Identity Crisis, page 7
Alyssa’s gaze swept the area, as if she’d never seen this part of the city before. Which he knew wasn’t true, since she’d come to visit him here often. “Anything look familiar?” he asked casually.
“No, sorry.” They walked together across the street and into the building. Alyssa continued to glance around as if seeing everything for the first time. Inside the chrome-and-glass office building, she waited for him to lead the way.
He tried not to show his disappointment. He’d really hoped Alyssa might remember his office building. They entered a quiet, conventional elevator and he pushed the button for the tenth floor.
“Only the tenth floor?” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Not the penthouse suite? I’m shocked.”
Her teasing made him smile. He and Alyssa had bantered like this a lot, before she’d broken off their engagement. “I’m lucky to afford downtown rent at all,” he murmured. “The penthouse is out of my league.”
“Can you afford to stay here, even without the Jefferson project?” she asked.
Slowly, he shook his head. “Probably not.” He’d worked hard to grow the business over these past few years. His father had retired three years ago, yet their reputation for doing great work lived on. Branching out with something as big as the Jefferson project had been a risk, but one that had paid off. Or so he thought. Now, pulling out of the project would damage his reputation, and without other projects, he’d very likely have to downsize.
The idea that he might lose his business altogether made him feel sick. The subtle ding of the elevator brought him out of his grim thoughts. The doors silently slid open. The main office was closed for the weekend. Gage and his chief project manager were probably the only two who could be found working at odd hours, day or night, doing whatever it took to get the job done on time and under budget.
He unlocked the office door and stepped over the threshold. The summer sky poured in through the windows. Still, he flicked on the overhead lights so Dan would know they were here. He crossed the room, his footsteps muffled on the thick carpet.
“Nice place,” Alyssa commented.
He nodded an acknowledgment but didn’t answer. The message light on the office phone wasn’t lit. He pulled out his cell phone, checking to see if he’d missed a message from Dan letting him know he’d be late.
No message, so he called Dan himself. But the call went directly to Dan’s voice mail. Why wouldn’t Dan have his phone on? Gage closed his phone with a snap. Where was he? Dan was rarely late.
“Problems?” Alyssa asked, sensing his mood.
“No. Dan will be here soon.” He decided not to voice his concern. Alyssa had enough to worry about.
She arched her brow as if she didn’t believe him, a gesture that keenly reminded him of Alyssa. “So, how about giving me the grand tour while we wait?” she suggested.
Gage couldn’t think of a reason not to. Showing her around might spark her memory. And besides, anything was better than standing around staring at each other. He waved a hand at the office around him. “This is the main office. My assistant, Jane Hanson, sits here and generally manages to keep everything running smoothly.”
He turned and walked toward the back of the room, where several other doors were located. “My office is through here.” He unlocked the door farthest to the right and opened it. As owner of the business, he’d earned the corner office, complete with ceiling-to-floor windows. He didn’t mention the attacks of vertigo that hit him when he stood too close to them. After flicking on the lights, he stepped back to allow Alyssa to enter.
She walked past him, brushing ever so slightly against him. She whistled softly under her breath when she saw the plush office complete with beautiful mahogany furniture. She headed straight for the windows. “Can you see Lake Michigan from here?”
“Uh—yeah. Sort of.” He ventured farther into the room but didn’t join her by the windows. He didn’t like to stand so close, looking down. “To the right of the Art Museum you can make out the gleam of the lake.”
“Oh, I see it now.” She flashed him a warm smile over her shoulder. “Very nice. I really hope you don’t have to give this up.” Her eyes filled with concern.
“Me, either.” It wouldn’t be the first time he’d have to start from scratch. After his mother died, he and his father had lived hand-to-mouth, moving from one construction job to the next. Once he’d finished high school, their business had taken off to the point where they were financially secure. He’d thought it was a perfect time to get married, start a family.
Then things had fallen apart with Alyssa. And now the Jefferson project was surrounded in danger. Squashing the flash of helplessness, he stepped back so Alyssa could come back out. He closed and locked the door behind her.
“Whose offices are these?” She gestured to the remaining two doors.
“One is Dan’s office. The other is actually a conference room. We run a pretty lean staff. I have several assistant project managers, but they stay on the job sites rather than camp out here. The most important part of our work isn’t done within these walls.”
“I can understand that. So the Jefferson project isn’t the only one you’re working on?” Alyssa reached out to try Dan’s office door. The handle turned smoothly beneath the pressure of her hand and the door swung open.
“It’s not locked,” she said, stating the obvious.
Gage frowned and squeezed past her to enter the office, flipping on a light switch as he went. He could feel Alyssa following close behind him. Barely two steps into the room, he nearly tripped over the body lying on the floor.
Beside him, Alyssa cried out in horror. Grimly, he stared at the vacant, lifeless gaze of his chief project manager and the knife buried deep in his chest. Gage bit back a wave of impotent grief.
Dan hadn’t been late for their meeting after all.
SIX
She stumbled backward, away from the dark stain on Dan Kirkland’s chest. Blood. There was so much blood. She tried to close her eyes but the blood was everywhere, smeared on the walls and pooled on the floor. And in the far corner of the room, a bloody yellow blouse. She sobbed, overwhelmed with grief. Mallory!
“Alyssa!”
She blinked and the image faded. She was surprised to realize she was sitting on the floor, her back against the office wall and Gage looming over her. He had a worried expression as he knelt at her side. “Are you okay?”
She swallowed a wave of nausea and nodded. The image had been so real, but what did it mean? Where had she seen so much blood? She wanted to believe the bloody room was too horrible to be real, except for the bloodstains on her jeans. She gulped a huge breath of air and tried to swallow her panic. Dazed, she glanced around. How on earth had she gotten out of Dan’s office, to the farthest side of the room, closest to the door?
“You shouted your sister’s name.” His gaze was full of compassionate concern. “Did you remember something? Something about your twin?”
The foggy haze was back and her temple ached. She was oddly reluctant to tell Gage about the blood and the yellow blouse. Was it really a memory? The sense of danger returned more forceful than ever. “I shouted Mallory’s name?”
“Yes, when you saw Dan, and then you ran away.” Gage sat back on his heels, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I don’t blame you for being upset. I can’t believe he’s dead.”
A real dead body was far worse than a bloody room. “How?” she whispered.
“A knife wound to the chest. His wallet is lying on the floor next to him, empty. Cash and credit cards are missing.”
Alyssa started to tremble. “Robbery? You’re saying this is a result of a simple mugging?”
“That’s what they want us to believe, but there’s no way this is anything simple.” His hands shook, ever so slightly, and he closed them into fists. “We need to call the police.”
“No!” her response was immediate. Intense. She grabbed his arm, hanging on tight. “Don’t.”
For a long minute Gage stared at her. Then he slowly stood, gently pulling her up onto her feet. “Alyssa, I have to. He was more than an employee, he was my friend. I can’t leave him lying there. He has family, an ex-wife, parents. We have to call somebody. Especially when you and I know very well this isn’t a random mugging.”
Alyssa put a hand to her throat, the pressure in her chest so tight she could hardly breathe. “Let’s get out of here first, and then call someone to investigate.”
He frowned. “The police will want to talk to us, since we found the body.”
She couldn’t explain the deep fear twisting around inside. “Please, Gage? We can’t stay here. We have to leave. Now.” Run! Run! Get as far from the blood and police as possible. Run! She grabbed Gage’s arm and tugged him toward the door. She’d drag him the whole way if necessary.
“Okay, okay, let me think.” He hung back, halting her progress, and reached for his phone. “I left a message with Jonah earlier today. Jonah Stewart is a detective with the Milwaukee Police Department. He and I have been friends since high school. I’d trust him with my life. I’ll call him for help.”
The thought of going to the police terrified her, but surely they could trust Gage’s high school friend. “We can call him once we’re safely away from here. Please?” She couldn’t explain the desperate need to escape. What if Crane was on his way here already? The guy had a knack for showing up at crime scenes.
The stark fear in her gaze must have gotten to him, because he finally relented. “Okay, let’s go. I’ll try him later.”
She couldn’t get out of the office suite fast enough. Gage walked over to the elevators and pushed the down button. Both cars were on the ground floor. “Let’s take the stairs.”
“Ten flights? Are you crazy?” he asked.
“Down is easy. Come on.” She refused to take no for an answer. She headed into the stairwell, instinctively knowing Gage wouldn’t let her go alone. She took the stairs down as quickly as she could manage on her ankle. The sounds of pounding feet intermingled with their heavy breathing. Alyssa didn’t stop until they reached the ground floor.
She opened the door on the ground level with trepidation. Thankfully, the lobby of the office building was deserted. When they walked past the elevators, she noticed they were both on the tenth floor. Would both elevators be summoned at the push of a button? Or had someone ridden to the tenth floor to find them? Someone like Officer Crane?
She couldn’t explain her paranoia, so she kept her wild thoughts to herself. Tugging on Gage’s arm, she led the way outside and across the street to the parking garage where they’d left his truck. Dark apprehension clenched her belly and she couldn’t relax, even when the parking lot attendant gave them a cheerful wave as they drove away.
* * *
Gage navigated the streets, his thoughts in turmoil. He still couldn’t believe Dan Kirkland was dead. The image of Dan’s vacant gaze and the bloody knife embedded deep in his chest haunted him. His grief was nearly overwhelming, but he held himself together with an effort, knowing Alyssa needed him to be strong. There would be time to mourn the passing of his friend later.
He darted a glance over to Alyssa. She was still pale, huddled in the seat as if chilled, although the temperature outside was warm. Her blue eyes were unnaturally bright, indicating she was still in shock.
She’d screamed when they’d all but stumbled across Dan’s inert body and then had backed away, huddling against the opposite wall, sobbing and crying out her sister’s name. He feared something terrible may have happened to Alyssa. Something traumatic that ultimately caused her amnesia.
And why was she so afraid of the police? Not just the officer she’d remembered at the scene outside Mallory’s condo, but apparently all police. Why would she be so frightened? What secret was hidden in her locked memory? He risked another sidelong glance, thankful to note her cheeks had regained a bit of color.
Hearing her call out Mallory’s name had cemented his belief that she was Alyssa.
“Where are we going?” she asked in a low tone, as if feeling his gaze upon her.
“A small motel outside of town. A place called the Forty Winks motel. They’ll take cash with no questions asked.” Gage rubbed a hand over his eyes, fighting exhaustion. Although Alyssa looked far worse than he felt.
He wanted to hold her close, to offer comfort. But he forced himself to keep his distance. She didn’t remember him, and for the first time, it occurred to him that when she did remember, she’d know exactly why she’d left him.
Gage forced himself to concentrate on their next steps. Once they arrived at the motel, he’d need to get in touch with Jonah to help take care of Dan. He couldn’t help feeling guilty that they hadn’t gotten to the office sooner. Maybe if they hadn’t been late, Dan would still be alive. Had his project manager discovered something incriminating related to the Jefferson project? Was that why someone stabbed him? There were several homicides in Milwaukee every month. But there were now at least two deaths connected to the Jefferson project, and that wasn’t a coincidence.
Gage gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. There was a part of him that wanted to go back to the office building to go through whatever paperwork Dan might have reviewed. But Alyssa had been so upset, he hadn’t had the heart to refuse her request. He had no choice but to believe the gunfire outside Mallory’s condo had been a warning to stay away, or worse, an attempt to kill them. Either way, he couldn’t take a chance with her life.
He’d do anything to keep her safe. And for the first time in months, he silently prayed.
Dear Lord, please give me the knowledge and strength to keep Alyssa safe.
* * *
The rooms in the Forty Winks motel were worse than he remembered. Thankfully, they had two adjoining rooms. The two-story building had thirty rooms, all facing outside. He’d requested rooms on the first floor farthest from the office.
He unlocked the first door and crossed over to set the duffel he’d packed for Alyssa on the bed. He unlocked the connecting door between their rooms and then retraced his steps to the main door. “Alyssa, you need to keep that connecting door open, okay?”
She stood uncertainly in the center of the room, looking fragile, as if a strong wind would blow her away. “Sure.”
Once again, he longed to take her into his arms to offer comfort. Instead, he walked back outside and entered the second motel room. He opened his connecting door and noticed Alyssa had disappeared into the bathroom.
His phone rang, and he was pleased to see the caller was Jonah. “I’m so glad you called me back,” he said gratefully.
“You sounded desperate. What’s up?”
“I have a big problem, Jonah. I really need your help.”
“Lucky for you, I just finished up a case, so I have some vacation time coming,” Jonah said, his voice sharp with interest.
Gage hesitated. He’d known Jonah long before he’d become a homicide detective, but this wasn’t the sort of bomb you dropped over the phone. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather talk to you in person.”
“No problem,” Jonah agreed readily enough. “Where are you? I can leave right now.”
Relieved, Gage gave his friend directions to their motel. If Jonah thought the Forty Winks was a strange meeting place, he didn’t let on. After promising to be there soon, he hung up.
Gage immediately felt better. Jonah was a good detective, and he’d know what to do. There wasn’t much to unpack, so he paced the length of his room, staying away from the connecting door but listening to the muffled thumps as Alyssa moved around.
Soon, she came over to stand in the open doorway between their rooms. Her hair was damp, and she’d changed her clothes, the neckline of his oversize T-shirt giving a glimpse of the rose and dagger tattoo just beneath her collarbone. The tattoo was more faded than ever.
“Did you get hold of your cop friend?” she asked.
“Uh, yeah.” He sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Jonah has met Alyssa before, so I’ll have to explain about your amnesia.”
She grimaced but nodded. “I understand.”
There was a sharp knock at his motel door. Gage jumped up and crossed over, peering through the peephole to verify that Jonah was the one standing on the other side. Darkness had fallen, but the evenly spaced lights between the rooms were bright enough for him to easily recognize his friend.
He unlocked the chain and opened the door. “Jonah.” He thumped his buddy on the back in greeting. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you.”
“Same here. I have to say, you piqued my curiosity.” Jonah wore regular street clothes but the shoulder harness housing his gun was reassuring. “What’s going on?”
Gage drew Jonah inside. “Jonah, you remember Alyssa, don’t you?”
“Uh, yeah. Sure.” Jonah studied her, looking uncomfortable. “Nice to see you again, Alyssa.”
A faint smile touched her lips. “I’d say the same if I could remember you, Jonah,” she murmured.
Jonah’s jaw dropped in shock. “Alyssa hit her head and has amnesia,” Gage hastily explained. He pulled up one of the two straight-back chairs. “Sit down, Jonah, and let me explain everything from the beginning.”
Jonah sank into the seat, a dazed expression on his face. Alyssa sat on the bed, hugging her knees to her chest.
“I told you how I won the bid for the Jefferson project, right?” Gage asked. Jonah nodded. “Three days ago, City Councilman Ray Schaefer was brought into Trinity’s E.D. after he was stabbed in the chest.”
