Carol Ericson - Eyewitness

His heart lurched. Devon had been in danger and he hadn’t been there to protect her. Hadn’t been there for four long years. “My God. It’s a good thing he didn’t see you or vice versa.”

“You’re telling me. It was awful enough finding Mrs. Del Vecchio’s body.”

“How was she killed?”

“The guy drowned her in the kitchen sink, like he was dunking her head in the water over and over because she had marks on her neck.”

“Brutal.” And he knew brutal. “Who would do an old lady like that? Did they rob her?”

“Her place was ransacked, but as far as I know, she didn’t have anything worth stealing.”

“Cops have any leads?”

“Not that I know of. At least they didn’t while we were still there. A Detective Marquette was working the case, and I haven’t heard from him since we got here.”

“Wow.” He tracked his fingertip through the condensation on the outside of his glass. “Maybe it was just a crime of opportunity. Her door was unlocked, and some junkie thought he could get some quick cash.”

“Maybe. I just hope Elena can get through to Michael. He hasn’t said anything to me about Granny Del since I told him she was dead.”

“Do you think Michael is going to be more upset when he learns he has a father?” Especially a father like him.

“I don’t know. He started asking questions a few years ago, and I was vague.” She drew criss-cross patterns in the plate. “Maybe somehow he figured out that his father was dead, and when Granny Del died, too, he couldn’t handle any more loss.”

Kieran’s injured eye ached and he dug the heel of his hand into his good eye as if that could stop it. He’d known coming back to this place was going to be hard, but he didn’t know it would cause gut-wrenching grief…and indescribable joy.

“Are you okay?”

He dropped his hand and adjusted his patch. “It pains me sometimes, my eye.”

“How much do you remember about us, Kieran? When I first saw you on the beach, you said you didn’t remember me but you knew me. Then you tried to back away from that. Which is it?”

This woman with her golden hair and clear blue eyes had a core of granite. If he’d expected his angel to be soft, yielding and pliant, he’d have to adjust those expectations.

“You saved my life, Devon.”

Her eyes widened. “I-I did?”

“I didn’t remember a woman, Devon Reese, but I remembered an ideal, a vision of warmth and goodness and pure happiness.”

A tear wobbled on the edge of her lashes and the tip of her nose reddened. “You’re going to be so disappointed.”

No. She was the one headed for disappointment.

He had to get off this subject of expectations and disappointments. He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Two hours is almost up. I hope she made some progress with Michael.”

“And you? Will you give her a chance to help you, too?”

“Maybe.”

“When are you going to tell your parents and Colin?”

“From what I gather, Colin is incommunicado. I’ll notify my parents when I feel comfortable in my own skin.”

As they pushed back from the table, a pretty blonde covered her mouth and squealed. “Kieran Roarke. Now I believe you’re really back.”

Kieran gripped the back of his chair and he murmured to Devon. “Who’s that?”

She whispered back. “Britt. You dated her in high school.”

Britt wasted no time in crossing the room and throwing her arms around him. He forced himself not to shrink away from the personal contact…or worse, throw Britt to the ground.

“How are you, Britt?”

“So much better now that I’ve seen you. I’m so happy you made it out alive.”

“You and me both.” He patted her shoulder awkwardly. “Devon and I have to run, but it was great seeing you. I hope we have time to catch up soon.”

She wiped a tear from her cheek and nodded. “So thrilled to have you back, Kieran. I’m working at the library now. Stop by any time.”

Wow, that Kieran Roarke must’ve been a helluva guy.

They stepped into the sunshine and Kieran blinked as Devon nudged him in the side with her elbow. “Britt was your girlfriend in high school and the head cheerleader.”

“Maybe I should’ve acted more excited to see her.”

“I think you’re doing okay. People can’t expect you to want a ticker-tape parade or anything.”

“God, I hope not.”

They strolled back to Dr. Estrada’s office, and the sun warmed Kieran’s shoulders. He took a deep breath of the tangy air. He’d missed that smell. It was in his blood…just like the woman next to him.

Before they hit the staircase, Devon jiggled the handle to the bathroom on the ground floor. “It’s locked. I wonder if Elena has a key.”

Kieran ushered her up the stairs ahead of him and watched the sway of her hips as she took each step. Every small movement of her body seemed to call out to him.

Devon slipped into the doctor’s outer office and stood by the inner office door, her fingers threaded in front of her. Kieran wanted to ease her tension in some way, to comfort her, but he couldn’t take his rightful place as Michael’s father…not yet. He slumped in a chair and leafed through a magazine.

The door swung open, and Devon jumped back. “All done?”

Dr. Estrada smiled and patted Michael’s back. “We got to know each other a little better.”

“Do you want lunch, Michael?” Devon’s smile was wide enough to split her face.

Michael nodded and cast a half smile at Dr. Estrada.

“Oh, Elena, do you have a key to the bathroom downstairs?”

“Yes, all the tenants do.” She reached into a basket on one of the tables and pulled out a big, wooden keychain. “Just bring it back.”

“Michael, do you need to use the bathroom, too?” Devon held up the key.

“Uh-huh.” Michael skipped to the front door.

Was Devon trying to leave him alone with Dr. Estrada? The woman didn’t surrender easily.

“We’ll be right back. Maybe you and Elena can get better acquainted.”

The door whispered shut behind her and Kieran stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “You know I’m Michael’s father?”

“Even before you returned, Devon had told me the identity of Michael’s father. Not the best timing, is it?”

“It would be difficult to break the news to a well- adjusted kid. Michael’s trauma makes it harder.”

“It might help Michael to gain a father right now, but let’s talk about you for a minute.”

“What did Devon tell you?”

“The basics-prisoner of war, physical torture, memory loss. Does that about sum it up?”

“In a nutshell.”

“But there’s more, isn’t there? More you’d rather not tell Devon.”

He shrugged off the question. More Devon didn’t need to know, which meant getting out of her life. “I’d like to reclaim more of my memories before contacting my family. Being here in Coral Cove has helped.”

“Have you ever been hypnotized before?”

“Not completely successfully. I was a Green Beret. We were trained to resist such tactics.”

“But if you don’t resist?” She spread her hands. “Who knows? Maybe if you go willingly, we can dig out more of your memories.”

“I’ll think about it. When is Michael’s next appointment?”

“In two days.” She pulled a card out of the pocket of her skirt, cupped it in her hand and wrote on the back. “I’ll give Devon a call later, and tell her, and you, about Michael’s progress today. I have another patient coming in, so Devon can drop the bathroom key in the basket.”

“Okay, I appreciate…”

A crash from outside made them both jump.

“What was that?” Elena ran to the window and shoved aside the blinds. “Is that smoke?”