know. Is that all in the sack?”
“That’s all.” She turned the bag upside down, and a gold necklace plopped onto her blanket. Her eyes grew wide. “I didn’t see that.”
Drake started to reach for the piece of jewelry, stopped and brought his arm back to his side. His gaze latched on to a letter carved into the oval locket. “I think it opens.”
With trembling hands, she picked up the delicate chain and palmed the golden ornament. With her stare fixed on it, she slowly opened it and gasped. “I think this may be a photo of me. Is it?” She touched her face as though her fingers could discern the answer by feel. She passed the necklace to him, her forehead scrunched.
She continued to shake, and all he wanted to do was comfort and reassure her everything would be all right. But he couldn’t. He had no idea what was going on. He had to remain detached, professional.
How did she know what she looked like if she couldn’t remember who she was? Slowly he examined the two photos in the locket. “This is you, and the picture of the baby is the same little boy you had with you.”
“So I must be his mother.” A quaver flowed through each word.
“Probably. You’re connected somehow. How did you know what you look like?”
“I...” She shook her head slowly. “I remember dreaming of this baby and me being in trouble.”
He studied the pictures, then the woman he’d rescued. He saw similarities between them, but the child’s coloring was darker, possibly of Hispanic descent. “What trouble?”
She closed her eyes, her head dropping forward.
Had she lost consciousness again? Or was she pretending?
Her eyes suddenly opened wide. “Right before I woke up, I remembered a vague image of me running with him clutched in my arms.”
“Why were you running?”
Her large brown eyes, filled with bewilderment, lifted to his. “I don’t know.”
“Does the photo of the baby spark any other memories?”
“No, but maybe if I see him, it will.”
“I’ll let the nursing staff know. He’s still being given fluids through an IV.”
“What hospital am I in?”
“Cactus Grove Hospital.”
She frowned.
“Does Cactus Grove, Texas, sound familiar to you?”
“No. Is this where you live?”
“Yes, outside town on a family ranch. Cactus Grove, along Interstate 10, has about forty thousand residents.” He gave the necklace back to the woman. “Does the engraved letter K on the locket mean anything to you? The initial of your first name?”
She fiddled with the piece of jewelry, rubbing her thumb over the letter. “Not sure. Maybe?”
“Or your last name?”
She shook her head. “No idea, but I guess until I figure out who I am, I’d rather go by a name that might be mine.”
“Kay?” He spelled the word out.
She nodded.
“How about the baby?”
“Maybe when I see him and hold him, I’ll remember something.”
“Let me check if you can as soon as possible. I’ll talk with the head nurse.” He walked toward the door.
“You’re leaving?” Her voice cracked on the last word.
The sound shivered down him, and again he found himself wondering what it would feel like not remembering who you were—alone, everyone a stranger. “Only to talk with Rosa Martinez. I’ll be right back.”
In the hallway, Drake quickly located the head nurse and requested the baby be brought to Kay when possible.
The nurse glanced at the door to Kay’s room. “She remembered her name?”
“Not exactly, but the locket she’d been wearing had an engraved K on it and two photos inside—one of Baby Doe and the other of the woman I brought in.”
“I like the name. I have an aunt Kay. It sounds like she might be the child’s mother after all. Seeing her baby might help with her memory. I’ll check on the little boy and personally bring him to Kay as soon as possible. After the doctor deals with an emergency, he’ll be here to check Baby Doe for possible release later today.”
“Thanks.” As Drake made his way back to the hospital room, his cell phone rang. Noticing it was from the El Paso Texas Rangers headquarters, he quickly answered it. “Jackson here. What’s up?”
“The park ranger at Big Bend National Park called. A murdered couple has been found.”
“And he wants us to handle the case rather than the FBI or their own investigators?” He’d rather stay and be here for Kay. She didn’t have anyone else.
“It was Park Ranger Calhoun who asked for you.”
The guy he’d dealt with after bringing Kay to the ranger’s station at the park. “Is this tied to the woman I rescued?”
“Possibly. The couple killed was Clarence and Susan Moore.”
A chill streaked down his spine. “Tell him I’m on my way.” Now he had to tell Kay he was leaving. He knocked, then pushed open the door.
As he entered, she glanced his way. “Will she bring the baby to me?”
“Yes, as soon as possible.”
Kay—having a name felt so much more normal to him—wadded the blanket in her fists. “I’ve been trying to remember while you were gone. Nothing. Now I’m not even sure about what I thought I dreamed. I tried to picture that last image, and I can’t.”
She looked lost. He hated to leave. “I never recall my dreams after I wake up.” He cleared his throat. “I have to leave for a while.”
“I was hoping you could be here when I see the baby.”
“I wish I could, but—” he left his card on the bedside table “—the nurse is waiting on the doctor to check the little boy. If you need to talk with me, call me. There will be times the cell reception won’t be good, but leave a message and I’ll call back when I can. I should be able to return by early evening.”
“That long?”
“It’s important, or I wouldn’t leave.” He didn’t want to tell her anything else. The couple’s murder very likely didn’t have anything to do with Kay—at least he hoped. She didn’t need to worry about that on top of all she had to deal with. He turned to leave, stopped and looked back at
