Page 70 of Fracture

Ten minutes later, she was standing in front of a salon on a quiet street not far from the center of the city. The building next door had bars on the windows and a cage across the front door. The one across the street was vacant, a broken window in the front and a faded sign for an old store telling the tale.

Lorelei wanted to pretend she was okay being there, but the reality was she had no idea.

“Agent Sloane?” a woman hissed.

Lorelei turned and saw Abigail Painter looking at her.

“What are you doing here?”

Lorelei opened her mouth to say something, but a vehicle came around the corner. Abigail’s eyes went wide.

“He found me!”

“Who?”

Before Abigail could say anything, a man jumped out of the car. He went right for Abigail, a knife in his hand.

“No!” Abigail screeched.

Lorelei swung one of her crutches at the man, catching him off-guard. The sound of his arm breaking echoed off the buildings around them.

“Gah!” the man shouted. His knife fell to the ground. He bent to grab the knife with his other hand, and Lorelei swung again, hitting him in the shin.

“Agent Sloane, inside,” Abigail shouted.

Lorelei moved as fast as she could, half-running on her good foot as she hurried to beat the man to the door.

He shouted as Lorelei made it inside.

Abigail slammed the door shut, the door locking automatically. She slid a cage in front of the door and backed away. She pulled out her phone. “How did he find me?” she whispered.

“I’m going to kill you, bitch! Come back out there. That stupid one led me right to you. You can’t hide from me forever.”

“Who is that?” Lorelei asked.

Abigail spun to face her, her eyes tugging together. “That’s the man who kidnapped me.”

“Who what?” Lorelei breathed.

“You found me. A year ago. He kidnapped me and was going to kill me. He drugged me and raped me and wanted to kill me, but you found me. Why did you come here?” Abigail asked.

“I don’t… I’m sorry,” Lorelei whispered.

The man hit the door, something solid connecting with the metal and the sound clanging through the whole building.

“Why are you here? You said we couldn’t have contact ever again. Did you know he was back?”

Lorelei shook her head. “I don’t know anything. I’m sorry. I… I thought you could help me figure out who I am. I had your name, and I thought…”

“What do you mean, help you figure out who you are?”

“I have amnesia. I was abducted and tortured and left for dead. My memories… I didn’t know who you were. I don’t know who I am.”

“We need to call for help. He knows where I work now. He can find me. I have to leave.”

“I’m sorry, Abigail. I had no idea.”

She shook her head, her dark hair flowing over her shoulders. She turned her back on Lorelei and tapped out a number on her phone. “He’s here.”

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