Sudden Recall (7 page)

“Of course not.”

“Then tell me what I'm looking for. What is it they want?”

Karen sighed. “A PIN-coded flash drive.”

“And Sienna knows where it is, somewhere in her memory?”

“Yes. Before she nearly died, she hid the flash drive. We have no idea where. There was a time crunch, and she didn't have time to call in. We need that flash drive back. It
cannot
fall into the wrong hands. That outcome is unacceptable. This is highly sensitive information.” Karen paused, breathing hard. “
Highly
sensitive.”

“Okay. Get the flash drive, don't give it to anyone else. Got it.”

“And if she doesn't remember?”

Parker shrugged, even though she couldn't see it. “I'll keep her safe from them until she does.” He paused. “I take it these are big players.”

“The biggest.”

He had to know his enemy in order to outthink them. “And you're going to send me everything you have on them?”

“Not on your life.”

“So I'm supposed to do this blind?”

“I'm sure you can handle it.”

Parker was sure he could deal with armed assailants. It was the handling of Sienna that he was worried about. Her memories could come back in pieces, or all in one go or not at all. They couldn't control it, or predict what would happen. No amount of pressure would help her remember.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

“What's that?” Karen couldn't think that he was going to give her much of anything if she wasn't prepared to give him even basic information.

“As soon as she contacts you I want a location on Nina Holmes. She needs to be brought in.”

SEVEN

S
ienna's night had provided little rest. She'd tossed and turned as she remembered gunshots shattering the windows of her bedroom. Thankfully, she had managed to get a couple of hours of sleep.

Now they were on the road again, and she was glad Parker had waited until they were in the car before he laid out the details of his conversation with Karen. At least she was sitting down when he'd told her the news—though she'd rather he'd let her be somewhere she could pace. She needed room to move.

Nina was wanted by the CIA.

Parker laid his hand on hers as if sensing she needed his support. Her other hand gripped the door handle.

She quickly let go of both and fisted her hands on her thighs. “Does that mean Nina is helping us, or is she working for whoever is after me?”

Was she wrong about her supposed friend? If Sienna couldn't trust her gut, then what—or who—could she trust? Even sitting with Parker in his SUV, she still felt completely alone. He was little more than a stranger, but she thought that she could believe in him. How could she be sure?

Parker shrugged as he drove. “I guess we'll find out where Nina's allegiances lie one way or the other.”

“And you managed to get an address on my uncle's ranch? Did you sleep at all?”

“A little.” Now it was after six in the morning and they were in the car by consensus. Who wanted to hang around when she could be getting her memories back?

She didn't know whether to get her hopes up that the ranch would provide answers. They were headed there now, hoping it would jog something in her mind. If she cared enough about the ranch to have kept a picture of it, then maybe she'd felt it was secure enough to hide a flash drive there.

Sienna couldn't believe her life was in danger over something as small and innocuous as a flash drive. Though whatever information was on it likely wasn't harmless. Why else would the CIA want it back so badly? Why would one person try to kidnap her, and someone else shoot up her bedroom?

Lord, help us find it.

She had no problem handing it over to Karen if that would stop the threats against her. This whole situation was some kind of crazy multipronged attack. If they were working with one another or instead competing for the flash drive, then she needed to watch her back, her front and both sides.

Sienna pulled her cell phone from her purse and sent Karen a text.

You're not my aunt, are you?

Within seconds the reply came.
I'm your handler.

“Everyone's been lying to me. Karen, making me think she was my aunt. Nina, lying by not telling me I have a best friend. Allowing me to believe there was no one who cared.” She shot Parker a look. “You.”

“What about me?” His jaw was set.

“You tell
me
. I obviously should've known who you were. I picked this place to live, thinking I had some kind of tie to this town. Am I not supposed to conclude that tie was you?”

Parker lifted his hot cup and took a sip. Trying to decide what to tell her?

Sienna glanced toward the window. “If you're going to lie or tell me a half-truth, then don't bother saying anything. I don't want to hear it.”

The highway went south, through farms and tiny towns into northern California. The landscape was all green, trees and fields. Mountains peaked with snow. Beautiful country, but unfamiliar. Like everything else in her life.

The only thing which resonated with her even vaguely was when she read her Bible. The solace in those pages gave her peace, but she struggled to draw on that now. Did she have enough faith that it would survive this trial? She could only pray she did.

“If I tell you, how will you know it's the truth? And what's the point, anyway? It isn't like we can go back to that place. I thought we had something and you chose your job instead. That was it. I care about you, but rehashing everything that went down between us doesn't mean anything when you walked away from it.”

He sounded so dejected Sienna glanced at him. She had chosen her job over him? And what did he mean they'd had something? Were they more than the friends he'd insinuated they'd been? She could see falling for someone like him. Tall, strong. The all-American hero she'd initially seen. That hadn't let up, given he'd been there when she needed him and even brought her to his house. Taken vacation days just to help her.

By his own admission he cared. And Sienna knew she cared about him. She hadn't felt this safe in months. Maybe not even since she woke up. It had been incredibly disorienting, not knowing who she was or who these people were who'd expected her to remember them.

Would she ever remember him?

“Though evidently I was memorable enough that you told Nina all about me.”

“She's my best friend, of course I told her.” When Parker shot her a look, Sienna said, “I don't have to remember her to know that. It's a sacred girl code.”

Parker huffed. “I don't know about girl codes. I was a SEAL. You don't get much more not-girlie than that.”

“I can imagine.” She glanced at him. Should she ask? “Is...that how we met?”

After a moment of quiet, he finally nodded. “We were sent in to rescue you and an asset you were with. Brought you back to safety, then went back and finished the mission.”

“All-American hero.”

Parker looked over. “Huh?”

Sienna shook her head. “Nothing important.”

Parker was the kind of man who knew how to separate his feelings from the job, and that was what he was doing now. He couldn't know that she was growing attached to him, even if it was only because he'd been there for her. He wanted to help, and she was letting him. So what if that meant she just didn't want to be alone?

Parker had to keep thinking it was true that she'd wanted her job more than whatever relationship they'd had. She didn't want him to worry she liked him. Though what wasn't there to like? For whatever reason she'd cut things off between them, Sienna had to stick with that. At least until she knew for sure either way.

Parker changed lanes without indicating. His brow had furrowed as he studied the rearview.

“Is there something wrong?”

His jaw worked side to side. “There might be someone following us.”

Sienna wanted to turn and look out the back window. The glass was tinted, but if there was someone back there, she didn't want to be the one who gave away the fact that they were on to them.

“What are you going to do?”

The highway was headed south. It wasn't difficult to predict where they were going when the road only went one direction. But were they only being tailed, or was their pursuer planning something?

Parker glanced at the signs for the next exit.

“Are we getting off the highway?” All that was there were two fast-food places and a gas station with a car wash.

He sped up. After they passed the exit, Parker cut right and sailed down the lane at the last minute. Sienna glanced back then. A compact car cut across two lanes in front of a semi and followed them.

“You didn't lose them.”

“I know.” Parker's jaw flexed. “But now we know for sure they're actually following us.”

“So what now?” He'd pulled into the gas station parking lot, but their tank was still almost full. They'd refueled not too long ago. “What are we going to do? Shouldn't we be trying to get rid of our tail?”

He headed across the lot. “We're going to get the car washed.”

* * *

Parker grabbed his debit card and the receipt from the machine, then pulled the SUV into the car wash. “Any idea who it is?”

Sienna glanced back.

“Middle-aged white male, brown cap. Dark jacket. Can't see any distinguishing features.” She turned so their eyes met. “Is that what you meant?”

Parker nodded. If they'd had more time, he might have touched her cheek. He might have tried to find the words to tell her how amazing he thought she was, facing all this with no memory. No recall of the skilled woman she used to be.

He looked away, out the back window. The man following them pulled out of the line for the car wash. If it was Parker, he'd be driving around to the front to await their exit and make his attack on them before they knew what was happening. But it was his job to stop the man from doing exactly that—and to keep Sienna safe in the automatic car wash while he did.

He slipped the vehicle into Neutral, leaned over and flipped the latch on the glove box. The weapon inside was unloaded. He handed it to Sienna and then passed her the magazine.

“Slide it up hard. Pull back...”

Sienna cocked it.

“The safety...”

She flipped the safety off.

“Okay, then.” Parker couldn't see the man behind them.

“I didn't like feeling unsafe. I took a class and learned how.”

He grabbed the door handle by his side. “Stay here. If your life is at risk, you fire at your attacker and you aim to kill. There is no other reason to shoot a gun at someone. But you do not leave this car. That weapon is only for an emergency, and it is the farthest thing from what I want to happen to you. I'll be back in a few minutes. You only need to sit tight.”

Thankfully, she nodded with no argument.

Parker breathed a sigh of relief and hopped out of the car. He ducked between the swirling brushes and got sprayed in the face as he sprinted to the entrance. With his shoulder against the wall, he checked the area outside. When he was sure it was clear, he raced out, weapon out in front and angled down, two hands on the grip. He circled the outside of the car wash.

Months ago, Sienna would have been right beside him step for step. Just as capable as he was at going up against this assailant. While part of him mourned the loss of the connection they'd had, he was also glad for the opportunity to protect the woman she was now. Not that the helpless female should be grateful the big strong man could keep her safe. Even when there was nothing between them, not a trace of the fact that he might've traded everything he'd had for her, he still wanted to be the one she turned to.

He might even go so far as to thank the God that Sienna prayed to for the chance to be the one who kept her safe when she needed it the most.

He glanced around the corner of the building. The sight of the car that had followed them, now angled toward the exit where Sienna would emerge, snapped him out of his thoughts. A man stood between the body of the car and the open driver's door. His weapon wasn't visible, but Parker wouldn't take for granted what he couldn't see. No one came to a fight without first arming themselves. Not if they expected to live through it.

Parker ducked between two cars parked by the gas station's small store and pulled out his phone. He only had seconds before the SUV, and Sienna, emerged from the car wash. Phone first, he lifted up, zoomed in and then snatched a picture of the man as best he could from this distance and angle. He would be able to email it in to the office later that morning. Then hopefully they'd be able to get an identity on this man.

His wet clothes were plastered to his body, chilling him in the early-morning air. Parker got close enough so that he saw the man reach into the back of his waistband below his jacket and draw something out.

“Drop it and put your hands on your head.” He used his best “cop” voice.

The man spun. He was older, middle-aged, which to Parker's late thirties meant the man was pushing sixty. The man's eyes narrowed and he started to draw his weapon up.

Parker didn't move except to widen his stance. “Don't.”

The front end of the car was all the way out. Sienna had climbed into the driver's seat. She glanced around and spotted him.

“Put it down.” He didn't want to shoot this guy, whoever he was. But neither could he let the man continue to follow them every step of the way on their search for the flash drive.

The SUV's engine revved.

The man flinched but didn't turn to see what was behind him. And he didn't drop his gun or run away.

Sienna drove toward them. She picked up speed as she got closer and closer to the car and the man. Parker started to back up.

The SUV slammed into the back left corner of the car. The engine revved again as she used the size and momentum of Parker's vehicle to ram the car. Metal crunched against metal as Sienna pushed the car sideways.

The man yelped and dove out of the way. Parker ran around the car to the SUV. She stopped. The gunman was up. Parker flung the rear door open as shots hit the window on the opposite side. Glass shattered and Sienna screamed.

“Drive!”

The SUV shot away and sideswiped the car once more. Gunshots slammed into the back quarter panel and back window as they bumped the curb out of the gas station.

Parker's phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket as he climbed into the front passenger seat.

He offered a distracted “Yes?” and swiped most of the glass from the seat with his sleeve.

“It's Nina.”

“You have interesting timing.”

Karen had indicated Nina wasn't to be trusted. Unless it was some kind of personal difference that put them at odds, there had to be a reason for it. There was no way of knowing, given he or Sienna couldn't exactly pick up the phone and call the CIA and ask.

It could just be that Karen simply didn't want Nina to hinder Sienna's search. Nina had proven to be helpful so far, and he wasn't going to completely shut her out.

He glanced at Sienna; her eyes were wide as she gripped the steering wheel. Had the adrenaline of the past few minutes jogged loose any memories? He couldn't be sure until they got some downtime and he could ask her. “Are you on that guy behind us? Is that why you're calling?”

He glanced over his shoulder but couldn't see out the cracked back window.

“What guy? I'm working a different angle. What happened? Is Sienna okay?”