Chapter 4
Bailey hurried to the window, peering out as Trevor had followed Archie in chasing the stranger who’d tried to come into her room. Her body trembled with fear and anger. Who was that man? And why had he climbed through her window?
She’d been taking one of her frequent trips to the bathroom, courtesy of the baby sitting on her bladder, when she’d heard a faint noise.
When she’d opened the bathroom door, she froze when she saw the man straddling the window.
Thankfully, Trevor had burst into the room with Archie, scaring him off.
As she stood shivering, she realized the window had been cut away. She hadn’t heard him doing that from inside the bathroom.
Did she know him? She hadn’t been able to see his face, as he’d been ducking under the window when she’d stepped out of the bathroom. Despite sleeping deeply between bouts of getting up to pee, she was frustrated that there was nothing but a swirling mist where her memory should be.
Her stomach clenched with fear. She’d rested for almost five hours, but that still hadn’t helped. What if she never remembered her life before the accident?
Archie and Trevor didn’t come back right away, and she frowned when she saw the dog sniffing around the ground. What was he looking for? After a few minutes, the K9 sat and barked. Trevor bent, picked something off the ground with his gloved hand, then praised the dog.
The pair quickly returned to the hotel. Seeing them approach, she asked, “What did he find?”
“Shell casing.” Trevor raked his gaze over her. “Are you okay?”
Not even close, but she nodded. She was impressed that Archie had been able to find the shell casing. “He’s gone?”
“Yep. Took off in a dark truck.” He gestured to the hotel. “Put on your shoes and grab your coat and purse. I’ll bring Archie in through the side door to get my backpack, but then we’re leaving.”
The directive shouldn’t have taken her by surprise. Of course, they couldn’t stay, especially since her window was gone. “Okay.”
His expression softened for a moment, and he looked as if he might say something more, then he turned and hurried around the building.
She slipped her shoes on and reached for her purse.
It was on the other side of the bed from the window.
She paused, wondering if the intruder had planned to grab it.
It didn’t seem logical this was about a robbery.
Putting a hand to her still-throbbing temple, she stepped into the main suite.
When Trevor couldn’t get in, she crossed over to undo the deadbolt lock.
“Thanks.” He scowled. “I’m sorry. I never anticipated he’d try to get in through a window. Looks like he used a glass cutter for access.”
“I saw that.” She tried to calm her racing heart. “How did he know we were here?”
Trevor shook his head and bent to grab his backpack. “I don’t know. Are you ready?”
“Yes, but shouldn’t we call the police?” She shrugged into her coat and glanced back at her room. “You have that shell casing, right? And they can’t give this suite to anyone else with the window missing.”
“Yeah, we’ll call them. They can come and dust for prints, although I noticed the guy was wearing gloves.
No matter what, we’re not staying here to wait for them.
” He turned toward the door. “Stay close, Bailey. You remember where the SUV is parked?” When she nodded, he turned to head down the hall. “Come, Archie.”
The K9 trotted alongside Trevor. She followed, trying to visualize the man’s features in her mind. But he remained a faceless threat.
With a click of Trevor’s key fob, the lights flashed and the rear hatch opened for Archie.
The dog eagerly jumped into the crate area.
She hurried to the passenger-side door, glancing furtively over her shoulder.
The intruder was long gone, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.
She had the odd sensation that she’d been looking over her shoulder a lot.
Trevor stashed his backpack in the rear seat, then slid in behind the wheel.
Once they were out on the road, she saw red and blue flashing lights. It seemed she was seeing them a lot too. “Did you call the police?”
“No, but I’m sure someone else reported the gunfire.” He glanced at her. “We’ll follow up with Sergeant Howell when we’ve found a new place to stay.”
“And where is that?” She didn’t like not knowing things. Or rather, not remembering things. “Have I met Sergeant Howell?”
“I don’t know if you have or not, but we haven’t seen him since this started.
” He reached over to touch her arm. She appreciated the connection, especially since she felt as if she were drowning in quicksand.
“I know him through my siblings. He’s a decent guy and a good cop.
He’ll understand we couldn’t stay because I needed to get you to safety.
And I’m not sure where we’re going yet. I need to call my sister Kendra in an hour or two.
She’s the expert in finding places where we can stay off-grid. ”
“Okay.” There was no point in stressing over locals she couldn’t remember. Bad enough that she couldn’t recall her own brother. The photograph Trevor had rescued from her house was still tucked in the side pocket of her passenger-side door. She pulled it out to look at it again.
There were some similarities in their facial features, but his hair was blond compared to her dark-brown tresses. She’d examined her own reflection in the mirror with the same result. Like she was looking at a stranger.
With a sigh, she slipped the picture back into the side pocket. It was no use. She still didn’t remember him.
The police sirens were louder now as the cruiser sped past them to reach the hotel. She pulled out her phone, realizing that less than 30 percent of her battery life was left. She picked up her purse, but there wasn’t a spare charger in there.
“Something wrong?” Trevor asked.
“Just looking for a phone charger.” She dropped her purse on the floorboard. “I guess it doesn’t matter. I can’t remember anyone to call.”
“Hey, we’re going to get through this.” He took her hand again. She gripped it tightly, knowing it wasn’t smart to be so dependent on him. But what choice did she have? Her car was totaled, and her house had been wrecked.
She was pregnant and on her own, except for Trevor’s unwavering support.
“I don’t know how I’d manage without you.” Tears filled her eyes again, so she looked away. “I’m sorry. I wish I could remember you.”
“Don’t worry about that. Better for you to rest your mind. I’ll figure out a place for us to stay and keep you safe.”
She knew he would, and that almost made her want to cry more. Was she always so emotional? Or were pregnancy hormones responsible? She didn’t know.
When a phone rang, she jolted. Trevor gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, then released it to push the talk button. “This is Trevor.”
“It’s Tom Howell. I just heard about the report of gunfire at the Elk Lodge, and Bailey Adams’s recent car crash along with the break-in at her house. That’s three events in a matter of hours. What’s going on?”
“Hey, Tom. I’m sorry your guys woke you at four thirty in the morning for this.” Trevor’s tone indicated he’d assumed the sergeant would have been called earlier.
“Yeah, I’m not happy they waited until now either. But I especially don’t like knowing a pregnant woman is in danger.” Bailey thought the sergeant sounded annoyed. “I am glad she’s with you, Trevor.”
“Me too. I intend to keep her safe,” Trevor said.
“Do you have any suspects?” Howell asked.
“I wish.” Bailey felt Trevor’s gaze on her.
“A man cut through the glass of the window in the Elk Lodge. We caught him trying to climb in. When Archie and I took off after him, he fired a gun to hold us back. That’s the report of gunfire you heard.
I would have returned fire, but he was already in his truck and driving away.
Archie found a shell casing, so I have that for you.
But I’m fairly certain the guy was wearing gloves, so I don’t know that you’ll get prints. ”
“Good news on the shell casing. Do you have a description of the perp or the truck?” Sergeant Howell asked.
Again, Trevor glanced at her. She shook her head, then spoke up. “Sergeant Howell, this is Bailey. I only caught a glimpse of him. All I can say is that he was dressed in black. No cowboy hat that I remember.”
“I didn’t see a cowboy hat either,” Trevor agreed. “And the truck was dark in color. Bailey noticed a black truck behind her prior to the crash, so I believe it’s the same one, but I couldn’t get the make or model or license plate number.”
“Great,” Howell muttered. “That doesn’t narrow it down much.”
“I know. But I was thinking you should check the video at the gas station close to the Elk Lodge. That may provide a glimpse of this guy.”
“I will. I wanted to talk to you and Bailey first.”
“Understandable. But, Tom, I’d like you to share that video with me when you get it,” Trevor said.
There was a pause, then he said, “I will. Are you going to give it to your FBI brother-in-law?”
“Yep.” She had to admire Trevor’s bluntness. “No offense, Tom, but the more cops digging into this, the better. As you said, we have a pregnant woman in danger. Besides, I’m starting to think Bailey’s husband’s death wasn’t an accident.”
She turned to stare at him. Accident? He hadn’t mentioned Clark died in an accident. For some odd reason, she’d assumed he’d passed away from cancer.
Wasn’t that how most people died?
“I know Bailey asked us to review Clark’s fatal car crash several times, but honestly, we never found anything to suggest foul play.” Howell’s tone was defensive. “I wouldn’t lie about that.”
Fatal car crash? She gripped the armrest, feeling dizzy. Why hadn’t Trevor told her that important detail? Her husband had died of a car crash, and now she’d been in one too.
Was she in danger because of him?