Page 26 of One Little Memory
“Hey, Jo. How are you feeling?”
“Okay. Sore but not too bad.”
“Good. Listen, I’ve convinced the fire department to pull your car up the embankment. I’m gonna swing by and get you in about twenty minutes. Is that enough time?”
“Um, sure.” Glancing around the room, she realized she needed a shower and something to eat.
“Don’t worry, I’m bringing breakfast.”
She grinned. “Then it’s definitely enough time.”
“See you shortly.”
After hanging up, she put the phone on the nightstand and made her way to the bathroom. Her hair was sticking up in spots so she decided to wash it again. Eighteen minutes later, she was standing in the doorway wearing jeans and a dark green sweater when Phoenix pulled up the driveway. He came over to the apartment with a brown paper bag in hand.
“What’s in the bag?” she asked. She’d woken up starving.
He smiled. “I stopped by the diner and got breakfast.” The day was sunny and warm. “Want to sit outside?”
“Sure.”
He went into the apartment and got the cutlery. Then he opened the sliding doors and went out to the patio at the back. There was a little table and two chairs. He sat down, and shejoined him. He took out the first container. “Two eggs over easy with corned beef hash and potatoes.”
“Sounds good.” She had no idea if she’d like any of it but, at the moment, her stomach was gnawing on itself, so chances were excellent she’d eat it.
Phoenix got settled, and they started to eat. “Did you remember anything else?”
She chewed thoughtfully. “Just flashes. Sounds. That type of thing. None of it is clear enough to identify anything. And I still can’t remember my name or anything about myself other than I’m a light sleeper. Breakfast is good though, so I guess I like eggs.”
“It will come.” He smiled. “Glad you like the eggs.” He glanced at his watch. “We’re going to meet Jory and Aiden at the site. They’re going to try to pull your car up. At the very least, they will go down and check it out. We’ll see if your purse really is gone.”
She nodded. Suddenly, her stomach didn’t feel so great. The food felt like it had congealed into a lump. What would they find? She closed her eyes and heard the sickening thump again. Cold sweat broke out between her shoulder blades and she shuddered.
“Are you okay?”
Phoenix’s deep voice reached her ears. She opened her eyes. “I keep remembering a sound. I—I think it’s the sound of metal hitting bone. I—I think I might’ve?—"
“Phoenix?” a male voice called.
He swore as he stood and moved around the side of the cottage. “Mr. Marchand, Lloyd. What can I do for you two?”
“We want to know what’s going on with the investigation into my brother’s death,” the voice said.
A second male voice said, “You don’t seem to be doin’ much investigatin’.”
Jo’s heart rate soared.
"You seem to be sittin’ on your ass,” the second voice added.
“Investigations take time,” Phoenix explained. “We are exploring all avenues with regard to your brother’s murder. No one is sitting around doing nothing. You just have to trust me on that.”
The first man spoke again. “I guess I don’t have a choice but Phoenix, please keep me informed.”
“I will. You gentleman take care of yourselves.”
That voice. The cold, clammy sweat covered her entire body. Her hand shook. She put down her fork. What the hell was happening to her? She closed her eyes. The image of a man standing in the rain filled her mind. His face plastered on her windshield for just a second. Eyes wide in shock. Mouth in a bigO. Then darkness. Rain. The shadowy figure standing over her. Taking her purse. A scratching sound. Tin.
Everything faded, and she opened her eyes. Phoenix was standing across from her, watching her. “What did you remember?”
