Silent Run

calls.” Jake glanced over at Dylan. “You have the details. Why don’t you tell her?"
    â€œThe first call was from a gas station attendant about thirty miles from here,” Dylan said. “He stated that he saw you fill up the tank, and you gave him two twenty-dollar bills for payment. You didn’t bring the child inside, nor did he see a kid in the car. He admitted that he wasn’t paying much attention. There were also a few calls from obvious cranks."
    â€œWhat do you mean?"
    â€œWell, one man said you’re his daughter, and you owe him five hundred dollars. He’s a homeless man well-known by the police, and he has no children. Another woman said you ran out on a bill at her coffee shop; she’s also hoping to gain some cash by taking advantage of your memory loss."
    â€œThat’s it?” she asked, feeling depressed. Wasn’t there anyone who knew her? Who cared about her?
    â€œWell, there was another woman who said you look like a friend of hers who disappeared eight years ago. She lives out by the coast, north of here, in San Luis Obispo. Manning talked to her, but said she had no facts to connect her friend with you, just a feeling. She wasn’t completely sure she recognized you, and apparently she fancies herself something of a psychic. He thinks it’s extremely doubtful there’s any connection."
    Sarah’s heart had taken a jump at the thought of a friend, but neither Dylan nor Jake seemed excited by the news. “You don’t think she could be telling the truth, then?"
    â€œI thought I’d drive out there and talk to her today,” Dylan replied. “Just to be sure. We don’t want to overlook any leads. It’s a long shot."
    Sarah blew out a breath, wishing there were more information, but in an odd way strangely relieved that there wasn’t. Her reaction was wrong, she thought. She should have wanted someone to come forward and identify her, but her instincts told her it wouldn’t be that easy. She’d taken great pains to hide herself away. “Shall we go?"
    Jake hesitated. “Do you want to eat something first, see the doctor before we go?"
    â€œI’m not hungry, and I don’t need to see the doctor. He’s obviously not going to give me back my memory. The sooner we start, the sooner we’ll find Caitlyn.” She glanced at Dylan. “Could you hand me my coat, please?"
    He grabbed her coat off the chair and tossed it to her. She realized her mistake a split second too late. As the jacket flew through the air, the money slipped out of the unzipped pocket and landed on the floor in a wash of green bills.
    â€œWhat the hell is this?” Jake asked as he knelt down to collect the money. He glanced up at her, shocked. “Good God, Sarah, there must be fifteen hundred dollars here."
    â€œFourteen hundred and forty dollars,” she corrected. “I counted it yesterday when I found the money in my coat, and before you ask, I don’t know where it came from. It was in a zippered pocket in the back of the jacket, almost like a hiding place. There was nothing else there."
    Dylan grabbed the jacket and ran his hands around it, obviously intent on making sure she was telling the truth. “Nothing."
    â€œThat’s what I said,” Sarah repeated. “And I’d like my money back."
    Jake gave her a hard look as he stood up, the wad of cash in his hand. “How do you know it’s your money?"
    â€œWell, it was in my jacket, wasn’t it?” She took the money from Jake and stuffed it into the back pocket making sure the zipper was closed this time. “Are you ready?"
    â€œMore than ready,” he replied.
    â€œAs soon as you leave this hospital, you’re both going to be a target,” Dylan said. “Are you sure you don’t want me to follow you two down to LA, Jake?"
    â€œI’d rather you follow up the lead with that woman who thinks Sarah looks familiar. There’s a reason Sarah was in this area, and I can’t discount the fact that maybe she was looking for some family or a friend or a place to hide,” Jake said.
    â€œI agree, but I’m still worried about you,” Dylan said.
    Sarah hated the way they were talking over her, but since she had nothing to add to the conversation she kept her mouth shut. She was relieved that they would be splitting up from Dylan. Dealing with Jake was hard enough; she didn’t