjured. Her mental state worried him more. If her injury, coupled with the traumatic events in her apartment, had caused amnesia, how long would it be before the truth unraveled? If ever?

  Egan had a lot of questions. Being unable to contact O’Neal and learn more about the investigation Riley was conducting, he was left with only Kellee for answers. Answers that were locked up in her mind. Unless she remembered what had happened, he had no idea who might be after her or why. He swore again—silently this time. This entire situation was like sailing a ship along rocky shores without a rudder.

  The first order of business was to get her off the grid. Once they were out of sight, they could take whatever time was needed for her memory to recover. Or for O’Neal to give the all-clear. Then she’d be O’Neal’s problem. Egan didn’t care much for that thought and chose not to wonder why.

  He glanced at a signpost for Interstate 475. He’d be glad to get off the single lane highway. Back roads left him too exposed and made for slow traveling. They’d blend better in freeway traffic. After checking his rearview mirror for the highway patrol, he accelerated over the speed limit.

  If he’d followed Kellee’s bus route so easily, others could have too. Anyone trailing her would learn she’d gotten off prior to the final destination. The gas-station attendant had been privy to their little tiff. He knew firsthand how Kellee’s face and figure affected the male libido and had no doubt the attendant would remember her.

  The sooner they reached his hideaway without being discovered, the better.

  ****

  Kellee moaned as she stretched the kink out of her neck. Even that small movement started a dull thud along her temples. Would she ever be free of these headaches?

  The setting sun burned through the front windshield, blinding her. She raised a hand to shield her eyes, automatically reaching to lower the visor at the same time. Rubbing away the remnants of sleep, she straightened in her seat. A car seat.

  Surprise brought her upright. Why wasn’t she on the bus? She glanced around her. Where was Tresha?

  For an instant, everything in her mind went black as she tried to remember. Then, like a blurry movie slowly coming into focus, pieces of the past few hours slowly took shape. The dream. Getting off the bus at the truck stop.

  She touched her pendant, reassured at connecting with something familiar. The stranger had told her the pendant was lucky…just before she’d gotten in Egan’s car.

  That’s right. This was Egan’s car. Some of her anxiety eased as she glanced around. Where was Egan?

  Cool air from the open vents brushed over her skin. Air-conditioning? In a stopped car?

  A slight breeze through the partially open passenger window carried the scent of recent rain and ruffled her hair. She tried to roll the window all the way down, but the button wouldn’t work. Then she tried to open the door. It was locked, too. Didn’t all car doors open from the inside? She punched the button again, but nothing happened. She was locked in!

  What kind of car was this? What if she was claustrophobic and didn’t know it? Panic began to build and pressed like boulders against her chest.

  Why would Egan lock her inside the car? With all that had happened in the last few hours, trusting him might have been a mistake. She must have remembered wrong—should have listened to her first instinct to run from him. Now, here she was trapped in the middle of—she looked out the window—a department store parking lot?

  She rubbed her head and frowned. Why had they stopped here?

  She tried the door again. When it didn’t budge, she started punching all the buttons on the armrest. When that didn’t open the door, she started poking at controls on the dash and over on the driver’s side. Nothing. Nothing worked—the entire vehicle was locked down tight with her trapped inside. Her breath came in short bursts, and her skin tingled as if it were filled with thousands of electrodes. Placing her mouth near the open window, she was about to start screaming when she spotted Egan walking toward the car with a package tucked under his arm.

  She pounded on the glass. “Let me out of here!”

  His long muscular stride carried him quickly across the parking lot. “Stop all the commotion,” he said, pointing a small black device at the car.

  Kellee heard a click and grabbed the door handle. It gave under the pressure, and the door swung open. She scrambled out of the car.

  “Get back inside,” he growled.

  “No.” She wasn’t about to let him trap her again. She turned and started running in the opposite direction. Two rows over, she spotted the
yellow flashers of a compact security vehicle.

  “Hey!” She veered between the parked cars, waving her hands to catch the driver’s attention. “Over here. Help!”

  The driver didn’t see her and kept a straight course along the rows of cars. However, he was moving slowly enough, she could catch him.

  “Kellee!”

  Looking over her shoulder, she saw Egan drop his package next to the car.

  “Stop!” He ran after her.

  She veered again, putting a sedan between her and Egan.

  He ran faster, closing the distance.

  She hailed the security vehicle again just as Egan vaulted over the hood of the car and caught her shoulder. He spun her around, forcing her to drop her arm. Then he glanced around, no doubt looking for security.

  She turned her head to see how close help might be, but Egan captured her chin and held it between his thumb and forefinger. In that instant, his expression shifted from an uneasy look to something totally unexpected—a heart-stopping smile. Her breath caught in her throat. The warmth from that smile traveled all the way to her toes.

  He drew her to him and lowered his head. “It’s okay.” His lips whispered against hers. “I’m not going hurt you.”

  Somewhere deep inside she knew he spoke the truth. His earnest gaze silenced her doubt. A tiny glow of trust rose to the surface.

  Egan laid his lips more fully on hers. The touch flamed through her entire body. Even if another hurricane washed over her right then, she couldn’t have moved.

  Whiskers brushed her chin as his mouth claimed hers. His kiss seemed filled with frustration and urgency that made her tense a little. Then the kiss changed. A hint of tenderness softened his mouth. Kellee’s resistance crumbled as she succumbed to a wave of desire. She kissed him back. She couldn’t stop herself.

  “Everything okay, here?” A voice from behind seeped into her consciousness. They weren’t alone.

  Egan lifted his head, his breathing was as ragged as hers. She opened her eyes, marveling at the sheepish grin he gave the security driver. “We’re fine,” he answered. “Just a misunderstanding.” He looked down at her. “Right, honey?”