Page 77 of Amnesia

The thought of swimming in the lake gave me chills, and I shuddered.

“Okay?” Eddie asked, tightening his grip on my hand.

I nodded and smiled. Nurse Ellen was driving us to Maggie’s house. The people in this town (when they weren’t gossiping) were very nice.

Well, almost all of them. Someone was trying to kill me, and it had to be someone in Lake Loch. I could have smiled at them today or passed them on the street. I wouldn’t have known. They were probably laughing right now at my stupidity.

Eddie walked me to the door, where Maggie was standing with concern on her face. Ellen was in the still-running car, waiting for Eddie so she could take him to his truck.

On the porch, beneath the harsh overhead light, he cupped my face and shifted close. “You sure you’re okay to sleep here tonight?”

“I’m sure,” I said. “I’m tired of the hospital.”

He kissed me softly on the lips, right in front of Ellen and Maggie, then whispered a good-bye.

“Call me if you need me,” he said as he walked away.

I nodded.

At the top of the steps, he turned and stopped. “In the house, Am. Before I leave.”

I went inside with Maggie, and she locked the door behind us. She hugged me tight and clucked her tongue at me, looking over the battered, swollen mess I was.

“Lobster doesn’t like you,” she said.

“The feeling is mutual,” I grumped.

She laughed, and something inside me eased. Elmo came racing down the stairs and jumped on my leg. I picked him up and hugged him close, his soft fur brushing against my cheeks and making me smile.

“You should have called,” Maggie said.

“There was nothing you could have done,” I told her, putting Elmo back down.

“I could have been there.”

“You’re here now,” I murmured. Then a horrible thought overcame me. “I shouldn’t be here.”

“What? Why on earth would you say that?”

“Whoever is after me will come here. You’re in danger.”

Maggie waved away my genuine concern. “Honey, there ain’t nothing around here that my Colt .45 can’t take care of.”

“What’s a Colt .45?” I yawned.

“A gun. And I’ll put a bullet in anyone’s ass who comes here,” she said, stern. “Now off to bed.”

“But…” I began.

“No buts. Go to bed. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied and trudged down the stairs.

“Good night, Amnesia,” she called.

“Good night,” I called back.

Once downstairs, I peeled off my dress and picked up an oversized Lake Loch T-shirt I used to sleep in. After shutting myself in the bathroom, I took a cool shower and cringed at my reflection in the mirror. The welts were still hanging around, making me look lumpy and lopsided.

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