Silent Vows Read Free Page A

It’s not like she’s going anywhere.” Jake had a few years on Todd and one failed marriage under his belt. His two kids visited him every other weekend and for one month in the summer. Even with alimony payments, he still felt the need to find wife number two. Fortunately for Todd, no candidate was sitting in the seat at the bar next to them or Todd would have been talking to himself. With an eligible woman in the room, Jake’s attention span was nil.
    “Something isn’t right,” Todd continued.
    Jake rolled his eyes and shook his head. “What isn’t right?”
    “Her story is bogus. Who wakes up in the middle of an amusement park? No one saw her go down. It isn’t like Atlantis Island is that big. Someone would have noticed an unconscious woman.”
    “But someone found her there, right?”
    “No, she was found wandering the streets near the Gods of Mythology attraction. She only said she 12

    Silent Vows

    woke up on the island. I’ll check their surveillance tapes tomorrow.”
    “I’m sure the lawyers already have them. You might need to check with the boss and subpoena them.” Jake ordered a second round.
    “Possibly.”
    “So she was found in the park, no injuries and no signs of sleeping in the elements?”
    “Right. No forced entry, she could have found a corner and hid in it until the park closed.”
    “She would have been picked up on a camera somewhere. I know I wouldn’t be able to stay in one place all night long in the middle of that park. I’ve always wanted to climb on top of the T-Rex.”
    Todd took a long drink, sat back and scratched his five o’clock shadow. “The thing is...I don’t think she has any idea about Magicland’s worth or influence.”
    His partner grunted his disbelief.
    “No, really. She threatened to leave the hospital when I told her someone else was footing her bill.”
    “But she didn’t,” Jake said.
    “Because she had nowhere to go. You should’ve seen her. Something in her eyes spoke the truth when her mouth didn’t. Weird and doesn’t fit with the rest of her story.”
    “Could be a domestic violence thing, and she’s trying to get away from the old man.”
    “Maybe.” Todd’s head started to pound despite the beer. After hours of investigative work, he was no closer to the truth behind Jane Doe.
    “So, tell me about your date with Sheila.” Todd changed the subject.

    ****
A large, dark-skinned woman shuffled her way into Myra’s room first thing in the morning. “I’m Keisha from social services.”
    “Good morning,” Myra pushed her plate of food 13

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    away and diverted her attention to the woman at her bedside.
    “I see they have chorizo today,” Keisha nodded toward the food. “Not the healthiest breakfast served in the hospital, but it is one of the better tasting.”
    “’Tis quite spicy.”
    “And terribly fattening, too, I’m sure. Not that you have to worry about that.”
    “I suppose not.”
    “The doctors aren’t ready to release you yet, but when they do I have a list of shelters in the area which might be of service.” She handed Myra a piece of paper with names and addresses on it. “There’s an abuse center on the list if you need it.”
    Myra peered into the woman’s mind and sensed a lack of trust.
    “The lawyers from Magicland agreed to accommodate you for awhile.”
    “No. They have helped enough.”
    The social worker gave her a puzzled look before she gathered her things. “Either way, there are people who can help you.”
    Keisha stood to leave.
    “Thank you for your concern.”
    Keisha walked away shaking her head.
    It took a lot of willpower to stay put. Every fiber of Myra’s being told her she had no right to stay in the hospital when someone else was paying her way.
    Officer Blakely said he would return. Hopefully he would bring Lizzy and Myra would have her problems solved.
    Over twenty-four hours had passed since she’d left 1576 and taken her first trip through time. The