When she’d first come to live with the people she would eventually learn to love and call Mom and Dad, she’d felt completely out of control. That time in junior high when she’d let the visions overtake her life. Then again when she’d lost her parents in that boating accident. Those were the only times she could remember this gut-wrenching sense of dread…of imminent disaster.
She slid her keycard in the lock and entered the courtyard. The fear was the worst part. She hated being afraid. Though she’d always worried that the men in the white coats would come for her if she wasn’t careful, she’d never really been afraid. She’d convinced herself that it was all a bad dream. Leftover anxieties from whatever life she’d lived before.
But now it felt entirely too real.
Madam Talia wouldn’t have warned her otherwise. The woman hadn’t garnered her impeccable reputation by tossing around groundless accusations and empty warnings. Darby had to face the fact that her past was after her. Instinct and plain old common sense told her that it had something to do with her name and face being splashed all over the papers.
Somehow, her so-called heroism had alerted whomever the men in the white coats represented. The way she saw it, she had two options here. She could sit back and wait for them to come, or she could start digging and see what she found.
When facing an enemy of any sort, it was always best to be prepared.
“Am I too late to offer to take you out to lunch?”
Aidan was propped against the wall outside her apartment door when she reached her floor. Her smile was automatic. How could she not smile with a guy like that looking at her as if she were everything he’d ever wanted? For lunch and otherwise.
The connection was immediate and intense. This couldn’t be mere chemistry. It was far too strong. She shivered with acute awareness.
“No,” she replied. “You’re definitely not too late.” She gestured to her door. “Would you like to come in? I need to check my messages and let Wiz out.”
Taking his time, he surveyed her from head to toe. His gaze was like a slow, gentle caress. “I can’t believe such a beautiful lady would go shopping and come back empty-handed. Didn’t they have anything you desired?”
She clamped down on her lower lip a moment to stop its silly quivering. Lord, maybe lunch wasn’t such a good idea. Some wanton female side she hadn’t known existed took over whenever he was near. “I didn’t go shopping,” she confessed. “I had a job interview.”
His expression turned to one of understanding. “I see.”
Before she could think what to say next he took the key from her hand and slid it into the slot and opened her door. “I’ll just be across the hall. Let me know when you’re ready to go.” He offered the keycard back to her.
“It’s okay.” She accepted the keycard and dropped it into her purse. She had to stop running so hot and cold, had to find some neutral spot. “Come on in. I won’t be long.” She cooed a greeting to Wiz and promised him a trip outside.
Whether the distraction her neighbor posed was smart right now or not, she needed to keep her mind off that warning, away from the fear. She had to think, prepare some game plan. There had to be a way to dig into her past and find the answers she needed.
She thought about the self-hypnosis she’d studied, wondered if that might work. She might need help for that. Could she still call upon Sandra? Her gaze settled on her handsome neighbor. Did she dare trust him with that kind of personal information?
He was busy studying a picture a parent of one of her students had taken of her last Christmas. In the photo, she was surrounded by her students, all dressed as angels for the Christmas play. She’d brought a few mementoes with her to make the place feel more like home. Sadness welled in her chest. She did so miss the children. It would take a while for her to fit in at the new job, but she would never forget the wonderful memories she’d made at her old school.
Pushing the sentimental thoughts away, she dropped her purse on the sofa and depressed the Play button for the telephone answering machine on the table by the sofa. Maybe Mary Ellen had called from Hawaii to check on how the tour had gone.
There was only one message.
The male voice echoed in the room. “Ms. Shepard, this is Detective Willis. I’ve been trying to contact you all morning. I’ve called several times and there has been no answer. One of my men has been by your apartment as well. The landlord allowed him inside to ensure that you weren’t injured and in need of assistance.”
Darby took an unsteady step back from the machine as if the words threatened her somehow. She sensed the danger. Aidan was suddenly at her side but she couldn’t find her voice—couldn’t say anything. She could only stare into his eyes and listen as Detective Willis continued.
“The moment you get this message, assuming one of my men doesn’t find you first, please call me. It’s imperative. Jerry Lester has escaped. You may be in danger. Please call me, Ms. Shepard.”
A beep sounded and the tape machine shut off.
For a full minute, Darby just stood there, staring at it, not certain what she should do next. Lester was out; he knew what she’d done.
He knew who she was.
The pounding on her door broke the tension. She jerked at the sound.
Before she could react, Aidan had gone to the door and peered through the peephole. “It’s a police officer,” he told her quietly.
She crossed to the door and he stepped aside, moved to the other side of
