Page 50 of Deception

“Wait...” Her voice was stronger. “There’s ... a National Park Service agent ... Madison...”

Clayton froze where he stood. “You want to see Madison Thorn?”

“You know her?”

He sat back down. “Yes. Is she your sister?”

“Pretty sure.”

“She’s here, at the hospital. Would you like to—”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be right back.” He stopped at the door. “Which name would you like for me to use?”

Uncertainty clouded her eyes, and then she seemed to come to a decision. “We better stick with Dani.”

28

Madison checked her watch. Clayton had been gone ten minutes. What was taking him so long? She found the refreshment station, and her hand shook as she poured another cup of coffee. Maybe Lindsey/Dani didn’t want to meet her.

After all, her birth mother hadn’t wanted her ... Another thought struck her. Had Lindsey/Dani—she groaned. Madison couldn’t keep calling her by two names. Dani. She settled on that. If Dani was her sister, had their mother given Dani up as well? Maybe Madison had been a cranky baby, too much trouble. Like the dog her parents had adopted and then returned.

And what about their birth dad ... Was he in the picture at all? A sigh escaped her. All her life she’d wondered about her birth family. If she had brothers and sisters—

“There you are.”

She jumped, then swung around. “How is she?”

“She’s weak, but she wants to see you.”

Tension released in her shoulders even as the back of her throat tightened. She swallowed past the lump. “Really?”

“Yes. Evidently she’s aware of who you are because she asked for you by name.”

“You’re kidding.”

He took her by the hand. “Let’s find out what’s going on.”

She didn’t move. It was like her feet had rooted to the flooras suspicion found purchase in her mind. Why was Clayton so interested in this case?

Almost as though he knew what she was thinking, he said, “The sooner we can learn more about Dani Parker, and she does want to be called Dani, the sooner we can find out who her assailant is.”

What was her problem that she questioned Clayton’s motives? Chad Turner was her problem. Ever since he’d betrayed her, she’d had trouble trusting men.

“Coming?”

She shook off the doubt. “I’m right behind you.”

The door opened, and Rebecca stepped out of the room, closing it behind her. “She’s weak, so don’t stay too long.”

“We won’t.” He indicated Madison should go in first, and she shook her head. She’d thought her grandfather’s shooting had upended her life, but if it turned out Dani was her sister, possibly her twin sister, her life would be changed forever. A real family. Blood kin that would love her without reservation.

Not that Mom and Dad hadn’t loved her, but as a kid, Madison had never been able to shake the feeling that if she didn’t perform well, if she wasn’t perfect, they would send her back. Like the puppy.

“Ready?”

With a deep breath, Madison straightened her shoulders and stepped inside the room behind Clayton. Her gaze went immediately to the person in the bed who lay sleeping.

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