Whisper of Memory (Whispering Woods Book 2) (15 page)

“
Y
ou have
a second to decide if I know how to use this thing or not.” Em pointed the silver box at the woman in the back seat of the Jeep.

Austin couldn’t stop staring at the woman in his rearview mirror. She looked so much like Mia. How could anyone doubt she was Mia’s mother? The truck driver blasted his horn, and Austin jerked his gaze back to the road in time to stay in his lane. He glanced at Em.

A high-pitched whine shrilled from the box. The woman fell over like a cut tree.

“Wow.” Em’s voice came out in a deep exhale. “That worked better than I thought.”

Austin craned his head to see. “Did you kill her?” he asked while pulling over. “You didn’t kill her, right? For crying out loud, tell me she’s not dead.” He parked, then took several deep breaths and reached back to snare the handgun that had fallen on the seat. Gingerly, he reached across to place his fingers on the woman’s neck.

“Well?” Em fidgeted. “Alive?”

“Yeah. She’s got a pulse. How long do you think she’ll be out?” Hearing a chime, Austin reached inside his jacket for his phone. He read the text to Em. “Get help. Mia needs medical.” He dropped his face into his hands and rested his forehead on the steering wheel.

“No. You get yourself together right now,” Em said. “I’m calling nine-one-one.”

“Wait, “Austin said, lifting his head. “Just one second. I’m going to log in to
Quest
.”

“Are you insane?” Em’s eyes were huge. She blinked hard.

“Pete,” he said. Austin’s thumbs were a flurry of motion. “You can call 911, but I’m letting Pete know what’s gone down here.”

“Deal.” Em voice wavered. “How do I tell them where she is?”

“Stop, Em. Pete answered me. He said he’s got it. He said that med-flight is on its way.”

“How—”

“Dude’s got connections.” Austin set the phone on the dash, and then rubbed his face.

“What do we do with her?” Em tilted a head to the back. “Take her back to Officer Sanchez?”

Austin placed both hands behind his head and leaned back. “And say what? This lady held us at gunpoint ’cause she works for an evil professor who kidnapped Mia since she can spot a thing called a portal, but Mia’s now hurt and her brother who has been missing…” He stopped when he saw Em shaking her head slowly back and forth.

“How about another choice?”

“I say we dump her here.” Austin peered out at the desolate highway. Smiling, he added, “It’s what Mia would want. Just leave her like she’s unwanted baggage.”

“I can live with that.” Em opened her door. “I’ll carry her feet if you’ll get the heavy end.”

“Done. Let’s hurry. I’ve also had a text from Tiny. He sent me his GPS coordinates. He’s on foot.”

“And Mia?” Em hesitated with her hand still on the door, ready to get out.

“Pete says he’ll let me know where they’re taking her.” Austin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He felt a hand on his arm.

“She’ll be OK.” Em paused, then said, “We’ll be there. Together.”

He nodded. “Let’s get Mommy Dearest out of the back and into the ditch.”

O
pening
my eyes felt like ripping a Band-Aid off a bloody wound. The stinging, sticky sensation alarmed me because I couldn’t move my hand to wipe my eyes. I wrinkled my nose. It felt dry and sore.

I was in a hospital room. That much I knew. Em lay asleep in a chair beside me, still wearing her pretty formal. My dad was in the other chair.

I wondered if this meant I’d be grounded for the remainder of my senior year. Maybe even through college.

“Hey,” I said.

My dad’s eyes flew open and leaned forward. “Hello, Sleeping Beauty.”

One corner of my mouth was all I could manage to move. “Water?”

“One minute, sweetie.” He rose and slipped out of the room.

“You’re awake.” Em’s eyes shimmered with tears.

“How did—” I began.

“Shh. I’ll tell you everything later. Rest,” she said.

“Regulus?”

“He’s fine. Austin and Tiny are fine. We’re OK. Listen, your dad will be back in a second. This is what you need to know right now. You and Regulus had a motorcycle wreck. Here in town. We did not leave Whispering Woods.”

“But—”

“That’s the story.”

Dad walked back in with a Styrofoam cup and bent the straw to my mouth. “Take a sip. You can have as much as you want.”

I nodded. Or I thought I nodded. The act of moving my head was exhausting. The cold water felt wonderful in my throat. I smiled and closed my eyes again.

“
T
ime for some more meds
.”

I pushed the hand away, but it wouldn’t leave. I cracked one eye open. A young woman in pink scrubs stood beside my bed. She put the paper cup down on the overbed table. “Breakfast will be here soon.”

Dad sat up in his chair and rubbed his eyes with one hand while stifling a yawn with the other. “Sleep OK?”

“Mm.” I lifted my head. Em was gone.

The nurse shook pills from the cup into my hand. “Can you take them yourself, or do you need my help?”

I lifted my arm to reach my mouth in answer. Every movement seemed like it was slow motion. I got the pills into my mouth and looked at the nurse for directions. Smiling, she held a straw to my lips.

“Wash those down and we’ll get you something to eat,” she said.

Dad looked tired. He’d obviously slept in his clothes in the hospital chair. But he winked at me and smiled.

“When’s the doctor going to do rounds?” he asked the nurse.

She looked at her watch. “In half an hour or so.”

An orderly entered with a full tray. “Here’s breakfast.”

My nurse set up the bed tray over my waist and bent to push a button on the bed, lifting my upper body into a seated position. “I’m Ally, your day nurse. I’ll be checking on you throughout the day. Call me if you need anything.” She opened the milk carton and poured the contents into a plastic mug.

Dad and I watched her leave. I turned to him. “She was cute,” I said slowly with my tongue seeming too big for my mouth.

He shook his head and laughed. “She’s almost your age. Quit matchmaking.”

“Mature. Seemed mature.” I managed to say the words, but talking was like struggling through deep snow. I stared at the breakfast tray in front of me. “Want some?”

He shook his head.

“Have to eat. You.” I knew I sounded crazy.

“If I run down to the cafeteria, do you promise me you’ll try to eat some of yours?”

“Yeah, yeah. Go.” I attempted to wave my right hand. My left hand was bandaged.

“I’ll stay,” he said.

“No.” I picked up a triangle of toast. “See? Eating.”

He looked relieved. “Back in fifteen or twenty minutes. I need about a pot of coffee.” He tossed one last glance over his shoulder as he headed for the door.

I set down the toast and gratefully drank the milk straight from the carton. There was no way I was eating the lump of yellow scrambled eggs. I settled my head back against the pillows and closed my eyes.

“How’s breakfast?”

I didn’t open my eyes. The voice came at me with a tidal wave of emotion and want and memory.

I had to be dreaming.

“You can’t be asleep that fast. I’m sure you were wrestling with the milk carton.”

I opened my eyes but still believed I was dreaming. The familiar young man in front of me wore blue scrubs and a stethoscope around his neck. He scooted a chair up to the edge of the bed.

“Pete?” My throat was tight, and I could barely get the word out. Confused, I shook my head.

“Yeah. You dress up like this and you have free rein of this place.”

I stared. “You’re back? Am I awake?”

“Just making sure that my baby sis is OK,” he said. “I only have a couple of minutes.” He took my left hand and examined the bandage. “Hurt much?”

I ignored the question. “Where? Why?”

“I chose not to work for the IIA. They don’t like to be turned down. I never thought they’d force you to join them.”

“Bleeker?”

“What? No, no.” He shook his head. “I’m US military. Special unit. Very special.”

“Can you stay a little while?” I felt like I was five years old again.

“No. Can’t, Mia.” He held my bandaged hand. “Gotta make this quick. Cafeteria’s got a long line, but Dad will be back soon.”

“Why did you come then?”

“I’m watching out for you. You should know you’re not alone.”

“I feel alone,” I said, remembering that Regulus didn’t even remember me.

“I know you’re involved with Regulus. I need to warn you.”

“Not anymore.”

“Did you two break up? When I sent the helicopter, he insisted on riding with you.”

“You sent the helicopter?” I wasn’t even sure what had happened, so that made no sense to me.

“Yeah. Regulus called his partner for help. Then Austin messaged me through
Quest
.”

I screwed up my face in confusion.

“On his phone, Mia.”

I nodded. “About Regulus. I’m a stranger to him, Pete. I don’t know why he wanted to come with me.” I blinked hard and took a deep breath.

“Stranger?”

“He doesn’t even remember me.” I choked out the words. “They did something to him.”

“Oh,” Pete said. He leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “Listen carefully. It’s not his fault. When they did it to Mom, it wasn’t her fault.”

“What?” I totally lost control now, and tears started to stream down my face.

“Mia, you have to be brave and stop crying. Dad is going to come back and wonder what happened in the last few minutes.” He looked at the door. An unfamiliar nurse appeared in the doorway.

“He’s coming back,” she told Pete.

“I love you, sis. Don’t think you’re alone. And be careful.” He jumped to his feet and backed away to the door.

“Pete?”

“What?”

“Take care of yourself. I’ll be fine.” I tried to smile and knew it was lame.

He put two fingers to his forehead in a salute. “Yes, ma’am.” He turned and disappeared through the doorway.

“Mia?”

“Huh?” My dad’s voice surprised me and I looked up while holding my breath.

“Did I miss the doctor?”

“No, why?”

“I thought I saw a man leaving this room.” Dad walked over to the chair he’d slept in last night. Pete had moved it to the side of my bed. “Was somebody here?”

“Somebody from the hospital checking on me.”

He came over and wiped a thumb across my cheek. “Have you been crying, sweetie? Are you in pain?”

“You’d cry too if you had to eat this,” I said and pushed the tray away.

He laughed.

“I’m fine. Only emotional,” I said.

My dad produced a white paper take-out bag. “Don’t tell. I snuck this from the cafeteria.” He offered a biscuit on a napkin to me. “Sausage and cheese,” he said.

I took it from him and grinned. “Thanks for the contraband.”

He winked. “I have to get your strength up so we can get you out of this place.” He went to the door. “Eat up. I’ll watch out for the food police.”

T
he next day
, my doctor released me, and I went home. Dad grounded me for another month. I thought it would be longer, but he said that I’d learned my lesson. I really think he was tired of me being grounded and moping around the house.

There was also the fact that I’d told him that Regulus and I had broken up. I could tell Dad felt sorry for me. I didn’t mind being grounded. I went to school, did homework, and talked to Em on the phone.

Em told me how she and Austin had found the stunner that Arizona had handed me the night we’d gone to Goliath. It was still in the Jeep. I’m such a great agent that I’d left my weapon in the vehicle when I ran to the building. Em had managed to use it on Nancy by remembering my description of how the weapon worked. I had laughed until I cried.

They’d left her unconscious on the side of the road when Tiny had called, finding him using his GPS coordinates. Finding me had been harder. The Hummer had hit an irrigation pump in the field and rolled. I’d been thrown clear, but injured. Regulus had called Arizona, who’d called Austin for help. Because of Regulus’s chip, Arizona had known exactly where we were.

Em and Austin dropped by one day to bring me what they called a care package of candy and CDs they’d bought. I told them about talking with Pete at the hospital. They listened to the story in silence and didn’t respond or seem surprised when I told them the part where Pete had mentioned Nancy.

Thanksgiving came and went. I decided to redecorate my room. Em came over to help me take down posters and miscellaneous things. It was time for a new era in my life, which meant getting rid of Pete’s hand-me-down decorations. We worked side by side while listening to music until lunchtime. I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and brought those upstairs on a tray.

After taking down all the stuff, my room appeared colorless and unloved. We sat on my bed and ate the sandwiches while watching a reality show on my tiny bedroom TV. I stared at the screen but couldn’t remember anything about the teenagers being filmed or the constant drama on the screen.

“Snap out of it, Mia.”

“What do you mean?” I looked at Em blankly.

“It will get better. But it won’t this way.”

“I’m fine.” I tore off a bread crust and dropped it on my plate.

“Arizona called me yesterday. Regulus wants to see you,” she said. “He wants to talk.”

I was shocked and nervous at the same time. All the air left my body, and I couldn’t drag more in. “Why?”

Em shrugged. “Hey, he didn’t tell me anything. I mean, I did ask if he suddenly got his memory back,” she said sarcastically.

“He didn’t do it to himself, Em. The IIA did it and you know that.”

She nodded. “I know.”

“He probably wants to make sure that I’ll still be a portal finder for them.”

She looked at her watch. “He’ll be here in five minutes.”

My mouth dropped open. “No, he can’t. I can’t see him today.”

“Avoiding him isn’t going to work. You said yourself that it isn’t his fault.”

The doorbell rang. I shot Em a dirty look.

“Thanks for the heads up. You are such a traitor.” I walked to the door. “Aren’t you coming?”

“No. I’m watching this show,” she said as she waved her half-eaten sandwich at the television.

I thudded down each step, feeling as though my feet weighed twenty pounds each. Dad was gone for the day, and Biscuit barked excitedly while running back and forth at the doorway. As soon as I opened the door, Biscuit ran outside and circled Regulus, who bent to rub Biscuit’s head and ears.

“Hello,” he said from his bent position.

I sucked air and tried to breathe.
Air in, air out
.

His dark blue eyes weren’t hostile, but they weren’t friendly either. He seemed…wary. I bet he was as nervous as I was. Did he think I was mad?

“Hi,” I said and stepped out onto the porch. I crossed my arms over my chest. “Em said you needed to talk to me about something?”

He straightened, but shifted from one foot to the other. He gestured at the porch swing. “Can we sit down?”

I stared at it and couldn’t stand the thought of sitting that close to him. I’d done that so many times. All those times, we’d sat in the middle and he’d have his arm slung over my shoulders.

“I’m fine.” A wood railing ran the length of the porch. I perched on it.

“I know that you are wondering why I am here.” He looked around.

“Yeah.” I waited.

“I need to ask you some questions.”

“Shoot.”

His eyebrows jerked up.

“Ask away,” I said. I forced myself to look at the collar of his down jacket instead of into his eyes.

“Why did you follow me to Goliath?”

I shrugged. “You needed backup. You weren’t going to ask for it.”

He nodded. “The IIA is important to you.”

“No, not really.” I hesitated. “I do want to stop Bleeker, and I’m sorry he got away. That’s the only agenda I have.”

“Oh,” he said. “Then you did it to stop Bleeker.” His eyes looked as though they were…searching.

What did he want from me?

“I did it to make sure you didn’t get yourself killed,” I said.

“And that would matter to you?”

“Yes, it would matter.” I looked away again. My throat was tightening. “But I understand that you don’t remember us…me. It’s cool. Don’t worry about it.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets and turned away. “Do you know what déjà vu is?” he asked quietly, voice so soft I almost didn’t hear him.

“Of course, I do. Why?”

“Something will happen… I’ll be in class and a girl will toss her hair and I’ll catch a scent of her shampoo. And in my mind I will see you. In that moment, I will think of your hair and the smell. I can feel the texture. I can see the exact color. I think it is something that has already happened. I would say that it is a…déjà vu moment for me.”

I nodded because I didn’t know what to say. His confession was making me sadder than ever. I could see that he’d come trying to figure things out.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know how the cleanse works. Maybe the déjà vu thing will go away over time. I don’t know what to tell you.”

He stared at me, gaze searching my face, my hair, and sliding down my body. What was he trying to answer?