“Yes, I just know that.”
Aaron sagged, and for some reason, the guard had pity on him. “Look, I heard the ones you were looking for talking about going to the Fireside Grill Restaurant as they walked out the door. Check out that place. They should still be there.”
Aaron narrowed his eyes at the guard, but the man seemed to be genuine. “Thanks, man. This is real important.”
The guard nodded. “Hope you catch them.”
Aaron nodded his goodbye then ran back to his car.
He punched the name of the restaurant into his GPS and followed its instructions to a small, upscale eatery. When Aaron walked in, the hostess who stood beside a large mantled fireplace plastered a smile on her face. “One, tonight?”
“No. Um…” Aaron quickly scanned the well-appointed restaurant and spied Ezra. “I’m actually meeting up with someone.” He took off for Ezra’s table.
At Ezra’s table sat two women and two men. Aaron’s spirits lifted. The gang was all here. When Ezra caught sight of Aaron moving toward him, Aaron waved. Ezra’s expression went from joyful to guarded as Aaron got closer. Aaron didn’t blame him. He’d feel the same way too if some stranger kept showing up where ever he was.
When Aaron thrust out his hand for a handshake. “Hi, nice to see you again, Ezra. If I could take a minute of your time.”
Ezra hesitated, his brown eyes hinting stubbornness. “I already told you—”
“I know, but I have something new, and it’s important, very important.” Without waiting for Ezra’s permission, Aaron whipped out the driver’s license his aunt had dug out for him. “If you would take a look at this, I’d appreciate it.” He turned to the table. “All of you really. It would be a big help.”
Ezra addressed the group. “This is the man I told you about. That wanted to know if we worked with a Cindy Ellerd.”
When everyone at the table denied knowing her, Aaron held up his hand. “But that’s the thing, we just found out her name might not be Cindy Ellerd. So if you would look at the picture…”
Before he could run into another objection, Aaron threw Cindy’s ID into the middle of the table. “Her! Do you know her?”
One of the young women pulled the license closer. Her mouth dropped open as she looked at the others at the table. “It’s Lane! Lane Davis! How is that possible?”
The big man beside her stood up so fast his chair skidded behind him. He took the two long steps to Aaron and wrapped a fist in Aaron’s shirt, jerking Aaron to his toes. “Who are you? Why are you doing this? It isn’t a joke!”
Aaron swallowed and pulled at the guy’s hands, but the guy wasn’t letting go. Rather than slugging the man, he kept his voice calm. “No. It’s not a joke. That woman is in the city hospital right now thinking she is Cindy Ellerd. We are trying to find out why that is.”
Ezra pulled at this man’s shoulder. “Mike. Michael, let him go. He isn’t here to cause trouble. I think he’s sincere.”
Michael’s cold blue eyes gave Aaron a once-over, then he released his shirt, but it was clear he wasn’t totally convinced. One of the ladies asked the waiter to bring over an extra seat. Once Aaron sat down, the group bombarded him with questions.
Aaron held up a hand. “Maybe I should just tell you the story from the beginning as I know it.”
Once Aaron clued them in on Cindy’s, or as they knew her Lane’s, story, Aaron slumped back in his seat. “Boy, is she going to be happy to see you! She misses all of you something fierce like it’s been years rather than days.”
There was a sudden silence around the table before Sarah broke it. “But it has been.”
Puzzled, Aaron glanced at Sara only to find her as confused as him. “Aaron, that’s the thing. It has been years. It’s been over two years since Lane disappeared.”
Aaron froze. Two years. How could that be? Things started to click into place. Her bad memory, her confusion, her empty phone, her condo without her name.
What had happened to her? Where had she been all this time?
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Prince leaned against the hospital lobby wall. He needed to do something and quick if he wanted Cinderella back again. Things were unraveling fast.
He’d been shocked she’d remembered anything about her former life so soon, let alone the names of her co-workers. Of course, it had surprised him she lived past that first night.
Aaron had rushed past him and out the front hospital doors a few moments ago. It didn’t take a detective to figure out he wasn’t waiting on Pearson to find out the answers to his Cindy’s little mystery.
Prince had hoped to spirit Cinderella out of here before everything hit the fan. If he was going to try that, he needed to move before her bandages came off and would see his face. From what the girl had said the doctor would remove them any time now.
Prince patted the hypodermic needle in his pocket. At least he knew exactly what it took to keep her quiet. One benefit of dealing with her in the past. Once she had this in her system, he only had to look into her glassy, blue eyes and tell her everything would be all right. Cinderella believed it every time.
Prince pulled in a long, slow breath. He could do this. Quick was still doable. He could easily set up what he needed here at the hospital. One great perk about pretending to be a police officer was that no one stopped you from doing anything. An hour ought to do it and then he’d have the princess home where she belonged.
Tonight then. He would have her home tonight.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cindy flipped through TV channels as she willed Aaron back to the hospital. It wouldn’t do any good. It would take as long as it took. One thing about her blindness was that time seemed without constraints. It could’ve been ten minutes or an hour since Aaron left, she didn’t know. Calling a nurse to find out seemed rude when they had patients with problems out there.
After trying her best to ignore everything except the sound of the wheel going round and round on the game show she listened to, Cindy perked up at the sound of shoes squeaking down the hallway.
It was Aaron. It had to be.
Less than a minute later, he and his aunt burst into the room. Aaron ran to her side and grasped her hand. “We have answers, Cindy, we have the answers you were looking for!”
Cindy thought her heart would burst from her chest. “Tell me! Tell me everything.”
Aaron patted her hand. “Your name isn’t Cindy Ellerd. It’s Cinderella Lane Davis, that’s why they didn’t know you.”
“Cinderella Lane Davis.” Cindy repeated it out loud and smiled. This felt right. Her dream had told her this. Cinderella Lane. Her memories had been trying to work their way out even then. She laughed. “Cinderella? That is rather odd, isn’t it?”
“Probably why you go by Lane, but not odd for a mother who loved fairytales. That is what your friend Sarah said.”
“Did she say anything else?”
“That she would be here tomorrow, there’d be no holding her back.”
“Oh, Sarah! She is such a good friend.”
“More than you know.”
Cindy tipped her head. “What do you mean?”
Aaron squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but you’ve been gone for over two years with no leads. Sarah led a group who continued to spread the news of your disappearance. Finally, they gave you up for dead. But you weren’t, you were taken.”
A cold finger trailed down Cindy’s spine. “Taken by who? Where have I been this whole time, Aaron?”
Aaron sighed. “That no one knows.”
Cindy put her free hand to her cheek. “What about family?”
His other hand covered the one Aaron already held. “Sarah believes most of your family is gone. There might be a few cousins somewhere, but no one you kept up with.”
So, she was alone. Again, that seemed to fit. And would certainly have worked to her kidnapper’s benefit. “I don’t feel safe,” Cindy murmured.
Aa
ron squeezed Cindy’s hand. “You’re safe, I’ll make sure of it.” He turned to his aunt. “Why is she in here alone anyway, Auntie? Shouldn’t she be in a double room? That may help deter anyone that may—” He cut himself short when he saw Cindy’s face getting whiter.
Nancy fussed at Cindy’s side. “It’s okay, dear. We’ll make sure you’re taken care of.” She turned to Aaron. “Detective Pearson asked that she have a room to herself so she would have more time to think and maybe remember something.”
Aaron grunted his disapproval. “I don’t like it. Can we move her?”
“I would,” Nancy said, “in a heartbeat, but there are no double rooms left.”
“I’m staying here with Cindy tonight. She can’t be alone.”
Cindy almost fainted with relief. “I hope it isn’t necessary, but I’m so glad you are. Thank you, Aaron.”
Nancy went back to work as Cindy and Aaron settled in, talking about everything Aaron had noticed about Cindy’s friends. It wasn’t long before Aaron’s predicament made itself heard with a loud stomach growl.
“Aaron, have you not eaten?”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
“You need to go to the cafeteria and get something before it closes.”
“No, I don’t want to leave you.”
“Nancy has the nurse’s aid checking in on me after every room he’s in. I’ve been fine all day, I’m sure he’ll be able to handle it a few minutes longer.”
Aaron’s stomach growled again.
“Aaron, you can’t go all night like this.”
He groaned. “All right, but I’m getting that guy to sit with you while I’m gone.”
Cindy giggled at his serious tone. “Whatever makes you feel better but take care of yourself too. You’d be no good to me if you fell over because of starvation.”
Aaron walked to her door and flagged down the aid. “Can you sit with Cindy while I run to the cafeteria and get something to eat?”
“Yeah, sure,” the nurse’s aid said.
Aaron didn’t leave it there. “I mean really stay with her, don’t let her out of your sight. Sit right on that chair.”
Cindy giggled. The guy must think Aaron was crazy.
“I said I would stay, man,” the nurse said.
“Go,” Cindy said, “The sooner you get there, the sooner you’ll be back.”
Aaron huffed a sigh. “Okay, I’ll be right back, Cindy.”
She wagged her finger at him. “Lane.”
Aaron chuckled. “I’ll be right back, Lane.”
Chapter Thirty
The male nurse that Aaron had bullied into watching her strolled to a chair beside Lane's bed and plopped into it.
Lane winced. This was probably the last thing he wanted to do. "Thank you. There's a man that—"
"Yeah, I've heard about it."
The aid's tone clearly told Lane he thought it was all in her head. Lane lowered her eyes and turned her head away. Well, at least he stayed. The moment the thought went through Lane's head, an alarm sounded from one of the other rooms. The nurse jumped up and ran to the doorway.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Lane called after him.
"Just to the doorway. See what code it is." His footsteps slapped across the floor, then stopped. "Oh, man."
"What? What is it?"
"I'm gonna have to go."
A sliver of fear slid down Lane's spine. "No, you said you'd stay! You said-- "
"Listen, lady, someone could be dying over there, and you want me to sit here and twiddle my thumbs."
"Can't someone else-- "
"We're short-staffed. Rose keeps being a no-show. I was on break, but they need me now."
"I told you all he took Rose! He’s coming for me next!"
"Oh, lady, come on!" And with that he was gone, sprinting down the hallway.
Chapter Thirty-One
Lane wrapped her arms around herself. She was fine, just fine. The nurses were just down the hall, and Aaron would be back before she knew it. Lane strained to listen for any small sound. It didn't matter what she told herself, ice continued to trail through her.
A shoe scuffed outside her door. Lane scoffed. Now she really was imagining things.
Leather-soled shoes tapped their way through her room.
"Hello?" Her voice sounded thin even to herself.
The person coughed. "It is — it's Officer Wilderson from the other day. We just wanted to — well, our precinct decided they needed this paper signed. It says that you agree to Detective Pearson handling your case."
"Oh," Cindy partially relaxed. "Yes, that's fine."
Another scuff and tap as Wilderson moved into the room and stopped at the end of her bed.
Lane held her hand out for the paper. "Officer?"
He whispered, his voice floating to her like a hiss. "Cinderella."
No! Lane stiffened and grabbed the rails of her bed. "Go away! I'll scream."
Memories, broken and jagged, yet as familiar as his voice now seemed, drifted to her along with his words.
He chuckled. "Oh, Cinderella, you were always my favorite."
As his ghostly murmur floated over Lane, she quaked against the mattress. In the dark, as she had been since the day she woke up, Lane fought the nightmarish memories his voice restored.
She steeled herself. She would soon have to battle the man himself if she wanted her freedom. Lane would need her eyes to do that. She raised her hands to rip off the bandages, but her trembling fingers refused to obey her.
Prince shifted, his tapping shoes echoing through the room again as he walked closer.
Lane ripped at the cloth. "Who are you?" she shouted.
"Oh, now, now. No need for all of that. You know who I am."
Seeing her memories was like watching a sheer curtain blowing in the wind. They were there just beyond it, but she couldn't see them clearly. But Lane knew what he said was right. He was the prince, and they were the princesses.
Lane stilled. Princesses? Her mind flashed to the faces of other slack-faced beauties carefully pouring tea so as not to spill a drop, mindfully moving through their dances so their movements were as perfect as possible, and greeting each guest with words pre-approved by Prince. All of it took every bit of concentration they were able to muster with their brains so addled. Lane was quite sure they appeared simpletons, which probably fit right in with whatever Prince told the customers. Lane gasped at her recollections.
"I understand. You are eager to see me. Look, you're trembling with excitement." Closer. He was coming closer. Lane smelled him now. "I will help you with that."
Lane dropped her hands and turned from him. "No. No, stop."
"I've always taken good care of you. I'm not going to stop now." Then Prince touched her head to remove the bandages. Lane almost startled off the bed as her heart went into overdrive.
She thrust her palms out, and they connected with his muscular forearm. He lunged toward her. Lane dropped her hands to her lap as if she'd touched fire.
Lane was quiet, waiting as he wound the bandage around and around her head. This is what she wanted, anyway. She couldn't fight, couldn't run if she couldn't see.
Prince stopped. The bandages stirred the air as then fell beside Lane on the bed. Prince put a hand to Lane's chin and lifted her face to him. Nausea worked its way up her throat, but she had to keep a neutral expression. She had to. Her joy, her happiness, her very self depended on it. If she faltered, he would lock her up forever.
Prince removed first one of the gauze pads covering her eyes, then the other. "My little beauty." Lane squeezed her eyes shut. This man was evil. She remembered the fear and disgust she had for him. Lane didn't want to see the face of this monster.
Why had she wanted this? To be blind would be better. Not to see him, not to know.
"Open your eyes now." Prince's tone was light, almost playful until she refused to comply. "Now."
She would have to, he didn't like it when she made him wa
it.
One tiny bit as a time, Lane opened them. First, seeing the blinding bleached white sheets of her bed. She let her eyes adjust to the light. Ever so slowly, she raised her gaze to him.
He towered over Lane, his body trim and muscular, his face as handsome as ever. Lane gasped. How odd not to be able to picture him one minute and fully recognize him the next.
"Yes, I know it is nice to be reacquainted, isn't it?" He smiled. His teeth white against his tanned skin, tiny crinkles beside his grey eyes. Anyone else would be breathless over his beauty. Lane was not. She was horrified.
"I want you back home." Prince bent toward Lane, bringing his face to hers, searching her eyes for a reaction. What Prince sought Lane wouldn't guess, but she gave him nothing. When she was no longer able to stand his gaze, Lane closed her eyes.
Prince uttered a low, mocking laugh. "No one is coming, dear. I gave someone down the hall a little surprise injection. Everyone will be busy down there for quite some time, I would imagine."
A tear slid down Lane's face.
"I'm sorry," Prince said before his fist exploded against Lane's face. Blackness came, and she faded into it as if it were a long-lost friend.
Chapter Thirty-Two
When Lane woke, she was no longer in her hospital room. She looked around, her eyes squinted against the still-too-bright light, unsure of where Prince had taken her. Lane lay on a hospital lounge chair. Prince stood to her left, his back to her.
Memories continued to flood Lane, pounding at her mind like the blow she received from him. Prince’s business had probably started innocent enough, like many others like it, but his twist on the adventure started him down an evil slope. Each of his princesses, who acted out imaginary, high-born lives, must actually have been born with the name. They were a true-life Cinderella, Snow, and more. Believe it or not, there were enough of them with the names.
Of course, not every one jumped at the opportunity to be part of Prince’s scheme. So he kidnapped them and forced them into the life.
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