Witness on the Run

“Yes, but they don’t know for sure.”

Robin attempted a smile. “It’s a good thing you were there.”

“Glad I could help.”

A few seconds of awkward silence stretched between them as the nurse checked a monitor. Jake seemed uncomfortable, but Robin couldn’t figure out why.

“Well, anyway,” he said and turned.

Panic shot through her chest. “Are you leaving?”

He glanced back at her. “I wasn’t going to, not until you’re settled. If that’s okay.”

“Yes, very okay. I mean I’d rather you stay around if you’ve got nothing better to do, which I’m sure you do, but if you didn’t—” She stopped herself. “Sorry. I’m rambling.”

The nurse smiled as she checked Robin’s IV.

“You’ve been through a lot tonight,” Jake said. “You’re allowed.”

“Guys hate ramblers.” She remembered that from somewhere.

“Not all guys.” With a half smile he pointed to the door. “I’ll be right outside that door.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

She liked Jake and wished he’d been a permanent part of her past. Then again, this could be part of a goofy syndrome that happens when someone is saved by another person.

A handsome man with gentle eyes.

That hit to your head really messed you up.

“I’ve got to check on another patient. I’ll be right back, okay?” the nurse said.

“Sure.”

But Robin was far from okay. She had to get a grip on her discombobulated brain and focus on the problem at hand: remembering.

She clutched her briefcase to her chest, closed her eyes, took a slow, deep breath, determined to remember. Instead, anxiety washed over her. Something important was happening soon, and she was in charge of a lot of people. Yet she’d be lucky if she could cross the street on her own. Her knee was banged up, her head was wonky, and she’d sprained her wrist when she fell to the ground.

You were very lucky.

She’d heard those words at least five times since they’d brought her in. Yes, it could have been so much worse. She considered thanking God for her good fortune, but stopped herself. Somehow she sensed He’d never answered her prayers before, so why give Him the credit?

“Miss Strand, how are you feeling?”

She opened her eyes to the back of a doctor in green scrubs. He was doing something, probably looking over her chart.

“I’ve been better,” she said.

“I’m going to put something in your line to help you sleep tonight.”

“Oh. Okay.” The other doctor had said he didn’t want to completely zonk her out. Oh well. Different doctors, different styles.

The doctor stood just behind her bed and fiddled with her IV. “A good night’s sleep might help you move past the trauma.”

“And help me remember?”

“You don’t remember anything about what happened tonight?”

“No. Well, yes. I remembered the guy who helped me. That’s good, right?”

“Remembering anything is good.” He paused. “You don’t remember what you witnessed in the office building?”

“What I witnessed?” she repeated, feeling suddenly cold. “No, I don’t…” Her head felt like a lead weight sinking into the pillow.

“Rest, Miss Strand,” he said, his voice sounding far away. “Everything will be fine.”

The doctor turned to her, a surgical mask covering his face, except for his eyes.

Cold eyes she’d seen before.

“Death eyes,” she whispered as unconsciousness swallowed her.

TWO

Jake should leave. There was nothing more he could do here. Even Ethan had told him to go home, that he’d done enough.

That look on Robin’s face kept Jake glued to his chair in the waiting area. At first he thought she’d been terrified of him. Then, just now, she’d looked at him as if she needed him to protect her.

She was vulnerable and alone, and the only thing she remembered about her life before she’d woken up was Jake.

Ironic since they’d never even met.

“Who did you say your client was again?” Detective Dunn pressed.

“I didn’t. I’d have to get his permission to share that with you.”

“There’s no attorney-client privilege here, Walters.”

“True, but he asked me to keep it confidential and since he’s paying my light bill at present…” Jake shrugged.

“How about I take you to the station and question you?”

“Why are you busting my chops?”

Jake eyed a doctor breezing out of the E.R. to the exit, still in his scrubs and face mask.

“I know you’re furious about losing Edwards, but I’m not the bad guy here.” Jake defended himself.

“Well, the least you did was chase the woman into traffic, ruining our chance of her IDing the perp.”

Jake clenched his jaw against the frustration ripping through his chest. He felt bad enough without this guy twisting the knife deeper into his conscience.

“Look, I was there. It was a coincidence.” Jake stood and paced a few feet away, beating back the guilt.

He’d never been able to defend Mom. He’d been scrawny as a kid, skinny and uncoordinated. It wasn’t until he’d joined the service at eighteen that he’d developed his fighting skills and his muscular physique.

“I saw you go in there while I was on the phone,” Dunn said. “What did you say to her?”

Jake was about to shoot the detective a mind-your-own-business retort when he was nearly taken down by two residents rushing past him. They flew into the examining area in a panic.

No. It couldn’t be Robin. A doctor had just left and—

Instinct setting him on edge, Jake headed for the examining area. Dunn blocked him.

“Please get out of my way,” Jake said, as calmly as possible. His heart raced at the thought of his worst fear coming true.

The killer walking right past him and Detective Dunn…

…and killing Robin Strand while they stood there, just outside the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Dunn said.

Any second now the cuffs were coming out. Jake couldn’t protect her if he was sitting in lockup.

“To check on the woman,” Jake said.

“She’s fine.”

Another doctor and nurse scrambled past them into the E.R. as a Code Blue echoed through the hospital’s PA system.

Jake glared at Detective Dunn. “She’s not fine.”

He stepped around Dunn and marched into the examining area. Medical staff shifted around Robin’s bed in a mass of frantic motion.

“Still dropping,” a nurse said. “Ninety over sixty.”

Jake stepped closer. Robin looked pale and weak. He felt incredibly helpless. Like before, like all the times he couldn’t protect Mom.

This woman, so young and vibrant, didn’t deserve what had happened to her tonight. She didn’t deserve to die because she’d been in the wrong place at the worst possible time.

But a few minutes ago she’d been fine, coherent and strong considering she’d woke with no memory and was probably terrified.

Dunn grabbed Jake’s arm. “Let’s go.”

“She’s dying,” Jake shot over his shoulder.

Jake and Detective Dunn watched the medical team struggle to bring Robin back from the edge of death.

“What did you give her?” the doctor barked.

The resident rattled off some medications but Jake could hardly focus on what he was saying. Robin was dying. Right in front of him.

“Increase her IV fluids,” the doctor said, then glanced at a monitor. The monitor stopped.

“Get me calcium chloride.” The doctor started doing CPR as the nurse added something to Robin’s IV.

“Look at the bizarre complexes on the heart monitor,” the doctor said. “I’m guessing she got potassium chloride by accident.”

By accident? Hardly. Jake was right. The killer had been here, inches away from Robin, sticking something in her IV to end her life.

He’d seen plenty of death during his time in the service but nothing like this. An innocent woman nearly killed twice in one night.

“What about—”

“Stop talking,” the doctor interrupted his resident.

Jake’s pulse pounded against his throat. He couldn’t stop Dad from hitting his mom or prevent the cancer from killing her in the end. Nor could he stop little kids from being used as target practice in Iraq.

But he had honestly thought he could protect Robin Strand.

“Come on, Robin,” a nurse whispered.

They all looked shell-shocked, like they were holding themselves personally responsible for her condition.

He knew the feeling.

Jake said a silent prayer, one that had seen him through the darkest days overseas.

“Eighty over fifty-five,” the nurse said.

“Thatta girl,” the doctor whispered, easing up on the CPR.

The numbers on the monitor continued to rise.

“Page me if her condition changes,” the doctor said, then turned to the other resident. “Find out everything you can about her medical history.”

“She has amnesia.”

“Have the police help you.” The doctor eyed Dunn. “I need her medical history ASAP.”

“I’ll get on it.” Dunn grabbed Jake’s arm and pulled him out of the examining area. “Sit.” He motioned for Jake to sit in the waiting area.

Jake clenched his jaw and Dunn paced outside to make the call to track down everything he could on Robin. Jake was tempted to bust out of the hospital and do his own digging, but he wouldn’t leave until he knew that she was safe.

He leaned forward in his seat and interlaced his fingers. He needed to talk to Ethan, tell him about the mystery doctor who had exited the room minutes before chaos erupted. The guy obviously gave her the potassium chloride that messed with her blood pressure.

Which meant whoever had tried to kill her wasn’t going to stop. Yet it didn’t seem like Detective Dunn was all that concerned about Robin’s well-being. In Dunn’s eyes she was a witness, a means to an end. That’s all.

Jake hated feeling helpless and had promised himself never to sink into that dark place again. He’d lost count of how many times he’d walked into it and out the other side.

With help from God.

He shoved the helplessness back and strategized ways to protect Robin. She was the key not only to a cop’s murder but potentially to something bigger. Why else would a guy walk into a hospital, impersonate a doctor and spike her IV?

The question was, how far up the chain did it go? And how was Jake going to protect her if the cops were blocking him every step of the way?

An hour later, the glass doors slid open and a red-faced Ethan marched toward Jake. Jake knew that look, that I’m-frustrated-and-want-to-slug-something look.

Jake shifted in the vinyl chair.

“What happened?” Ethan said.

“Her blood pressure dropped and she nearly died,” Jake explained.

“Where’s Dunn?”

“I’m here.”

Ethan turned to him. “Where were you when someone tried to kill my witness?”

“Making a call about the case. Just checked on the witness. She’s stable. They’re moving her to a room.”

“You find anything out at the scene?” Jake asked.

“You’re not a cop, Jake,” Ethan said. “I can’t talk to you about it.”

Jake cocked his head in question but didn’t challenge Ethan. He was under a ton of pressure and Jake didn’t want to add to it.

“Dunn, call Monroe. He’s working on the woman’s background: school, hobbies, bank balances. Everything.”

Dunn pulled out his phone and marched outside.

“You’re not looking at her as a suspect, are you?” Jake asked his friend.

Ethan put his hand on Jake’s shoulder. “Seriously, go home.”

“Not happening.” Jake eyed Ethan. “A doctor left the E.R. just before her B.P. dropped. Gut tells me he’s the one who spiked her IV.”

“Did you tell Dunn about this?”

“No.”

“Good. Let’s keep this between us.”

“You don’t trust your own men? You need to fill me in, buddy,” Jake said.

“Not now. I’ll call you later.”

“I’ll be here.”

“Jake, seriously, this isn’t your problem.”

“The woman’s here because of me, someone tried to kill her while I was sitting outside the door, and you just said you can’t trust your own guys. It is my problem.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t trust them. It’s just…this is complicated. The chief of D’s is breathing down my neck on this one, probably because Detective Edwards wasn’t supposed to be at the Chambers Building tonight.”

“Meaning?”

“I don’t know,” he snapped. “Was he dirty? Or doing undercover work someone isn’t bothering to tell me or the chief about?” Ethan took a long, deep breath and exhaled. “Don’t you have other clients who need you?”

“They pay me, they don’t need me. Go find the shooter.”

“As long as you’re here, maybe I’ll take Dunn back to the scene.”

“Take him, please take him.” Jake smiled.

They shook hands and Ethan went outside to confer with Detective Dunn.

In truth, Jake didn’t have anything pressing to deal with. He was still getting his act together after his mom’s death six months ago, going through her things, getting the house ready for sale. He was taking his time and slowly easing into his P.I. business.

Yet clients had conveniently appeared over the past few months when word got out that a former federal agent and army vet was offering his services as a private investigator. Jake had promised himself he’d be selective about his clients. He’d work with the fragile ones who were in trouble and didn’t know where else to go.

Fragile, like Mom. He had taken a leave from work when he’d learned his mom had six months to live. He could finally be there for her, take care of her during her last months on earth. He felt he was finally making up for letting her down time after time growing up.

Yet she never saw it that way. She actually blamed herself for the abuse, which had driven Jake even crazier.

“Let it go,” he whispered under his breath.

He’d been a good son in the end and now offered his services to clients who needed him most. He offered hope when they suffered from despair. That’s where he did his best work. God’s work.

The E.R. door swung open and a nurse glanced at Jake. “She’s asking for you.”

Jake pointed to his chest. “Me?”

“You’re Jake, right?”

“Yeah.”

“They’re taking her upstairs in a minute, but she wanted to see you first.”

With a nod, he followed the nurse and fought the urge to rush to Robin’s bed.

He approached with caution, steeling himself against how she’d look. She’d almost died a few minutes ago.

The nurse pulled the curtain aside and Robin glanced up at him with tired, brown eyes. She looked worn out but much better than she had an hour ago.

“Hey, you look good,” he offered.

“Don’t lie. It’s a bad way to start a relationship,” she joked.

“And a sense of humor. Amazing.”

“No, the bad guy luckily didn’t kill that.” She sighed and glanced at the nurse. “May I have a few minutes alone with Jake?”

“Sure.” The nurse pulled the curtain closed to give them privacy.

“Look, I’ve heard things about you,” Robin started, studying her fingers while she fiddled with the blanket.

“Don’t believe everything you hear.”

She glanced up. “What about the military background?”

“The hospital grapevine is pretty good.”

“And you used to be a federal agent?”

“True. How did—”

“It doesn’t matter. But I have a question—actually a favor—to ask, and I completely understand if the answer is no.”

“Go for it.”

She leveled him with desperate, cocoa-brown eyes. “I think I was almost killed tonight. Twice. I don’t know who I am, or who I can trust. Is there any way you could like, be my bodyguard or something, until this is all over?”

“Sure, I’d be honored.”

She tipped her chin. “You didn’t even think about it.”

“I don’t have to.”

She blinked, and a tear trailed down her cheek.

He fisted his hand, wanting to stroke her hair or hug her. But he knew better. He’d only break her.

“Wow, my luck is looking up.” She swiped at her face with the back of her hand. “Sorry about the tears. I know guys hate that, too.”

“Who are these guys you’ve been hanging out with?” he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“I don’t remember,” she said with a slight smile.

The nurse pulled back the curtain. “Time to move her to a room.”

“Where?” Jake asked.

“Three-fourteen.”

He glanced at Robin. “I’ll meet you up there.”

She nodded and sighed as if everything was going to be okay. She was relying on him to protect her, save her from whatever threat planned to hound her until she was dead.

God, please let me be up to the task.

THREE

Where am I this time?

Robin opened her eyes and glanced across the room. Sunlight streamed through the curtains as she struggled to remember where she was. Right, she was in the hospital. Yet no flowers filled the window ledge, no balloons or notes from wellwishers.

Sadness settled in her chest. She felt so utterly alone and frightened, yet she knew she had friends. Her memories might be temporarily lost, but in her heart she knew some things as surely as she knew she was in a hospital bed.

Robin had friends and family who would be worried about her. If she could only figure out how to contact them.

“Can I see some ID?” Jake’s voice echoed from her doorway. He was keeping guard outside her doorway, having promised to protect her.

“Who are you?” a woman challenged. Her voice sounded familiar.

“ID,” Jake repeated.

A few seconds passed, then heels clapped against the vinyl flooring, and a cute blond woman came into view.

Jake stood beside her. “She says she’s a friend from work.”

The blonde rushed over and gave Robin a hug. Jake started to intercede and Robin waved him off. “It’s okay.”

There was something familiar about the woman, and Robin didn’t feel frightened. Actually, she appreciated the hug.

Jake nodded and left them alone.

“Oh, my God.” The blonde analyzed Robin’s bruised check and bump on the head. “When I heard the gunshot, then nothing, I was up all night trying to track you down. I’m sorry it took me so long to get here.”

“What time is it?”

“Three in the afternoon.”

“You—” Robin hesitated “—heard the gunshot?”

“We were on the phone, remember?”

“No, actually. I’m memory-challenged at the moment.”

“Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry.”

Another hug. Robin fought back tears.

The blonde looked at her. “We were on the phone. You were at work, and I ordered you to join us for dinner, then bang!”

Robin jerked. Closed her eyes.

“Sorry, that was insensitive.” The blonde placed a hand on Robin’s shoulder. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. I—” she hesitated “—can’t remember.”

“Anything? I mean, you don’t remember what happened last night?”

“Nope.”

“Good.” The woman sighed. “I mean who wants to remember seeing someone get shot, right?”

“Yeah, right, I guess.” Robin clutched the blanket. “It’s all one, big blob of nothing.”

“That’s probably normal.”

Robin glanced at her friend. “I mean everything.”

The blonde frowned. “You don’t know me, do you?”

“I remember the sound of your voice, and you look familiar, but I don’t remember your name. Sorry.”

The blond woman shot Robin a sympathetic smile. “Don’t be sorry. It’ll come back. I’m Jenn. We work together.” With a bright smile, she extended her hand, and they shook.

Robin liked this woman. She was bright and positive, and her presence eased the ball of anxiety in Robin’s chest.

“I should call work and let them know you’ll be out for a while,” Jenn said.

“Where do I work?”

“You’re an events planner for the Anna Marsh Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Tomorrow is the walkathon to raise money for pediatric cancer research.”

Sadness washed over her. “I knew something big was happening.”

“See? It’s coming back to you. I’ll call Ruth, the executive director. Where’s your phone?”

“I think I lost it when…”

A scene flashed in her mind: crawling on her hands and knees. Pitch black. The monster stalked her. Closing in. Would she make it to the door? Pull the fire alarm!

“Robin?” Jenn said.

Robin glanced up. “I was remembering…something.”

Jenn frowned with concern.

“Never mind. It’s nothing,” Robin said.

“And your phone?”

“I don’t know where it is, but my briefcase is around here somewhere.”

“I’ll get it. Who else do you want me to call? Your parents?”

“Are they in Seattle?”

“Actually, they moved to Phoenix a few years ago.”

“No, don’t call them yet. I don’t want to worry them. Just for now, let’s keep this between you and me.”

“Well, the group kind of knows. They were with me when I was talking to you. Trevor was so worried.” Jenn winked.

“Trevor?”

“The guy you’ve been crushing on for the past three months. I could make up a playbill of people in your life to help you remember.”

“That would be great.”

“What’s causing the memory loss?” Jenn said.

“Trauma to the brain. I banged my head when I hit the ground. They say it’s a miracle I didn’t sustain more serious injuries.”

“No kidding.” Jenn went into the closet and pulled out Robin’s briefcase. “You want to…” She held the briefcase out to Robin.

“No, you go ahead.”

Jenn rested it on the bed, dug around and pulled out a file folder. “This should have Ruth’s home number. I’ll give her a call. Oh, and it looks like you printed out the sign-up sheets. Want me to get those to her?”

“That would be wonderful.”

“No problem. It’s a bummer you lost your phone.”

“Yeah.” It probably had all her information, names and contact information, special dates and deadlines, and even personal information. She nibbled her lower lip. If she’d dropped it at the scene, the killer probably had it, which meant he might know everything about her.

“Hey, it’ll be okay,” Jenn said, sensing Robin’s trepidation. “Here.” Jenn pulled a small notepad out of the briefcase, wrote something down and handed it to Robin. “My contact info if you need something or remember anything and want to talk it out. Whatever.”

Robin smiled as she eyed the notepaper. Jenn had written down her name, address and phone number, with the message, Call me anytime!

“If you want, I can stop by your apartment and bring back some things.” Jenn said. “Stuff that’ll make you feel better.”

And help you remember. Robin heard the inference.

“Thanks,” Robin said. “My keys should be in the briefcase.”

Jenn dug them out just as a tall, serious-looking man with a crew cut stepped into the room. A scar ran across his right eyebrow. Did Robin know him?

“Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” the guy said to Jenn.

“Who are you?” Jenn asked.

And where was Jake? Robin wondered.

“Detective Monroe, Seattle P.D.” He flashed his badge.

A cop, an ally. Not a threat. Robin relaxed a little.

“Okay.” Jenn glanced at Robin. “I’ll be back later.” Jenn smiled and left.

Narrowing his eyes, the detective took a step closer to her bed. Robin felt small and cornered.

“You can fool the rest of them with your amnesia ploy, but I know what’s really going on.”

“What are you talking about?”

“What’d you do, promise Cole a lead on a case?”

“I didn’t promise anything, and I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Why Cole? Huh? Was he onto something, so they sent you to lure him in?” He clenched his jaw as if he was about to snap.

“You’d better leave,” she said, her voice trembling.

“Not until you give me something.” He grabbed her wrist and cuffed it to the edge of the bed.

“What are you doing?” Her heart slammed against her chest.