She froze. Another knock, more insistent this time, hit the door. Tess took a steadying breath and stepped closer to the door. Her hand hovered over the knob. Should she open it?
She rested her hand on the knob and it twisted beneath her fingers. She snatched her hand back as if burned. Someone was trying to get in.
Through the frosted glass bracketing the front door, she could see shadowy figures shift and move. There was more than one person standing on the front stoop.
She chewed her bottom lip. What now?
Another knock.
A hand and then a face pressed against the window. Someone was trying to peer inside. Tess flattened herself against the wall, holding her breath.
The shadow disappeared.
“They’ve got to be here,” a deep voice said, filtering through the front door. “The doctor’s car is in the driveway.”
“Maybe they’re out back and can’t hear the bell,” someone else said, this voice sounding vaguely familiar. Tess was sure that it was Chief Cole’s voice.
Crouching down, she crept to the front window. She opened the drapes a slit. Two men stepped off the front stoop. A third man stood on the walkway.
As she’d thought, one was Chief Cole. The second man, totally bald and wearing an expensive suit, was the one closest to the door. But it was the third man who attracted Tess’s closest scrutiny. He wore a military uniform and stood back from the other two. Every button and star gleamed in the sunlight, and he held his body at rigid attention, his cool gaze narrow and intense.
A whisper of fear brushed the back of Tess’s neck and goose bumps pebbled both her arms. She had no idea who he was, but something told her he was a threat. Her fingers tightened on the edge of the drape, and she fought back a black wave of dizziness.
As she watched, the three men started across the lawn, headed for the back of the house. Two other men stepped into view, following close behind. They were younger and bigger than the other three. They wore white T- shirts with a logo over the front pocket and white pants belted at their thick waistlines. Tess knew they were the trained gorillas-the ones along to make sure she cooperated.
Before rounding the corner of the house, the military man paused and said something to the two trained gorillas. They nodded and headed back for the car.
Good. That meant they weren’t coming around to the back with the other three. Fewer people for her to deal with. Tess turned and raced for the back door. She’d left it open. She needed to lock it.
Her stocking feet skidded on the linoleum floor, and as she scrambled for balance, saw the side gate start to open. Too late! She ducked behind the counter. Reaching up, she cracked open the pantry door and slipped inside, closing the door after her. It was dark inside. Dark and crowded. She pushed her way to the back, holding her breath.
Two seconds later, someone pounded on the patio door.
“Hello in there!” Chief Cole shouted.
Tess sank into the farthest corner of the closet, clutching her arms around her legs and struggling to quiet her breathing. How long before they gave up and left? How long before she was safe?
RYAN SAT UP with a start. He glanced around, slightly disorientated. What the hell was he doing sitting in the spare bedroom?
The taste in his mouth and the stiffness in his joints told him that he’d fallen asleep in the chair. A quick glance at the bed confirmed his worst fears. It was empty, meaning he’d either slept through a second abduction attempt or Tess had taken off.
He doubted it was the first scenario. From what he’d witnessed last night, Tess wasn’t about to go anywhere with anyone peacefully. More likely she got it in her head to take off on her own.
She’d been amazingly calm and coolheaded during the abduction attempt. But when the cops and the paramedics came, she’d been spooked and angry, almost sullen when answering their questions.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Someone was pounding on the back door.
Jumping up, Ryan ran down the stairs. He could hear Jung adding to the racket by barking and howling interchangeably. Maybe Tess had locked herself out.
Entering the kitchen, he saw three men standing under the shade of the awning at his back door. Two he recognized-Sidney Bloom and Chief Cole. The other man was dressed in an immaculately creased army uniform with three silver stars gleaming on the perfectly braced epaulets on his shoulders.
Ryan slid open the door, not missing the fact that it was already unlocked. Had Tess really walked out?
“Sorry to bother you, Ryan,” Bloom said. “But I needed to talk to you and I saw the car parked out front. I knew you were here.”
Ryan got the impression that Bloom was nervous, on edge.
“We had a little excitement here last night, and I ended up falling asleep in the chair.” Ryan glanced around the kitchen. No sign of Tess. It didn’t even look as though she’d eaten. No coffee in the pot or dishes in the sink. A knot of concern settled into the pit of his stomach.
“We were wondering if we could speak to your guest,” Bloom said. “The young woman, Tess. She’s still here, isn’t she?”
“Guess you’ve kept abreast of who comes and goes at the house, huh, Sidney?” Ryan opened the door wider and stepped aside. “Why not come inside, it’s cooler.”
Jung scooted around all three men and ran right for the pantry door. His butt hit the floor and he lifted a paw to scratch the wood panel. He whined pitifully.
Ryan ignored him and waved the three men into his kitchen. They entered, looking tense. Ill at ease.
“I don’t have all day,” the general said, his impatience obvious.
“Of course not.” Bloom’s gaze darted to Ryan. “Ryan, this is General Flynn.” He waved a hand in Ryan’s direction. “Dr. Donovan joined our staff a few weeks ago.”
They exchanged brief handshakes, the general’s flint-colored eyes seeming to sear into Ryan, a blatant attempt to intimidate. Ryan didn’t bite, and he put a little extra squeeze into his handshake.
“It’s a pleasure, Doctor.”
“Likewise.” But Ryan knew that whatever pleasure the general was referring to had nothing to do with meeting him. The man seethed with impatience. “What exactly did you want to talk with Tess about?”
“Private business,” Flynn snapped. “But if you must know, I’m here to take her home.”
“Take her home?”
“General Flynn is Tess’s father. He’s been worried about her since she disappeared several days ago.” There was no missing the slight tinge of nervousness in Bloom’s voice.
“Tess mentioned that her father was dead,” Ryan said slowly. “She still has huge gaps in her memory, but she was pretty clear that her father was dead.”
Bloom and Flynn exchanged glances.
“That’s part of her delusions,” Flynn said. “Where is she, Doctor? I need to know she’s safe.”
“I’m sorry, she’s not here. When I got up this morning, she was gone.”
From the other side of the kitchen, Jung’s whine got louder.
“What’s wrong with the damn dog?” Chief Cole asked.
Ryan moved over to the pantry. “His treats are in there. He’s just reminding me that I haven’t given him one of his treats.”
Chief Cole grunted, making it obvious what he thought of dog owners who spoiled their pets with doggie biscuits.
Ryan opened the pantry door and grabbed the box of treats sitting on the middle shelf. As he stepped back, something red caught his eye. He frowned and peered deeper into the closet. What the hell?
Crouched down in the farthest corner of the closet, between a twenty-pound bag of potatoes and a canister of dog chow, sat Tess. He opened his mouth, but she quickly put a finger to her lips and shook her head. Her message was clear.
Perplexed, Ryan slipped the box under one arm and closed the door. Jung didn’t move from his position in front
