Page 13 of Security Breach

“Elliot.” David stared at his brother. “Watch your tone and words.”

“It’s all right, David,” Emma said. “He doesn’t understand.”

“Make me understand,” Elliot snapped. “Because from where I’m sitting, you look like the woman who ripped my brother to shreds while you checked items off your bucket list.”

“Elliot Montgomery,” Mrs. Grady scolded as she placed a mug of hot tea in front of Emma and a mug of coffee in front of David. “Mind your manners.”

“Well?” Elliot’s eyes narrowed as he ignored Mrs. Grady’s admonishment. “We’re waiting for your explanation.”

“If you’d shut up long enough, she’d tell you.” David glared at his brother. “You’re skating a thin line, bro.” Much more, and David’s fist would make the point.

“I was in WITSEC,” Emma said. Following her words, the only sound in the large kitchen was the ticking of the clock.

Caleb set a mug of coffee in front of Elliot and dropped into the seat beside him with his own mug in hand. “Need salt for that crow you’re about to eat?” he asked Elliot, his tone mild.

“Oh, my goodness,” Mrs. Grady said. She laid her hand on Emma’s shoulder. “That must have been so difficult for you.”

“You have no idea. I was afraid every minute. I didn’t talk to people much for fear that I would give myself away. The nights were the worst. Every noise jarred me awake. I was constantly on edge. I haven’t slept more than an hour or two a night since….”

“I have a pretty good idea why you were in witness protection given the timing of your disappearance.” Caleb sipped his coffee. “You saw the person who killed your family, didn’t you?”

She nodded.

Elliot frowned. “Why were the feds involved? That should have been a local matter.”

“Not when the man who killed the Tuckers is a serial killer,” David said.

His brothers scowled. “Who is it?” Caleb asked.

“The feds have dubbed him the Butcher.”

“Why haven’t we seen a drawing of him or a mug shot?” Elliot stared at Emma with suspicion in his eyes.

“I can’t remember what he looks like.”

Oh, man. David freed his hand from hers and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. No wonder she’d been afraid all the time. She could have passed the Butcher on the street and not known him. “Amnesia?”

Another nod. “The doctor who treated me after I was attacked wasn’t sure if the memory loss is from blunt force trauma or if it’s a case of traumatic amnesia. Either way, I’m not a good witness.”

“Then why did the feds have you in witness protection?”

“The killer doesn’t know I have gaps in my memory. I remember a lot of things about him, just not his face. Even when I dream about that night, his face is always in shadow.”

“Was it dark when he attacked you and your family?” David asked.

She shook her head. “Mom needed ingredients to finish dinner, so I had driven to the grocery store while she finished icing cupcakes. The sun was still out when I returned.”

“Sounds like traumatic amnesia since you remember that much,” Caleb murmured.

David kissed Emma’s temple. “The Marshals wouldn’t let Emma call me.”

“I begged them to let me talk to you for just a minute, but they refused, insisting I would endanger you and everyone you cared about if I broke the rules,” Emma said to David. “I had already lost my family. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you and your family, too.”

“So, how do things stand now? Why are you here? Are you out of WITSEC?” Caleb asked. “Did the feds finally catch the killer?”

“The Butcher keeps finding me,” Emma said. “I haven’t broken any rules from the day the FBI came to my hospital room to talk to me and offer their protection, yet he still learns my new identity and locates my new safe house. The longest I’ve gone without a security breach is six months.”

David hugged her tighter when she shuddered. “Tell them about last night.” When she did, he realized how close he’d come to losing her for good.

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