Page 46 of Fracture

Vinnie exhaled. “I know. I’ll see you as soon as I can get back here.”

“Be safe. Kick some ass out there.”

Vinnie chuckled. He stepped back in front of her and kissed her hard, then he was gone.

Lorelei didn’t move for a long minute, listening to the sounds of him locking the door, then walking down the hallway and down the stairs. She strained to hear him, holding her breath until the only thing she could hear was the blood rushing in her ears.

The computer glared at her.

“Dammit.”

Waiting for Vinnie was the easy choice. It meant she wasn’t alone. But there were still a lot of things Lorelei didn’t know about herself, about the woman she was before she lost her memory.

Did she want to discover the truth with Vinnie there? Or was it better to get a peek inside her mind when she was alone?

She moved to the couch and sat down. She rested her crutches against the cushions. She considered turning on the TV, but she wanted to be able to hear any noises outside the apartment. To hear if someone approached.

It was strange being terrified of being alone. Lorelei knew it wasn’t how she lived her life before. She lived alone and worked alone, going to meet an informant alone the night she disappeared, according to what she was told by others.

But she hadn’t been alone since Vinnie found her. The closest was when she went to the bathroom or took a shower. And even then, Vinnie was close enough to hear if she needed help.

Now she was alone. Her thoughts, her fears, and her brand new laptop were the only things to keep her company.

Karli would be there in forty-five minutes. Maybe less. It was now or never if Lorelei wanted to get a peek into her before life without someone looking over her shoulder.

She drew a breath and picked up the laptop. She pulled it onto her lap and opened the lid. It started immediately, a lock screen preventing her from gaining access.

She touched the fingerprint scanner. A circle spun on the screen, then it unlocked and her work life flashed on the screen.

Lorelei watched as it all came up, one program after another. She leaned back and watched, letting it all come up before she picked a place to start.

“Guess this one is as good as any.”

11

A knock on the door startled Lorelei away from the file she was reading. She was so involved she didn’t realize how much time had passed. Or that she didn’t hear people walking around outside the apartment door.

“Lorelei! Open the door.” The knocking resumed after Karli’s shouts.

“Coming!” Lorelei called back, as much to let her cousin know she was okay as to tell her it would be a minute.

Lorelei stood and grabbed her crutches. She was more comfortable with them than when she walked out of the hospital, but she was still slow. She couldn’t wait to be done with them, but at least she could handle getting around.

Lorelei unlocked the knob and deadbolt, then opened the door for Karli to walk in. Karli’s worried look had Lorelei on alert immediately.

“What’s wrong?” Lorelei asked.

“I thought something happened to you. I texted you when I got here but you didn’t answer. I worried something happened. I’m glad I was wrong.”

“I’m fine,” Lorelei said, waving her hand toward the computer. “I decided to look at the computer Adam had sent over.”

“Did you remember anything?” Karli’s hopeful gaze made Lorelei snort.

“I wish, but no. It’s like drinking from a fire hose. There’s so much, and I can’t understand even half of it. I feel even more confused than before.”

“Do you want to talk it out? I don’t know if that’s allowed.”

Lorelei shrugged. “I don’t know either. But it’s not like you’re going to help the other side.”