Lynette Eason - Holiday Amnesia

“That’s what Toby said. He said you broke the window out of one of the bathrooms and escaped that way.”

“Then I guess that’s true.” She pressed her palms against her eyes, then lowered them with a sigh. “So, what do you do when you’re not guarding people?”

Amber smiled. “I take care of my family. I have a nine-year-old son and a one-year-old daughter.”

“I’m taking you away from your family. I’m so sorry!” Remorse had a bitter taste.

“Hey, it’s okay, really,” Amber said, her voice low and soothing. “It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to help out and I’m glad to do it.”

“Still...”

“No, not ‘still.’ It’s fine, I promise.”

Robin sighed. “Well, thank you. I appreciate it.”

“Any big Christmas plans?” Amber asked.

Was the change of subject an attempt to get Robin’s mind off everything? Possibly. “No big plans.” At least she didn’t think so. If this Christmas followed true to the pattern of past ones, she would be curled up somewhere on a sofa watching It’s a Wonderful Life . “I suppose my plan is to stay alive to see Christmas.”

“An excellent plan.”

“What about you? Any favorite Christmas traditions?”

“Mmm,” Amber said. “Yes. My family loves Christmas. We usually gather at my parents’ house, eat too much, watch football, play some football if the weather cooperates, take a horse ride, play in the snow...” She shrugged. “Stuff like that.”

“Sounds idyllic,” Robin said softly. Sounded exactly what she’d always dreamed of Christmas being—but not one she’d ever experienced. Longing welled and she cleared her throat. “Toby said you were in law enforcement before. What branch?”

“I used to work for one of the government agencies.”

“So, you’d rather not say.”

Amber gave her a faint smile. “Not unless it will help you feel better.”

“You don’t have to tell me.” She figured it was probably the CIA or something like that. “Do you miss it?”

The woman shrugged and glanced out the window before turning back. “Sometimes. But I’d miss my family more if I were still working, so I help out some friends who are still active every now and then.”

“Like Toby?”

“Like Toby.”

Robin pressed a hand against her aching head. “I wonder where he is.”

Toby stashed the bag in the back seat and scanned the area one more time. The guy was gone, and Toby started to wonder if he’d been overreacting in the store.

When his phone rang, he yanked it from his pocket and glanced at the screen. “Yeah, Ben, what’s up?” He turned his attention to the parking lot, the cars leaving and arriving, the people loading their bags. The guy’s car was still in its spot.

“The fire at the lab’s been ruled arson.”

He walked to the back of the vehicle and noted the license plate. “That didn’t take long.”

“ATF guys found bomb materials. They’ve been shifting through everything with the dogs.”

“Can’t say I’m surprised.” In fact, he would have been surprised to hear otherwise.

“So, right now, we’re looking for someone who has the motive to blow it up,” Ben said. “What was going on in there that someone wanted to get rid of?”

“I’ve already passed on to you everything I know.” Which hadn’t been much. Ben already had the background on all of the employees, including as much personal information that Toby had been able to dig up.

“Hold on a second,” Ben said. “I’ve got a text coming through.”

While Ben checked his messages, Toby did a three-sixty, still on high alert. There was nothing there to alarm him and yet he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. He pushed the cart to join the others in the designated area.

“Toby?” Ben was back on the line.

“Yeah?” He headed back to his truck, his nerves itching.

“Alan Roberts and another man were found dead at the scene. They both had bullet holes in them.”

“Great. Just great. Who’s the other guy?”

“Not sure. They’re still trying to ID him. May have to use dental records.”

“Alan has a family,” Toby said softly. “And a little girl fighting leukemia.”

“Oh boy.” Ben sighed.

“Yeah.” Toby frowned and took another look around the parking lot. It was busy, with a steady stream of people. “Once we know the identity of the other guy, maybe we’ll know why they were killed.”

“I hope to have that information soon. How’s Robin?”

“Hanging in there, but she doesn’t remember anything that happened at the lab.”

“Nothing?”

“No. Seems like she’s lost the last six months of her life at the moment.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I wish.”

“Fabulous.” Ben paused. “We need her to remember.”

“I know, but right now, she’s so stressed and shaken, I don’t see that happening any time soon. And pushing her isn’t going to help. The doctor said to let her heal and feel safe, and the memories should start to return.”

“Toby...if someone tried to kill her because of something she saw, we may not have time to let her feel safe.”

“I’m working on that part.”

“Yeah. Okay. I guess we don’t have a choice. Stay low and keep your head down until I get back to you.” He paused. “In the meantime, you find her that safe quiet spot to heal. The faster the better.”

“Already thought of that.”

“I thought you might have. Where will you be?”

“Wrangler’s Corner. It’s small and close-knit. If any strangers show up, I’ll know it.”

Ben fell silent. “That might not be a bad idea. Plus, you have law enforcement friends and family there.”

“I do.” The law enforcement friends were in-laws, but he counted them as family.

“All right. But let me know immediately if she remembers anything. She’s not safe if she can’t tell us who did this—and why.”

“I know, Ben.”

“I know you do,” his friend said. “This thing’s got me rattled. I never saw this coming.”

“I didn’t either.” Toby kept his head on a swivel, goosebumps pebbling his arms, the air shifting. “When I get back to the hotel, I’m going to send you a picture of a guy. See if you can identify him, will you?”

“Sure.”

“Look, I’ve gotta go. I don’t like being out in the open like this. Talk to you later.”

“Be safe.”

“That’s the plan.” Toby hung up and placed his hand on the door handle.

A footfall sounded behind him. He started to turn when something hard pressed against the base of his skull.

Toby froze. The man had been watching. Waiting for him to get off the phone, then striking quickly.

“Where is she?” a low voice demanded.

“Who?”

“You know who. Robin Hardy. Where is she?”

“Who wants to know?”

The gun pressed harder. “I’m not playing, man!”

“I’m not either.” Toby bent his knees and dropped in one controlled movement. The gun slid away from his head. In a crouched position, he spun and kicked out, connecting with the man’s knee.

His attacker yelled but instead of pulling away, he surged forward and struck out, catching Toby on the cheek with a hard fist. Toby’s head snapped back and pain vibrated through him, but he kept his feet beneath him.

“What’s going on over there?”

The shout startled him and he stumbled back two steps, just in time to avoid the second punch headed for his face. He grabbed the swinging arm and shoved. The man went to his knees, rolled to his feet and bolted toward the back of the parking lot.

Pounding footsteps from the opposite direction grabbed Toby’s attention. A man in a uniform reached him. Another swept past him in pursuit of the fleeing attacker. “Are you okay?”