Silent Run Read Free Page A

hang on to something solid. A wave of dizziness sent the room spinning around and around. She blinked several times, trying to focus on the badge on the deputy’s chest.
    She flashed on another image.
    A man pulled a badge out of his inside suit pocket. She was shocked to learn he wasn’t who he’d said he was. He’d lied to her. Now she was in trouble. And it wasn’t just his badge that told her that; it was his smug expression, the look in his eyes that said he had her right where he wanted her, cornered and scared and very, very alone.
    â€œMiss, are you all right? Should I call for the nurse?"
    The deputy’s voice brought her back to reality. She looked up at him, wondering if he was really there to help her, or if he had a hidden agenda. Was he the faceless man from her memory? Or just who he’d said he was -- the officer investigating her car accident? How could she know? She glanced at the closed door behind him, wondering if there was anyone on the other side who would come to her aid.
    The deputy’s eyes narrowed as the silence between them lengthened. He wouldn’t have offered to call for the nurse if he were worried about being discovered in her room. And the doctor had obviously already met him. She was being paranoid. “I’m all right,” she said belatedly.
    â€œWhat did you remember?"
    â€œNothing,” she said quickly, wondering why her first instinct was to lie. But she didn’t have time to analyze that now. The deputy was waiting. “I can’t remember anything about my daughter or myself. I wish to God I could."
    â€œSo do I,” the deputy said heavily.
    She heard the deep note of concern in his voice. “What aren’t you telling me?” she asked.
    He stared back at her for a long moment, then said, “We found the child’s shoe a few yards from the car. It’s possible it flew out during the crash, since the back door was jammed open. Or..."
    â€œOr what?” she asked as he paused a moment too long. A terrible fear swept through her. “Or what?” she repeated.
    â€œDepending on your daughter’s age, it’s possible that she got out of the seat and wandered away. That’s why I’d like to verify whether or not she was in the car with you at the time of the accident."
    â€œOh, my God!”
    â€œTake it easy,” the deputy said quickly. “We have a search party in the canyon right now. Everything that can be done is being done. What I need from you is as much information as I can possibly get about your daughter."
    She wanted to scream in frustration. Of course he needed answers, but she had none to offer. Knowing that her child was missing, maybe alone in the wilderness... she couldn’t stand it -- the fear was overwhelming.
    â€œDo you remember being in the car after you went off the road?” Manning asked.
    â€œWhat?” she asked, her panic making it difficult to think.
    â€œThe car. Do you remember being in the car after you crashed? If you were conscious at all, you might have spoken to your child. You might have heard her cry."
    She thought for a long moment. “I don’t think so. But wait, wouldn’t the person who saw my car go off the side of the road know if my baby was there?"
    The deputy shook his head. “Your car was in a deep canyon. It was pitch-black last night and storming. Your vehicle couldn’t be seen from the road. If the witness hadn’t actually observed your car cross the center line and go through the guardrail, it could have been days before anyone found you. As it was, a good fifteen minutes passed before the paramedics arrived, and another ten to fifteen before they managed to get down that steep hill to your car. I don’t know how old your daughter is, but I have a couple of kids, and I’d say that shoe looks like it would fit a one- to two-year-old. It’s unlikely a child of that age could unlatch the