But she hadn’t seen any of those yet.
The middle drawer of her dresser was open, so something had made her want to look there. If she found something, I had no idea what it might have been.
I dialed her father, panic making my heart thunder so hard I could barely breathe. It was very late. He’d be asleep.
I got Marcus’s voice mail and left a quick message saying Ava had lost her memory from a seizure and had taken off on foot. When I hung up, I wondered, what should I do?
I could drive around. She had to be walking. Most everything was closed this late. I’d take it slow, covering all the terrain.
I’d bring the book. Explain what it all meant. I snatched up the notebook and my keys and raced to my car.
I had to find her.
CHAPTER 39
Ava
Nobody showed up outside my apartment to give me a ride.
The streetlights lit my way as I hurried down the sidewalk. A car approached, but a man was driving.
Men can’t be trusted.
I hid behind a tree until it passed.
I came to a street and a green sign on the corner read “Fifth Street.”
Fifth!
If I kept walking, I could get to First.
I moved quickly. The next sign read Sixth, so I turned around and headed back the other way. Fifth again. Then Fourth. Then Third.
When I arrived at First Street, I paused. I had no idea whether to turn right or left, or how far down this street Big Harry’s would be.
But this was the road we’d driven on from the hospital.
We’d come from the left before turning in. I closed my eyes, trying to picture the route. But I hadn’t lookedclosely enough. I couldn’t remember if we’d passed Big Harry’s Diner.
This street was wide, with businesses on both sides. A man sat on a covered bench.
I hurried past him. Cars moved in steady lines, their headlights piercing the dark. Two women stood beneath a lamp, talking and laughing.
I scanned the buildings. Auto Service. Pizzeria. Fresh Nails.
No Big Harry’s.
I clenched my hands into fists and approached the two women. They wore tall shoes and bright makeup. They paused and looked at me.
“Do you know where Big Harry’s Diner is?” I asked.
“That way,” one pointed. “About two blocks. Kinda rough part of town, though, for a fresh face like you. Sure you want to be walking alone this time of night?”
My belly quaked. “Thank you,” I said. The women shrugged and resumed their conversation.
I stayed close to the buildings and almost jumped when I crossed the street and a car honked at me.
But I saw it. A sign that readBig Harry’s Dinerlit up red on a brick building.
