Page 106 of Amnesty

He spun around, his jaw like granite. I knew he was upset, but it had to be said. Didn’t it have to be said?

After that “dream” that I was sure wasn’t a dream, after seeing Sadie standing ominously at the foot of my bed, staring at us with accusations I didn’t quite understand and now Robbie being here, fighting for his life.

He whispered her name. We both heard him.

“It’s not her,” Eddie intoned.

I wasn’t so sure. There was something about her… something broken. He didn’t want to see it. I understood. It would be hard to wait for someone for twelve long years, get her back, get that chance to make amends for everything you thought you were responsible for, then have that chance taken away, too. To feel responsible for what she’d potentially become.

“Probably not.” I assured him. “But we need to at least know if she’s home. For Robbie. For her own protection.”

A low curse dropped from his lips. “I know.”

Instead of dialing the phone, though, Eddie shot forward to wrap me against him. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

“You didn’t.” I clutched at his back. “It’s okay. This is terrible.”

He lifted his head, and I smiled up at him. Even in this dire circumstance, smiling at him wasn’t hard. Ruffling the hair falling over his forehead, I tilted my head. “Can I use your phone?”

He nodded, producing the cell. Maggie’s number was programmed in. I hit the button and listened to it ring.

Just when I started to think she wasn’t going to answer, her sleepy voice came on the line. “Hello?”

“Maggie,” I answered.

“Amnesia?” Her voice became more alert. “What in the world?” I heard her moving around. “What time is it? Are you calling from downstairs?”

“It’s early, and no. I’m at the hospital.”

“The hospital!” She gasped. “What’s happened?”

“I’m fine.” I quickly assured her. “Eddie, too. It’s Robbie, Eddie’s best friend,” I explained. “He was stabbed. He’s in surgery.”

“Good heavens!” she exclaimed. “How did this happen?”

“That’s sort of why I’m calling,” I told her timidly. As I spoke, I looked at Eddie. his face was drawn, his lips a hard line. “I need you to do something.”

“Of course, honey. Anything!”

Swallowing thickly, I plowed ahead. “Can you look and see if Sadie is in her room?”

“Sadie?” she wondered, then suddenly gasped. “You can’t possibly be suggesting…”

I felt like a villain. Like the only person who could possibly believe what Robbie said.

“Robbie said her name,” I tried to explain. “He grabbed my arm and said her name.”

“I see.”

I didn’t know what that meant.

“If you hold on, I’ll go check.”

I let out a sigh. “Thank you,” I murmured.

I heard her place the phone down. I closed my eyes tight.Please let her be asleep in bed. Please let it not be her.

Maggie was gone for what felt like forever. So long, in fact, I pulled the phone away from my ear to make sure it was actually still connected.

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