Chapter 3
Irritable, Bailey was about to push past Trevor, when he turned and grabbed her arm. “We need to get out of here.”
“Why?” When he moved out of the way, she glimpsed the mess. Although mess was too mild of a term for the mass destruction she saw in the house behind him. She’d hoped to remember where she lived, but she didn’t. The place didn’t feel like home.
Especially now. Her blood ran cold as realization sank deep. This wasn’t the work of troubled teens. There was something bigger going on here. “I don’t understand. Who did this? And why?”
“I wish I knew. We’ll call the police on the way.” Trevor tugged on her arm. Archie sniffed around the doorway with interest. “Please, Bailey, get in the car.”
“I’m supposed to surround myself with familiar things.
” Even as she uttered the protest, she knew it was fruitless.
Whatever familiar items she might have had were probably gone.
Or destroyed beyond recognition. She reluctantly turned and walked back down to the SUV.
Trevor opened the passenger door for her.
“Stay here and call 911. I’m taking Archie inside.” He shut the door and turned away. She heard him say, “Come, Archie.”
She suddenly wondered if she had a room set up for the baby. It would seem like a normal thing to do. Had the person who’d trashed her home ruined the nursery as well? Useless tears pricked her eyes. She blinked them back with an effort.
Pulling out her phone, she dialed 911. The dispatcher answered almost right away. “What’s your emergency?”
“There’s been a break-in at my home.” Bailey stared at the doorway where Trevor and Archie had gone. “I need the police to come right away.”
“What’s your address?”
“Um.” Good question. She had no idea, then she recalled Trevor turning onto Windmill Lane. “My name is Bailey Adams. I live at the end of Windmill Lane.”
There was a long pause. She heard the clicking of a keyboard in the background. “I have you at 207 Windmill Lane. Is that correct?”
How should she know? But, of course, she didn’t say that. Better to go along with whatever information this woman had on file. “Yes, please have the police respond as soon as possible.”
“I’ve dispatched a unit to your location. Are you safe?”
Bailey almost barked out a laugh. She didn’t even know her own name, much less if she was safe. Again, she strove to remain calm. Resting one hand on her belly, she continued watching the front door. “I’m with Trevor and his K9, Archie.”
“That’s good. Officer Riley will be there soon.”
“Thanks.” Bailey ended the call and lowered the phone. Her head hurt, her muscles ached, and her home had been trashed. She couldn’t imagine this day could get any worse.
The nagging feeling that she had something important to do wouldn’t leave her alone. It was like a constant buzzing in the back of her mind. Her empty memory mind.
When the front door swung open revealing Trevor and Archie, she sighed in relief. There was something in Trevor’s hand as he strode toward the SUV. He opened the back hatch for his K9, then opened her door.
“I found this.” He handed her a photograph. “The frame was broken and taken apart, so I just have the picture.”
“Thank you.” She stared at the image of two people standing side by side. A taller man had his arm wrapped around her shoulders. He must be her brother, Miles.
Trevor waited a beat, then closed her door and ran to the other side to get in behind the wheel. He glanced at her as he started the engine. “Do you recognize him?”
“No.” She desperately wished she did. What kind of person can’t remember their own sibling?
“That’s okay.” Trevor reached over to touch her hand. “Don’t push it.”
Easy for him to say. He wasn’t the one living with a black void in his mind. Swallowing her frustration, she sighed. “I called the police. They should be here soon.”
“Good.” Trevor backed out of the driveway, then pulled over to the side of the road. Hearing the wail of sirens, she turned to see the red and blue flashing lights coming down Windmill Lane.
“The dispatcher asked for my address.” Her voice hitched, and she steadied it with an effort. “I couldn’t even tell her the house number.”
Trevor winced. “I’m sorry. I should have made the call.”
She tapped the photo. “Is this why you went back inside?”
He nodded. “That and I wanted Archie to sniff around the place. He’s a great tracker. I’m hoping that he’ll alert us if he catches the scent of the bad guy.”
The idea of a K9 doing that intrigued her. “He can really isolate one scent like that?”
“Absolutely.” Trevor had to raise his voice to be heard over the sirens. The Cody police cruiser pulled into the driveway. “Sit tight. I’ll be back.” Trevor slid out of the car, leaving the engine running.
Bailey was suddenly annoyed at how Trevor was taking charge here. This was her house, wasn’t it? Just because she didn’t remember it didn’t mean she shouldn’t be involved in what had happened.
Releasing her seatbelt, she pushed out of the passenger seat to join Trevor and Officer Riley.
“I don’t know the time frame when this may have happened,” Trevor was saying. “Bailey works a nine-to-five job at City Hall as a receptionist.”
She did? That was helpful to know.
“I spoke to Bailey while she was heading home, that’s when she mentioned thinking someone was following her.
I convinced her to turn around to meet me on the highway instead.
That’s when she ended up in the culvert.
This damage could have happened anytime between nine in the morning and now.
Although I didn’t see anything suspicious when we drove up, so I suspect he’s long gone. ”
“Is anything missing?” Officer Riley asked.
Bailey closed her eyes, wishing for the zillionth time that she could remember.
“I’m afraid we won’t know that for a while,” Trevor said cryptically. “I can say the TV is still inside, so whoever did this didn’t bother to steal it. There could be other items missing. I’m not sure. My priority is to take Bailey someplace safe.”
Officer Riley’s gaze dropped to her pregnant belly. “Of course. That makes sense. We’ll take the report and board up the house until you can get a chance to look around.”
“Thanks, Jeff.” Trevor took her hand, a gesture she found comforting.
Her earlier annoyance faded. Trevor was doing his best to support her.
Maybe it was only because he was her brother’s friend, but she had to admit she was glad she wasn’t navigating this mess alone.
“We’ll let you know if there’s anything has been taken. ”
“Thanks. Where will you be staying in the meantime?” Jeff Riley asked.
“I’m not sure.” Trevor’s evasive answer surprised her. “Call the ranch if you need to reach us.”
The ranch? Bailey glanced at Trevor in surprise. She hadn’t realized he lived on a ranch.
Or rather, she hadn’t remembered he lived on a ranch.
She was suddenly struck by a wave of sheer exhaustion. Her body craved sleep. But then her baby somersaulted in her womb, making her smile. She might need rest, but the baby was active.
A prelude to what her life would be like once the baby was born.
A fresh wave of terror washed over her. What if her memory hadn’t returned by then? What if she would have to navigate her new life as a single mother without knowing the people around her? How on earth would she manage?
“Bailey?” Trevor still held her hand and must have sensed her tension. “Are you okay?”
With Officer Riley there, she forced a nod. “Yes. Of course.”
Trevor’s expression indicated he knew she was lying, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he turned toward the SUV. “Let’s get out of here.”
She followed him back to the SUV. Archie was still in the back, his dark eyes watching them. He was unusually quiet for a dog, she thought as she set her purse down and buckled in. Normal dogs barked at strangers.
Trevor didn’t say anything until they were back in downtown Cody. “We’ll stay at the Elk Lodge, if that’s okay with you.”
“Um, sure. But I’m not sure if I have enough money to pay for a room.” She had no idea what her financial situation was, other than her home was cute but not extravagant.
“I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry about that.” He frowned, then added, “I want you to relax, Bailey. To rest your mind as much as possible. Maybe once you get a good night’s sleep, your memories will return.”
“I hope so.” She tried to sound positive, but it wasn’t easy. Swallowing hard, she knew she needed to take his advice.
Stress wasn’t good for her or the baby.
The Elk Lodge was nice, with its warm welcoming blaze in the massive stone fireplace taking up one whole wall in the lobby. She was surprised when Trevor asked for a suite. And that the clerk didn’t bat an eye when she saw Archie standing beside them.
The suite seemed like an extravagance, but she bit back a protest. It was nice of Trevor to make arrangements that offered her privacy.
Not that any man would be interested in a pregnant woman.
She felt like a whale and wished she had a change of clothes as she followed Trevor and Archie down the hall to a room on the first floor.
“You take the bedroom. It has its own bathroom.” Trevor nodded toward the doorway leading to a separate room. “Archie and I will stay out here.”
“Thanks.” She quickly ducked into the room, eager to make use of the bathroom.
The fluids the hospital had given her had worked their way through her system.
When she returned, she saw Trevor standing near the window, looking outside.
He turned to face her, and his smile made her heart do a crazy thump.
Why was she noticing how attractive he was?
She had much bigger issues to worry about.
“Are you hungry?” he asked. “We can order room service.”
“I could eat. My stomach feels a bit queasy.” She sank onto the sofa. “I didn’t know you lived on a ranch. In fact, I don’t know anything about you.”
Trevor nodded. “Let’s order food, then I’ll fill you in.”