“No, I don’t think so.” She instinctively rejected that idea. “If one person believes I’m Angelina, others may too. I don’t want to mess anything up in case I am supposed to be doing something or meeting someone. Sticking around may only put us both in danger.”

  Quinn sighed. “Okay, we won’t stay.” He leaned back in his chair when their server approached with their lunch.

  “Looks delicious, thanks.” Quinn grinned, falling easily into the role of tourist. He gestured to the lakefront. “We’re loving the view.”

  “It’s nice, isn’t it?” Melanie set their plates before them. “Do you need anything else?”

  “No, thank you,” Sami said.

  Melanie turned away, stopping to check in at her other customers’ tables. Quinn reached across the table to take her hand. “I’d like to say grace.”

  “Of course.” She bowed her head, clinging to Quinn as if he were a buoy holding her afloat. Maybe the nautical theme of the restaurant was getting to her.

  “Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You for keeping us safe in Your care. Bless this food we are about to eat and continue guiding us on Your chosen path. Amen.”

  “Amen,” she echoed. Movement from the corner of her eye caught her attention. A Hispanic man wearing cargo shorts and T-shirt strolled past the deck. When he glanced in their direction, she tightened her grip on Quinn’s hand in a silent warning, then spoke in a loud voice. “That was a lovely prayer! I’m so grateful God is watching over us. I’m truly blessed to be here with you.”

  “I’m blessed as well,” Quinn responded, seeming to understand the diversion tactic she was using. “We need to visit the church before we go.”

  She smiled widely. “Oh, yes! Let’s do that.”

  After a long moment, she released Quinn to reach for her silverware. The Hispanic man had continued walking toward the lakefront. She hoped he’d overheard their discussion and had decided once and for all she wasn’t Angelina.

  “You think that’s him?” Quinn asked as he picked up his burger.

  “I do.” She took a spoonful of her chicken tortilla soup, enjoying the spicy taste. The man was far away now and well out of hearing range. Yet she continued watching him without being too obvious.

  There was no real evidence that the man who’d walked past was the same one who’d called out to her, other than the fact that he seemed far too interested in them.

  Wishing she’d been able to snap a picture of the guy, she ate another spoonful of soup. Then took a bite of her half a turkey sandwich. Surprisingly, the meal helped settle her stomach.

  “How are we going to get on the boat to get out of here?” She eyed Quinn over her sandwich. “Seems our Hispanic friend intends to hang out at the lakefront for a while.”

  “Don’t forget, I promised to buy you a gun. Maybe by the time we do that and get back here, he’ll have given up.”

  She hoped he was right about that. They ate in silence for a few minutes, and she appreciated the warm breeze coming off the lake.

  Maybe Quinn was right about her needing more sleep. The interrupted bit of rest she’d gotten last night wasn’t nearly enough to make her feel refreshed. Much less allowed her brain to heal so that she might remember.

  Was she wrong not to stay the night here in Shady Lane? Doing so seemed like taking a big risk, yet the thought of getting a room and crawling into bed for a few hours tugged at her.

  “Are you ready?” Quinn asked, pulling cash from his wallet.

  “Yes.” She stacked her empty soup bowl on the empty plate. Her lunch had been just the right amount. As she rose to her feet, she could see the Hispanic man was still down at the lakeshore. She wondered how long it would take him to realize she and Quinn had left.

  Then she realized he could easily have a partner watching the front.

  Quinn paid for their meals, then escorted her back through the restaurant to the front door. Before he stepped through it, she gestured toward the restrooms. “Let’s take a break before we leave.” She lowered her voice and added, “We need to consider there could be someone out front waiting for us, with the Hispanic guy covering the back.”

  “Understood,” Quinn murmured.

  After using the restroom, she quickly returned to the hostess stand. When Quinn joined her, she pulled him close. “We need to go out through the kitchen, there’s probably a side exit. I can’t say for sure it will help much, there isn’t a lot of cover here.”

  “Let’s do it.” He took her hand and headed straight for the swinging door.

  They’d taken only taken a few steps when one of the staff members frowned. “You’re not supposed to be in here.”

  “Sorry, we’re leaving.” Quinn didn’t hesitate, walking straight through to the side door. Moments later, they were outside near a large dumpster. Another building was a few feet away, which she thought was maybe a tourist shop.

  “This way.” She gestured toward the store.

  They ducked inside. The place was busy, so no one paid them much attention. She tried to remember what businesses they’d passed on the way in.

  Why hadn’t she paid more attention?

  “There’s a set of restrooms here, too, and another side exit,” Quinn murmured. He was tall enough to see over the crowds.

  “Let’s get a hat and new shirts first,” she suggested. “Then change in the restrooms and get out of here.”

  “Good idea.”

  It didn’t take them long to change. Sami pulled her hair back into a ponytail, and Quinn donned a baseball cap. The side exit took them to a cross street. Quinn used his phone to obtain a rideshare.

  “How long?” Sami asked, trying to appear nonchalant. There was no sign of the Hispanic man, but there were plenty of other people milling about. Any one of them could be another watcher.

  “Three minutes.” Quinn caught her hand. “Nice idea on how to get out of the restaurant. I’m glad your cop instincts are working.”

  She managed a smile. “Me too.”

  Minutes later, their rideshare driver pulled up to the curb. “Quinn?” he asked.

  “Yes, thanks.” Quinn stepped forward and opened the door for her. He gave the driver their destination as they settled into the back seat.

  “No problem,” the guy said.

  As they left the downtown area of Shady Lane, Sami scanned the crowds, trying to find anyone who appeared to be watching and waiting.

  But she couldn’t identify anyone suspicious. Leaving her to wonder if the Hispanic guy was working alone.

  Or if the team coming after her were exceptionally good at staying hidden from view.

  Quinn felt Sami relax for the first time in what seemed like eons. “That was close,” he whispered.

  “No kidding.”

  He wanted to broach the subject of staying overnight again but held off because of the rideshare driver. The town of Shady Lane wasn’t quite as picturesque outside the downtown lakefront area. The neighborhoods surrounding the shopping complex could have been found in any town in the entire state.

  He gave the rideshare driver a tip, then walked with Sami inside. Thankfully, Quinn’s fingerprints were already on file, and he had his carry concealed permit with him too. Buying the gun and ammunition wouldn’t take long.

  “I’m going to grab a few personal items.” Sami released his hand. “I’ll meet you at the cash registers.”

  He hesitated, then relented. “Sounds good.” They should be safe enough here. There was no sign of the Hispanic guy they’d seen outside the restaurant, and if the guy had a partner, Quinn didn’t see how they could have been followed.

  Still, he was anxious to buy what they needed quickly so they could duck out. The sooner, the better.

  He purchased the same make and model handgun that he knew Sami had used as a cop with the Milwaukee Police Department. Once his ID and permit had been accepted, he was given the weapon and box of ammo. He added a belt holster, too, then paid the bill. The purchase put a dent in his cash reserves, but Rhy had given him more than enough that he wasn’t too concerned.

  Walking back through the store, he stopped to buy a disposable phone, then found Sami near the front self-checkout lane. She had a small basket of over-the-counter meds, along with toiletries. He was touched she’d included two toothbrushes, one for him too.

  Minutes later, they were back outside. “This way.” He gestured toward the nearby grocery store. “We’ll call another rideshare from there.”

  “Thanks again for buying the weapon,” she said as he handed the bag over to her. “I feel better already.”

  He wished he felt the same way. Not that he begrudged her the ability to defend herself against an unknown threat. He only hoped he wasn’t wrong about Sami. That she was in fact one of the good guys.

  “I pray you won’t need it.” Even as he said the words, he knew he was fooling himself. He’d bought it for a reason. He had no doubt she’d be forced to use it. Especially if the gunmen showed up again.

  “Only as a last resort,” she agreed.

  They walked along the front of the grocery store, then around the corner where there were less people. He stood in front of her so she could unpack the .38, load it, and connect the belt holster.

  “Good thing Elly loaned me a belt,” she muttered. “Or we’d be heading back inside to buy one.”

  “Elly would give a stranger the shirt off her back.” He smiled at the memories of the various stray pets and people the youngest Finnegan had brought home during her teenage years. “She has a heart of gold.”

  “I know, she would have given me half her wardrobe if I’d have let her.” Sami stepped up beside him, her new Shady Lane T-shirt covering the gun on her hip. Sure, a cop would likely be able to tell, but hopefully not the average person.

  Including the Hispanic guy and his possible partner.

  “Thanks for the disposable phone,” she said. “But it’s useless until we can go somewhere with power to activate it.”

  “You’re welcome, and we’ll work on that soon.” He’d purchased it on the off chance they got separated. He lifted his phone. “Where to? Do you want to head back to the Malibu?”

  “I was thinking we should consider staying at a motel for a while.” She lifted a hand to her head. “I hate to waste money, but my headache is no better, and the ED doc did suggest rest. That’s why I purchased more toiletries, despite having the duffel in the boat. Besides, the longer we stay away from the lakefront, the better. We can slip out of the marina at dusk.”

  “Sounds good to me.” He liked the idea of Sami getting some sleep. And staying away from the lakefront for a while. He scrolled through his phone and found a relatively inexpensive motel. “There’s a place just two miles from here. No lakefront view, but it fits our budget.”

  “Works for me.” She smiled wearily. “If I don’t get some rest, I won’t be any good at fighting the bad guys.”

  “Agreed. I’ll call a rideshare.” It was a short trip, but walking two miles wasn’t an option.

  To his chagrin, the same driver was the only rideshare vehicle available. Must be slim pickings in small towns like this. He put in the request, then led Sami around to the front of the grocery store.

  “Same car?” Sami let out a low groan. “I hope the cops don’t have to question him about us.”

  “I know. But for all we know, he’s the only rideshare driver operating around here.” The car pulled up alongside them. “Better than walking.”

  “Hello again,” the driver greeted them. “Where to?”

  “The Shady Lane Motel,” Quinn instructed.

  The driver frowned. “There are much nicer places to stay in town.”

  “That’s okay, we’re on a tight budget,” Quinn assured him. “This is a great place to visit, though. Very nice.”

  “We like it,” the driver agreed. He went on to talk about his wife and two kids during the less-than-five-minute ride to the Shady Lane Motel.

  “Thanks again,” Quinn said, adding a tip that would make the guy’s time worthwhile.

  “I’m here most days if you need me.” The driver lifted his hand, then drove off.

  “Guess that means we’ll be riding with him back to the marina later.” Sami did not look happy with the idea.

  “Maybe not. There may be a different driver for the evening shift.” They stepped inside the small lobby. The place was shabby but clean, which went a long way in his book. Since they weren’t planning to stay overnight, he only paid for one room with two double beds.

  Sami didn’t question his decision, and it was a testament to how tired she was that she set her gun aside and quickly crawled into bed without saying a word. He closed the drapes to darken the room, then sat on a chair in the corner to charge and activate the disposable phone, making sure to add the number into his phone so that he could easily reach her if needed.

  As he worked, he tried to think of another way to spark Sami’s memories. So far all their attempts had been a complete bust.

  Oh, she’d had glimmers of knowledge that had appeared out of nowhere, but at this rate, summer would be over by the time she remembered what she was doing out in the middle of Lake Michigan.

  Hearing the Hispanic guy calling out to her using a different name added credence to his growing belief she was working undercover. For all he knew, Shady Lane had sounded familiar because it was a drop site. Interesting, though, that seeing the Hispanic guy had not brought forth a slew of memories. Maybe she hadn’t known him well enough to make a lasting impression.

  Then again, she hadn’t remembered him either. Not their relationship, their engagement, or planning their wedding. Kissing her had seemed like a good idea to fool the Hispanic guy, but it had also been a keen reminder of everything he’d lost.

  He’d missed Sami, far more than he’d realized. More than he’d admitted to his family. Especially after hearing about her death.

  Now she was back and involved in danger up to her pretty neck. Even worse, he didn’t know the source of the threat against her.

  Setting the new phone aside, he stifled a yawn. Rest wasn’t a bad idea, so he crawled into the other bed and closed his eyes, smiling a bit as he listened to Sami’s deep, even breathing.

  The next thing Quinn knew, he was staring at a clock that read seven forty-five. Not seven in the morning, but in the evening.

  Five hours!

  With a renewed sense of energy, he rolled out of bed and ducked into the bathroom. When he was finished, he found Sami sitting at the side of her bed, blinking groggily.

  “How are you feeling?” He searched her gaze.

  “Good, thanks.” She stood. “But if you’re asking about my memory, it’s still nothing but fog.”

  “I wasn’t trying to push,” he said mildly. “I’m more concerned about your pain level.”

  “My headache is much better. The meds and sleep really helped.” She brushed past him to take her turn in the bathroom. Five minutes later, she asked, “Ready to head back to the marina?”

  “It’s not dark yet,” he cautioned.

  “I know. The sun is going down though, so that will help.” She pulled on her holster and tucked the .38 inside. Then covered it with the hem of her shirt. She ducked into the bathroom, returning with the shopping bag of their toiletries. “I’m ready.”

  He called for another rideshare, thrilled to see a different driver. This guy wasn’t chatty, which suited him just fine. Quinn requested to be let out a few blocks south of where they’d left their boat so they could approach the Malibu from the opposite direction.

  The sun was making its slow descent to the west. He pulled the brim of his ball cap low on his head and led the way around the back side of the marina to reach the public pier.

  “See anything?” he asked in a low voice.

  “Negative,” Sami replied.

  The length of the pier seemed inordinately long. Upon reaching the Malibu, he quickly jumped inside and began checking the engine and fuel supply while Sami untied the lines and tossed them inside the boat.

  “Looks fine, I don’t think anything has been tampered with. The duffel is still here too.” He started the engine. “Time to get out of Dodge.”

  “I’m with you on that.” Sami leaned over the side of the boat and pushed them away from the pier, then pulled up the rubber buoys that were used to keep the boat from smacking against the pier. They hadn’t gone more than a few yards when she abruptly dropped to the bottom of the boat near him. “He’s here!”

  “I see him.” The Hispanic guy that had called out to her earlier was hard to miss as he was sprinting toward them. Cranking on the wheel, he put the boat in reverse and hit the throttle, backing away from the pier.

  “Gun!” Sami shouted, peering over the front edge.

  Without hesitation, he pulled hard on the wheel, forcing the bow of the boat toward the open expanse of the lake. He slammed shifted into drive and pushed the throttle forward. The boat leaped forward, speeding away from the shoreline with blatant disregard for the no wake signs.

  Bending low over the wheel, Quinn mentally braced himself for the sound of gunfire.

  Chapter Nine

  Sami crouched beside Quinn, facing the stern of the boat, watching the Hispanic guy on the pier with her newly purchased .38 in hand.

  If the stranger fired at them, she’d return the favor. But as of yet, he hadn’t. Even from a distance, she could see the look of confusion on his features.

  She felt the same way. What in the world was going on? Was the Hispanic guy her contact? She couldn’t remember and had no way of knowing which side of the team he was playing for.

  It only took a few minutes for Quinn get them far enough from the shoreline that the Hispanic guy was no longer a threat. When she couldn’t see him anymore, she holstered her weapon and turned to Quinn.

  “Thanks for getting us out of there safely.”

  He nodded, then asked, “Why didn’t he shoot at us? We were close enough initially that he probably could have taken me down.”

 

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