She took a deep breath and announced, “She’s awake.”
Asher’s face appeared above Addison’sshoulder. There was fear in his eyes, but he smiled. “Hey.”
“Hi,” I croaked. My throat felt dry. I pulled down the mask covering my mouth and nose so I could talk. “What’s going on?”
“What do you remember?” Asher asked.
“Can I have some water, please?”
Asher nodded and poured me a cup, guiding the straw to my lips. After taking a few precious sips, I told him what I could remember. Everythingfrom my car’s flat tire to the cops showing up. “I... I... He was reaching for his gun, so I shoved him as hard as I could and threw myself down.”
Jake popped up on the other side of Addison. “And hit your head on an endcap, knocking yourself out in the process.” He shook his head, chuckling. “Probably the best thing that could have happened to you.”
It sure as hell didn’t feel like the bestthing. “What do you mean?” I asked.
“If you were awake, he could have used you as a shield to get out of there. But he couldn’t exactly carry your unconscious body out of the store while fending off the cops. Knocking yourself out most likely saved your life,” Jake said.
“I didn’t think about that.”
Addison squeezed my hand again. “I’m so thankful my bestie is a klutz.”
“Now about this moneyhe was looking for...” Jake started.
“She just woke up,” Asher said, circling the bed to take my other hand. “Can’t we give her a few moments?”
“No.” Jake frowned.
Addison started to object, but he held his hands up.
“Look, we want to keep her safe. Her attacker is still out there, and God only knows how many other people he’s working with. If Dylan knows anything about whatever money they’relooking for, coming clean with us is the best chance she has of getting them off her back.”
A memory flitted through my mind. I reached for it, but only found pain. “Ow.”
“What is it?” Addison asked.
“There’s something. I’m trying to think, but it literally hurts right now.”
I closed my eyes and let my mind wander back to the store. The face of my attacker appeared. His familiar voice. Thefeel of his breath against my neck. The stab of the gun into my ribs. Back to his face. Crooked nose. Razor thin lips. I knew his face.
“I recognized the gunman,” I announced.
Jake’s eyebrows rose. “You did?”
“Yes. I don’t know his name, but he worked with me. He’s one of the security guards. He was there the day I got fired.”
“All right,” Jake said, typing something into his phone. “I’llhave Pike pull the security personnel records and we’ll get you some pictures to look through.”
“Also, I’m pretty sure his voice was one of the ones that Addison recorded in my apartment.”
“Good.” Jake nodded.
“I have no clue what money he was talking about though,” I said. “I only told him I did to buy time. I’m guessing it has something to do with the spreadsheet, though.”
“The spreadsheetyou no longer have?” Jake asked.
I looked to Addison for help.
“Not exactly,” she said.
