Silent Run

don’t have any new information on the man who entered your room earlier. They’ve talked to the employees on the floor, and no one saw anyone who didn’t belong there."
    Jake hadn’t really expected a different answer. Sarah’s description had been vague at best.
    â€œWe removed your car from the canyon,” Manning continued. “It’s in the impound lot. We found no other evidence or clues to your past in the vehicle. Except for the items belonging to the child, the car was clean. Our best hope is that tonight’s broadcast will generate some new leads.” He glanced from Jake to Sarah. “Is there anything else you can tell me?”
    Sarah gave a brief shake of her head, barely glancing at the deputy. She certainly didn’t appear eager to work with law enforcement, and it was clear she knew that Manning had his doubts about her. Who could blame him? Sarah was a mess of contradictions. Jake had lived with her for two years, but he barely recognized the woman before him.
    â€œI’m not feeling well. I’d like to go to my room,” Sarah said, sending him a pleading look.
    He felt himself weaken at her desperate gaze. She was hurt. She was scared. And she wanted him to help her. He told himself he was concerned only because of Caitlyn. He didn’t want Sarah to lose her grip on reality. Getting her memory back could be crucial to finding his daughter.
    â€œI’ll walk you up,” he said as Sarah got to her feet.
    He avoided looking at Dylan, afraid he would reveal too much.
    â€œI’ll check with you both in the morning,” Manning said. “Hopefully we’ll have some good leads to follow."
    Jake put his hand on Sarah’s arm as he escorted her out of the room. Dylan fell into step on her other side, the security guard following behind them. They didn’t say a word as they made their way back up to the third floor.
    Once inside her room Sarah kicked off her shoes and sat down on the bed with a weary sigh. She looked almost defeated, Jake thought. It wasn’t just the pain of her injuries that was taking a toll -- it was the fear running through her. And he suspected it was that fear that was keeping her memory at bay. How could he give her the courage to face the demons in her head, especially when he didn’t know what those demons were?
    She hadn’t trusted him enough to tell the truth about herself when they were together, and she certainly didn’t trust him now. Nor did he trust her. Where did that leave them?
    There was a dinner tray on the bedside table, and Sarah picked up the aluminum cover to reveal a plate of chicken and mashed potatoes. Jake felt his stomach grumble at the sight. The food didn’t look all that appetizing, but he couldn’t remember when either of them had last eaten. “You should eat,” he told her. “You need to get your strength back."
    â€œI’m not hungry."
    â€œEat anyway. Do it for your daughter."
    She reluctantly picked up her fork. “What about you?"
    â€œHe’s coming with me,” Dylan said. “Down to the cafeteria. No arguments. The guard is outside, and Sarah isn’t going anywhere, right, Sarah?"
    â€œRight,” she muttered. “I wouldn’t know where to go, and with someone trying to kill me, it’s smarter to stay where I have someone watching out for me. I’m not an idiot, no matter what else you may think of me."
    Jake hesitated, but his appetite won out. “Fine. I’ll be back in thirty minutes. You’d better be here, Sarah."
    â€œI will be,” she replied, meeting his gaze.
    There had been a time in his life when he’d never doubted her. Now he had nothing but doubts.
    * * *
    â€œStop checking your watch. Sarah isn’t going to run,” Dylan said about twenty minutes later as he worked his way through a plate of spaghetti and meatballs.
    â€œI’m not just worried about her leaving. I’m worried about who else might show up now that Sarah has gone public."
    â€œWhat was with her during the broadcast? She looked terrified."
    â€œRight before the interview Sarah told me she had a flash of being somewhere with the media nearby waiting for a story. She was being hustled out of the building in secret. She said she had the feeling she was going to have to disappear, to live under another name."
    Dylan raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a scene from a movie."
    â€œOr