Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
I added, “I paid to have it all packed up and shipped here. It should be arriving any day now.”
Jonathon stood. “Good. I want you to comb through everything. Any tiny little thing could trigger the repressed memories.”
“What about hypnosis?” Billy asked.
Randy shook his head. “It’s too controversial and often discredited in a criminal investigation. If we try to use it to get Mallory to remember what happened, a good defense lawyer can say it’s invalid or false unless there’s physical proof to back it up.”
Billy shook his head. “I’m just saying for the poor woman to get her memory back. Not for the case.”
Jonathon added, “The best we can hope for is that she can regain her memory on her own. Hopefully, something will trigger it…but Mallory, there’s a chance you might not remember anything at all.”
Letting out a long sigh, she slowly shook her head. “At this point, I’m not sure I want to remember what happened.”
I squeezed her hand.
She smiled sadly at me and said, “Maybe the personal items will help spark something.”
Jonathon and Randy started to speak with one another, and I turned to Mallory. “Are you okay? Do you want to rest or anything?”
She shook her head. “I’m fine. I am glad the suspicion was taken off of your brother.”
“Yeah, me too. I hated even thinking it, but I had to.”
After everyone left, Mallory made her way into the kitchen and started pulling things out to bake. It hadn’t taken me long to figure out that was her way of handling stress or anxiety. I grabbed a beer, and Piper and I went to the backyard.
There was someone out there, someone willing to keep a woman locked up and then hurt her, possibly even kill her. The idea that I knew them, or could have passed them on the street caused a shiver to run over my entire body. There was a monster on the loose and we had no freaking idea who in the hell it was.
Feeling Mallory before she even said anything, I turned to see her standing there, a look of concern on her face.
“Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“It’s just the idea that this person is out there. They may have already taken another person and we have no idea who it is.”
A crease formed between her brows. “Do you think I made a mistake in filing the police report so late?”
Letting out a long breath, I stared back out over the mountains. “I don’t honestly know, Mallory. I understand why you didn’t want to. I think I just feel helpless. Like I want to do something, but I don’t know what to do.”
She blew out her breath. “I’m scared, Liam.”
Standing, I drew her body against mine. “There is one thing I know for sure, Mallory, whoever did this to you will never touch you again—or I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Mallory
His laughter filled the air, and I felt my lungs tighten. I couldn’t breathe.
“Help me! Please, someone help me!”
“No one is going to hear you, so scream as loudly as you like,” he whispered against my ear. I squeezed my eyes shut tighter.
“Please let me go! Please!”
He laughed again and my entire body shook with fear.
I jumped when I felt him touch my face. “I stumbled on you, beautiful girl. I may have to keep you around a bit longer to enjoy my prize.”
“No!” I cried out as I pushed him away from me. “Get away from me! Leave me alone!”
Strong, warm arms engulfed me, and I no longer felt afraid. I was safe. I was finally safe.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re safe with me, Mallory.”
My eyes fluttered open and Liam was the first thing I saw. I smiled. “Liam.”
He smoothed the hair from my face as he said, “You were having a nightmare.”
“I was back in the basement, and he was there. I still can’t see his face, but that laugh.” I closed my eyes and sighed.
“We’re going to find him, Mallory. I promise you.”
I nodded. “I just wish I could remember something. Anything. I feel like it’s right there…out of reach, and if I could only just remember something, it will all come back to me.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Food sounds good,” I stated as I forced myself to get out of the warm bed and followed Liam into the kitchen. When I looked into the living room, I paused. “Are those my boxes?”
Liam followed my gaze. “Yes. They were delivered not that long ago. The furniture is in the storage area of the barn. I didn’t want to wake you up and ask if you wanted it in the house, so I just figured we could store it there until you know what you want to do with it.”
Smiling, I reached up and kissed him quickly on the lips. “Thank you for getting this all here to me, and so quick!”