Chapter 6
Bailey gripped the armrest so tightly her fingers went numb. Kendra had gotten them away from the café and was driving through the back streets of Cody, intent to keep the gunman from following them.
She admired Kendra’s quick response to the gunfire. As if she’d been through something like this before. Glancing at the pretty redhead behind the wheel, Bailey wished she could remember her.
“Keep driving around for a few minutes, Kendra,” Trevor said. “I’ll call Joel. We’ll have to get to the police station soon to give them an update on recent events. After that, we’ll need another plan.”
“Sounds good.” Kendra’s tone was remarkably calm. “I wish I understood how he knew we were at the café.”
“I assume he must have spotted your SUV and followed you.” Trevor paused, then said, “Hey, Joel. Change of plan. We were found at the café.”
While Bailey couldn’t hear the other side of Trevor’s conversation, she could tell Joel was asking questions about what happened. She drew in a deep breath, hoping to calm her racing heart. The doctor had suggested rest and being in familiar surroundings.
Impossible for her to do either of those things.
“It’s okay.” Kendra must have read her mind, because she reached over to touch her hand. “We’re going to keep you safe.”
“I know.” She knew they’d try to do that. But the way this guy kept popping up when they least expected him was concerning.
One of these times, a bullet would hit its mark.
The thought of something terrible happening to her baby made tears sting her eyes. Then she remembered Trevor’s prayer. He’d prayed twice now before meals. Was that something she normally did? She wasn’t sure but decided to try.
Closing her eyes, she opened her heart to the Lord. Please, Lord Jesus, protect me and my baby. Amen.
A sense of calm washed over her. She opened her eyes, feeling stronger with the knowledge that she wasn’t alone. Not only did she have the Sullivans around her, but God was covering her too.
Bailey wished she could remember some Bible passages. Maybe they’d come back to her when the rest of her memory returned.
“I think we’ll need a rental car,” Trevor was saying. “Something that wouldn’t be associated with our ranch.”
Kendra made another right-hand turn, then turned left a few streets later.
The youngest Sullivan sibling kept her eye on the rearview mirror.
Kendra’s ability to remain calm under fire was impressive.
Bailey had given up trying to figure out where they were.
Having amnesia was not only terrifying, but it also made her feel incredibly helpless.
“Yep, see you at the police station,” Trevor said. Bailey turned in her seat to see he’d ended the call. “Okay, Kendra, let’s make our way back to the police station. Joel is going to work on getting a rental car for me.”
“Sounds good.” Kendra made another turn. “I didn’t notice anyone following me through town. I hate knowing I may have led the gunman to you.”
“Not your fault,” Trevor said. “I think this guy knows Bailey. And if he knows her and her brother, it’s not a stretch to assume I’m involved with keeping her safe.”
“You think he knows me that well?” Bailey was shocked. She turned to look at Trevor. “You mean, like a friend of the family?”
Trevor hesitated, then shrugged. “Something like that. Cody isn’t that big. Locals who’ve lived here their entire lives would know you, your husband, me, and your brother. It’s the only way I can figure out that they keep finding us.”
She sat back in her seat, her mind whirling. For some reason, she’d assumed this was some stranger who’d come after her. Not someone she knew on a first-name basis.
Yet Trevor was right. Cody might be the fifth largest city in the state, but it held a small-town vibe. If she had her memory, she was sure she’d recognize the people they ran across.
“I assume I’ve lived here my entire life?” she asked.
“Yes. Same as us,” Kendra confirmed.
She nodded, thinking again how awful it was that she probably knew the man who had tried numerous times to kill her. Rubbing her fingers into her temples, she struggled to remember—anything.
To no avail.
Kendra pulled up to the Cody police department. The building didn’t look familiar. With a sigh, she pushed her door open.
“Wait for me.” Trevor jumped out of the back seat with Archie on his heels. Kendra opened the back hatch for Smoky. Trevor came around to Bailey’s side. “Stay close, okay?”
She managed a nod, feeling a bit shaky as she slid out of the car. Trevor put his arm around her, urging her toward the front of the building. Archie, Kendra, and Smoky trailed behind.
They walked through a vestibule to a main desk where a woman sat behind what Bailey assumed was bulletproof glass.
“Good morning, we’d like to speak with Sergeant Howell if he’s available,” Trevor said. “Tell him the Sullivans are here with Bailey Adams.”
“Of course. Come on back.” The woman reached down and pressed a button. A locked door clicked open.
Trevor grabbed it. “Thanks. After you, Bailey.”
She walked into the back, glancing around curiously. Again, nothing looked familiar, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever been there before either. Surprisingly, nobody seemed to care that there were two dogs accompanying them.
“This way.” Trevor rested his hand on the small of her back, steering her toward a small office. A tall man with dark hair and a mustache stood and gestured for them to come in.
“Please have a seat, Bailey.” Tom Howell looked to be in his mid-forties. His expression was grim, but his eyes were kind. “I’m sorry to hear you’ve been in danger.”
“Thank you.” She sat in one of the two chairs. Kendra sat in the chair next to her, while Trevor hovered behind them. “Trevor has been doing a remarkable job in keeping me safe, but we need help. This guy is escalating, and I’m afraid he’ll find me again.”
“I understand.” Howell’s gaze flicked to Trevor, then back to her. “If you don’t mind, I’d like you to start at the beginning.”
“The beginning?” She frowned. “I’m sorry to say I don’t remember anything prior to my car accident.
Trevor will have to fill you in on that part.
I only know that once I was discharged from the hospital, we headed to my house.
Trevor opened the door first and found the place trashed.
From there, we headed over to the Elk Lodge.
We were able to get some sleep, but then a stranger cut through the glass in my room and tried to crawl through the window.
Trevor and Archie chased him off.” She paused, then added, “I think he fired at Trevor too. We left the hotel and drove around for a while until we needed gas. I was in the hallway when the gunfire rang out, and we had to leave the gas station on foot.” Reiterating the events made her exhausted.
“We ordered breakfast at the Sunny Side Up Café and waited for Kendra to arrive. Just as we were leaving, the black truck arrived and started shooting again. Thankfully, Kendra was able to get away.”
Howell’s gaze held sympathy. “I’m sorry you had to go through all of that. I take it your memory hasn’t returned?”
“No.” She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I wish it would. You have no idea what it’s like to not recognize people who know you.”
“I’m sure it’s difficult.” Howell’s gaze flicked to Trevor. “Do you have anything to add?”
“Just that the guy in the black truck seems to recognize the Sullivan K9 SUVs. I know they’re not marked anymore,” Trevor added, “but I think he must know us well enough to recognize our crate area. I think he drove past the gas station, recognized my car, and then turned around and came back to open fire. I also think he must have noticed Kendra driving through town and followed her to the café. It was shortly after she arrived that we headed out. I think we surprised him by leaving so soon and that’s why he fired at us again. ”
“So he knows you and Bailey.” Howell sat back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “I wish I could say that narrows things down for us. But it doesn’t.”
“Have you found anything useful from reviewing Clark’s accident?” Trevor asked.
“No.” Howell grimaced. “But I haven’t had much time to look at my notes either.”
Bailey tamped down a flash of impatience. “Don’t you think you should make time? This guy keeps trying to kill me!”
“Yes, I know. But to be honest, our investigation didn’t find evidence of foul play, so I’m basically starting from scratch.” Howell sounded a bit defensive.
Her baby kicked, a reminder that stressing out wasn’t helpful. Bailey drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I understand.”
“You need to talk to the current owners of the Sweet Water Pub,” Trevor said. “They’re the ones who benefited the most from Clark’s death.”
“I spoke with Aaron Norman months ago, but he’s just the assistant manager.
Norman told me that Clark was a co-owner with an investment group by the name of Plymouth Properties.
I’ve reached out to Plymouth several times, without a response.
They’re based out of New Jersey, and I suspect this is just one small property for them in the big scheme of things. ”
Bailey frowned. “You’re saying Plymouth Properties was given full ownership of the pub after Clark’s death?”
Howell shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable. “Yes, but keep in mind, the original paperwork I saw indicated they’d already owned eighty percent of the pub. Clark was a minority partner and manager.”
“Still, twenty percent should have gone to Bailey,” Trevor said. “Unless I’m missing something.”
“The terms of the agreement indicated the property would default to Plymouth upon Clark’s death.” Howell grabbed a file folder from a pile on the corner of his desk. “Here, you can see for yourself.”