Page 71 of Fracture

Lorelei wondered who she was speaking to. It couldn’t have been the police.

“Agent Sloane is here.” Abigail glanced at Lorelei. “She doesn’t know anything.” Another pause, and Abigail looked away. “I can’t tell if he left, but I want him put away.”

“Who was that?” Lorelei asked when Abigail hung up the phone.

“It was Samuel MacNeil.”

“Who’s that?” Lorelei asked.

“He works for Rose Protection Agency. He and his partner, Austin Ward, kept me safe after you found me in Boston. You brought me here. Samuel was supposed to be the only person who knew my location.”

“I’m sorry,” Lorelei said. “I have no idea why I knew your name.”

“You know Abigail Painter. That’s not my real name.”

“What’s your real name?”

“It doesn’t matter. I just…”

Abigail jumped when the man banged on the door again, letting them know he was still there, and still trying to get inside.

“How did he follow you? Did he track your car?”

“I took a ride share,” Lorelei said.

“Your phone?”

“It’s new. FBI issued.”

“Then he must be watching your credit cards or something. There had to have been a way for him to track you.”

The door rattled again, and this time, a different voice called out.

“It’s me. He’s gone.”

“Dammit,” Abigail breathed. She went to the door and unlocked it, letting two large men inside.

The first one looked around the room with a careful gaze. He was older, probably close to sixty if Lorelei had to guess. His hair was cut short, and what was left was gray. He had sharp, assessing brown eyes that scanned her, then quickly moved on. The gun strapped to his thigh, the knife on his belt, and the size of the man’s arms said he was used to making shit happen.

The second man was younger, likely late-thirties. He was dressed similarly in all black, with weapons strategically placed. His brown hair was longer, giving the man a softer look. His blue eyes added to the softness of him. He spared Lorelei a smile before he continued his observation of the room.

“Are you okay?” the first man asked Abigail.

Abigail nodded. “I saw her outside and walked out to see why she was here. She said she has amnesia and has no idea what’s going on.”

“She’s telling the truth,” the first man confirmed.

“He followed her. I don’t know how, but he followed her here.”

“We’ll get you out of here,” the second man said. “We won’t let him get you.”

Abigail nodded.

The first man walked over to Lorelei and stuck out his hand. “We’ve met, but since you don’t remember, I figure I should introduce myself. I’m Samuel MacNeil.”

Lorelei shook the man’s rough hand. She wanted to recognize him, but there was nothing there.

“That’s Austin Ward. We both work for Rose Protection Agency. We helped your partner and his wife, and our team was assigned to Dawn Patterson a few months ago.”