Page 38 of Shrouded Past

She told him no and turned to let him see.

Bryce slowly parted her hair. “Oh, wow. There’s definitely a large scar there. Your hair covers it. Did you know about it?”

“He told me I received it when I’d fallen.”

“Edmon?” Bryce seemed to doubt the story.

She nodded. “I was in and out of consciousness for a long time. I have no idea how long I’d been at the house before I woke up.” She straightened. “I can’t believe I was in Wyoming. Bryce, nothing about this makes sense. Why would I go with Edmon if I didn’t recognize him later on?”

Bryce reclaimed her hand. “Could be that something about him appeared familiar even though you didn’t recognize him. Maybe he said something that made you feel you could trust him?”

It made sense, she guessed. “So, how did I end up in Wyoming if Edmon lived in Michigan?”

Bryce pulled in a breath. “I’m guessing he had to track you down. He was obviously concerned about you and believed someone was trying to harm you. From the looks of that old wound, I’d say they did.”

She shivered. “Somehow, they found me and Edmon and they killed him. If these people are family, why would they want me dead?”

Bryce shook his head. “I don’t understand it either. Perhaps you were living in Wyoming and Edmon took you from there. Three years later you managed to escape—”

“And walked right into their hands. Do . . . do you think Skeleton Man was the one who left the door to the basement unlocked so I could escape? Maybe he killed Edmon and then wanted to toy with me. Make me think I could escape, only to capture me himself.”

“I’d say that’s entirely possible.”

She shivered at the thought. “But why did it take them three years to find me? Maybe Edmon didn’t live in Michigan at the time but figured he’d get me as far away from Wyoming as possible, leaving no trail behind.”

She remembered what JT had said about the man who visited the house on Hope Island every year, and her spirits sank. “But what does that have to do with Maine? There’s a connection between me and Hope Island somehow.” After all, the name she bore belonged to a young woman from a nearby town. There had to be a connection. But unwinding it from her injured memories wouldn’t be easy.

Chapter Seven

She’d fallen asleep on the sofa. Bryce gently untangled her hand from his and rose. He shared with JT about the connection with Wyoming, even though he still didn’t understand it himself. “I have the address for Piper’s uncle.” Bryce gave it to JT.

“Thanks. I’ll check it out. You should try to get some sleep. I have a feeling we’re in for some difficult days ahead.”

Bryce wasn’t sure if JT referred to the hurricane or the man coming after Piper.

He clicked off the light on the end table and carried Bella into the kitchen. His and Piper’s lives had been bound together long before they’d met for the first time. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

Bryce fed the cat and then sat at the table. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t conjure up a clear picture of the man who had killed Jenna. It was dark in the building. If he hadn’t known Jenna, he probably wouldn’t have recognized her until she spoke.

Whoever that man was, he was behind Piper’s lost memories. She made the man nervous. Piper knew something. No matter how many times he tried to come up with a working theory, there were too many missing pieces.

He poured more coffee and then stopped near the entrance of the kitchen, watching Piper as she slept.

He had feelings for her. Bryce could no longer deny it. When he’d kissed her, he’d felt a stirring inside that was both painful and welcomed. He believed she felt something for him as well, but was it real? How could it be when she didn’t even know who she was?

He went back to the kitchen and reclaimed his seat. The time on his phone showed it had been almost twenty-four hours since he’d slept much at all. If the kidnapper showed up, would he be able to protect her? His arm ached. Bryce popped some aspirin then rinsed his cup out. After checking that the locks were engaged, he returned to the living room and stretched out in the recliner while trying to shut off his over-stimulated brain.

???

The faintest of sounds had his eyes flying open.He’d heard something. Piper still was fast asleep. Maybe Bella had turned over her food bowl.

He eased from the chair, trying not to wake Piper. He noticed the kitten sleeping beside Piper. If not Bella then what had wakened him?

Bryce moved to the kitchen. Nothing out of place. A quick search of the rest of the house proved more of the same. Still, he couldn’t relax. He dialed Will’s number.

“What’s wrong?” Will asked after answering on the first ring.

“I’m not sure. I thought I heard something, but nothing’s out of place inside the house.”

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