Stolen Identity

by Lisa Harris

  Inside, his father quickly made room on the couch for Lauryn who started to stir as he set her down. A quick glance around the room showed little had changed since Jason had last visited, except that there were a few more layers of dust and a few more piles of books in every nook and cranny. The description of homey had, over the years, given way to clutter. He’d noticed the changes after his mother died. Little by little the dining room set and living room furniture had become lost in a sea of stuff. But getting his dad to organize the three-bedroom cabin had long become a losing battle.

  Danielle didn’t seem to notice. “Mr. Ryan, it’s been a long time. It’s good to see you again.”

  Jason’s dad pulled her into a bear hug. “Don’t tell me you’re going to call me Mr. Ryan. Eddie has always been fine, especially to my once-to-be daughter-in-law.”

  “Dad.” He’d have a talk with his father once they got the women settled. Bringing up the past wasn’t going to help today’s situation.

  “Sorry.” Eddie glanced at his son then back to Danielle. “It’s just good to see you. It’s been a long time.”

  “Too long.”

  “You remember my mother, Maggie.”

  His dad turned to Danielle’s mom. “As beautiful as ever, Mrs. Taylor.”

  “Like father, like son, the way you both throw out compliments,” Danielle’s mom said with a blush.

  “I only say what I mean, but I’m glad to hear that some of my charm is rubbing off on my son. All I ask is that you excuse the mess. In a bachelor’s life, there always seems to be something more interesting to do than cleaning. But the guest room is off-limits to my clutter, due in large part to the eternal hope that my son will pay me a visit. The two of you, along with your beautiful daughter, can stay there. It has a large king-size bed and a separate twin mattress for Lauryn. Given a little more time, I would have had this living room cleared out, as well.”

  “Please don’t worry at all.” Danielle’s mom set her small bag on the floor beside her. “We’re just grateful for your hospitality.”

  Jason picked up an unopened package off the table. “I know what I’m getting you for Christmas, Dad. You can store three-thousand-plus books on an eReader and clear out half of this mess.”

  “After hours and hours of stakeouts over the past couple decades, reading became my weakness.” He started clearing off the table in the adjoining dining room. “But while I’m all for developments in technology, there is still nothing like holding a real book. It reminds me of a time when life was simpler.”

  “I couldn’t agree more, Eddie.” Danielle’s mother smiled, the blush back.

  Eddie turned to Lauryn who’d just gotten off the couch. “Well, little lady, I have to say that you’re just as lovely as your mother. How old are you, twenty? Twenty-one?”

  Lauryn laughed. “I’m almost five.”

  “Well, you’re practically all grown up, then, aren’t you? And I’ve got something you might like. I’ve got dogs. Would you like to check them out after breakfast?”

  “What are their names?”

  “Charlie and Chase.”

  “Do they bite?”

  “Only robbers.” His father nodded toward the kitchen. “For now, though, I thought you all might be hungry. I might not be the world’s greatest housekeeper, but I can cook up a mean plate of waffles and bacon.”

  Danielle’s mom rested her hands against her hips. “And I know someone who can help in the cleaning area.”

  “Why, Mrs. Taylor, you always did know how to make me smile.”

  “First names, remember…Eddie.”

  “Maggie, then. Care to help me?”

  She smiled brightly. “I’d love to.”

  “I could use some help from you, pumpkin, as well, if you’re not too busy.”

  Jason watched as the three of them went to the kitchen, with Lauryn still giggling while her hand clung tight to his father’s hand. He turned to Danielle who’d been quiet since their arrival. “Did you catch the look on my dad’s face?”

  “Yes, because it was the same look on my mother’s.”

  “Stranger things have happened, I suppose.”

  He’d waited a long time for his father to find love again, but the possibility of finding it with Danielle’s mom was an interesting twist. He’d have to process the idea when his distraction wasn’t standing beside him.

  “Feel any better?” he asked.

  “A little. Trying to learn how to find peace, not just when life is easy but even in the middle of the worst of things. Giving up control is hard for me.”

  Jason helped her take off her coat, before hanging it up on a hook by the front door. “I was thinking this morning about Nehemiah in the Old Testament. He didn’t ask for the storm to be taken away. Instead, he asked that he be made strong in the midst of the storm.”

  “I’m just tired of feeling lost and unbalanced. Everything I grasp on to seems to be unsteady. Just like whenever I think I’ve made progress, I end up taking a huge step backward.”

  He reached down and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Just remember that he hasn’t won. You’re safe. Lauryn is safe. And we’re going to do everything possible to keep things that way.”

  “I know.”

  Knowing she trusted him wasn’t something he took lightly.

  Danielle gazed up at him with her beautiful brown eyes. “So, what now?”

  Momentarily caught off guard, it took him a few seconds to respond. “I’ll call Philip to set up another conference call after breakfast.” He pulled his cell phone out of his back pocket. “I have a few ideas I want to run across him, and hopefully he’ll have come up with something, as well. Our hacker might have called our bluff, but I’m not ready to give up. He’s still running scared and still needs what we have—or what he thinks we have.”

  “And after you speak to Philip?”

  “After that,” he continued. “I thought you and I might try a long walk along the beach. It’s quiet, private and gives one of the most stunning views of the Pacific I’ve ever seen.”

  He watched her contemplative expression, not wanting to push her and yet knowing she needed a break from everything that had happened.

  Danielle’s answer came with a margin of hesitancy. “I don’t want to stay holed up forever, but don’t you think that’s too much of a risk for right now? If he found us out in the open…”

  “While I won’t put anything past him at this point, I think the risk is minimal. After one too many ex-husbands coming after my father, he purposely moved here. Even the house isn’t under his name. While our hacker might be good, even for him it would take a lot of digging for him to connect us to this place. And with the police after him, I don’t see him looking for more trouble.”

  “I’ll think about it,” she promised.

  “Look at it this way, little time away from reality and fresh air might help you regain your equilibrium.”

  She smiled up at him, and he was hit with the realization that no matter how all this turned out, he wasn’t ready for things with her to end.

  The dogs barked outside, pulling him back to reality. Jason skirted past Danielle and jerked open the front door. A dozen birds flew out of a bush. The dogs chased after them. A few moments later, they tired of the game, leaving the birds alone to nest somewhere higher, away from their predator.

  But for Jason, it was a reality check of how quickly things could change.

  “What was it?” She moved on to the porch beside him.

  “It was just the dogs chasing away a flock of birds. Nothing to worry about.”

  He caught the relief in her eyes. Hiding his worry from the woman he was falling for was becoming harder and harder. The sun broke through the clouds over the mist hanging over the distant tree line. All he could do for now was pray he’d made the right decision in bringing her here.

  FOURTEEN

  Danielle pressed her tennis shoes into the damp sand and tried to let her shoulder muscles rel
ax. She’d taken a risk leaving Lauryn back at the cabin with her mother and Jason’s father, which was why her cell phone was tucked in her pocket in case her daughter needed something before she got back. In the meantime, she tried to put some space mentally between herself and the terror of the hacker’s threats.

  Sometimes, though, it was hard to know how to live out her faith practically. Trust and reliance on someone else had never come easy. She’d started today by donning a pair of worn jeans paired with a pink fleece hoodie to block the chilly wind blowing off the coastal waters and agreeing to get out of the house. At least the brisk wind sending shivers down her spine was proving to be a welcome reminder she was alive and their hacker hadn’t won.

  She drew in a deep breath and stared out across the churning waters reflecting the subtle orange and yellow of the sunset. Jason had come with her, but had been sensitive enough to give her the space she needed to think. In the turmoil of the past few days, it had been easy to forget that not only was he facing his own loss, but was having to juggle the current situation with his personal responsibilities of running a company.

  Jason had walked beside her the past hour, seemingly content to simply be with her without talking much or trying to fix everything. Nor had he brought up the fact that she’d pushed him away. Instead, he seemed sensitive to her mood. Prying just enough to get her to open up, but not enough to drive her away.

  She started walking toward the incoming tide while Jason talked on the phone with Philip. They’d spent the morning and most of the afternoon going over different angles with both Philip and the police. It should have given her hope that the pieces of the puzzle were beginning to come together. Instead, she felt a growing frustration that they still weren’t making enough progress.

  Which was one of the reasons why she knew she needed to get out of the house. She needed time to let her mind clear and refocus away from the constant stress of the situation. Walking parallel to the waves splashing against the rocky outcropping peppering the quiet inlet was proving to be the perfect antidote. Behind her the thick wooded incline, together with the sea spreading out in front of her, was a demonstration of God’s wonder and power. And the one thing she was able to cling to right now. Because if she gave in, the fear of being out of control—spiraling around her like a thick web—would completely consume her.

  I’m trying to focus on You, Jesus. To let You be my source of strength, but sometimes it’s just so hard.

  Danielle tugged up the zipper of her jacket. Learning to put her trust in Him wasn’t the only difficult thing at the moment. Something else had emerged from the situation. Faced with the possibility of losing everything, she’d been forced to look again at what was really important. Family, faith, her business…and now Jason. How was it that the thought of opening up her heart again made her feel small and vulnerable, yet there was still a lingering desire to explore the possibility of a relationship between them at the same time?

  Danielle spotted a sand dollar buried halfway in the sand and pulled it out, then brushed off the sand to retrieve a perfect, bleached shell. Funny how she and Lauryn could search for sand dollars an entire afternoon and never find a perfect one…and now today, when she wasn’t even looking, she’d found one.

  Like Jason.

  She hadn’t been looking for love again, either, but Jason’s kiss had stirred something within her. And while she also might have pushed him away, part of her knew she was making a mistake in running from a second chance.

  She looked back to where Jason stood talking with Philip on the phone, and realized she’d walked farther than she’d intended. He paced back and forth, intent on his conversation. She started away from the shore toward him, then froze.

  Less than fifty feet to her left, a man emerged out of the shadows of the tree line. Close enough that she could see him reach his hands inside the pockets of his zipped sweat jacket. Far enough away that she couldn’t read his expression.

  He stood still, watching her.

  Danielle started running toward Jason. Adrenaline propelled her across the wet sand, heart pounding, breathing heavy. What had she been thinking? He knew where she was. Knew where Lauryn was… Danielle tried to push away the fear beginning to consume her again. She glanced at the figure, trying to suck air into her burning lungs. Two more figures emerged out of the tree line behind the first man.

  Jason ran toward her. He pulled her against him, his arms resting protectively around her waist. “It’s just a bunch of guys playing Frisbee. You’re fine.”

  The tall one threw a Frisbee toward the two others. They weren’t looking at her anymore. Didn’t notice she was standing there shaking from fear.

  She closed her eyes, embarrassed at her reaction. Was her faith so weak that each new scare seemed to rip away at her spiritual foundation? That wasn’t how she wanted to be. She longed for a steady faith that bore the brunt of the storm with grace.

  “I thought…” She opened her eyes again and stared out across the sand. “I thought he’d found me.”

  “Come on. We’ll start heading in the direction of the cabin, but it’s a clear night, and I thought you might want to see the stars come out.”

  She looked up at him and nodded, letting him take her hand as they made their way across the sand. Her breathing slowed down; her heart stopped pounding.

  “You okay now?”

  “I think so.”

  “Good.” He pulled out a brown paper bag from his jacket pocket with his free hand. “I almost forgot, but I bought something for you yesterday.”

  Danielle stopped to dig through the pile of white paper wrappers filled with salt water taffy, grabbed a licorice one and found herself smiling. “You remembered.”

  “I was driving through town last night, saw this little shop open and thought of you.”

  She pulled off the sticky wrapper and popped the soft candy into her mouth. There was nothing quite like the brightly colored sweet. In college, he’d bought her a bag whenever they’d visited the coast.

  “What did Philip have to say?” she asked, reaching for a second piece.

  “Rae has disappeared, her rent and utilities unpaid. Her family has no idea where she is.”

  “I don’t understand.” Gnawing worry returned. “She was a hard worker, and I thought she was happy. What about her boyfriend?”

  “The police have talked to him, but he claims he doesn’t know where she is. He did call off the wedding, but said it was a mutual decision.”

  “What do they think happened?”

  “No one knows. Some of her clothes are missing along with her purse and some personal articles. For now they are treating it like a missing person case, but with all that has happened I don’t think we can dismiss anything at this point.”

  *

  Jason studied Danielle’s expression in the fading daylight. For the past fifteen minutes, they’d walked hand in hand without saying much, but he could tell by her body language she was finally beginning to relax. Which was exactly what he had prayed for.

  And tonight had brought with it an extra benefit. With more rainy than clear days along the Oregon Coast, experiencing a cloudless night was something to be enjoyed. In college, they’d sit out trying to see who could name the most constellations. She’d end up winning because he’d always preferred looking at her. Tonight was one of those nights.

  She looked up at him. “I’d forgotten how quiet it can be out here except for the constant rumble of the waves. And the stars…they are so incredible.”

  “Maybe it’s been too long since you’ve stopped and looked up at the stars. You’re finally relaxing.”

  “I am.” Even in the growing darkness, he could see the hint of a smile on her face. “It might be the calm before the storm hits again, but I need to enjoy these moments. Look. A shooting star.”

  He glanced up at where she pointed, missing the phenomena once again. “You always were good at finding more than I did.”

  She stopped beside
a large piece of driftwood, twisted into the shape of a small bench. “I should get back to Lauryn, but I feel like I need to continue our conversation from this morning.”

  “Okay.” He sat down beside her and waited for her to go on.

  “You’ve been right about several things—about us—one mainly being that there are things you deserve to hear.” She clasped her hands in front of her and leaned forward, so all he could see was her silhouette against the backdrop of the gray shadows of the water. “I was awake half the night thinking about you and me, our past, and wondering if there was a possibility for us again…given time.”

  He hadn’t expected this confession from her. He’d expected her to say goodbye when this was all over, not leave things open for the possibility of a future together. He started to say something, then stopped, knowing he needed to let her continue at her own pace.

  “I know that situations like the one we are in tend to magnify emotions,” she continued. “Which means that what I’m feeling…what we’re feeling…might not still be there when all this is over.”

  “And if there is? Something left to salvage?”

  “I don’t know the answer to that yet.” Danielle pulled her knees closer to her chest, then pulled another piece of taffy from the sack he’d set in front of them. “Do you remember Susie Banks?”

  “Your best friend from college?”

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s been a long time since I thought about her.” He smiled fondly. “She always was a riot. Are the two of you still close?”

  “We try to see each other once or twice a year. She remarried and moved to California about six years ago.” Danielle pulled the taffy into two pieces then popped half of it into her mouth.

  “I don’t know if you remember, but her parents got divorced right after you proposed to me. It hit me hard. I loved to hang out at their house after school and on weekends when my mom was working. Since my parents had divorced when I was in high school, I knew firsthand how tough it could be. Even supposedly perfect relationships could end.” She glanced over at him then looked away. “I remember watching you with Britney Meyers at some student function about that same time. You were laughing…she was flirting.”