A Deadly Memory

by Gwen Taylor

  "Good high kick?"

  "Yes, good...good high kick. I really do remember her. I remember her, Sean. She was in my class."

  "Here she comes."

  "On the house, Miss Adams." Lily handed them two sundaes. "I figure everybody likes caramel."

  Piper's hands were shaking as she took the sundaes. "Thank you, Lily. That's so kind."

  "It's nothing. You changed my life. Like you said, being a victim can be a choice. But I promise not to let it be mine.”

  Sean heard Piper's sharp intake of breath. She recovered quickly, smiling again. "I do say that. Thank you, Lily. I needed to remember that.”

  "I'll see you around maybe? Now that you're back?"

  "Maybe, yeah."

  "Take care." She skated away with the remnants of their dinner.

  Now that you're back. Was she? Sean pondered her response. Maybe.

  Piper turned to him. "My brain feels like a puzzle. All these pieces that don't fit together, but I can see the edges, you know. They're there. I just have to fill it in."

  "It will come. All in good time."

  She gulped. "It does seem to be coming back. And now..."

  "What?"

  "Now I'm afraid of remembering. And what it will change."

  He nodded. He was afraid of what it would change too. But she didn't need to hear that. He looked at the sundae in his hand. "Better eat these before they melt. I know how you hate that."

  "I do." She seemed as eager as he was to forget what she had said. "But you like it. I can't believe you microwave ice cream."

  He let himself get drawn into the do-you-remember game. Some things he had forgotten, some that were like yesterday to him as much as to her.

  The whole drive back was full of remembering. Things he hadn't thought of in years were suddenly front and center, and it felt good to laugh and talk with her. It felt right, like they were where they were supposed to be. Together.

  It started to rain, and he relaxed to the sounds of the pelting on the car, the rhythm of the wipers, the hum of the engine.

  They pulled into Nana's driveway, and Piper took Nana's spot under the carport. "I'll come back and move after I get you in."

  He let her help him inside, even though he could have made it on his own. He hadn't thought about his ribs much at all until now as he lowered himself into the recliner. Piper moved the lever for him and fluffed the pillow behind him.

  It felt good, her hands on him, even just a friendly touch. He’d missed her companionship, the care she gave. "Thank you. You're still as sweet as ever."

  Her hands stilled behind him, and she let one touch his shoulder. "You're welcome. I'm going to get my purse. And put your jacket up." She tugged at the sleeves. "I'll be right back."

  Sean settled back into the chair, smiling to himself. He heard the car start, watched the headlights make shadows across the living room then die. He thought about how damn good the night had been, how he'd relaxed for the first time in a long time.

  And then Piper screamed.

  26

  Piper dove behind the car. The red dot she'd seen on her chest was now a broken driver's side window on Sean's Mustang. She rolled away from the glass, covering her face, but she misjudged the distance, hitting her head on the car's bumper.

  She scrambled for cover, making it to the other side of the car as another bullet hit. Piper heard shouting, heard Sean yell for her. She quickly oriented herself. She was near the clothesline, which meant the shed wasn't far away. She hoped the dark would shield her. She ran, zig-zagging her way to the shed, and then ducked behind it.

  Sirens filled the night, but no more bullets. She could see the red light flashing from the unmarked car's hood. Her heart was flying. She wanted to yell to Sean, but she dared not give herself away. Until she saw him on the porch.

  "No, Sean!" Her scream brought a thud against the shed, and she covered her face from the splinters. She crawled farther behind the shed, into the Burning bush behind it. She hoped that Sean would stay out of sight.

  Her chest was heaving, her lungs straining for air.

  Her thoughts were sporadic, jumbled. She wanted to lie there in the bushes and never come out of hiding, but that wasn't like her. She couldn't let this beat her. Lily's words came to her mind. Like you said, being a victim can be a choice. Her own words.

  Piper grit her teeth and crawled back through the Burning bush and toward Sean's Mustang.

  She got her back against the passenger's side and then opened the door and reached for the glove compartment. Sean's pistol was still there. Piper crouched low and ran for the back of the house.

  She thought she would never breathe again until her fingers found Nana's side door. It opened, and she rushed inside into the dark kitchen.

  And came face to face with Sean holding his gun on her.

  He lowered his weapon. "Piper. Thank God."

  She could just make out Sean's face in the relief of the moonlight. He closed the distance between them and pulled her to him. His arms went around her and he stood there holding her. She could hear the rapid beat of his heart, feel it pulse against her cheek.

  His lips moved against her hair. "I thought...Piper."

  She wrapped her arms around his waist, careful not to hold him as tight as she wanted. "I was so afraid you would be hurt again. That was stupid, Sean. You could have been killed."

  "I had to know you were safe."

  "Not at the cost of your life."

  "You called back." His thumb caressed her cheek.

  "Pot."

  "Kettle."

  She smiled against his chest. "I'm so thankful you're okay."

  He pulled back, his fingers pulling glass from her hair. "Are you hurt?"

  She didn't honestly know. "I don't think so."

  "Let's get you inside."

  "What about the shooter?"

  "They're combing the woods now."

  "They won't find him. Whoever it was wasn't an amateur. He had a laser right on me."

  "I know." He gripped her arm. "We'll move you tonight. I'll go with you—"

  "No." Piper held her head. "I am not putting anyone in any more danger. Not tonight, not ever. I can't stay. I have to go."

  I have to go. Piper looked at Sean.

  "Go?"

  She heard his question, but she couldn't respond.

  I have to go. She heard her voice, a déjà vu that had her rooted to the ground. She remembered. Their fight, the three years she'd spent alone wishing she hadn't left, wishing he'd come for her, wishing she could go back and do it all over.

  "Piper, what is it?"

  Sean was looking at her, holding her by the shoulders.

  "Are you okay?"

  She looked into his eyes. "I remember."

  Piper peered out at what might as well have been Mirror Falls' entire police force. Cars lined the road in front and in back. The house had been blockaded. Poor Nana had come home from Bingo and feared the worst. Walsh had escorted her inside, and they all sat in the living room now, watching Piper pace.

  It was uncomfortable to know. Uncomfortable to have her past and present mingling. Uncomfortable to have witnesses to her epiphanies, her coming to terms with her life.

  She wanted out. Out of her job in Barton. Out of her stark existence there. Out of the cubicle mentality that she despised. Out, out, out.

  Piper sat, stood again, and finally perched on the edge of a chair, her emotions and thoughts bombarding her faster than the bullets she'd dodged earlier.

  Sean followed her from his station by the window and put a hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you get some rest? Morning will come before you know it."

  And tomorrow I'll be gone. Piper tried to get a read on Sean, but he was closed off. Had been since Philip had called her back to say that he had finally gotten in touch with Chief Hardy and that they were sending a police escort to take her back for the trial and to pick up Charlene Chester from the Mirror Falls' lock-up.

  Sean w
ent to stand by the window, his hand holding his side. She wanted to know what he was thinking. After the moment they'd had, after the last kiss, she couldn't just leave it like this.

  But she had to for now.

  Piper's gaze took in the scene before her. People who cared about her enough to let themselves be in danger. For her.

  And now she was leaving. Again. And no one had said anything about it. Not Nana, not Sean, not her.

  Those unspoken words hung suspended in the tension of the night. There was nothing that could be said that would change things. Piper stood.

  "I've got to pack, I guess."

  "I'll help you." Nana started to rise, but Piper waved her back.

  "No, it's fine, Nana. I appreciate it, but I've got it. I don't have much anyhow." She looked at Nana, wanting to let her gaze stray to Sean. "I'll see you in the morning."

  Sean didn't turn from the window, and Piper didn't bother looking back. This time she didn't want to know what she wouldn't see.

  27

  Dawn broke over the horizon, ribbons of sunlight beaming through the pines. Sean took in the view. It was a beautiful drive from Nana's to his house. And it was a beautiful morning, but he couldn't enjoy it.

  His mind was on Piper. Her packed bags had been by the door when he'd left for his house. She must have put them there early, while he was asleep in the recliner. She hadn't come down when he'd left, and he hadn't waited to see if she would.

  It was just as he thought it would be. Her memory had returned. She had returned. And now what had passed between them was just that, past. Except it wasn't.

  He rubbed at his face, the realization that he still loved her hitting him in the gut like a sucker punch. He tried to tamp down the ache that went with it, but all he could think was that he was losing her again.

  This time it hurt worse.

  Sean pulled into his own driveway for the first time since he'd been shot. He needed something else to occupy his thoughts.

  The yellow crime scene tape was still up over the side door that had been boarded shut. He turned the lock and stepped inside.

  Everything was as he had left it. His place, his house, but not his home. The feeling that something, no, someone was missing wouldn't leave him alone.

  He passed by the alcove where he'd been shot and paused. Someone had cleaned the walls and floor. He might not have known anything had happened there, except for the splintered curio that Piper had given him. He touched the door that was barely attached. Holes. Two bullet holes. That had taken the bullet before he had. He couldn’t stop the replaying flashes in his mind or the sick feeling in his stomach as he thought of what could have happened.

  Sean struggled with the surge of emotions welling up. His heart beat heavily against his sore ribs, reminding him of just how close he had come to death, to leaving those he loved behind.

  The house was quiet as he lifted his head. He gave the alcove one last look.

  He could hear Piper's voice calling to him, see her face bent over him. Stay with me, Sean.

  He ran a hand over his face, trying to block out the images that assaulted him, images that churned his gut and wouldn't let him be. He kept picturing Piper lying so bruised and battered in the hospital. Her eyes when he'd kissed her at the station, her warm smile, the tenderness in her touch as she'd dressed his wound. The woman he’d never stopped loving.

  Who was the woman leaving today? Did it matter? He wasn't sure he knew, but the woman he'd spent the last days with was one he didn't want to let go. His heart certainly wouldn't let go of the feeling that he had unfinished business.

  Sean turned, the dull ache in his chest pushed away for the moment. He needed to clear his head. Get some perspective.

  But a hot shower and a shave, which usually helped him feel more human, only served to give him time to think more about her. And the exercises he had been trying to ease the soreness in his chest weren't enough distraction from what he really wanted to do. Go back to her.

  He rewrapped his chest, pulling as tight as he could, and ignored the desire to get back in his car and drive to Nana's. Instead, he left his empty house for the station. Somewhere he knew he could find something to distract him.

  And there was. Three cars from Barton PD were lined up in a convoy in the station's parking lot. Two uniformed officers were escorting Charlene Chester out and into a cruiser. The other two cars were running quietly. The front car started to pull away, and Sean saw the chief's profile squeezed up to the steering wheel.

  Piper was leaving. Would be gone back to her life in Barton. Sean shook himself. He had to get back to his life too.

  Inside the station, the few officers who weren't at Nana's were gathered at the front desk. Walsh had his arms crossed, looking at the papers in his hands.

  He raised his gaze to Sean. "Hey, boss."

  Sean jerked his head toward the parking lot. "Get her sent off proper?"

  Walsh scratched his head. "We did, but she put up a fight. Tried to run soon as they took her into custody. I have to say, that one guy handled her pretty rough. She didn't fight him. Turned real docile."

  "That's the last word I'd use to describe her." His temper flared at the memory of her shoving Nana into the coffee table. "I guess she gave him trouble right out of the ring, huh?"

  "That's the funny thing. She just tried to get away, didn't kick or fight or," he pulled a disgusted face, "or spit like she did with us."

  "I guess they're headed out to get Piper."

  "You not seeing her off, boss?" Walsh gave him an arched look. "Letting her go back to Barton without a goodbye?"

  "I don't suppose she needs a goodbye." Sean thought about the bags piled by the door. "Or wants one."

  "Well, I want one. 'Fraid if she goes to the city, I might not see her again for years. Aren't you?"

  Walsh's words had Sean's heart sputtering like the blood wasn't quite making it through. He locked his jaw, afraid Walsh might read the truth and then he would know it too. He looked away, trying to ease the tightness in his chest, and heard a resounding smack on the front desk.

  "That's what I thought." Walsh reached for his keys. "I'll drive."

  Walsh caught up with the convoy pulling onto Nana's road. He pulled around back and drove through the yard. The car was barely in park before Sean was out and heading toward the house.

  He met Piper at the porch. Her gaze locked on his, and he saw a flash of fear. Nana followed behind her, a smile pasted on her face as fake as the ones he'd seen Piper wear. Beside her was Chief Hardy, his dyed black hair arranged in a comb-over that looked like a cartoon rendering instead of real hair. He had his fleshy hand at Nana's waist.

  He offered Sean his other hand to shake. "Mr. Hughes."

  "Chief." Sean stood aside and let them off the steps. "I heard Ms. Chester gave you all some trouble."

  "She's been a handful for sure. Nothing the boys can't handle though." Hardy pointed toward the squad cars and the last one pulled out, Charlene inside. "Well, I have enjoyed your hospitality, ma'am."

  Hardy turned back to Sean.

  "Your charming grandmother has put us a bit behind schedule," he winked at Nana, "but that cake was delicious, my dear lady, de-licious. I look forward to coming back for more."

  Sean suppressed the urge to snarl. Something about the man rubbed him the wrong way.

  "Sean, my boy, you made it just in time." Nana smiled, still a mask that looked fitted over her face, and handed him a piece of Piper's luggage. "There are a few more inside the door there. Let me get them."

  Piper passed hers to Sean, too. "I'll get it, Nana. I'll be right back. Better make sure I've got everything."

  Nana's face was flushed. She stepped back slightly. "Mr. Hardy was telling me he was a veteran."

  "Special forces." Hardy beamed, looking down at Nana and puffing his massive chest out farther and farther until Sean thought it would burst under the pressure.

  Hardy laughed, glancing back toward the house. "Can sh
oot the wings off a fly at twenty paces. Thirty if the wind is still."

  "You're a regular Davy Crockett, you are." Nana's mask of a smile grew wider, and Sean found it hard to watch.

  She must have been uncomfortable with the man's attention. She turned away, shoving her hands in her apron pockets and looking toward the porch.

  The screen door snapped back, and Piper came down the steps with two smaller suitcases and the box with her stuff from her apartment and desk. "I almost left my box. I think I got everything." She turned to him, "I ..I uh just wanted to tell you, Sean," she emphasized his name strangely, "that I'm sorry we couldn't work things out here. You do know me better than anyone else, just like you said in the apartment. You do. And I am grateful for everything. If I've left anything behind, you'll know where to send it."

  Piper's eyes flashed at him and she pulled her lips in before turning to Nana. His heart was racing. Was she brushing him off? That was her goodbye? His ears were ringing. He barely heard her goodbyes to Nana.

  She hugged Nana and then stepped toward him with her hand outstretched. "We'll shake hands like friends then?"

  Sean swallowed hard and took her hand. It was shaking in his, but she palmed something small, something that felt like a small wooden spiral into his hand. Her eyes held his a moment and she narrowed them briefly before pulling away, pushing his arm forcefully down as she did.

  "Give me a ring if you're ever in Barton."

  Sean followed her lead, keeping his hand concealed. It felt odd, its shape a mystery to him. Piper gave a slight shake of her head and left with Hardy following close behind her. Sean tried to keep his expression neutral.

  "Get inside." Nana's voice was strained and low.

  Sean followed her in.

  "Something's not right. I talked to Piper before the chief got here. I asked her flat out if this was what she wanted, and she said to tell you that she was Piper in the moment and that she wasn't staying in Barton. I don't know what that in the moment business means, but I don't think it means what she said to you out there."