Page 167 of State of Alert

“We met at a party at the home of mutual friends.”

“What do you know about her?”

“Not much. She’s in sales for one of the big food companies. Grew up in the Pittsburgh area, came to DC for college and never left.” He glanced over at Erica. “What happened to her?”

“We don’t know the details yet, but she was beaten, rapedand left for dead by the river. A fisherman found her and called it in.”

Archie groaned.

“We don’t know for sure it’s your friend.”

“You said the physical description matches.”

“It does. She seems to have amnesia and couldn’t tell us the most basic facts, including her name. The memory loss could be the result of trauma. I’ve seen that before.”

His mind was racing as he learned more details. He wasn’t sure whether to hope the woman in the hospital was Harlowe or not.

As he followed Erica through the hospital’s main entrance, his legs felt rubbery, as if they wouldn’t support his weight for much longer. It was a feeling he’d never experienced before, and it did nothing to help his unsettled state.

They took the elevator.

He couldn’t have said later what floor they landed on, what room she was in, or which Patrol officer was positioned outside her door, things he’d normally take note of and remember as a trained detective. His years of experience went out the window when he saw the woman he’d begun to care about in a hospital bed, her face bruised, her lip swollen and cut and her eyes wild as she seemed to shrink into the bed at the sight of him and Erica.

“It’s her,” he said quietly so only Erica would hear him.

Erica approached the bed. “This is Archie. He’s a friend of yours. He said your name is Harlowe.”

“I… I don’t know him, or anyone with that name.”

Her distress touched him deeply, making him wish he could put his arms around her and assure her that she was safe now. But he kept his distance out of respect for what she’d endured.

Erica spoke to her gently for a few more minutes and then ushered him out of the room.

“What do I do, Erica? Tell me what to do.”

“Give her some space to recover. Hopefully, her memory will come back.”

“What if it doesn’t?”

“Let’s just wait and see.”

“They did a rape kit, right?”

“Yes, and it’s with the lab. I asked for a rush.”

He leaned back against the wall and exhaled a deep breath.

“Is there anyone you could call for her?”

“I don’t know her people. We hadn’t gotten that far yet.”

“What about the company where she works?”

Archie tried to clear the noise in his brain so he could think about what she’d told him about her job. “I can’t remember the name of the company, but she said it was sales for a food company that stocks restaurants and grocery stores.”

“That helps. I’ll do some digging. Why don’t you come back to HQ with me?”

“I’d rather stay close here since she doesn’t have anyone else.”

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