Mission--Memory Recall

by Virginia Vaughan

  He scrolled through the photos of a woman with dirty blond hair, big green eyes and a broad, happy smile. In several photos she’d labeled “Me and Marcus” he saw his face staring back, a happy, content smile of someone who knew who he was and was satisfied with his life. He saw a resemblance between them and his heart clenched to see actual proof of his past life.

  “She’s pretty.”

  “Yes, she’s a teacher at the high school. She lives with your mom in the same house where you both grew up. Apparently, you were very close.”

  “How do you know so much about my life?”

  He hoped she might open up more about their relationship, but instead she only shrugged. “When I realized you might be alive, I dug through everything I could find about your background, including your mother and sister. I had to make sure you weren’t funneling money to them.”

  Something about the callous way she spoke, as if it had all been just another part of her job, rubbed him wrong. “You had no right to do that.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. “I had every right. At the time I believed you were a government spy passing secrets to the enemy. I couldn’t prove it, but I believed it. I took every measure I could possibly get access to. There were some areas I couldn’t access. I was denied entry to your emails. The problem was I couldn’t prove you were alive and the US government had declared you KIA, remains unrecoverable based on the testimony of the other rangers, specifically Garrett Lewis.”

  He knew the name from looking through the files and remembering that Bethany had told him back at the police station that he and Garrett had been close friends. “Why? What did he say?”

  “He claimed he saw your body after an explosion. He ran to help you but knew before he reached you that it was too late. You weren’t moving. Unfortunately for you, he never made it to you. He came across one of the other survivors, Levi Thompson, who was seriously injured, and knew he had to get him to safety.”

  “Did Levi survive?”

  “Yes. He was badly injured and was given a medical discharge. I understand he’s undergone multiple surgeries related to his injuries, but I’d say Garrett saved his life that day.” Her face softened and a bit of compassion shone through. “Garrett’s account is the last known sighting of you, Marcus.”

  “What about Levi? Can he confirm Garrett’s account of that night?”

  “No. He suffered severe head trauma. He doesn’t remember a thing about the night of the ambush.”

  It seemed pretty convenient to him that the only official report of his demise had come from one soldier. Had something happened between them and Garrett was covering his tracks by claiming Marcus had been killed? Or had he truly thought him dead? By all reports, they had been the best of friends, but Marcus knew even good friends fought and a lot could happen in the heat of an argument.

  His mind began imagining all sorts of scenarios. A fight that ended in bloodshed. Perhaps Garrett believed he’d killed him and then the ambush had helped to cover his deed. He shook his head. That’s all it was...conjecture. He had no proof and he certainly had no memory of such an event. It was possible, even probable, that’s Garrett’s account of the night of the ambush was exactly the way it had happened.

  He ran his hands through his hair, frustration taking a big ole bite of his soul. He needed answers. Why couldn’t he remember? He willed his mind to recall that night but nothing came. Only a big wall that he couldn’t climb, blocking his access to his life.

  She crumpled her paper wrapper then stood. “We’re only an hour away from your mother’s house. Are you ready for this?”

  He nodded and stood, taking both their trays to the trash. He didn’t know how ready he actually was to face a family he knew only through their photos and CIA-gathered information, but he was anxious to get there, to see the house he grew up in and, most important, to discover if doing so brought back any memories.

  They were both quiet on the rest of the trip into Waco. Marcus checked behind them frequently to make certain they weren’t being followed while Bethany used the GPS on her phone to give him directions to the address. His heart started pounding as they turned onto the street bearing the house where he’d grown up. Nothing on the tree-lined street with its modest middle-class homes seemed familiar to him. He’d hoped for some recognition of the place where he’d spent his formative years. But as he pulled up to the curb in front of the house bearing the address 1420 Marlen Street, he was still unaffected by the scenery.

  “Your mother’s name is Elizabeth Allen. Your father died when you were twelve and she raised you and your sister alone.”

  Marcus searched his mind for some image, some spark of memory, but all he got was a blank. “I have no recollection of either one of them,” he told her. “And I’m about to change their lives.” His family still thought he was dead, and Marcus was about to knock on their door with no warning. It wasn’t fair springing this on them this way and guilt washed through him. “We should have called first.”

  Bethany reached out and touched his arm, her fingers enflaming his heart at their mere touch. He was surprised by the warmth of her comforting gesture. “They’ll be so happy to see you alive, they won’t even care.”

  As they got out, the front door opened and the woman he’d seen on her profile page—his sister, Shannon—stepped outside. She was juggling a travel coffee mug and a handful of papers in her hands and digging through her bag, so she didn’t spot them immediately as she headed for the car in the driveway.

  His heart felt as if it would burst at any moment when he saw her, but it was out of fear and anxiety more than recognition. He searched his mind for some memory of them together but there was nothing.

  The woman seemed to notice the truck parked in front of her house. She stopped and glanced their way, spotting Bethany first as she slid out of the passenger’s seat. Her face seemed to register recognition and her eyes widened in surprise. He saw her start to speak but then her eyes landed on Marcus as he moved around the front of the truck to the driveway and she stopped. Her face paled and a cry caught in her throat.

  “I don’t believe it,” she said softly, but Marcus heard her words.

  He took several more cautious steps toward her and watched her struggle with both joy and apprehension. Tears filled her eyes and her hands shook. “Marcus!” she cried, dropping her armful of items and sprinting across the lawn to where he stood. She threw her arms around him. “You’re alive,” she cried. “I can’t believe it. You’re really alive.”

  He embraced her, pulling her tighter against him. He still didn’t know her, but was swept up into the emotion of the moment. “It’s me, Shannon,” he told her hoarsely. “It’s really me.”

  She broke from his hold, turned and ran back across the lawn, shouting at the top of her lungs, “Mama! Come quickly. It’s Marcus!”

  His gut clenched as another woman appeared in the doorway. She was older than Shannon and her face held worry lines. Had he caused those? Her expression now was full of concern and he imaged Shannon had frightened her half to death with her screaming.

  “What’s going on?” she asked as she slipped outside. “What’s the matter?”

  Shannon grabbed her arm and spun her to face him.

  Marcus suddenly felt exposed. How would she react to his returning from the dead this way? Shock registered on her face and she started toward them. He closed the distance and met her at the concrete steps leading up to the house. She still looked confused as she stared at him and, for a brief moment, it frightened him. Did he have the wrong house? Had Bethany gathered incorrect information about him? Was their dead son and brother actually another man?

  Elizabeth Allen lifted her hand and touched his cheek. He smiled at the gentle feel of her fingers on his skin. It did seem familiar but it was more of an instinctual feeling instead of an actual memory, as if she’d done it so many times in his
life that his skin instinctively knew the feel of her touch. He placed his hand over hers and she smiled.

  “My boy,” she whispered brokenly. “You’re home. You’re finally home.”

  Her simple words struck a chord in him, as if soothing an open wound inside his soul. Although he still did not know them, he was finally getting answers he’d spent so long searching for. He pulled her into a hug and thanked God for finally leading him home.

  * * *

  Bethany folded her arms, uncomfortable at the open display of emotion while standing outside on the lawn. She was glad when Shannon opened the front door and motioned them all inside. She did not know if Marcus was being gracious or if he actually remembered them, but it was obvious from their reactions that they had not seen or heard from him in years. They’d believed he was dead. She followed them inside and closed the door. The house was furnished with simple colors and comfortable furnishings. Nothing fancy, and she got the feeling from being there that this was a family that didn’t feel the need to put on pretense. She liked that. On the walls and bookshelves were family photos and pictures of Marcus at all stages of his life. Front and center on the mantel was one of him in his official army ranger regalia.

  “I don’t understand,” his mother said, pulling him to a seat beside her on the couch as tears of joy slid from her eyes. She wiped them away. “What happened to you? Where have you been, Marcus? The army told us you’d died in combat.”

  Shannon shook her head in disgust. “I can’t believe we trusted them.”

  “It’s not the army’s fault. Everyone thought I had died.” He glanced Bethany’s way then gave a wry smile. “Well, almost everyone.” He stood and moved to where she stood by the fireplace. “This is Bethany Bryant. She works for the CIA. She’s the one who tracked me down.”

  Shannon gave him a confused look. “What do you mean she tracked you down? Where have you been, Marcus? Were you captured? Have you been in captivity all this time?”

  “No, nothing like that. I was injured in the ambush, but I didn’t die. A family of villagers found me. They kept me alive and helped me get back to the States. I had no idea who I was. I still don’t know. I don’t remember this house or any of these photos and, I’m very sorry, but I don’t know either of you, either.”

  Elizabeth Allen gasped in shock but Shannon was the one who expressed it. “You don’t remember us? Are you saying you have amnesia?”

  He nodded. “I do.”

  She looked at Bethany. “Where did you find him?”

  “He was working as a grill cook at a diner in Little Falls.”

  Shannon blanched and fell back onto the sofa cushions. “Are you telling me you’ve been only a few hours away from us all this time?”

  His face reddened as if he had done something wrong. Bethany didn’t miss it.

  “For the last several months, yes.”

  Shannon shook her head, her brain obviously still trying to comprehend it all. Suddenly she stood. “I’ve got to go call the school and let them know I won’t be in today.”

  Bethany stopped her before she walked out of the room. “Would you mind not telling them why, for the time being? We don’t need the publicity a back-from-the-dead-brother feature story might bring.”

  Shannon stared at her then a knowing look seeped into her expression. She glanced at Marcus then back at Bethany. “Why? Is he in some kind of trouble?”

  “I just think it would be best for now.”

  She gave a resigned nod then left the room. Bethany knew they would have to have a conversation about the gravity of what Marcus was facing but not now, not in front of his mother. How could she tell this family that he might be a traitor? Or that, at the very least, someone was trying to kill him to stop him from telling what he didn’t even know?

  She glanced at Marcus, who gave her a nod of appreciation, then turned his attention to his mother, who pounded him with questions.

  She’d seen emotion on his face, but he’d been calm and collected. Seeing that helped her feel better about her decision to trust him. Either he really did have amnesia or he was a psychopath with no feelings. Anyone who would put their family through what these ladies had been through on purpose would have to be incredibly coldhearted.

  Bethany watched him with his mother and a pang of jealousy hit her. Being here in his home and seeing his family’s reaction to discovering he was alive—this family had had the reunion she’d always hoped for. There had been a time she would have been the one flinging herself into Marcus’s arms and being so happy to see him again. But all she’d felt when she’d seen him alive was anger and betrayal.

  She heard Shannon on the phone and went to find her in the kitchen. When she hung up, her eyes remained on Bethany. Finally she beckoned her to join her. Curious, Bethany did.

  “I know who you are,” Shannon told her. It sounded more like an accusation than a statement, as if she were saying, “I know what you did.”

  “I told you who I am.”

  “Yes, I know. You work for the CIA. You tracked down Marcus and are helping him recover his memories.” She shook her head and leaned in close to Bethany. “But I know who you really are.”

  Shannon walked to the cabinet, opened a drawer and returned with a small item in her hand. Bethany saw it was a phone. Shannon powered it on, clicked on a button and turned it toward Bethany.

  Her heart stopped at what she saw. The background screen was a photo of Marcus and a woman kissing and posing for a selfie.

  “That’s you,” Shannon stated.

  Bethany couldn’t deny it.

  She gasped, remembering the day that photo had been taken, reliving every precious moment. The feel of his arms around her. The smell of his aftershave. And, most important, his adoring words as he’d snapped that picture. I want to remember this moment forever.

  She’d protested. After all, she couldn’t have her photo taken while she was working covertly. He’d promised to delete it, but it had been a mistake to let him take it in the first place. In fact, their entire relationship had been a no-no. They both could have found themselves in big trouble.

  She took the phone from Shannon and looked closer at the photo. Tears pressed against her eyes. That had been a sweet memory for her, but one that had been dashed by Marcus’s betrayal.

  “That’s Marcus’s phone. We received it from the army with his personal belongings. You knew my brother before the attack, didn’t you?”

  Bethany gulped away the tears and tried to remain composed. “Yes, I did.”

  “I’ve stared at that picture over and over again and wondered about that woman. Who was she? He never told me he’d met someone. I always thought if I could find this woman, I might have some insight into what Marcus’s last few days were like.”

  Bethany pressed a button on the phone to shut off the image. She wasn’t there to damage the image Shannon had of her brother. In her eyes, he was a hero. Bethany hated the idea that Shannon might have to face the same truth she was now living: learning that Marcus might not be the patriot they’d all believed him to be.

  But that reality didn’t have to hit today. “It was a relatively new relationship,” she told Shannon. “I met your brother only two weeks before the ambush. We barely had time to get to know one another.”

  She glanced at the photo again. “Looks like you knew him well enough.”

  “Marcus doesn’t know about our past relationship,” Bethany said. “He doesn’t remember and I haven’t told him.”

  “Why not?”

  She closed her eyes and remembered the feel of being wrapped in his arms and the whisper touch of his lips on hers. She pushed away those memories. That was a long time ago. It was time to leave it in the past. “I’ve moved on, Shannon. I made a new life, one that doesn’t include Marcus.” It wasn’t true, but she couldn’t give false hope to anyone that she
and Marcus could ever have a future together.

  She realized the truth. She couldn’t even give it to herself.

  * * *

  The bright Texas sun shone down on him. Marcus lifted his head and soaked it in as he stood in the backyard. It had been his mother’s suggestion that they sit outside by the pool and it hadn’t even occurred to him that it might be too cool to do so. This was Texas, after all, and the temps fluctuated from day to day. He was thankful the weather was warm enough for this and imagined spending summers in the pool and enjoying family barbecues. Of course, he had to imagine it all because he still didn’t remember.

  Marcus glanced at the grill and knew he could operate it as if he’d done it a million times. He supposed it was like falling off a bike. Having amnesia did not preclude him knowing how to operate a gas grill any more than recalling the ins and out of working a .300 Win Mag sniper rifle.

  He turned as the back door opened and the three women walked out. Shannon was carrying a tray with glasses and a pitcher of what he assumed to be sweet tea. He could almost taste it and felt a memory of drinking his mama’s sweet tea trying to surface.

  Bethany carried a photo album and was smiling and laughing as Elizabeth pointed out photos—no doubt of him—as they stepped outside. He enjoyed the way her blue eyes lit up when she laughed.

  Man, she was beautiful.

  He didn’t yet know Elizabeth or Shannon well, but he was certain the women standing before him were the most important women in his life both pre and post ambush.

  Elizabeth’s face clouded as she turned the page. “This was my husband, David. Marcus and Shannon’s father,” she said, pointing to a photo. “He was a mechanic in the army for eight years. He would have been so proud of his son becoming an army ranger.” She glanced up at him and smiled. “We were all so very proud.”

  Had he joined up because of his dad? He had so many questions. Would he ever know the answers to any of them?

  As Shannon set the tray on a patio table, Bethany pulled the photo out and walked to Marcus, showing it to him. He saw a man about his age in green army fatigues.