Scene of the Crime Deadman's Bluff - By Carla Cassidy Page 0,22
dove-gray when he talked about things he cared about to a cold steel color when he spoke of things he didn’t like.
It would be easy for her to develop a little bit of a crush on FBI Special Agent Seth Hawkins, even though she knew it would also be foolish.
For all she knew there was a man somewhere in Texas worried sick about her, a man who loved her, a man she loved to distraction. But, if there was such a man, then why couldn’t she even remember him? And why wasn’t he looking for her? Surely she would have some sense of loving...of being loved.
Why when she tried to remember her former life, before the sand dunes, before Amber Lake, did a tight squeeze of anxiety grip her stomach? Had she fled her apartment in Amarillo because of something bad? Because of something sad?
She was attracted to Seth but when she looked into his eyes she not only saw a man’s attraction, but also an FBI agent’s need...the need for answers she didn’t have at this time.
As they finished up the meal she once again cast her gaze around the café. It was like a hundred cafés that the Midwest sported, homey and warm and filled with people who had grown up together, who were friends and neighbors and gathered here on a regular basis.
Hanging on the wall behind the counter was a large picture of a piece of pie with the caption Enjoy A Piece of Amber Lake Café’s Famous Caramel Pie.
Sparks shot off in her head. She remembered that sign, and she’d had a piece of that pie. Her mouth filled with the solid memory of the flaky crust, of the gooey richness of caramel.
“I’ve been here.” The words whispered out of her as she turned to stare at Seth. “I’ve eaten here before,” she exclaimed as a wave of excitement washed over her.
“Are you sure?” Seth sat up straighter in his seat, his gaze intense as it held hers.
She leaned back against her seat and once again stared at the sign advertising the pie and as she did snippets of memories snaked through her head. “A plump waitress, a chicken salad sandwich, the shadows of twilight filtering in through the front windows and a piece of caramel pie and coffee for dessert,” she said softly. “I was definitely here.”
“Twilight, that means you were probably here for dinner.” Seth’s voice brought her out of the kaleidoscope of flashing snippets of memories.
“The plump waitress was a redhead. She served me,” she replied, once again looking around the café for a flame-haired waitress. She pointed to a woman working the other side of the café. “I think that’s her.”
Seth shot out of the booth and approached the waitress. Tamara could see the energy that wafted from him, felt the energy drumming inside her own veins. Remembering eating a piece of pie wasn’t much, but it was something and gave her the hope that more would follow.
Seth returned to the booth with the waitress, who wore a name tag that read Annie. She smiled at Tamara and shoved a strand of her crimson hair behind one ear. “Sure, I remember her,” she said. “She was in for dinner Monday night and I waited on her.”
“Was she alone?” Seth asked.
“Ate alone, left alone,” the waitress replied.
“Did I mention where I was going, what I was doing here in town?” Tamara asked.
“I’ve got to be honest with you, hon. I don’t remember making any small talk with you. You ordered. I brought your food and that was it. Sorry I can’t be more helpful, and now I’ve got to get back to my customers.” With an apologetic smile she hurried back to her side of the café.
Seth sank back down in the booth, his eyes bright with hope. “This is good. This is very good. Maybe this is a sign that your memories are starting to break loose. Now we know you were here and ate dinner on Monday night and you were found at the dunes on Tuesday. This is the beginning of solving the puzzle, Tamara.” He reached across the table and took hold of her hand.
She clung tightly as she held eye contact with him. She had a feeling that if this was just the beginning, then she knew she’d probably have to go to hell and back as the rest of her memories returned.
Chapter Five
It was well before dawn when Seth sat at the kitchen table with a