The Black Sheep's Redemption (16 page)

SEVENTEEN

D
emi listened as Owen and Charles went back and forth about the trip to the Springfield Hotel. They’d decided to wait until after Burke Hennessy’s funeral, which would be in less than two hours. The medical examiner had released the body, declaring all the evidence the police needed had been gathered.

Owen said, “After the funeral, I think I’ll have an officer follow you.”

Charles hesitated. “Why? Burke’s dead.”

Owen lifted a brow. “Burke wasn’t the one shooting at you during the debate.”

“True,” Charles said. “Very true. So he either hired someone or it wasn’t Burke.”

“Exactly why we don’t need to take any chances. Why don’t you take Ryan with you?”

“Ryan?”

“He’s a cop. He has the time. With the attempts on your life, I think it’s the safe way to go.”

Charles thought about it. “I’ve got my weapon.”

“Yeah, but if you shoot him, you don’t have to do the paperwork.”

Charles smiled at Owen’s attempt to lighten the mood. “Good point. All right, see if Ryan can go with us. Couldn’t hurt to have him along.”

“Good.” Charles could hear the relief in Owen’s voice.

“Thanks, Owen.”

“Just stay out of trouble or I’ll never hear the end of it from Ryan.”

* * *

Demi saw Charles’s truck pull up outside of The Reading Nook. Hurrying down the stairs, she couldn’t quell the anxiety churning in her stomach. Today after the funeral, she would hold in her hands things that belonged to her. She was one step closer to finding out who she was. True, she now had a name, but she wanted her memories back.

Hopefully, a visit to the hotel she’d stayed in before the attack would offer that.

And then possibly, a visit to her home.

Her home. What was it like? Would she see pictures of her family, friends? Maybe the school where she taught.

And she would get to spend the day with Charles even if it included a funeral.

She climbed in the passenger seat and Charles said, “I appreciate you going with me.”

“I didn’t really know Burke very well, but I don’t mind going.”

“I feel like a hypocrite.”

“Why? Because you couldn’t stand the man and you’re going to his funeral?”

Charles gave a short humorless laugh. “Exactly.”

“Then why are you going?”

He let out a long sigh. “Because it’s the right thing to do. The man had his issues and I think his wife, Christina, is going to need all the support she can get. She won’t want it from us now, but maybe later, she’ll realize…”

Demi took his hand and squeezed. “You’re a very kind man, aren’t you?”

He flushed. “I try.” He paused. “I have to admit I’m hesitant to show up. I know Dad wants me to go, but I’m not sure that’s the wisest decision he’s made considering Burke’s animosity toward our family.” He shook his head as he made a left turn to head for the church.

Upon their arrival, the parking lot was almost full. In spite of Burke’s attitude toward the Fitzgeralds, he was a popular man in town. Everyone who was anyone in Fitzgerald Bay had come to pay their respects.

Demi looked around and couldn’t help but wonder if the person who’d killed Olivia was nearby. She spotted Meghan Henry and waved. Meghan waved back, but frowned when she saw who Demi was with.

Demi felt her heart dip at the response, but there was nothing she could do about it. Only by the authorities catching the real killer and clearing Charles’s name would everyone finally see their concerns and suspicions had been wrong.

She prayed that happened soon.

“That was kind of Mrs. Mulrooney to offer to keep the children for you,” she said to break the silence.

He smiled, a pulling of his lips that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “She’s a great lady.”

Charles made the appropriate response, but Demi could see his attention was on the people going into the church. He caught her arm. “Do you mind if we go in toward the end?”

“You want to sit in the back?”

“If you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.”

As they waited, Demi watched the crowd. Several people noticed her and Charles standing there and she saw them make comments. She felt Charles tense and was glad neither of them could hear what was being said.

“Are you ready?”

“Whenever you are.”

He took her hand and led her to the door. As they entered, she could see a few of the Fitzgeralds already seated. “You don’t want to sit with your family?”

He shook his head. “I want to be able to see who’s here.”

Demi nodded and they found a seat in the back. She saw Aiden’s salt-and-pepper head held high. Ryan and Owen flanked their father. Seated next to Owen was Paige then Victoria, Keira and Fiona.

Demi glanced toward the door and gasped as she recognized Alan. Charles leaned over. “What is it?”

“Why is he here?” she whispered.

Again, she felt him tense. “I don’t know. Do you want me to ask him?”

Alan finally spotted her and made his way toward her. She gulped and shivered. What was it about him that made her uneasy?

She didn’t have time to try and figure it out. Alan soon stood in front of her. He nodded to Charles, but didn’t take his eyes off Demi. She asked, “What are you doing here, Alan? You didn’t know Burke.”

He shifted side to side for a moment then shoved his hands into the front pockets of his khaki slacks. “I know. But…I knew you’d be here.”

Demi sighed. “Oh, Alan. Let’s get through the funeral, all right?”

“Do you mind if I sit with you?”

“Sure.” She looked at Charles who didn’t look happy, but shrugged. They found their seats with Demi between the men. The tension surrounding them was thick; it had to be visible to anyone who looked at them.

The funeral lasted about an hour. A very long hour where Demi had to consciously remind herself not to squirm.

When it finally ended, Alan turned to her. “Could we go somewhere and talk?”

Demi bit her lip. “I’m sorry, Alan, we’re going to take a little road trip. Another time, all right?”

“Oh, right. Sure.” He gave them a tight smile and left through the side door.

Demi felt the tension ease as she looked at Charles. “I’m sorry about all this. All I want right now is to just to be sure about who I am.”

He placed an arm over her shoulders. “Don’t be sorry.” She shivered at the intensity of his gaze. “But I’ll tell you this. Even if you never remember anything, I already know who you are. You’re beautiful and sweet with an open loving nature that’s not easy to find. You have a strength in you that I don’t think even you fully understand. But I see it and I admire you. Very much.”

Her heart tripped over itself at his gentle words. “Thanks,” she whispered.

“Anytime.”

* * *

Demi’s excitement knew no limits as she and Charles walked to his truck. There, they found Ryan leaning against the vehicle. When he saw them, he climbed into the back. Before he shut the door, Demi asked, “You’re going with us?”

Charles said, “In light of everything going on, we thought it might be best.”

In other words, they were afraid someone would follow them. She gulped. “Okay.” Climbing into the front seat, some of her excitement faded.

But not all of it.

Buckling her seat belt, she turned to Charles. “Thanks for doing this.”

He smiled at her. “No problem.”

Ryan’s phone rang and he talked in a low voice. She heard something about a background check. Demi said to Charles, “Alan offered to take me. I…I didn’t want him to.”

Charles put the truck in gear and she felt his eyes on her for a brief moment before he said, “I’m glad.”

“I wanted to be with you,” she almost whispered.

“And you feel guilty because of that?”

Demi looked out her window and nodded. “Is that wrong?” she asked turning to look at him once again.

Charles sighed. “No, I don’t think so. And not necessarily because you just want to be with me, although I’d like to think that’s why.” His wink made her flush but she couldn’t help the smile. And felt grateful for it. Charles continued, “But you know me. You’re comfortable with me. Alan? You don’t know anything about him. Why would you want a complete stranger sharing what’s bound to be an emotional experience?”

Demi thought about that for a moment. She had to admit he was right. But she also silently admitted that she wanted to be with him and not Alan because she was in love with Charles. Not Alan.

But apparently she’d loved Alan at one time. Hadn’t she?

Confusion and frustration swirled. She’d wanted to know who she was. Now she wasn’t so sure she could handle everything that knowledge came with.

Instead of blurting out her feelings with Ryan in the back, she simply said, “That’s true.”

The rest of the drive was made in silence broken only by Ryan’s phone calls.

He finally hung up just as they pulled into the hotel parking lot.

Demi glanced around praying for a spark of a memory. It was a nondescript place, nothing fancy, but not a dump, either.

“Let’s go see the clerk,” Charles said.

Climbing out of the truck, Demi continued to push her brain. She had a flash, a different one this time. Of running down a dark alley, looking back over her shoulder. She could feel the terror spiking through her and she gasped.

Charles turned and gripped her hand. “Are you all right?”

“Just a memory, I think. I was scared and running from something.”

He and Ryan exchanged a look. Together, Charles still holding her hand, they walked into the hotel. The empty lobby echoed their arrival.

The clerk looked up and smiled. “Hi, I’m Martin Fields. You the folks I’m expecting?”

“We are,” Charles said as he shook the man’s hand.

The clerk’s eyes landed on Demi. “Sure, I remember you. Ms. Smith, right?”

“Actually, it’s Townsend, but I guess I was registered under Smith.”

Confusion flickered, but she felt quite sure it wasn’t the first weird story he’d heard. Mr. Fields said, “I’ll just get your things.”

He disappeared into the back and when he returned, he was holding a laundry basket full of neatly folded clothes. A large cardboard box sat on top of the clothes.

Carrying both items to the dining area to the left of the lobby, he set it down on one of the tables. “You didn’t have much and I’m not exactly sure why I kept it, but maybe it was the Lord’s leading.”

Demi smiled. “I’m sure it was.”

Anxiety gripped her. She inspected the laundry. Lifted a blue cotton dress from the top and shook it out. A memory flashed, but it was gone before she could grasp it. Another dress stared up at her. She set the first dress aside and ran her hands over the flower print on the second dress.

“Demi?” Charles’s voice reached her through the fog of her scattered thoughts. “Are you okay?”

“I wore this when I flew home,” she whispered.

“You remember?”

“Not really… .” She bit her lip. “And yet, I do. I remember hugging someone, a woman, in the airport. Then being on a plane.” She frowned. “But it’s so vague, just bits and pieces. Snatches here and there.”

“That’s more than you had just a little while ago.”

“True.” She looked in the cardboard box and pulled out a framed photograph. The woman wore a floppy hat and a long button up shirt. She had weathered skin and a big smile. The man beside her wore khaki shorts and a blue T-shirt. “My parents.”

She knew it without question. And felt a longing to see them. Then wrap her arms around them.

A tear slipped down her cheek and she brushed it away.

Charles’s comforting presence behind her gave her the strength to pull out the other items. A few toiletries, another picture with her, a young man in his early twenties. Who was he? A friend? A cousin? A brother?

She frowned and went through the rest of the pictures. Biting her lip, she looked up at the men. “I don’t have a picture of Alan.”

“You don’t?” Charles leaned closer.

“No. I wonder why.”

“Maybe you had it on you when you were attacked,” Ryan suggested.

“Maybe.” She opened a small bag and pulled out a small card. “My driver’s license!”

Looking at it, she read the address. “Forty-five Lenox Lane.”

“That’s about twenty minutes from here,” the clerk said.

When Charles lifted a brow at him, he shrugged. “I recognize that street. I used to drive a FedEx truck before getting into the hotel business a year ago.”

“I want to go home.” As soon as she said the words, the fear hit her. She began to shake.

“Demi?” Ryan asked.

Charles gripped her fingers. “What is it?”

“I can’t go home. It’s not safe there,” she blurted out.

Charles looked at Ryan. “How far from her home was she found?”