August Unknown (23 page)

His mother’s ring was smaller and very tasteful, the band
narrow and the main stone’s mounting in a cluster of smaller diamonds so the half-carat
center stone looked like a rose.

He put it back in its box, closed the safe and resumed pacing.

August would say no. Surely she was the kind of girl who would
marry someone more...someone like David.

She hadn’t expressed her desire for a more exciting, flashy
life, but neither had Christina, at first. August was vivacious, energetic, and
dazzling. She was destined for bigger things than small-town life. Even
Portland seemed too drab and drizzly for her. No, August was more of a sunshine
girl, pretty enough to get noticed in Hollywood.

Still, he’d faced rejection before. What was the worst that
could happen?

August might be insulted, and the rest of their time together would
be spent in awkward discomfort, that’s what.

Besides, the last thing he could bear to hear from her lips
would be the “I only like you as a friend,” spiel. From her, it would be like
an ice pick to the heart. He’d never loved any of the women he’d asked out
before. Besides Christina, he’d not wanted to marry any of them.

But spending the rest of his life alone was the ending he was
headed toward now. Considering such a bleak future, what did he have to lose?

* * *

Fat, turbulent clouds sat low on the ocean, capturing the
setting sun’s rays magnificently. Darkness fell fast in the fall, August
remembered. But from where?

A few glimpses of that stunning sunset were all she had on her
half-hour break, as the evening rush was almost as busy as the lunch. And then
the incredible sunset was gone, nothing left but purple edges distantly visible
through the darkness.

These past few days working at the Mirthful Mermaid had left
her bone weary, but it felt good. For the first time in almost three weeks, her
entire day hadn’t been spent frustrated by her inability to remember. Things
came to her naturally, like how to tip a mug to keep the beer from foaming, how
to fill the dishwashing tray, and even how to work the old ACME cash register.
Somewhere, she’d done these things before. If she could remember this, why
couldn’t she remember her own name?

“It’s ten to eleven,” Gran Millie said. She slipped a loose
lock of hair behind August’s ear. “Why don’t you call it quits? We’re nearly empty.”

August glanced at the dining room. A group at a table in the
center was paying their bill, and the only patron at the bar was a flirty old
fellow she suspected was sweet on Gran Millie.

“I’m waiting for Geoffrey to come back. Derek says he’s going
to pick him up again.”

Derek emerged from the kitchen with a clean tray of glasses.
He slipped them under the counter and retrieved the tray August had filled with
dirty mugs.

“I thought you were biking home,” Gran Millie said.

He looked up. “Aw, Gran, it isn’t safe riding out on the
highway at night. I heard some girl got hit out there and broke her arm.” He
grinned. “Besides, I kind of put it in G’s head to come back and visit August,
so I’m betting I won’t have to.”

“That’s the third night this week he’s picked you up.” His
grandmother rolled her eyes. “You’re incorrigible.” She swatted at him with her
towel as Derek headed back to the kitchen.

She turned back to August, grinning. “I’ll take that wager. We’ll
see my other grandson, then.”

August laughed. “Hope so.”

Gran Millie took her under one arm. August’s face bloomed with
heat. She sensed something important coming.

“My grandson has it bad for you.”

Her heart gave a little jump. “Well, you know what, Gran
Millie? I’ve got it pretty bad for him, too.”

“Hmmm?” She peered at August. “I sense a ‘but’ coming.”

“I hope there isn’t one.” The excitement that had just filled
her heart turned to anxiety. She had tried not to let herself fall in love with
him, but in the end she’d had no control over it. In a way, she was glad. It
was a beautiful feeling, loving Geoffrey.

Gran Millie moved away and started transferring the clean
glasses from the dishwashing tray onto the shelf below the bar. “I want you to
know that I’m very fond of you, and whatever happens, I’m glad you brought
Geoffrey happiness. He’s been so miserable for the last year...”

“I’m glad, too.” Was that a tear the older woman was trying to
hide from her? “Why don’t you let me unload those glasses, Gran Millie?”

“Naw, I’ve got it.” She turned her head away and gave a quick
dab at her eye. “You can take out that bag of garbage, though. The cans are
right out the side door at the end of the alley.”

She knew where they were, having done it before. August
grabbed the small plastic bundle by the twisted neck and headed to the side
door. It opened before she reached it as Jose, the busboy, came in from a
cigarette break.

He held the door open for her. “Want me to get that?”

She smiled. “I got it. Mmmm, fresh sea air.”

The cans were near the mouth of the alley. A single lamp high
up at the corner of the building lit the narrow passageway in dingy light.

Cold wind slipped through her clothes like ominous, roving
fingers. Suddenly, August wished she had given the bag to Jose. It was only eleven,
but it seemed this part of town rolled up its sidewalks early. Other than the
Mirthful Mermaid, the row of buildings possessed shops that closed at eight
during the week.

She walked slowly toward the end of the alley in growing
uneasiness. Not a single car passed on the road. August set the bag down,
removed the lid, and then hefted the bag inside.

She was holding the lid again when a sound behind her made her
start. She whirled around in time to see an orange tabby cat go over the fence
separating them from the next building.

August let out a fast breath. She was jumpy, that was all. She
fitted the lid back on the can tightly, so raccoons couldn’t get in.

A glint of light from the street caught her attention. She
looked up. The breath froze in her throat as a dark silhouette moved toward
her.

A woman...holding a knife.

Chapter Eighteen

August backed away, transfixed by the long blade. She tripped
over something and spun around awkwardly. Losing her balance, she spiraled
toward the ground.

Her good hand landed on something solid—a stack of wooden
crates—and just as quickly she regained her balance. She shoved forward and sent
the crates toppling behind her.

“Shit!” a voice behind her hissed. Her pursuer crashed into
the crates. She heard one scrape against the pavement, followed by another
crash.

“Help!” August screamed. She reached the door. It was locked!
It had been open just a few minutes ago—

She pulled on the knob, but it wouldn’t budge. The figure was
moving over the pile, holding the knife out in front of her body. August
pounded on the door.

“Help me! Somebody open the door!”

Her attacker kept coming. August pounded harder. Her throat
burned from screaming, but in her terror, she couldn’t even hear her own voice.

The door burst open, nearly knocking her over.

“Christ, August—”

She flew into Derek’s arms, turning to glance behind her as the
door slammed shut. “There’s someone in the alley with a knife!”

* * *

The first thing Geoffrey saw was August, in Derek’s arms. He
choked on his own tongue.

His brother sidled around her and reached for the restaurant’s
side door.

She grabbed for his arm, fumbled, and ended up with only a
handful of his damp apron. “Don’t go out there!”

“What is it—what’s going on?” Gran Millie crossed the empty
dining room.

August turned around and saw him. She rushed over and threw
herself into his arms. “Geoffrey! I’m so glad you’re here.”

He placed his hands on her shoulders, not sure what to make of
the situation.

Derek stood in the doorway, peering into the alley. He came
back in and let the door shut behind him. “There’s no one there.”

August wrenched free. “I am not imagining this!”

Gran Millie turned and ran back to the bar. “I’m calling
Mike.”

“The empty produce crates fell over,” Derek said. “Are you
sure that’s not what scared you?”

Geoffrey gently turned her around. “What did you see?”

August was pale and shaking. Her voice trembled as she spoke.

“Someone was out there! She cursed at me.”

“She?”

“It was a woman’s voice...at least I think so.” She pressed
her hand to her forehead. “I knocked over the crates and she ran into them. My
God, she would have gotten me if I hadn’t knocked them over—”

Geoffrey pulled her close. “Shhh. It’s all right, you’re
okay.”

She melted against him and pressed her face to his chest. “I
saw a knife. There was someone out there with a knife!”

He looked toward the bar at the sound of his grandmother
hanging up the phone.

“Mike’s on his way.”

Had he been out of his mind to consider laying a trap for this
stalker? Geoffrey leaned back and held August at arm’s length. “Now will you
come back up to the house?”

She sniffled and looked at him for a long second before
shaking her head. “I don’t feel safer there. She knows about the house, too.”

He guided her to a table and after easing her into a chair,
pulled another close and sat beside her.

“Then where? Tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it.”

She smiled even as she started crying all over again. “You’re
so wonderful.” She reached up and touched his cheek. “Looks like the trap plan
backfired.”

He took her hand and grasped it in both of his. “This has gone
too far. We need to start treating this situation as dangerous.”

Flashing blue and red lights filled the empty restaurant as
the sheriff pulled up at the front of the windows.

August blew out a long breath. “You’re right. We’ll ask Mike
what he thinks we should do. I’ll do whatever he suggests.”

Gran Millie unlocked the front door to let Mike in. They all
converged in the center of the room and August recounted the incident.
Geoffrey’s heart kicked into high gear as he heard her terrifying story.

He’d almost lost her tonight. It made him sick to his stomach.
Had he really thought twice about proposing? He knew now, his life would never
be the same without her.

Mike checked the immediate area and sent an all-points
bulletin to Newport’s sixteen other units to look out for a red-haired woman on
foot, or driving a car with out-of-state plates.

“There isn’t much more we can do,” he said. Geoffrey noted the
uneasiness in his eyes when his brother-in-law’s gaze fell on him. “I can’t say
one place is safer than the other to spend the night, but whatever you choose,
August shouldn’t be alone. Just let me know what you decide and I’ll have a
patrol make a few passes throughout the night.”

Still holding his hand, she gave his fingers a squeeze. “Will
you stay with me tonight?”

“Here?” Geoffrey asked.

Derek snorted. “As if you’d have to ask him twice.”

August whirled around. “Do you
try
to get on his last
nerve, or does it just come naturally?”

His sneer faded away. “Sorry. I get itchy when I’m nervous.”

Her shoulders sagged. “No, I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”

“He knows I don’t mean it personally.” Derek raised his hand
and offered his brother a high-five, which Geoffrey reluctantly accepted.
“Don’t you, bro?”

“Sure.”

Mike flipped his notepad open. “August, do you have any idea
who this red-headed woman is?”

She shook her head. “I wish I did.” Her voice trembled as she fought
tears everyone could see coming. “I’m not even sure she has red hair. I
couldn’t see anything but a dark silhouette tonight, and Geoffrey says the
woman he saw at the banquet had black hair.”

“That could have been anyone,” he said before Mike could
question him. “I have no reason to think she didn’t belong, other than her
casual clothes.”

When August shot him a look, he reached for her hand.

“I’m sorry, but there really was nothing to indicate that
woman was there because of you.”

Her shoulders dropped. “I know what I saw tonight. And I know
someone was in the house.”

“How tall would you say this person is? Was she thin, or
heavyset? Is there anything about this person that jars a memory?”

“Taller than me, that was all I could tell.” August shook her
head at his list of questions. “I keep wracking my brain, but things only slip
farther away when I try too hard.”

Mike sighed heavily. “When we first met, you told me you
wanted to remember your past before I made inquiries. I think now the situation
warrants a full investigation.” Mike wore his rigid policeman’s face. “With
your permission, of course,” he added in a slightly gentler tone.

She nodded. “Do I have to sign papers or something?”

“Not at all.” Mike smiled, and Geoffrey was immensely grateful
for his brother-in-law’s courtesy. “My assistant is back from vacation
tomorrow. I’ll put her on it first thing.”

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, rubbing her arm
above her cast as if she had a chill.

“I think this will be for the best,” Geoffrey said. “If we
find out who you are, we can investigate your closest relations. We’ll find
this mystery woman before she can get any closer.” Saying it made him feel
better, even though the idea of finding her old life, and watching her return
to it, filled him with a strange, dark envy.

“Yeah, you’ll be all right, August,” Derek said, trying to be
agreeable for once. “Come back to the house tonight and we’ll stay up all night
and keep watch. Play a game of Parcheesi, or something.”

Though his brother sounded like an idiot, Geoffrey was even
grateful to Derek for his attempt to cheer her up.