Chapter 7

Trevor waitedfor the caller to speak.

Only silence stretched across the line.

“Hello?” Sadie asked again.

Again, there was silence.

Trevor stepped closer, his muscles bristling as he asked, “Who is this?”

Nothing.

He glanced at the screen and saw the call had ended.

Whoever was on the other line didn’t want to be known.

So why had they called? To see if she would answer? To find out if she’d survived?

Or maybe to put fear into her?

Coward.

Trevor glanced at Sadie and saw a tremble had overtaken her arms.

He swallowed hard, again resisting the urge to reach out and offer comfort.

It was even harder to keep his distance knowing how alone she was. She needed someone in her corner.

He had planned to be that person. It was too bad this situation was so complicated.

She might have been planted in his life by an enemy. He had to remember that.

“Who could that have been?” She looked up at him with wide eyes, imploring him for answers.

“I’m not sure. But I can try to find out for you.”

“How?” She continued to stare at him. “I thought you were a bodyguard.”

“I am. I’m also former military. Our security group not only provides protection to people, but we also do investigations. I’d be happy to see what I can find out if you’d like.”

“Yes,” she answered quickly. “Please. I’m desperate to know more.”

“Anyone in your shoes would be. The tricky part is that I can’t ask you any questions. I’ll need to talk to people who know you—as soon as I can find out what you do for a living.”

“Of course.”

“If it’s okay, I’d like to call in a colleague to help. That way one of us can keep an eye on you while the other does some research.”

“Whatever you think is best,” Sadie told him. “Even if I don’t have money now, I promise I will pay you. I think I’m good for it. And if I’m not, I’ll find a way to pay you back.”

“I know you will.” The words slipped out, and he swallowed hard.

Sadie clearly caught on to his choice of words because she tilted her head and raised an eyebrow.

“I mean, I just sense that you’re a good person,” he explained. “You seem like the type who wouldn’t leave me hanging out to dry.”

“I hope you’re right. I hope I am a good person.”

Trevor remembered again what Larchmont had told him. About how Sadie might not be who she claimed. How she could be using him.

Certainly, there was no truth to his boss’s words.

Trevor would prove Larchmont was wrong if it was the last thing that he did.

* * *

The nurse came in to do a few procedures on Sadie, so Trevor slipped back into the hallway, promising to stay close.

As soon as he left the room, Sadie missed him.

Which was crazy considering she didn’t know the man.

But maybe God had placed him in her life at just the right time and the right place.

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

Wait . . . was that a Bible verse?

She knew it was. Did that mean she was a believer?

She knew with this strange certainty that she was. She couldn’t explain it. It was just something she sensed.

Were there other things she could sense also?

She pressed her eyes closed as the nurse took her vitals.

Maybe if Sadie lay still long enough and let her mind go another memory would emerge.

But as she lay there, trying not to move, nothing came.

Where memories should be, an empty void loomed.

Then a memory did hit her.

A recent one.

A memory of that phone call she’d just received.

What had that been about? Why hadn’t the caller said something?

Nothing made sense.

Before she could think about it any longer, a commotion sounded in the hallway.

She sucked in a breath.

What was going on?

What if the person who’d tried to kill her earlier had come here . . . to finish what he or she started?