Silent Run

hadn’t realized at the time that it also stood for murder.
    He was in too deep now; there was no way out. The price of belonging to their elite group was blood on his hands that would never come off. He could only continue what had begun years earlier.
    â€œI’m disappointed in you,” the man said. “After all I’ve done for you."
    Shane wanted to point out that he’d done far more in return, but he remained silent. The order of power in their group had been established long ago. The man on the other end of the line had known how to use each one of them to his own advantage. But he had made one critical mistake -- a woman with long blond hair and blue eyes, a woman who still had to be silenced.
    â€œI’ll get her,” Shane promised. “I just need some time. Besides, she doesn’t remember anything. She’s not a threat right now. We can wait until things cool down."
    The pause at the other end of the line sent a chill down his spine. It wasn’t his place to offer opinions.
    â€œAs long as she breathes, she’s a threat,” the man said. “She betrayed me. She must pay for that. I’ve waited a long time for her to die. I won’t wait any longer."
    â€œI’ll get her, but there’s someone with her -- a man named Jake Sanders. He claims to be the father of her baby, but I never saw a kid."
    â€œMaybe you weren’t looking closely enough."
    â€œWhat do you want me to do about the guy?” he asked, ignoring the criticism.
    â€œKill him, too."
    His blood thundered in his veins. “What about the child?"
    The line clicked, replaced by a dial tone. Shane closed his phone, knowing it didn’t matter what he wanted to do. He would do what had to be done. If he didn’t, someone else would.

Chapter Eight

    Sarah was relieved to see the sun shining when she woke up the next morning. Unfortunately her optimism faded as she tried to remember something about herself that Jake hadn’t told her, and she came up with nothing. At least she felt better. Her head didn’t hurt, and moving it from side to side did not make her dizzy. Thank goodness.
    She glanced at the chair where Jake had spent the night. It was empty now, but she suspected he hadn’t gone far. During the night she’d been vaguely aware of Jake trying to get comfortable on the two chairs he’d propped together, but she doubted he’d been successful. She’d suggested he go to a motel, but it was clear he had no intention of leaving her until they found Caitlyn.
    Getting out of bed, she made her way to the restroom to wash up. She was determined to get out of the hospital and go look for her daughter. She couldn’t spend another day in bed doing nothing.
    When she returned to the room, Jake and Dylan were waiting for her. Dylan had changed out of his suit and into a pair of worn blue jeans with a dark blue sweater. Jake also wore jeans and a long-sleeved black T-shirt. Despite their similar attire, the two men didn’t look all that much alike.
    Dylan was a golden boy, tan, handsome. Jake was rugged, less refined, more serious, less flippant. But there was a connection between them, an unspoken conversation that seemed to go on whenever they were together. They were united in their search for Caitlyn and in their feelings about her. Perhaps not completely united, she amended, seeing a softening in Jake’s eyes as he looked at her. There had been a connection between them, too, one strong enough for Jake to go against his brother. If he had to choose again, would he make the same choice?
    â€œI’m glad you’re both here,” she said, taking the first step. “I want to go to the accident scene this morning. I want to start looking for Caitlyn."
    â€œSo do I,” Jake said. “I think we should retrace your steps from the site of the car crash back to LA, to the last-known address of the woman who gave you the car."
    Sarah liked the idea of taking action, but she had one big concern. “Are you sure it’s a good idea for us to leave the area? What if Caitlyn is around here?"
    â€œShe’s not in that canyon,” Jake said decisively. “She has to be somewhere else. And since no one has come forward from the immediate area, I’m guessing she’s nowhere close by."
    â€œWhat about the news broadcast last night?” she asked. “Did it generate any leads?"
    â€œThere were several