Forget to Remember

goes to England, which she plans to do, she’ll look for Cynthia, so it’s search expense.”
    Paul, who’d been acting like a caged beast, now had a crafty look on his face. “What if I just say no?”
    “What if I just take my driver’s license to the authorities and tell them where I got it?” Carol had learned she could meet Paul’s best stare. She did so now.
    “Using an invalid license can get you into a lot of trouble.”
    “Not nearly as much as it can get you into. I have nothing to lose since I’m a non-person.”
    Paul suddenly pushed his chair back hard so it fell over with a bang as he stood up. Carol was startled and wondered whether he would try to wrest the driver’s license and picture from her. She had placed them in another room for safekeeping.
    Mrs. Horton had told Audrey to listen to their conversation from the next room after she served lunch, and to have a phone with her in case she needed to call for help. Mrs. Horton had said she didn’t think Paul would get violent, but she added, “It doesn’t hurt to take precautions.”
    Paul backed up and leaned against the granite kitchen counter. He appeared to be thinking. “I need an address for the passport and driver’s license.”
    This sounded like a concession to Carol.
    Mrs. Horton said, “Use my address.”
    “That could get you into trouble.” Carol didn’t want to endanger her. She was amazed Mrs. Horton would condone breaking the law, but she had said upon hearing Carol’s story that if laws didn’t protect you, they weren’t good laws.
    “Paul will see to it I don’t get into trouble, because if I do, I’ll bring him down with me.”
    Paul was consulting his Blackberry. “Give me three days.”
    Watching him gave Carol an idea. “There’s one more thing. I want my own cell phone—paid for.”
    “Come to my office on Friday afternoon at five thirty.”
    Paul handed Carol one of his business cards, took his coat and attaché case, and left without another word.

    CHAPTER 12
    Since Paul hadn’t said anything to the contrary, Carol assumed she could keep her room at the Carolina Inn while she waited for him to produce the documents. When they kicked her out into the street, she would know she had overstayed her welcome.
    Mrs. Horton offered to let her use the spare upstairs bedroom at the farm. It was a tempting offer, but as much as she liked Mrs. Horton, she didn’t want to hang out with her all day. In addition, the farm was a long way from anywhere.
    She could always downgrade to a cheaper motel and pay for it with some of the $500 Paul had sent her. She’d been hoarding it and had almost all of it left. Her biggest expense had been her haircut before she left L.A. Because of the uncertainty of her situation, she wasn’t spending a penny she didn’t have to. The only other asset she had was an open-ended e-ticket for a return flight.
    Audrey drove Carol back to the inn in mid-afternoon at Carol’s request. She promised Mrs. Horton she would see her again before she returned to L.A. The first thing she did when she got to her room was to call the Ramirez residence, hoping she would catch Rigo. He answered on the third ring.
    “Hi, Rigo, it’s Carol.”
    “Carol. How are you?” He sounded surprised and, perhaps, relieved.
    “I’m fine. How are you doing?” This felt awkward.
    “I’m doing well. Are you Cynthia Sakai?”
    “I’m afraid not. I look like her, but I’m not her.” She didn’t want to go into detail.
    “When are you coming back here?”
    “Not for a few days. I have some things I want to do first.”
    “My parents are very worried about you. They want you home so they can keep an eye on you. Are you able to get back? Do you need help?”
    Only your parents are worried? “That’s very sweet. No thanks, I don’t need help. I can get back.” At least she had somewhere to go. “I’m working on my identity.” That was only half a lie.
    “Would it help if you had an e-mail address? I can add new addresses to my account.”
    “That would be great.”
    “What would you like it to be?”
    “How about carolg2009, since it feels like I was just born.”
    “Hold on.”
    Rigo got back on the line and told her the address was acceptable. He gave her the suffix and all the information she needed to access it from any computer. She thanked him, and they chatted for a few minutes. He said he’d had a good job interview. He was optimistic. She told him a little about Mrs. Horton