Page 2 of Cassidy

“May I help you?” The clerk’s tone was clipped as if he wasn’t happy to have him as a customer.

He pulled his hands from his pockets, lifting them up in a gesture meant to reassure the clerk he meant no harm. “I’m sorry, but I’ve been robbed. I don’t have my wallet or my phone. I was hoping I could borrow your phone to make a call.”

“No phone,” the clerk said. The way the guy’s hand hovered under the desk out of sight made him worried he had a gun back there.

“Okay, look, I understand. You don’t know me and don’t trust me. But I can’t walk all the way to...” He hesitated. Where did Cassidy live? Greenland? He didn’t remember, but he did have a phone number in his head. At least, he hoped the number belonged to her. The way his brain was working, the number might have belonged to Mickey Mouse. “Would you please make a call for me? I need a friend to pick me up.”

“Fine.” The man scowled as if the simple task was a huge imposition. “What’s the number?”

After a brief hesitation, he recited the digits. Why the phone number and Cassidy’s face were the only clear images in his mind, he had no idea. But he was grateful the clerk had agreed to make the call.

He moved away from the door, grateful for the meager warmth. He eyed the snacks but wasn’t hungry.

“No answer.” The clerk waved his hand. “You go now.”

He didn’t move, trying to figure out what to do. Call the police? For some reason, he didn’t want to go that route.

He and the clerk jumped when the phone rang. With reluctance, the clerk answered. “Hello? Yes, just one moment.” The clerk scowled as he slid the phone under the glass window separating them.

He grabbed the phone and lifted it to his ear. “Cassidy? Is that you?”

“Who is this?” a familiar female voice asked.

“I—uh.” He frowned, wondering why his name didn’t pop into his mind. “I need a ride. I’ve been robbed and need a ride.”

“Gabe? Is that you? You’ve really been robbed?”

“Yes. I don’t have my phone or my wallet.” A sense of calm washed over him. The name Gabe sounded right. Although it seemed strange not to know his own name. “I’m sorry, but I need a ride.”

“Okay, where are you calling from?”

“From a gas station. Um, what’s the address?” he asked the clerk. When he rattled it off, Gabe repeated it for Cassidy.

“I know that area. I’ll be there as quickly as possible. Are you sure you’re okay?”

No, he wasn’t okay. But of course, he answered, “Yes. I’ll be fine. Just get here soon.”

“I’m on my way.” Cassidy disconnected from the call.

Dazed and relieved, he slid the device under the glass. “Thank you. My friend Cassidy will be here soon.”

The clerk nodded, his expression indicating Gabe was welcome to stay inside to wait.

He lifted his hand to the back of his head again. What had happened? A simple robbery?

Or something more sinister?

For some strange reason, he felt certain there was nothing simple about what had happened to him.

Danger lurked nearby. Too bad he couldn’t remember anything about who might have come after him or why.

Tactical police officerCassidy Sommer quickly dressed and headed out to the garage attached to her condo. Why on earth was Gabe way out near the Wildflower Motel? Had he met someone there and been robbed?

She didn’t want to believe the team’s tech guru would do something illegal, but she was at a loss as to why he was so far away, considering he lived closer to the lakefront in White Gull Bay. Upon reaching the interstate, she hit the gas, speeding as fast as she dared. The hour wasn’t that late, only ten thirty at night, which meant traffic wasn’t a problem. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be pulled over by the state patrol.

It was difficult to imagine a legitimate reason for Gabe so far outside the city. She considered Gabe to be a good friend; she felt certain she’d have known if he’d done something illegal. Besides, Gabe worked for the Milwaukee Police Department. As a civilian, yes, but he still needed to keep his record clean.

Soft snowflakes melted when they hit her windshield, and the outside temperature hovered at 32 degrees. Christmas, her favorite holiday, was only three weeks away, and she was planning a party for the entire tactical team for the weekend before the actual holiday since she knew her teammates would want to spend that time with their families. Joe Kingsley and Elly in particular were expecting their first baby on the day after Christmas.

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