Forget to Remember

a shooting in California.”
    “My friend Rigo saw the man.”
    “Could he identify him in a lineup?”
    “No. It was dark. I saw him for a second but only as a silhouette.”
    “I’ve done some defense work, and I can tell you this is one case I’d gladly take. I wouldn’t have any trouble getting an acquittal on all three counts.”
    Carol felt upset because the way Paul said it made it sound as if her testimony wouldn’t be believed. “How are we going to protect Grandma—Mrs. Horton?”
    “We have to go to the police.”
    Carol exchanged looks with Mrs. Horton. She’d been afraid of this.
    Paul continued. “It’s their job to protect you. Carol, since you think Michael’s tried to kill you three times already, not going to the police isn’t going to help you. He’ll keep trying until he succeeds or until the police catch him. Remember I have a vested interest in your safety. I wouldn’t recommend this if it weren’t the best thing to do.”
    Mrs. Horton nodded. “Paul’s absolutely right. When I agreed not to tell anybody, I hoped it would protect you, but now I see it hasn’t—and won’t. I always thought there was something odd about Michael. He’s mentally unbalanced. As long as he’s free, Cynthia isn’t safe.”
    Mrs. Horton had adapted to her being Cynthia faster than she, herself, had. They agreed the three of them would talk to the police together in the morning. Carol and Paul left at the same time. Mrs. Horton offered to let Carol stay with her, but she had already paid for the night at the motel and her belongings were there. She said she’d move in with Mrs. Horton tomorrow.
    Paul and Carol walked along the narrow sidewalk single file to their cars. Carol clicked her remote and received an answering flash from her car’s headlights. As she opened her car door Paul said, “I’m glad you’re Cynthia.”
    “So am I. It’s nice to know who I am, even if I can’t remember much.”
    Paul hesitated. “I missed you.”
    “Don’t go there. You’re going to have to be satisfied with the millions you’re going to receive from the estate. I’m sure you can get a lot of girls with that kind of money.”
    “But not like you.”
    “That’s nice of you to say, but it’s not going to change anything. Good night.”
    Paul didn’t speak, a habit he had exhibited before when he was rebuffed.

    CHAPTER 32
    Carol was staying at a motel in Hillsborough, a few miles north of the farm. She crossed I-40 and I-85 on the two-lane road and then drove up a short hill on a side street. The three-story building was part of a chain of economy motels, not luxurious like the Carolina Inn, but comfortable for someone like Carol who was on a budget. She might not have to be on a budget much longer—if the problem of Michael could be resolved.
    She found a parking place at the corner of the building, locked the car, and went in the front door. She waved to the female night clerk who was on the phone and walked through the lobby to the lift—elevator. She was back in the States now and had to use American terminology. Two couples with too many suitcases denoting infrequent travelers were waiting for it. The small elevator might not hold all of them and their luggage.
    Carol decided to take the stairs at the end of the corridor to the third floor rather than wait. How many times had she taken the steep and narrow stairway to Sean’s loft when she was posing? These stairs were a snap in comparison. She knew from walking down them this morning that the stairway entrance was close to her room, closer than the elevator. That gave her some comfort.
    She had requested an upper-story room for security purposes, so if Michael somehow found out where she was staying he wouldn’t be able to climb in her window. That was silly; there was no way he could know where she was. Still, she’d sleep better knowing that unless he rappelled down from the roof, he wouldn’t be able to get to her from the outside.
    The metal stairs to each floor were in two flights, with the second flight switching back so the stairway doors on each floor were in the same relative position. She made it to the second floor landing and started up the first flight to the third floor when something almost directly above her came into her peripheral vision. Or perhaps it was a slight noise, but in any case, she looked up.
    Carol had seen pictures of Michael, and she knew immediately the man on the third floor landing was him, even