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“She’s fine,” Joann said. She motioned for Merrick to take a seat at the table.
Merrick didn’t accept her offer. “I want to see her,” Merrick said and walked towards the back room.
“You can look, but don’t disturb her,” Joann said. “She needs her rest.”
Merrick looked in on the girl, and for the third time in twenty-four hours, he felt his heart squeezed inside his chest. What was it about her? Yeah, he wanted to keep her around because of her talent, and yeah, even with the bandage around her head, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, but she was an enigma to him. He didn’t know a thing about her – other than that she sang like an angel and had moves the devil’s harlot would envy. Why was he so entranced?
A part of him hoped her amnesia would still be in force when she woke up. He’d decided he would tell her lies, make up stories, whatever it took to make sure she’d agree to go back with him. And, as he watched her chest heave slowly under the covers, he realized that it was about more than just procuring a great talent before someone else did. More than anything, he just wanted to protect her, which meant getting her the hell away from Misty Falls.
When Merrick returned to the table, he avoided chitchat. He was trying to come up with the right words. He needed Charlie and Joann’s help if he was going to be successful in executing his plan. Joann put some eggs and bacon on his plate and stuck the dish in front of him, but Merrick ignored it.
“Charlie, Joann,” he began, his tone serious. “I need you to do me a big favor.”
“Anything,” Charlie said immediately, but Joann crossed her arms and kept her mouth in a thin line. Did she know what was coming?
“It’s about the girl and her amnesia. If she wakes up and still doesn’t remember anything, I’d like to keep it that way for now and not tell her anything about what happened last night.”
“What are you saying?” Joann said.
“It’s clear she’s in some kind of serious trouble in this town, and the only way I can think to keep her safe is to get her away from here, as soon as possible.”
He paused and checked for a reaction. Charlie nodded as if that made perfect sense. Joann pursed her lips but didn’t argue with him. Encouraged, Merrick went on.
“So, follow my lead. Don’t mention guns, or the sheriff, or even that she probably lives in Misty Falls.”
“So, you want us to lie about who she is and where she’s from?” Joann said.
Merrick didn’t miss the sarcasm in her voice, and he didn’t appreciate her tone. She was supposed to be his employee, not his mother. He wasn’t used to having his dictates second-guessed.
“That is exactly correct,” he said without guilt. “Just follow my lead, and only repeat what I tell her, nothing else. Are we clear?”
“What if she remembers what you said last night, when you told her you were engaged? Are we to go along with that lie as well?” Joann said, asking the question as if clarifying a color choice at the paint store.
Merrick started. Had he really said that? He’d totally forgotten. What in the hell had he been thinking?
“Well, she was under the influence of the doctor’s pain meds, so I’m pretty sure she won’t remember any of that. I’ve got a helicopter coming, and I plan to take her back with me to Atlantic City.”
“What about the MRI Doctor Mitchell suggested?”
“I’ll see that she gets top-notch medical attention as soon as we arrive in Jersey.”
Joann’s face softened. “Alright. I suppose that makes sense.”
Merrick saw her brow furrow again. “But what do we do if she remembers everything, including her real name, and what happened last night? What then?”
“Hello?” A tentative voice caused the three people at the table to start and turn around. Merrick’s heart thudded as he spotted the girl standing in the doorway of the guest room. His face heated with guilt. How long had she been standing there? Had she heard what they’d been saying?
The girl’s legs wobbled, and she grabbed for the doorjamb to stop her fall. In an instant, Merrick was at her side, guiding her by the elbow to the closest place to sit down. After he settled her onto the small couch, he knelt down beside her and held her hands.
“How are you feeling this morning, sweetheart?” he asked, afraid of what she might say.
“I’m hungry.”
That broke the tension. Everyone including Merrick laughed. She looked at them, and her face lit into a smile so broad it made Merrick’s heart ache.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, nothing, dear. We’re just glad you’re feeling better,” said Joann. “Let me get you something to eat.” Joann headed to the kitchen, returning a moment later with a plate filled with bacon, eggs and toast.
