It took Aaron fifteen minutes to drive to the legal offices. When he arrived, Aaron was relieved to see a car in the parking lot. The five-story building was in good condition, only a decade or so old. Steel and glass from top to bottom, a huge sign identified it from the neighboring companies. While most law firms went with a quiet blue or black, Paskel, Dylan, and Lindel stood out with their pink sign.
Aaron had his pick of parking spots, he chose one directly across from the large clear doors. He got out of the vehicle and strolled to the front of the building. A security guard sat at a desk that ran the long length of the lobby. Aaron rapped on the door.
The guard looked up and frowned. “It’s closed,” the guard called out without moving.
Aaron barely controlled his eye roll threatening the friendly conversation. He wasn’t that stupid. “I know. I just have a question for you.”
“No questions.”
Aaron stiffened but stayed cordial. He threw the guard a smile. “Aww, come on. Just one question.”
The guard looked Aaron over. “If you’re causing trouble, I have 911 on speed-dial. And I’m armed.”
From where Aaron stood, he was unable to see what the guard was armed with, but he couldn’t imagine the question would rile the man up so much he would feel the need to pull any kind of weapon. “I’m not causing trouble. Just an easy-to-answer question.”
The guard sighed and hauled himself out of the chair. When he stood, he pushed his shoulders up and groaned indicating he didn’t moved all that often. The guard meandered Aaron’s way, and Aaron bit his tongue to hold back several taunts that came to mind.
Finally, the guard made it to the door. Before looking at Aaron, he made a show of adjusting his belt. Although he might have been impressed by his so-called weapon, Aaron was not. Pepper spray? It was hardly something to brag about. Aaron almost laughed. His granny carried it on her weekly walks to Sunday Meeting.
The guard stared at Aaron through the glass. “What?”
Aaron quashed the amusement he knew must brighten his eyes. “I’m looking for Cindy Ellerd.”
“Who?”
“Cindy Ellerd. She works here.”
“And how would I know that?”
Aaron crossed his arms. “You work here.”
The guard didn’t control his eye roll. “Yeah, a lot of people work here.”
Aaron mashed his lips together. He wanted the guard’s cooperation, smart-talking him wouldn’t get it. “She’s got dark hair, light skin, about five-four, trim.”
“You just described half the women here.”
Aaron gritted his teeth as the guard snickered. “Come on, man,” Aaron pleaded, “help a guy out.”
The guard sighed and put his hands to his hips. “Cindy Ellerd. Dark hair, short, slim. Doesn’t ring a bell. Sorry.”
“What if I added that she was in an accident, so she hasn’t been in since Wednesday?”
“Don’t keep track of absentees, it’s not my job.”
In desperation, Aaron dug the original black and white newspaper article with Cindy’s tiny, driver’s license picture on it from his satchel. He banged it up to the glass in front of his face. “Her. Look familiar?”
The guard squinted his eyes, scanning the picture and shaking his head. “Nope.”
Aaron’s shoulders sagged. “So, she doesn’t work here?”
“I haven’t worked here long, but I can tell you, she doesn’t work overtime. I’m here during off-hours. But she’s a pretty little thing, just my type. I would’ve noticed her if she was here when I was.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “What you need to do is come back tomorrow and ask proper. But I’m sure they have rules about that, so I’m not sure what they’ll tell you unless you have a good reason for asking.” The guard turned to walk away.
“Wait! Wait.” Aaron dug out the list of Cindy’s friends. “What about any of these people?” He read off the five people Cindy worked with.
The guard nodded. “Yep, those I recognize.”
Aaron ran a hand over his hair. “Cindy works with them, the same office. You haven’t seen her with them?”
“Them I know, her I don’t. That’s all I can tell you.” The guard continued to walk away. “I need to get back to work. I don’t get paid standing here talking to you.”
Aaron let him go even though he disagreed with him. The guard technically did get paid while talking to him. As the guard settled back into his chair behind the desk and tapped at a computer keyboard, Aaron shook his head and laughed. He’d bet almost anything the guard was binging Netflix.
Aaron walked back to his car and pointed it toward home. One thing the guard had been right about, he would be more successful tomorrow.
Chapter Twenty
The next morning, Aaron decided he could pop over to Cindy’s office building again before going to work. He was assigned construction at a new high rise going up close to Paskel, Dylan, and Lindel.
Aaron sipped his dark coffee as he looked out the kitchen window. It was overcast, and he wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up being an all-day drizzle. A little male robin landed on the railing of Aaron’s condo terrace and chirped as the bird eyed the human within. Aaron took it as a warning that he had somehow encroached on the bird’s territory and whistled back as a friendly gesture. The robin ruffled his feathers and flew off in a huff. Aaron chuckled. It seemed he had insulted the little guy.
As Aaron drove, he wondered if Cindy had a good night. Had she slept well? Or been disturbed by nightmares? More and more, she drifted into his thoughts. It was more than the story now. Spending those two days with Cindy had changed things. A smile curved the corners of his mouth. The girl stuck with a person.
Turning into the parking lot of the law offices, Aaron searched for a spot. Unlike yesterday, the lot was filled to the brim with cars. After parking in a space that was half grass, Aaron jogged across the entire lot to the now open front door. Workers piled through the door and milled around the lobby.
Aaron walked to the front desk, today occupied by a perky blond twenty-something woman. “May I help you?”
Aaron had a well thought out plan. He would ask for Ezra Hutchings, one of Cindy’s friends as if he were a friend of his own. Aaron leaned an elbow on the counter and smiled at the receptionist when she gave a questioning stare. “I’m an old customer, a friend really we’ve worked together so much, and I wanted to stop in. See how things were going before he started his day.”
When she hesitated, Aaron knew he’d get his way. “Okay,” she said, “I’ll call him for you.”
“I’d rather surprise him.”
The receptionist frowned. “Well, that’s not reall—”
Aaron added a big grin. “Just this once. Please.”
The young blond smiled back and leaned toward Aaron before wiggling herself straight and proper once again. “The best I can do is send you up there, you’ll have to face their receptionist and see if she’ll let you surprise him.”
“I appreciate it. You’re very kind.”
A quick glance from under her eyelashes and a broad smile later, she sent Aaron in the right direction.
When Aaron exited the elevator on the third floor, his new challenge was an older woman who seemed capable of wielding a battle-ax. Should he go with charm or some version of the truth? As Aaron contemplated his strategy, the woman glared at him as if Aaron ruined her day by merely existing.
Aaron smiled.
The woman’s frown deepened.
Aaron imagined she faced all unexpected visitors in the same manner. The smiled didn’t crack her, so some version of the truth then.
Her “How can I help you?” seemed more like a surly “Whaddya want?”.
Aaron cleared his throat. The woman was more than a little intimidating. “I’m looking for Ezra Hutchings.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No, I don’t. Do I have to have one?”
She humphed, but it wasn’t a yes. “I can c
all Ezra out here. Or give Ezra the reason you’re here and ask if you can go to him.” The woman shoved back in her seat, crossing her arms as she waited for Aaron’s answer.
Aaron wanted to see Ezra’s face when he asked about Cindy. “Could you ask him out here, please?” The empty waiting room was as good as any other place to question Ezra.
Aaron sat, waiting for Ezra with his elbows on his knees. When a tall, dark-skinned man came through the doors, he straightened. “Ezra?”
“Yes?” He asked, confused at seeing a stranger waiting for him.
“If you have a minute, could we talk?” Aaron waved him to a couple of chairs.
Ezra eyed him. “Okay. What’s this about?”
“It’s about Cindy Ellerd.”
Aaron got a blank look, so he said, “Your friend, Cindy Ellerd.”
Ezra shook his head. “Sorry, I think you have me mistaken with someone else.”
“She says she works with you.”
“I’m afraid she doesn’t.”
Aaron fumbled as he pulled out his list of names. “Yes, you and Sarah Brown, Molly Rogers, Ted Johnson and Michael Warren.”
Ezra stood. “I don’t know where you got your information, but you’re mistaken. Those other people work here, but Cindy Ellerd doesn’t. Not for as long as I’ve been here.” The man looked over at the receptionist. “Gloria, do you ever remember a Cindy Ellerd?”
Gloria glanced at Ezra but answered as she continued her work. “Nope. Never worked on this floor.”
Aaron scratched his cheek. “But she said she worked in this building, in this office with all of you.”
Ezra shook his head. “Sorry.”
“Why would she say that?” Aaron mumbled in an uncertain tone.
“Only she can answer that one. Now if that’s all—” Ezra moved to leave.
Gloria continued to bang on her keyboard as she said, “Already had this conversation with that detective.”
Aaron shot her a surprised look. “Detective Pearson?”
“That’s the one.”
Aaron shook his head as a numb spread through his body. How was this happening? He was so sure he knew Cindy now, and she wouldn’t do this. Aaron glanced at the other two, noticing Ezra was eager to get back to work. “Thank you for your time,” Aaron stuttered.
In a fog, Aaron walked out of the office, went down the elevator and out to his car. He sat for a minute, his mind racing for answers. Why would Cindy lie? She didn’t seem the type. What would it get her? This office, these friends were the only thing she seemed to remember clearly. She had given him detailed accounts of working with these people. Why would she do that if it were completely untrue?
Chapter Twenty-One
Cindy roused from her drug-induced sleep when a nurse started to take her vitals. The pills had been the only thing that calmed her after the incident with Prince the night before.
The nurses had been kind enough about finding her, once again, freaked out and cowering on the floor. They had promised to take turns watching her through the night, but only if she took something to sleep. This morning Cindy had been informed she had an appointment with a psychiatrist.
Cindy listened to the sounds echoing outside her room. She missed Aaron and Nancy. They would understand her fear since they at least half believed her. Cindy shot the nurse taking her blood pressure a glance. If she continued mooning over her troubles, she was going to cry. That would probably just move up her appointment.
Instead, she needed to be constructive. Cindy wiggled up on her bed as soon as the nurse was done and gave her a little smile.
She could try to remember something to help the detective with her case. If he found her attacker, she could feel safe again. Cindy wrapped her arms around herself. Anything to stop this constant tremble.
Cindy thought back to her neurologist appointment. The doctor had given her some suggestions on how to gently jog her memory.
Cindy laid back and closed her eyes. She started with a happy memory — going out with her friends. If she could go through the night in her mind, one event could lead to another, giving her answers. Cindy let her mind wander through her evening until she said goodnight to her friends. All except Sarah, because her friend lived close enough to her they often shared a taxi. Cindy smiled. These little details she remembered were like tiny golden breadcrumbs telling her more and more about her forgotten past.
The taxi driver dropped Sarah off at her modern condo building. The cab passed a store. Amy’s Healthy Food. Cindy’s mind exploded with memories of standing in its aisles choosing fresh produce. They had vegetable chips she dipped in their store-made hummus.
Cindy’s heartbeat picked up. She hadn’t even known she liked hummus. The checkout girl’s name was Jan, and she liked hummus too! Cindy smiled as a warmth rushed through her. She remembered!
Cindy listened, hoping to tell someone the good news. “Hello?” When no one answered, she strongly considered pushing the call button. She sighed but gripped her lifeline to the nurse’s station. Cindy didn’t want to be alone in here, but if she made a fuss, would they try to give her another pill?
She strained her ears, but hearing nothing, Cindy assured herself that she could share her good news with Nancy when she arrived for work. Cindy took deep breaths to relax her over-excited heart. She would just continue on with her remembering.
Cindy forced herself back into the seat of a yellow taxi, speeding down the road on her way home. They were getting close. She knew it.
After a couple more blocks, the cabbie turned right into a second condo development. Cindy stared at the building. This was it, her home. Wood and stone, the building had a kind of old-world quality to it. The taxi turned into the circle drive. Plastered in large letters beside the wooden doors was the address, 114 Cinderella Lane.
Something about that frightened her and Cindy gasped, shaking her head. This wasn’t right, something about this was wrong. She rapped on the plastic between her and the cabbie. “This isn’t my house. Please, take me to my house.”
Slowly, the driver turned toward her. When she saw his face, she pushed back against the seat, her eyes stretched as far as they would go.
It was him.
His too-handsome smile turned into a full-toothed grin, then to a chuckle. Soon loud, booming laughter filled Cindy’s ears.
Cindy jerked awake and slammed a hand to her racing heart.
Relieved it was a dream, she couldn’t shake her fright. At what point had the memories turned into a nightmare? Because she felt like there was something important, very important in there. The details slipped through her mind like sand in a grasping hand as Cindy tried to hang on to them. She pushed her hair off her sweaty neck as she sighed in frustration. They were gone now.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Aaron raced to the hospital after work intent on getting some answers. When he strode into Cindy’s room, she pushed herself up on the bed. Even though half Cindy’s face was still in bandages, her features brightened as she eagerly called his name. “Aaron?”
Aaron steeled himself. Cindy wasn’t as fragile and helpless as she seemed -- she was a liar. Still, Aaron didn’t want Cindy to figure out he knew that—not yet.
Aaron cleared his throat. “Yep. How are you doing today?”
“Fine. Just feeling a little bit sorry for myself. I didn’t have the company of you and your aunt today.” Cindy’s mouth turned down
Yes, her gullible little audience had deserted her. Aaron pulled a chair closer to Cindy’s bed. “How did you pass the time?”
“I had two appointments, and I tried a technique to bring back some memories.”
Aaron sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. Interesting, would she tell the truth about that? “Did it work?”
Cindy fidgeted, pulling at her covers. “I think so. I think I remembered where I shop for groceries.” She gave Aaron a nervous smile. “Of course, I won’t know for sure until I go see if it’s really there.”
“I could check it out for you.” She had better believe he would check out everything she said.
“Could you?” Cindy sat forward, she seemed excited at the thought.
Aaron frowned. How could she be this excited if she was lying? “Sure, I can see if it’s there.”
Cindy described what she remembered, then she hesitated before she continued on, “I think — I think I remember living in a condo development just a couple blocks from there, but I’m not sure. The decor was wood and stone, very old-world looking.”
“I’ll look for that too.”
Now was the time to prod. Aaron leaned toward Cindy. “What about your friends? Would you like to see them?”
Cindy nodded and smiled. “Yes, I would — very much.”
“Do you want me to tell them you’re here?”
Her whole being brightened. “Aaron, could you make that happen? I would love that! I’d wondered why they weren’t visiting, but perhaps the police made them feel like they shouldn’t.”
The detective. The thought rocked Aaron. How could he have forgotten what Gloria said? The receptionist had told the detective Cindy had never worked at Paskel, Dylan, and Lindel. What was Pearson doing with that information?
Aaron shook his head. This was getting weirder and weirder. “Give me your friend’s names again.”
Aaron made a show of writing them down as she repeated the exact names he already had.
“And what floor did you work on?” he asked.
“Three.” Cindy wagged a finger at Aaron. “And don’t let Gloria fool you, she acts like a bulldog at first, but she’s really as gentle as a kitten.”
His jaw dropped. Cindy described the receptionist to a T, even though Gloria denied knowing Cindy. What was happening here? One minute Aaron was sure Ezra was lying, then Cindy, and now Gloria.
While Aaron ran a hand over his hair, he studied Cindy. She looked pale, shrunken down somehow. “What’s wrong?”
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