With no memory, who can she trust?

A deadly Christmas in Wrangler’s Corner

Robin Hardy survived an explosion in her university lab—but her memories are gone. With danger lurking behind every Christmas tree, she needs shelter from the attackers she can’t identify. She’ll trust fellow professor Toby Potter to safely hide her away. But when his secrets come between them, the truth could mean the difference between life and death this holiday season.

LYNETTE EASON is a bestselling, award-winning author who makes her home in South Carolina with her husband and two teenage children. She enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and teaching at various writing conferences around the country. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. Lynette can often be found online interacting with her readers. You can find her at Facebook.com/lynette.eason and on Twitter, @lynetteeason.

Also By Lynette Eason

Wrangler’s Corner

The Lawman Returns

Rodeo Rescuer

Protecting Her Daughter

Classified Christmas Mission

Christmas Ranch Rescue

Vanished in the Night

Holiday Amnesia

Military K-9 Unit

Explosive Force

Family Reunions

Hide and Seek

Christmas Cover-Up

Her Stolen Past

Rose Mountain Refuge

Agent Undercover

Holiday Hideout

Danger on the Mountain

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Holiday Amnesia

Lynette Eason

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08655-4

HOLIDAY AMNESIA

© 2018 Lynette Eason

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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“Who are you?”

“Look at me.”

She did. Familiarity flashed, but no name came with it. “Who are you?”

He blanched. “I’m Toby, Robin. Toby Potter.”

“I...I’m scared. Why am I scared?” Tremors shook her, and Toby’s look of concern deepened.

“Someone tried to kill you,” he said.

She blinked. “Who?”

“I don’t know. I was hoping you could tell me.”

Robin raised a hand to her head. “I...can’t think. Everything’s a jumble. Why can’t I remember? You’re acting like I should know you. But I don’t!” Panic clawed at her.

His warm hands gripped hers. “It’s okay. Sh...” He pulled her to him and for some reason she let him. She needed to believe him. “Give it some time, and it’ll all come back to you. But for now, let’s head to the hospital. You ready?”

“I’m ready.” Ready for what, she wasn’t exactly sure, but Toby seemed to know what he was doing. And for now, that was going to have to be enough.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for once again journeying with me to Wrangler’s Corner. I loved Toby from the moment I met him in Protecting Her Daughter. I had no idea he would make such a big deal out of having his own story—and his own woman—but he did.

It was a pleasure to see him come to life and learn to love. Neither he nor Robin had an easy childhood, but they rose above it and became two people who appreciated having a happily-ever-after so much more because of it.

I hope that if you’re going through any struggles or difficulties, you allow it to make you stronger. Keep pressing on because soon you’ll find yourself on the other side of it.

Again, I hope you enjoyed the story. Feel free to let me know at facebook.com/lynette.eason or visit my website at lynetteeason.com to sign up for my newsletter and stay in touch.

God bless,

Lynette

According to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.

—Psalms 25:7

To all of the readers who buy my books. I appreciate you so much!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

Extract

About the Publisher

ONE

Dr. Robin Hardy looked up from her microscope and frowned when the voices reached her over the Christmas music she had playing softly through the one earbud she wore. She never wore two when working just in case someone needed her attention. A habit she’d developed after being scared out of her skin by coworkers tapping her on the shoulder.

Some people played only music. She liked the radio app and the commentary that came with it. And she’d hoped the cheery tunes and upbeat voices would lighten the heaviness in her heart.

So far it hadn’t worked.

A part-time professor at the Middle Tennessee State University, she spent the majority of her time teaching virology research to eager young minds.

The rest of the time—too much time, some might say—she worked in the lab along with several other scientists. None of whom were on the schedule to be here tonight. She’d come because she’d craved something to take her mind off the fact that she’d been betrayed by someone she’d considered a good friend. With the potential to be something more.

Hurt feelings and righteous anger didn’t promote restful nights. So, she worked. And fumed. And vowed never to trust another charming, good-looking, smooth-talking male again.

Toby Potter, with his dancing eyes, finger-magnet five o’clock shadow and perpetually mussed caramel-colored hair, had used her. The rat. Pretending he cared when the whole time he was just getting close to her so he could get close to her research and have firsthand knowledge of what was going on in the lab. And while she just wanted to be mad, tears once again blurred her vision.

Stop thinking about him.

Easier said than done. It was hard to turn off the hurt. She blinked and sniffed—and tried to focus. The voices grew louder. Unable to hear more than the fact someone else was in the lab, she supposed a couple of fellow scientists had decided to put in a few more hours just like her.

But they probably weren’t using work to distract them—to keep their minds off of people better just forgotten. Unfortunately, work wasn’t doing anything to help her forget.

She studied the specimen, trying to see it through her tears. And finally gave up. She’d thought Toby was different, that his interest in her work was because he was interested in her. Boy, was she a lousy judge of character.

Heated words snapped her head around. “What in the world?” she muttered.

Curious, she removed the slide from the scope and returned it to its secure slot in the box next to her. She slipped off the gloves and tossed them into the hazardous waste bin. Most of the lights had been turned off and she usually liked it that way, but right now, they held a foreboding that crept over her. The farther she walked from her workstation, the darker it got, the blackness like a glove closing around her.

She shivered.

Then laughed at herself, mentally reviewing the security in the lab. No one without authorization could get in. And no one with authorization was anyone to be afraid of. While the university lab wasn’t a Level 4 secure lab working with deadly pathogens, Robin still considered her research and teaching an important part of the process for training upcoming scientists. And it was very secure.

Light returned. Someone else was working at the far end of the large building in a corner station. Or had been working. Possibly. Right now, the two men standing face-to-face looked like they were ready to start throwing punches.

“The bidding has already started. I need that virus now!”

“It’s not ready. I told you. I’m still working out some issues, but I should have it soon.”

Their words echoed through the large area.

Virus? Bidding? She didn’t recognize the first voice, but the second one belonged to Alan Roberts—a virologist like her.

“How soon is soon?” the first voice asked.

“Soon! Okay? I’ll call when I’m ready.” A pause. “I’m serious. I think I’ve got it, I just need to run a couple of more tests and then it’ll be ready.”

“How much longer?”

“Twelve hours, okay?” Alan threw the notebook onto his workstation area and it landed on top of the manila file folders that always seemed to overflow his desk. “I have to make sure it’s right. The first test said it was.”

“Then why more tests?”

“To make sure. If you sell a defective product, your investors might take exception. Just let me do my job, then you can do yours.”

“Twelve hours. That’s it. I’ll let the buyer know we’re a go.”

“Fine,” Alan said. “You have my account number. Make sure the money lands there like it’s supposed to.”

“Of course.”

Robin eased closer, careful not to do anything stupid like knock something over or misstep. She could see the two men huddled in the corner. She and Alan shared a love of the classics, and he usually had a jovial personality in spite of his daughter’s medical bills. Leukemia had taken its toll on the family.

A deep scowl creased his lean face. “I’ll figure it out. Get out of here before someone sees you.”

“Right.”

Robin held her breath as the second man turned on his heel and strode to the door that would lead him out of the back of the lab. How had he even gotten in? He’d need a key card to get out. The sick feeling that had been growing as she listened now blossomed into full-fledged nausea.

They were selling a virus? But what kind? And how would they get access to it? Or had they built it?

Alan slammed a fist on the desk and closed his eyes for a brief moment. Unsure whether to leave or confront him, she hesitated. A shot sounded, and Alan jerked, then dropped to the floor. Robin clapped a hand over her mouth.

Blood from the bullet wound in the middle of his back stained his white lab coat. Robin swallowed a sob, terror pounding through her. Alan rolled with a grunt. Another pop stilled him. The killer ran out the door. She heard two more gunshots as she turned to run. But she had to check on Alan. She hurried to his side and knelt next to him. His eyes were open with his pupils fixed.

Robin scrambled to her feet, her lungs desperate for air, adrenaline racing. The door opened and Alan’s killer stood there, hand grasping the collar of the man Alan had been speaking with. He dragged him back into the lab, then released his hold. In slow motion, she watched the victim thud to the floor.

Time sped up again when the killer swept a hand over Alan’s desk, raking up the files he’d been working through. Vaguely, her mind registered that the shooter had been in the lab the whole time. He’d heard the same conversation she had. And he’d had a gun. Why?

Frozen, she ordered herself to move and couldn’t. The man turned and jerked when he saw her standing there. Hard eyes never left hers. Breath caught in her constricted throat. “You killed them,” she whispered. “Why? How could you?”

“Call it an unexpected moneymaking opportunity that I’d be crazy to pass up.” He lifted his phone. “I’ve hit a small snag in the plan. Warn me if anyone approaches while I take care of this.”

“Snag in what plan?” Why wasn’t she running? Run!

“Sorry, Robin.” He lifted his weapon.

Robin screamed and lunged sideways. The bullet shattered the beaker on the table behind her. Stumbling, refusing to fall, she got her feet under her and raced through the lab, dodging chairs and tables, her goal the back hallway that held the break room, conference room and restrooms. She’d never make it to the exit.

Another shot whizzed too close to her cheek as the footsteps behind her pounded faster. No! She would not die like this. She burst into the men’s bathroom, slammed the door and locked it. If he saw her dart down the hallway, he’d assume she’d go into the women’s bathroom. Locking herself in the men’s might buy her an extra lifesaving minute or two.

She shoved her hand into her lab coat pocket and froze. Her phone. Where was it?

A picture of it sitting on her workstation flashed through her mind. With no way to call for help, her panic bloomed, exploding through her.

Think. Think.

Panting, lungs straining for air, she went to the window.

A loud boom shuddered through the building and sent her to her knees. The door exploded inward and slammed into her like a missile, knocking her to the floor face-first. Her forehead connected with the solid tile floor. Pain arched through her and blackness coated her.

Toby Potter watched the flames shoot toward the sky as he raced toward the building. “Robin!”

Sirens screamed closer. Toby had been on his way home when he’d spotted Robin’s car in the parking lot of the lab. Ever since Robin had discovered his deception—orders to get close to her and figure out what was going on in the lab—she’d kept him at arm’s length, her narrow-eyed stare hot enough to singe his eyebrows if he dare try to get too close.

Tonight, he’d planned to apologize profusely—again—and ask if there was anything he could do to earn her trust back. Only to pull into the parking lot, be greeted by the loud boom and watch flames shoot out of the window near the front door.

Heart pounding, Toby scanned the front door and rushed forward only to be forced back by the intense heat. Smoke billowed toward the dark night sky while the fire grew hotter and bigger. Mini-explosions followed. Chemicals.

“Robin!”

Toby jumped into his truck and drove around to the back only to find it not much better although it did seem to be more smoke than flames. The thick cloud decreased his visual field, but he had to try. Robin was in that building, and he was afraid he’d failed to protect her. Big time.

The lab backed up to a wooded area left by the designers of the campus to make it feel less city and more rural. He’d always appreciated the beauty of the place, and now he had visions of it burning, the trees and animals caught in the path of the flames. And Robin.

Toby parked near the tree line in case more explosions were coming. The lot on this side was smaller, just one row along the length of the building.

At the back door, he grasped the handle and pulled. Locked. Of course. Using both fists, he pounded on the glass and metal door. “Robin!”

He fumbled for the key card FBI special agent Ben Little had provided when Toby had agreed to take the case, allowing him access to the building when it would be empty. Better for snooping and spying.

Another explosion from inside rocked Toby back, but he was able to keep his feet under him. He figured the blast was on the other end of the building—where he knew Robin’s station was. If she was anywhere near that station, there was no way she was still alive. “No, please no,” he whispered. No one was around to hear him, but maybe God was listening.

He raced down the side of the building, trying each door only to find them locked. He wasn’t getting inside. And no one was coming out. Where were the fire trucks? He knew his concept of time was skewed. What was merely seconds seemed like hours.

Heart in his throat, he finally backed away, his mind flashing through times spent with Robin. Eating at the university cafeteria, walks around the small pond near the library, laughter at the old movies in the campus theater. Her fury when she discovered his duplicity. He blinked and shook his head.

Initially, his assignment had been to get close to her and find out what was going on in the lab. Over the past month, he’d found himself wanting to know her, convinced she wasn’t involved in anything suspect but that she might have information she didn’t know she had. Now, he’d failed her.

Grief gripped him. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He’d quit the CIA because he was tired of the covert life. He’d been working as a professor at the university—and healing from life’s wounds—when his former handler and friend, turned FBI agent, had roped him into helping with his case.

Toby grabbed his phone from his pocket and punched in the number for Ben Little. It rang twice as a fire truck finally screamed around the side of the building. “Yeah?”

“Ben, it’s me. Someone blew up the lab and I think Robin’s inside.”

“What!”

“I failed her, Ben.” He didn’t recognize his own voice. “I failed.” Again. Another woman had died because of him.

Robin blinked. Then coughed. Her head pounded in time with her heart. The pain nearly sent her back into the black abyss, but she drew in a smoky breath and shoved herself up off the bathroom floor. Darkness swirled, and spots danced before her eyes while sweat rolled down her temples and between her shoulder blades. Nausea doubled her over, but she stumbled to the door and touched the handle.

Only to jerk back when it burned her hand. Fighting to stay upright and conscious, she staggered to the window and unlocked it. Then realized it was sealed shut. The double-paned frosted window that ran from ceiling to floor was simply for looks, not for opening.

Groaning, she looked around for something, anything to break the glass. An idea sparked in her smoke-fogged brain and she stumbled to the nearest stall. Grabbing the top of the ceramic tank, she hefted it with a grunt and carried it back to the window, ignoring her churning stomach, pounding head and shaky legs. She gathered her strength and heaved it against the glass. Once. Twice. A large crack formed in the window. Her legs gave out and she fell, gasping, choking, her lungs grabbing at any remaining oxygen in the room.

Get up! You’re going to die if you don’t!

Pulling on the last of her strength, Robin hauled herself and the tank lid up. “Ahhh!” She slammed it against the glass.

The window shattered, the pieces falling to the ground outside. “Oh, thank you,” she breathed.

She shrugged out of her lab coat, placed it over the jagged edges and hauled herself through the opening. She fell to the ground on top of the glass. Her palms stung and she flinched but pushed to her feet, coughing and gagging.

Robin staggered away from the burning building, blinded by the smoke and desperate for clean air. The sirens and red flashing lights registered. She pressed a bleeding hand to her pounding head and finally found herself at the edge of the parking lot. She staggered into the trees and retched.

The world continued to spin, and she fell to the ground, her cheek pressing into the pine needles. She had to run.

But why?

She should know why but couldn’t bring the reason into focus.

Oh, because of him.

He’d tried to kill her.

His eyes closed. Then opened. Her head continued its hammering and her ears rang with an annoying high-pitched frequency.

Rolling onto her back, she stared up at the swirling trees while she tried to figure out what had happened. There’d been an explosion. Something had hit her, and she’d fallen.

Voices reached her. Instinctively, she scrambled to her knees and crawled behind the nearest tree while she made out the words “...find her. Get rid of her.”

“There’s no way she survived that,” another voice said. “You barely got out alive and she was still in the building when it exploded.”

“Maybe.”

“No maybe about it. You said she ran into the bathroom just before the first explosion went off. She’s dead.”

“Make sure!”

“Fine, I’ll make sure.”

They had to be talking about her. Tremors set in. Shock? She curled her arms around her knees and pressed her aching forehead against them. They wanted her dead? Who? Why? No, she’d seen him. In the lab. His face blurred, and she was sick again. When her stomach calmed down, the world still spun while she tried to force her mind to work.

She had to leave. To run. She stood, using the tree to help pull herself to her feet, ignoring the pain in her hands.

As she stepped in the opposite direction of the men who wanted to kill her, a hand slapped over her mouth and pulled her back to the ground.

TWO

When Robin went limp in his arms, Toby lowered her to the ground and watched the two men stomp away from their meeting spot.

He’d been bolting back to his truck, mind whirling, grief slashing his heart to shreds, when he’d heard a loud crash behind him. He’d spun to see a figure emerge from the broken window and stagger across the parking lot and into the trees. The smoke had kept him from seeing clearly, but he’d followed, praying it was Robin but willing to help whoever it was.

He’d been almost upon her when he’d heard the faint voices but couldn’t hear their words or see their faces. The fact that they seemed to be hiding, whispering and unconcerned about the burning building behind them, triggered his internal alarms.

Since the person who’d escaped the building was staying hidden and quiet, he’d done the same just a few feet behind her. When she’d turned, he’d caught a glimpse of her silhouette and relief had pounded through him when he’d realized it was definitely Robin. But he’d stayed silent, only moving when it looked like she might inadvertently reveal her presence.

And then she’d passed out in his arms.

“...kill her. Tonight.” The faint order given by one of the men he could no longer see reached his ears. He didn’t recognize the voice, but now knew why he needed to act with caution.

They were trying to kill Robin?

Once the men were gone, he checked her pulse. Her eyelids fluttered but didn’t open. “Robin, it’s me, Toby. Can you wake up?”

No response. The gash on her forehead worried him.

“Robin?”

Her lashes lifted, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Come on, there’s an ambulance over here. Let’s get your head looked at.”

“No. They’ll find me,” she whispered.

“I’ll stay with you.”

“No!” She rolled her head back and forth, clearly agitated. “Can’t trust...anyone. Got...to...get away...please...”

“Robin, it’s okay, I promise. Just let them check your head.”

But she didn’t answer. She’d passed out again. He suspected she had a concussion, he just prayed it wasn’t anything worse. Great. Now what?

The fact that she could move her neck without apparent trouble or pain decided for him. If she didn’t want to risk being examined here at the scene, then fine. Now that he had a second chance to keep her safe, he wasn’t about to fail her.

The hospital wasn’t too far. He shrugged out of his heavy coat and tore the long sleeves from his T-shirt. He wrapped one around his nose and mouth, then covered her face with the other one. He lifted her into his arms and rose to his feet.

Under cover of the smoke that now blanketed the wooded area, Toby made his way back to his vehicle at the edge of the lot and loaded her into the back seat. Once he had her covered with the blanket, he climbed behind the wheel and made his way out of the parking lot.

Emergency crews were too busy putting out the blaze to bother noticing him. Law enforcement and campus security were on-site, but until they figured out the reason for the explosions, they would have no cause to stop him. He hoped.

Once they started their investigation, if there was foul play involved—and after overhearing the conversation in the woods between the two men, he was pretty sure there was—they’d watch security footage and see him leaving in his truck. And they’d want to talk to him. Which was fine, but for now, he wanted to get Robin to a safe place where she could receive the care she needed for her head wound.

Robin woke with a start and bit back a groan, swallowing the nausea that clawed at the back of her throat. She lay still while trying to get a grip on the pain that came from every part of her. She finally registered the gentle movement beneath her. The hum of the engine, the low volume of the radio. No Christmas music on this one, but someone saying something about a fire at the university lab?

She was in a vehicle—a large one since she stretched the length of the back seat without any trouble. But who was driving? And why was she sleeping in the back? And why did her entire body hurt?

Sitting up required effort so she stayed still, her pounding temples convincing her that moving would be a mistake. She forced her mind to work. Or at least she tried to. But it rebelled. She simply couldn’t remember where the headache had come from.

Get rid of her.

She’s dead.

The words echoed, bouncing in her brain but unable to take root and tell her what they meant.

Cold fear enveloped her and the desire to run, get away, nearly strangled her. All she could see was the back of the driver’s head. Who was he? Someone who wanted her dead? Was he taking her somewhere to kill her?

Get rid of her.

She’s dead.

Her head rested behind the passenger seat so when the truck slowed to a stop, she reached up, popped the door and shoved it open.

“Robin! Stop!”

No, she had to get out. In an awkward half crawl, half lunge, she managed to propel herself from the back seat onto the asphalt.

But she couldn’t move fast enough. The pain was too much, the nausea overwhelming. She lost whatever she might have had left in her stomach.

Gentle hands held her head while she dry-heaved. “You have a concussion,” a man said. A white tissue appeared in front of her face. She took it and wiped her mouth. Then a water bottle replaced the tissue. She took that, too. Rinsed and spit. “Who are you?” she whispered.

“Look at me.”

She did. Familiarity flashed, but no name came with it. “Who are you?”

He blanched. “I’m Toby, Robin. Toby Potter.” His hand went to the wound on her forehead. “We need to get you to a doctor. We’re almost to the hospital.”

“I... I’m scared. Why am I scared?” Tremors shook her, and Toby’s look of concern deepened.

“Someone tried to kill you,” he said.

Get rid of her.

She’s dead.

She blinked. “Who?”

“I don’t know. I was hoping you could tell me.”

Robin raised a hand to her head. “I...can’t think. Everything’s a jumble. Why can’t I remember? You’re acting like I should know you. But I don’t!” Panic clawed at her.

His warm hands gripped hers and she flinched. He turned them over to look at her palms. “What happened?”

She stared at the cuts. “I don’t know. Why don’t I know?”

“It’s okay. Shh...” He pulled her to him and for some reason she let him. She needed to believe him. To believe that he wouldn’t hurt her, and he was there to help her. “You’ve had a really traumatic experience,” he said. “Give it some time and it’ll all come back to you. But for now, let’s continue on to the hospital.”

She had no words or energy left to argue. The pain was constant, and she just wanted it to go away. If Toby was out to harm her, he could have just done it. Instead, he was loading her into the front passenger seat this time. Probably so he could catch her if she tried to nose-dive out the door again.

Once she had her seat belt on, he rounded the front of the vehicle and climbed behind the wheel. “You ready?”

“I’m ready.” Ready for what, she wasn’t exactly sure, but Toby seemed to know what he was doing. And for now, that was going to have to be enough.

The remainder of the drive to the hospital didn’t take long and was, thankfully, uneventful. When Toby pulled into the parking lot, Robin was asleep, her head propped against the window. “Robin?”

She didn’t move.

“Robin, can you walk?”

She groaned and pulled away from him.

Toby rubbed his eyes, then the back of his neck. Just as he’d decided to simply carry her inside, his phone rang. Ben. “Yes?”

“Are you all right?” his friend asked.

“I’m at the hospital. I’ve got Robin with me.”

“They know she’s alive.”

“What? How?”

“The same way I know. The broken bathroom window. It’s obvious she got out.”

“It could have been anyone in that bathroom.” Toby sighed. “But they’re going to rightly assume it was her since no one else was there at the lab.” He paused. “At least I don’t think so. There were two guys in the woods where we were hiding. They were talking about making sure she was dead. I’m not sure if they were actually in the lab when it exploded, but I got the impression that they weren’t.”

“Got it.”

“And, Ben?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t remember seeing any other cars in the parking lot except Robin’s, but that doesn’t mean someone didn’t park elsewhere and walk over. You’ll need to scour the security footage from different areas on campus.”

“Okay. Local police are already here. They’ve requested FBI presence and resources, so they made it easy for us.”

“Meaning you’re already looking into it.”

“We have a team of local and federal agencies questioning people who were on campus at the time and near the lab. So far, no one’s come up with anything useful.”

“Okay. Let me think.” Toby drummed the steering wheel for a moment. “First and foremost, Robin’s got a head wound that needs to be checked out.”

“Anything else besides the head wound?”

“Some superficial wounds to her hands. What worries me the most is the confusion and memory loss.” He paused. “She doesn’t know me.”

“Oh no. That doesn’t sound good.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Okay, get her checked out but don’t linger. They’re probably going to be checking the hospitals. I’m going to be gathering information on this end and see if I can figure out who’s behind the blast. You just keep her safe.”

“Got it. Bye.” He gave her a gentle shake and frowned when she only blinked and closed her eyes again. He gave up and went around to the passenger side, hefted her slight form in his arms and carried her into the emergency department. With one eye behind him and one in front, he caught the attention of the triage nurse. “Got an emergency here.”

She took one look at them and reacted. No doubt Robin’s bloody head was quite the attention-catcher. Within seconds, the nurse had them back in a room and was examining Robin. “She’ll need a CT scan and a number of other tests. You’ll have to wait here.”

He caught her arm and pulled her to the side. “She needs police protection. She wound up like this because someone tried to kill her tonight. I don’t want to leave her.”

She held his gaze for a few moments, then nodded. “Are you a cop?”

“Not exactly. I’m working with the FBI. I can give you a contact number if you need proof, but I can’t leave this woman.”

“No ID?”

“No. Not for this assignment.”

“I see.”

He had a feeling she did. After several agonizing seconds of her scrutiny, she shot him one more look and nodded. “You can go.”

“Thanks.”

For the next six hours, Toby stayed with Robin, never leaving her side and monitoring those who entered her room with ID checks. The kind nurse who’d shown him grace by letting him stay with Robin stepped into the room.

“How’s she doing?” she asked. “Has she regained consciousness yet? Is she talking and making sense?”

“She’s in and out of consciousness and not making much sense when she talks.” He paused. “She grew up in foster homes and is talking about one of the families she lived with when she was around ten years old, I think. She doesn’t know who I am though.”

“Did she know who you were before the knock on the head?”

He shot her a tight smile. “Yes. I’m very concerned.”

The nurse nodded. “You’re not the only one. We’d like to keep her overnight for observation,” she said. “The doctor’s not comfortable releasing her yet. The fact that she’s still not remembering anything that happened has him wanting to take extreme cautions and the neurologist concurs.”

Toby blew out a breath. “Of course.” He rubbed his chin. “What about helping her remember?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know, telling her things that she doesn’t remember right now in an attempt to jar her memories loose.”

“The doctor said good memories would be fine. Anything that might upset her or be a shock would be better for her to remember on her own.”

“I see.” Well, that could work in his favor since he definitely didn’t want to tell her about their last few weeks together. Not yet at least.

“I’ll be back to check on her shortly,” she said after adjusting the IV line.

“Thank you,” Toby said.

She left, and Toby settled into the chair next to Robin’s bed. He pulled out his phone and texted Ben an update, then leaned back to close his eyes for a few minutes.

When the door opened, he blinked and straightened. His gaze went to Robin who was resting peacefully, eyes shut, lips parted slightly. A male nurse in his late thirties nodded at him and pulled a syringe from his pocket. “Good morning.”

“Morning.” Toby frowned. “What’s that?”

“Just a little more pain medicine. Want to keep her comfortable.”

“I think she’s fine.” Toby’s gaze went to the man’s name tag. And found it missing. Toby stood. “Let me see some ID please. She just had some medicine not too long ago.”

“I know. I read her chart. But the doctor wanted her to have this.”

“What is it?”

The man huffed and aimed the needle at the IV port. “Look, I’m just following orders, okay? If you have a problem with it, take it up with the doc.”

“I will.” Toby stepped forward and grabbed the man’s forearm. “But you’re not giving her that medicine until I do. Understood?”

Fury flashed in the man’s eyes, but his lips curved in a cold smile. “Of course.”

“Where’s your name tag?”

“I forgot it today. Why?”

Toby yanked the syringe from the man’s fingers in a smooth move and shoved him away from Robin’s bed. “Who are you, and how did you know she was here?”

The man bolted for the door and Toby followed, stopping just outside the door. He couldn’t go after him without leaving Robin alone. He grabbed the phone and called security, describing the incident and where the man had disappeared, then turned back to find Robin sitting up in bed, blinking at him. “What’s going on?” she asked.

“We’re getting out of here.” He grabbed her filthy clothes from the bag on the counter. “You need to put these on.”

She grimaced. “Why?”

He went to the bed and took her face in his. Gently, so as not to cause her any more pain. “Look at me.” He waited for her eyes to meet his and focus. The nurse’s words flipped through his mind. Don’t tell her anything stressful or shocking. It’s better for her to remember on her own. He hesitated for a brief second. “Will you trust me?”

“No. I don’t know you and I’m in the hospital, and I can’t remember anything. Why should I trust you?”

At the edge of hysteria in her words, he made an executive decision. “You’re not safe here, understand?”

“Why?”

“Because—”

“Wait a minute.” She pressed a hand to her bandaged head. “There was a fire.”

“That’s one way of putting it. Someone set that fire, okay? In the form of explosives. And I’m pretty sure you were supposed to die in it.” She stared, unblinking. “When they discovered you survived, they sent someone to finish the job. I just chased him off. At least that’s the way it looks. Whether or not any of that is true, I’m not willing to chance it. We’re leaving.” Her eyes followed him, but he saw no sign of recognition in their depths. “Will you trust me? Please?”

“Someone tried to kill me?” she whispered. “Here? In the hospital?”

“Yes.” Had he said too much? Pressed her too hard? Done irreparable damage because he hadn’t followed the nurse’s orders?

“Hand me the clothes and help me into the bathroom. I’ll be ready to leave in about sixty seconds.”

THREE

Once they’d made it out of the hospital and she’d climbed into the passenger seat of Toby’s truck, Robin leaned her head back and closed her eyes in spite of the fact adrenaline wired her. Her head wasn’t pounding nearly as hard as it had been, and she figured it was the medicine that was keeping the pain under control.

When Toby hauled himself into the driver’s seat, she had a momentary blip of panic. What was she doing? How did she know she could trust him? But what choice did she have?

She tried to remember what had happened that had brought her to this point, but all she could pull from her mind was the phone call offering her the job at the university lab last week. She frowned. No, that was impossible. Last week it had been hot and muggy at night. She’d just walked out of the hospital to find it chilly. “What day is it? What month?”

“It’s December 5th.”

“December!”

“Yes, why?”

“Because the last thing I remember is getting a phone call offering me the job at the lab. That was at the beginning of June.” She swallowed the panic that threatened to consume her. “Are you telling me I’ve lost six months?”

“That’s what it sounds like, Robin, but don’t panic.”

A laugh escaped her. She noted that the sound bordered on the edge of hysteria. “Don’t panic? Too late.”

“Come on, you heard the doctor. You’ve had a traumatic experience. Once everything settles down, your mind will feel less threatened and your memory will probably return.”

“Probably. What if it doesn’t?”

He slid his hand from the wheel to grip her fingers. “We’ll figure it out, Robin. I’m here to help you, okay?”

“Why?” she whispered. “What are you to me? Why can’t I remember you?”

He drove with precise movements, showing his comfort with handling the large vehicle. For some reason that helped settle her. “You said you remember being hired to work at the lab. But you don’t remember anything after that?”

“No. Why?”

“Because we met about a month after you started working there.”

“Oh. So, we’re friends?”

“Definitely friends.”

She sighed. “I’m sorry I don’t remember.”

“It’s okay. Or it will be. We just need to get you somewhere safe until the authorities can catch whoever blew up the lab.”

“I’m all for them catching them, but I want to know more than who it was.”

“What do you mean?”

“I want to know who and why.”

“Yeah, the why would be good to know.” He glanced at her. “I’m wondering if you know the answer to both of those.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, someone obviously wants you dead. I overheard them talking in the woods.”

“The woods,” she said. “We were in the woods?”

“The woods behind the lab on campus. After you got out of the building, you ran into the woods and were hiding. Which is where I found you. Anyway, there were two guys talking. I couldn’t see them—or hear them very well. I just caught some snatches of conversation but definitely heard them say something about killing you. Tonight.”

She rubbed her forehead and winced when she accidentally pressed too hard against her wound. “So what now?”

“We get you some clothes and whatever else you need for a couple of days of hiding out.”

“Hiding out? Where?” She had nothing but questions that needed answers.

“First, a motel. Then we’ll work together to find a more long-term solution to keeping you safe.”

“Like what?”

“I’m working on that.”

While he drove for the next thirty minutes, Robin dozed off and on. The silence was tense but not awkward. Tense only because she could tell he was thinking about their next move.

“We need to fill your pain meds,” he said when she blinked awake.

She frowned. “No. I don’t want them.” Her head and hands hurt, but the thought of a drugged unconsciousness scared her silly.

“You will when the current ones wear off. I’ve had a concussion before and it hurts. It may take you a while to recover.”

“But if we fill the prescription, whoever’s after me will be able to track us that way, won’t they?”

“It’s possible. The fact that you’re thinking rationally is reassuring.”

“Then we shouldn’t stop to fill it, right?”

“By the time they show up—assuming they manage to trace it—we’ll be long gone.” He pulled off at an exit advertising food and lodging. “Let’s try here. It’s a small town off the beaten path. I think we’ll be all right here for a bit.”

“Okay.” Robin had already made up her mind she was going to have to trust this stranger who claimed they were friends.

“So, first, let’s get food. What do you want?”

“Shouldn’t you know that?” She raised a brow. “If we’re friends like you say we are.”

He barked a short laugh. “Okay, you’re not really picky. You don’t do fast food on a regular basis, but I know there’s no way you’re going to be willing to go inside a restaurant looking like you just survived the apocalypse.”

Her jaw swung. “The apocalypse? Really?”

“Okay, you’re not that bad, but am I wrong?”

She huffed. “No.” His spot-on assessment greatly reassured her that he knew her. The fact that she remembered nothing about him wasn’t nearly as comforting. It was downright terrifying.

“So, do you want a burger or chicken?”

“Burger.”

Once they’d ordered and received their food at the window, he pulled into a parking spot where they dug in.

“We need to get you some clothes,” he said. “How do you feel about shopping?”

“I honestly don’t know if I have the energy. Besides, what do you think after that whole apocalypse comment?”

He groaned. “You’re going to hold that over my head, aren’t you?”

She tilted her head and thought. “Yes. I think I am.”

“All right. You can give me your sizes and I can grab a few things for you.”

“I don’t have any money. My purse, my—” She paused. “Where do I live? All I can picture is my two-bedroom apartment in Houston, Texas.”

“When you took the job at the university, they offered you an apartment across the street from the university.” He paused. “We live in the same building.”

“Then I suppose all of my things are there.”

“Except your cell phone. You always had that with you—usually in the pocket of your lab coat.”

“I...don’t know.”

“You weren’t wearing your coat when I found you, so you probably left it in the lab.”

“Then the phone’s gone if the fire was as bad as you say.”

He nodded. “It was. I can get you a phone. As for your purse, I don’t know where that would be. Sometimes you took it to the lab with you, sometimes you left it in your car—against my advice, I will say.”

She’d always left her purse in the car when she didn’t feel like carrying it. “Where’s my car now?”

“I had it towed to your home while I was waiting for you to get out of the CT scan.”

“I need to get it then.”

“No, you need to be safe.”

“But it has everything in there. My wallet. I—”

“Don’t worry about the money, Robin. You almost died. Let me help you. You can pay me back later if it means that much to you.”

She sighed. What choice did she have? “Fine. Thank you.”

“Of course. Now. What size are you?”

She gave him her information and when they were finished eating, he found a large superstore and parked. “I don’t want to leave you here alone.”

“I’ll be all right. It’s busy. People are all around.”

He shook his head. “I don’t like it.”

“You think we were followed?”

“I don’t, but I just have a bad feeling about leaving you here.”

“Then I’ll come with you and just endure the sidelong looks I’ll be sure to get.”

“I’ve got a better idea.” He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. She leaned her aching head against the window and relished the coolness of the glass against her cheek.

“Amber? Yeah. I need a favor.”

Robin closed her eyes and listened as he spoke to the person on the phone. She’d almost drifted off to sleep when he hung up. She blinked at him. “Who was that?”

“A friend who is really good at protection detail. Her name is Amber Starke... I mean, Goode. She got married a couple of years ago to Lance who’s a deputy in Wrangler’s Corner.”

“And she’s coming here?”

“She’s only about thirty minutes away. I’ll put you two at the motel while I come back and get your prescription and some clothes for you.”

Robin had no strength to argue. She just wanted a shower, then to rest her head on a pillow and shut her eyes. In that order. Before she knew it, they were parked in front of the motel.

“I’ve got us connecting rooms,” Toby said. “Amber will be here in just a few minutes. She’ll stay with you tonight and we’ll figure out what to do in the morning.”

“Okay.” Robin climbed out of the vehicle and winced when she shut the door. Her hands had been bandaged at the hospital, and they stung. When he opened the door to the room, she stepped inside. Two beds, a dresser that held a television, a refrigerator and a microwave. The scent of pine and new carpet hung in the air and Robin was grateful the place was clean. And nice. She went to the bed and sat.

Toby shut the door behind him and set the key on the nightstand. “Are you going to be okay?”

“Someone bombed the lab with me in it and tried to kill me last night,” she said. “And again, today at the hospital.”

He sat opposite her on the other bed. “You remember?”

“No. I just thought saying it out loud would help me process it. Or something.”

“Right.”

“It didn’t work. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“For not remembering.” Tears spilled over her lashes before she could stop them.

He moved to sit beside her and pulled her against his chest and just let her cry. When her sobs quieted to sniffles, he handed her a tissue from the box on the nightstand.

She took it with her bandaged right hand and turned away to mop her face. “Sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. None of this is your fault.”

A knock on the door jerked him to his feet and she squelched a scream. He squeezed her shoulder. “It’s okay. That’s probably Amber. Bad guys don’t knock. Usually.”

She immediately mourned the loss of his arms but quickly focused on the woman now stepping through the open door. “Hi,” Amber said.

Robin offered the pretty dark-haired woman a wan smile. “Hi.”

“Having a rough day, I hear.” Her blue eyes flashed her sympathy.

“You could say that.”

Amber nodded to Toby. “I’ve got this. Go take care of whatever it is you need to do.”

“Thanks.” With one look back at Robin, he slipped out of the room.

Amber engaged the dead bolt, then took the chair near the window. She placed a gun on the table in front of her, and Robin drew in a deep breath. “I’m going to take a shower if that’s all right.”

“Can you manage with your hands?” Amber asked.

“Yes. The cuts aren’t too bad and Toby’s bringing more bandages just in case.”

“Okay. I don’t think he’ll be too long. I’ll knock on the door when he gets back with the clothes.”

“Thanks.”

Toby didn’t plan to be more than thirty minutes. Less, if possible. The store was right across the street from the motel. He parked and noted that while he didn’t see anyone following him, he wasn’t completely convinced he wasn’t being watched.

But how? And by whom? With the hair on the back of his neck spiking, he made his way into the store, grabbing a cart and glancing into the mirror that hung at the entrance.

No one behind him looked suspicious. Two teenagers who could use a haircut, a young couple with a toddler and an elderly couple who held hands.

Bypassing the rows of Christmas decorations and aisles of toys, he headed straight for the toiletries section where he pulled up the list Robin had made for him in his notes app.

And then the man next to him caught his attention. He’d pulled in two spaces down in the parking lot just as Toby had exited his own vehicle. Nothing about him suggested Toby should be alarmed, but just the fact that he was there was enough to make him keep his eyes peeled.

From the corner of his vision, Toby kept the man in his sights while he headed to the women’s clothing section and found three long-sleeved T-shirts. He added them to his cart with a subtle glance over his shoulder. No sign of the man. Next, jeans. He found Robin’s size and added two pairs.

Another glance around.

The guy was back. This time looking at the shirts on the rack behind him. Toby pulled his cell phone from his pocket and activated the camera as though he were going to take a selfie. He turned his back to the man and lifted the phone to an angle that had his shadow behind him.

Trying to be subtle but needing a good picture, he shifted so it wouldn’t look like he was doing exactly what he was doing. He waited until the guy turned slightly, snapped the picture, then held the phone to his ear. “Yeah,” he said to the device. “I can do that. Bye.” Tucking the phone back into his pocket, he shot another look down the aisle. The person was gone.

One by one, he added items to the cart until he had everything, still keeping an eye out for the guy.

In spite of the fact that Christmas was just around the corner, the store was only moderately busy and within another ten minutes, he was checked out.

And looking for his tail.

Not seeing him but wanting his hands free, Toby transferred everything to the overnight bag he’d purchased and pocketed the receipt. With the bag slung over his left shoulder and his right hovering near the weapon in his shoulder holster, he walked out of the store, tension running through every muscle in his back.

He wanted to know who that man was and if he was connected to Robin. And if he was, Toby was going to deal with him.

FOUR

Robin paced the small motel room while the news played clips of the lab burning in the background. She’d watched it intently, hoping to spark some sort of recognition, but the yawning black hole in her memory never closed. When the reporter continued to say the same thing she’d said five minutes ago, Robin had finally shut the sound off.

Toby hadn’t yet returned with her clothes, so she’d wrapped herself in the snuggly robe she’d been surprised to find hanging on the back of the bathroom door.

Amber looked up from the table in the corner. “You took a hard hit to the head. You should probably be resting.”

“I can’t rest. I need to think, but my thoughts are so jumbled.” Robin pressed a hand to her pounding head.

“You have a concussion. I’m sure that’s part of it.”

“So, after I heal from the concussion, will I remember what happened?”

“I don’t think anyone can tell you that. I suppose time will help. What did the doctor say?”

“That time will help.” She shot her new friend a rueful smile. Then frowned. “Unfortunately, I don’t think I have a lot of time.”

Lights flickered behind her eyes. She blinked, then lowered her lids as she sat on the edge of the bed. No, not lights. Flames. Smoke. Choking her. She gasped and opened her eyes.

Amber stood, brows drawn in concern. “Are you okay?”

Robin raked a hand through her drying hair. “Yes. I think I just... I don’t know. Remembered the fire. Maybe.”

“Anything else?”

“Choking on the smoke. Feeling like I couldn’t breathe.”

“I would think that’s normal. You were trapped, right?”

“I... Yes. I mean, I think so.” She frowned. “Was I?”

“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?”

Toby touched a hand to his cheek. “Yeah, I think so.”

“What happened?”

“I got jumped. Let your partner know the guy is armed.”

The officer did so while backing away from Toby. “If you’re okay, I’m going to go give him backup.”

“Go.”

“I’ll be back to take your statement,” he called over his shoulder.

Toby didn’t plan to be around for that. He snagged his keys from the asphalt, climbed into his vehicle and headed for the motel. If whoever was after Robin had found him, it was very possible they would soon find Robin. Time to run.

Robin had dozed sitting upright on the bed, her head against the cushioned headboard. When the door opened, she jerked awake, setting off a pounding in her skull. Ignoring it, she swung her feet to the floor and tightened the sash on the shin-length robe.

Amber stood at the door and hit the deadbolt after Toby shut it behind him. “Did you get what you needed?” Amber asked.

“Yes, but we’re going to have to take off. Someone attacked me in the parking lot of the store.” He set an overnight bag on the bed.

Robin gasped. “Your cheek! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, but if they found me there, it’s possible they could track us here.”

“How?” Amber asked.

“I don’t know. I checked the truck for tracking devices, but I could have missed it.”

“Not you,” Amber said. “What about your phone?”

“It’s not traceable.”

“Everything is,” she said. “Even that one.”

He frowned. “That would take some pretty high-tech equipment.”

“And until we know who you’re dealing with, you need to assume they have access to that equipment. You need to ditch it. We’ll stop and get you another one on the way.”

His frown stayed put, but he nodded.

Robin watched the exchange with a curious detachment. They were obviously good friends.

“Are you a cop, too?” she asked Toby. “I mean, Amber told me she used to work for some government agency, but what about you?”

Toby stilled. “No. I’m not a cop. Although...” He paused. “I have a lot of friends with the FBI.”

“Why do I have a feeling it’s more than that?” she murmured.

Amber lifted a brow and shot Toby a look Robin couldn’t decipher.

Toby sighed. “Although I’m not with an official law enforcement agency, I’ve—we’ve—both had some training. And we’re going to keep you safe, all right?”

She nodded, but something flickered in her midsection. Not fear of Toby, but more of a wariness...an anger? But why? He’d saved her life and was continuing to do so. The feelings didn’t fit. Or was her subconscious trying to tell her something?

Toby motioned to the bag that held her clothes and other items she’d requested. “Hurry, we need to get going.”

Robin grabbed the bag and slipped into the bathroom. She found the clothes and pulled them on. They weren’t a perfect fit but close enough. Next, she downed one of the prescription pills for pain and used the brush to gently force her hair into some semblance of style. She settled for a loose ponytail that didn’t pull at her wound.

She was ready. She hoped. Taking a precious peaceful moment, she shut her eyes and drew in a deep breath. Then tried to force herself to remember the explosion.

Heat. Flames. Smoke. Terror.

The knock on the door jarred a gasp from her and she opened her eyes while her heart pounded fast and furious. From the knock or the blips of memory? “I’m coming.”

She opened the door to find Toby holding his car keys. “You okay?” he asked.

“Okay might be pushing it, but I’m ready to go.”

His eyes darkened with an emotion she couldn’t identify. And wasn’t sure she wanted to. She was already drawn to this man who’d saved her, but the twinge of...something...that she felt toward him every so often cautioned her to hold herself distant until she could figure it out. She slipped past him and into the room.

Amber stood guard at the window. “I’m going to follow you back to Wrangler’s Corner,” she said to Toby. “Wait, a car just pulled in the parking lot and slowed when it drove past yours.”

“I parked several doors down. They won’t know what room we’re in.”

She held out a hand. “Give me your keys and your phone.”

“Why? What are you thinking?”

“Change of plans. I’m going to drive a circuitous route and you guys are going to take my car and phone back to Wrangler’s Corner.”

“Amber—”

“If someone managed to plant a tracking device on your truck, we need to throw them off. I’ll leave it at a bus station, grab a ticket to Nashville, then rent a car and drive to Wrangler’s Corner.”

Toby nodded. “Tell us when he’s gone and we’ll go together.” He and Amber swapped keys and phones.

Robin stood, bag over her shoulder, ready to act when signaled to do so.

When he tugged on her hand, she followed him to a new blue Tahoe and climbed into the passenger seat. Toby scrambled behind the wheel and within seconds, they were turning right out of the parking lot. Robin could see Amber in her side mirror driving Toby’s black Ford F-150. The woman turned left.

Robin watched until she couldn’t see Amber any longer and never saw anyone who looked like they were following her—or them.

“You can rest now if you want. It’s only about thirty minutes to Wrangler’s Corner.”

Since her head was protesting in spite of the medication, Robin didn’t argue. She closed her eyes and prayed she was making the right decisions, trusting the right people. Because if she was wrong, she was as good as dead.

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