Then she headed back to the medical center to relieve the sheriff. She met Deputy Paulson outside John Does room. How did it go?
All quiet, he replied. Sheriffs inside.
She entered, half hoping John Doe had awakened. He still slept. His face looked relaxed. His dark hair fell over his forehead, covering one eye. Beside him sat the sheriff with his arms folded over his massive chest, his chin tipped down and his eyes closed. Audrey hesitated, debating stepping back out.
Youre here early, the sheriff said softly, lifting his head.
She straightened and came fully into the room. No hits on NCIC or ViCAP. I sent his info to the RCMP.
Good thinking. He stood and stretched. Im going to grab some coffee. You want some?
No, thank you, she replied. His praise eased the worry from the night before that she wasnt doing a good job. Her spine straightened as she moved aside to let him pass.
She went to the window. Frost laced the edges of the glass. She stared at the tree line flanking the west side of the building. The green pine trees were sprinkled with a soft layer of new snow that had fallen during the night. Today, the sun peeked out from behind gray clouds. With 80 percent of the state of Maine forested, there were many hiding places for the masked man to lose himself in. Was he out in the woods now, waiting for another opportunity to strike?
A noise behind her sent a jolt of adrenaline straight to her heart. She spun to find John Doe springing from the bed and landing on the balls of his feet to face her. He ripped out his IV line. It fell to the floor, and the heart monitor sounded an alarm.
Audrey quickly shut off the shrill noise.
The hospital gown theyd put on him stretched across his wide shoulders as his hands went up in a defensive position. Words flowed from his mouth, but she had no idea what he was saying.
She held her hands palms up. Adrenaline flooded her veins. She didnt want to have to take the guy down, but if he didnt calm himself, shed do it. Hey, take it easy. Youre in the hospital.
More words in a language she didnt understand came at her.
I dont know what youre saying, she said. Please speak English.
His panicked dark eyes swept over her and the room. Looking for an escape?
The door behind him opened. A young nurse rushed in, followed by the sheriff, carrying his coffee in one hand. John Doe whirled to confront a new threat.
Dont! Audrey shouted, afraid either man would attack the other. Hes okay. Its okay. Everyones okay.
The sheriff held up his free hand. Whoa, there, son. No one is here to hurt you. My name is Sheriff Crump. Youre safe now. To the nurse, the sheriff said, Weve got this.
She clearly wasnt reassured, as her scared gaze zinged from the sheriff to the patient and back again. He shouldnt be up. Hes bleeding where his IV line was. I should check on his wounds.
Audrey glanced at the smear of blood on the unknown mans arm. The amount wasnt life threatening, just messy.
You can come back in a bit, David said in a tone that left no room for argument. I need to question the man.
With a frown, the nurse retreated, leaving them alone with the mysterious man. John Doe let out a string of words that made no sense to Audrey. Worry churned in her gut. What was going on? Obviously he was a foreigner, but from where? She couldnt place the language.
The sheriff cocked his head, his gaze going to Audrey. She shrugged, at a loss for how to communicate with the patient. The sharp sense of helplessness was too familiar. She hated the feeling. Shed felt this way the night her father hadnt returned from the sea. Only then it had been more intense. Now it was enough to make her jittery.
I can understand a few words, the sheriff said. I think hes speaking in Cree. One of the professors I worked with at the university taught a class in Native American studies and had a segment on languages. Cree has a very distinct dialect. He turned his attention back to John Doe. Does that sound right?
Confusion played over the mans face. He took a shuddering breath and then spoke in English. I dont know. I can hear the words in my head, but they mean nothing to me. Where am I?
Youre in Calico Bay, Audrey supplied. Were you on a boat?
John Doe backed up so he could see both Audrey and the sheriff. I dont know. I dont remember. Calico Bay?
Downeast Maine, the sheriff supplied. The northern tip of the state.
The man kept his gaze on Audrey. Ive seen you before. Where?
You woke up for a moment on the beach and again last night while I was here.
John ran a hand through his dark hair. He stilled when his fingers touched the bandage near his left temple. What happened?
We were hoping you could tell us, the sheriff said. Thereve been three attempts on your life since you washed ashore on our beach. Why is someone trying to kill you?
The man frowned and paced a few steps. I dont know.
Audrey fought the urge to tell him it would be all right. She didnt know if it would, and she wasnt sure hed appreciate the platitude.
He staggered to the bed and sat, dropping his head into his hands. I cant remember anything. Every time I try to recall, my head feels like its going to explode.
Her heart ached to see his distress. The need to comfort prodded her to take a step closer. The sheriff arched a disapproving eyebrow at her. She halted. Her great-uncle had warned her often enough not to become emotionally involved in cases. She needed a clear, objective head. And if she wanted to be sheriff one day, she had to remain detached and professional at all times.
The patient rolled his shoulders then lifted his gaze to Audrey. Only your face seems familiar. Nothing else.
The defenselessness on his handsome face tugged at her. She swallowed. Her heart beat erratically. No way was she going to repeat his delirious proclamation that she reminded him of a Christmas ornament. On the beach you muttered the word betrayed. Ring any bells?
His mouth gaped and he shook his head.
She tapped her fingers against her utility belt. You cant remember your name?
He stared at her, the panic returning to his eyes. No. I cant remember my name. Or who I am. Or where Im from. I dont know what I meant by betrayed. He let out a shuddering breath. Or why someone wants me dead.
THREE
He couldnt remember his name.
Sitting on the hospital bed under the scrutiny of the deputy and the sheriff made him feel vulnerable. An antsy sort of energy buzzed through him. He might not know his name, but he knew in his gut he didnt do vulnerable.
His body ached everywhere. His head pounded like a jackhammer going to town inside his skull. His mouth felt like cotton. An encompassing terror gripped him. A shiver racked his body. Cold. So very cold. How could he not know who he was? Or recall his past?
Why did someone want him dead?
His heart slammed against his ribs. A looming sense of dread and foreboding threatened to pull him back into darkness. He hung on to the edge of the bed and fought the tug. He needed to stay awake. Some innate knowledge told him he needed to keep a clear head if he were to survive. He grabbed the water pitcher on the bedside tray and poured a glass. He drank it down and then another.
Then well call you John.
What? He stared at the blonde, blue-eyed deputy. Her hair was pulled back away from her face and secured behind her head in a knot. She wore little makeup. She didnt need any. She was absolutely stunning with her high cheekbones, delicately carved beneath smooth, unblemished skin and full lips. He forced himself to concentrate on what shed just stated. Is my name John?
It didnt ring any bells. And every time he tried to concentrate, to conjure up a memory, his head felt like someone was taking a pickax to his skull, bringing on a blinding pain that was nearly incapacitating. Only keeping his focus on the beautiful womans face kept him from keeling over.
She smiled and her eyes filled with compassion. John as in John Doe. I dont know your name. You werent carrying identification.
That explained why they didnt know his name. Where did you find me?
The tide deposited you on the public beach early yesterday morning, the man who wore the gold sheriffs badge replied. Sheriff Crump, hed said. He sipped from his coffee and eyed John with a mix of wary suspicion and empathy.
Hed washed up on the beach like driftwood, which accounted for the bone-deep chill he felt even though the room was heated. Had he been on a boat and fallen overboard? Something else the sheriff said finally registered like a punch to the gut. You said someone tried to kill me after you found me?
Yes. The woman told him of the attempts made on his life.
Pressure built in his chest, and his head throbbed. He scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck, hoping to ease the tension that was taking root in the muscles. Im sorry about the ambulance. And your patrol car. Id offer to reimburse you for both, but Ive no idea if I have the means to do so. The enormity of the situation weighed him down. This is all so surreal, like Ive walked into a bad horror flick. Has the doctor said how long my mind will be blank?
I havent talked to her yet. We should let her know youve regained consciousness. The deputy reached for the call button.
The deputy smelled like sunshine on a spring day. He breathed in deep, letting an image of a grassy meadow form. Was it a memory or just a generic thought made up of a lifetime of images that had no emotional attachment?
As she moved away, he asked, Whats your name?
Deputy Martin, she replied in a brisk tone. She was tall and hed guess shapely beneath the bulk of her uniform. Hed like to see her with her hair down and wearing a dress that showed off her long legs.
Whoa. Where had that thought come from?
Better to keep his mind on staying alive and not on some errant attraction to the woman who had rescued him from certain death. Pushing the attraction aside, he went with gratefulness. Thank you, Deputy Martin, for saving my life.
He wished he could do something more for her, but he had no idea what. He had no clothes, no identification and no money. He was trapped in this hospital room until he either remembered who he was or someone claimed him.
Or the man who wanted him dead got to him first.
Anger at the unknown man and dread that he might succeed heated his blood but did nothing to chase away the chill that had settled in his core. Was he married? His heart contracted in his chest. Did he have a family worried about him somewhere? He glanced at his left hand. No wedding band. A sign that he was single or just that he didnt wear a ring? His pulse thrummed in his veins. Frustration drilled into his skull. What kind of man was he?
Why couldnt he remember?
The door opened, and an attractive female doctor wearing a white lab coat walked in. John gauged her age around fifty. Her blond hair was pulled back in a low bun, and she viewed him with bright blue eyes. His gaze darted from the doctor to the deputy. The similarities between the two left little doubt they were related. Mother and daughter?
Good morning, the doctor said as she hustled forward. I see you ripped out your IV. Are you in pain?
He was, but he didnt want meds. Im fine. I can handle it.
Her mouth twisted. Right. You gave us all quite a scare, on many levels. Im Dr. Martin. What is your name?
John grimaced. I dont know. Ive lost my mind.
Dr. Martins eyes widened for a fraction of a second. You sustained a rather dramatic blow to the head as well as some hypothermia. You have a linear skull fracture that will heal with time. I saw no evidence of a brain bleed. You certainly have a concussion, so youll need to be monitored for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Most likely the severity of the inciting event coupled with the force of the hit to your temple region caused your memory loss. Retrograde amnesia isnt uncommon. What can you remember?
Nothing before waking up here. John darted a glance at the deputy. Shed said hed awakened last night and that was why she seemed familiar. But he had a feeling she was holding back, not telling him everything. Why would she do that?
The doctor listened to his heart and his lungs, then checked his pupils. You seem to be in good order. I have no doubt your memories will return. Just be aware that they may come in spits and spurts and be disjointed. Like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Eventually your memories will slide into place, and youll be back to your old self.
Foreboding prickled his flesh. Whoever hed been was someone worth killing. What had he been mixed up in? Something illegal? Was he a criminal? I shouldnt stay here. Whoever broke in last night might return. I dont want to put anyone at risk.
Deputy Martins gaze zeroed on the sheriff. The captains place. I could take him there.
The sheriff shook his head. No. The safest place for him, and our town, is a jail cell.
What! The deputy shook her head. No way. We cant lock him up without any evidence of wrongdoing. That would be setting us up for a lawsuit.
The sheriff arched an eyebrow. Not if putting him in a cell is for his own safety. I know the law, Audrey.
Ah, so that was the pretty deputys name. John liked the sound of it. He rolled the name around his brain and tried to remember if hed known her before his memories had been wiped clean, but his mind remained empty, like a void in space. At least thinking about Audrey didnt induce any pain in his head.
Audreys shoulders dropped slightly, and her mouth pressed into a straight line. You dont think I can handle this situation?
The distress in her voice had John tensing. He wasnt sure what was at play between these people, but clearly she had a chip on her shoulder. A strange protective urge surfaced. His hand clenched a fistful of sheet. He didnt know why he wanted to defend this woman. He wasnt sure if she deserved to be defended or not. Maybe she couldnt handle his situation. Maybe she could. But the one thing he did know was he didnt want to cause her harm.
I didnt say that. The sheriffs tone suggested theyd discussed this conversational land mine before. But you have to admit, this isnt something we deal with often here in our little corner of the world.
Audrey opened her mouth to reply, but the doctor held up a hand. David, Audrey, take your discussion outside, please. This is upsetting to the patient.
No, wait, John was quick to say. The sheriffs right. The best place for me is somewhere I wont pose a threat to innocent bystanders. Or a pretty deputy sheriff.