Identity Unknown by Terri Reed Read Free Book Online Page B

window. She waved at Audrey and eyed him with wariness.
    John didn’t blame the woman. None of them knew what he was capable of, including him. Was he a criminal? He certainly had an element of danger dogging him.
    They walked down a hallway with walls decorated with photos of the town. Summer scenes depicted smiling children at a fair. There were pictures of fishing boats with proud fishermen mugging for the camera. The gallery of photos filled him with a strange longing. Was there some place where he belonged? Did he have a community where people knew him? Loved him?
    At the end of the hall, Audrey opened a door to a large squad room. A dozen desks, separated by short partition walls, formed a mazelike pattern stretching all the way to the back wall, ending at the closed office door with the sheriff’s nameplate. Only four people sat at their desks. They stopped what they were doing to stare at him. He studied each face for a moment but felt no sense of recognition.
    Audrey stopped at her desk. He knew it was hers by the collage of photos on her partition. Pictures of her mother and a man he assumed was her father. A family photo with a preteen Audrey, her hair plaited in braids, standing in front of a fishing boat named Audrey . A younger adult version of Audrey in a cap and gown. College? Then her in full uniform at her academy graduation.
    She pulled a vacant chair over. “Here. Have a seat.”
    He’d expected her to take him straight to a cell. “Thanks.”
    She laid out their lunch of crab cakes, tater tots and coleslaw on her desk then took her seat. She bowed her head for a moment, her lips moving silently. Something inside his chest loosened. He followed her example and bowed his head. Lifted up a silent plea. Lord, bless this food to my body. Heal me. Heal my mind. Amen.
    The crab cakes were as delicious as advertised. “I can’t imagine having anything taste better than this.”
    Audrey wiped her mouth with a napkin before replying. “Right. I’m telling you, Fran’s is the best. Her recipe has won awards.”
    â€œTell me about you.” He picked up a bottle of water that Fran had also supplied.
    â€œMe?” She shook her head. “Not much to tell.”
    â€œAre you married? Kids?” He didn’t think so, since there were no photos of her with a man or child, but it felt normal to ask, like something he’d do in his life prior to waking up in the hospital.
    Her gaze collided with his. “No to both. What about you?”
    His mouth twisted in a rueful grimace. “I wish I knew. You’d think if I were married, if I had a family waiting for me that would be something I’d remember.”
    â€œUnless you wanted to forget.”
    He considered her words. His pulse ticked up a notch. “Maybe that’s why I can’t remember my past. There’s something I want to forget.”
    â€œBeing hit over the head and thrown in the ocean are traumatic events. Your brain may be protecting you.”
    â€œI don’t want to be protected. I want to remember.” He picked up a tater tot. But his appetite fled.
    He hated this not knowing. He had a horrible feeling that something bad was happening, or was going to happen, and he needed to stop whatever it was as soon as possible. Considering there was an assassin trying to kill him, his sense of doom was understandable. But there was something else dancing at the periphery of his mind. Yet when he tried to lock on to the thought, a sharp pain was his reward.
    Fatigue dragged at him. He could barely keep his eyes open. “Thank you for lunch, Deputy Martin.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.” She canted her head. “You look wrung out. The cell has a cot that I’ve heard is pretty comfortable.”
    That comment elicited a smile. “Critiques from past residents?”
    She returned his smile. “Something like that.”
    He liked her smile. It made her