Shattered Identity Read online

  Thirty minutes later, Scott stopped pacing across the waiting room floor when the doctor walked into the room. Doc Hunter peered over the top of the wire-rimmed glasses on his nose. “Well, our girl has a bad bump on her head and a mild concussion, but I think she’s going to be all right.”

  “Good. What about the blood on her forehead?”

  “That’s from the small cut caused by whatever she was struck with, but it’ll heal without sutures.”

  “Struck with?” Scott’s eyes widened. “So she was attacked by someone?”

  Doc Hunter nodded. “That’s what she says. Evidently she walked in on a burglar. It’s a good thing you dropped by when you did. Her house is in such a deserted place, she could have lain there all night without anyone finding her.”

  For the first time since catching sight of her on the floor, Scott relaxed. “Is she really going to be all right?”

  “I think she’ll be fine, but I want to keep her tonight for observation. If all goes well, she’ll be able to go home in the morning. But I’ll keep a close watch on her for the next few weeks to make sure she doesn’t have any problems with vision or coordination.”

  Scott looked past the doctor, down the hallway to the examining rooms. “Do you have someone to stay with her tonight?”

  “Yes. I have a nurse who comes in when we have overnight patients. But Lisa’s asking to see you now. She’s in the third room on the right.”

  Scott smiled and stuck out his hand. “I appreciate all you’ve done for her. Thanks for taking care of her, Doc.”

  The doctor shook his hand and chuckled. “I’ve been taking care of everybody on this island for a lot of years. Now, go on and see her.”

  Taking a deep breath, Scott walked down the hallway and stopped at the door of Lisa’s room.

  “Come in.” Her soft voice was barely audible.

  He stepped into the room and froze where he stood. Tremors shook his body, and scenes he’d tried to forget flashed through his mind like rocket fire on a dark night. It wasn’t the hospital gown she wore, the bed where she lay or the bandage at the top of her forehead that stunned him, but the sight of the two prongs in her nose and the tube running oxygen to them. A nasal cannula—the medic at the base had called it. How many men had he seen gasping for breath as those tubes tried to pump oxygen into a dying soldier? He covered his eyes with his hand and groaned.

  “Scott, are you all right?”

  He opened his eyes and blinked. Lisa had pushed up on her elbows, and a panic-stricken look lined her face. Remember the lamb. He tried to smile, but his lips wouldn’t cooperate.

  “I—I’m fine. How are you feeling?”

  She relaxed and lay back in the bed. “My head hurts, but Doc says I’ll be fine. I understand I have you to thank for finding me.”

  He waved his hand in dismissal and grinned. “Just doing my job, ma’am.” He hoped she didn’t notice how his voice shook. A smile pulled at her lips, and his heart pounded. He’d never noticed how her blue eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled. She really was a beautiful young woman. He pulled his thoughts back to the business at hand. “But tell me what happened.”

  As she related the story, his concern grew. When she finished, she held up her right hand and stared at it. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “He took my grandmother’s ring off my finger. The day she gave it to me she said she hoped I would love it as much as she did. It belonged to her grandmother. And now it’s gone.”

  Scott searched his mind for some words that might comfort Lisa, but he couldn’t think of anything. “I’m so sorry, Lisa. Maybe we’ll recover it.”

  She wiped her eyes on the corner of the sheet and shook her head. “You’re forgetting I work at the sheriff’s office. I know what the odds are that I will ever see my ring again.”

  “We’ll try to find out who did this, Lisa. What about enemies? Is there anyone you’ve had problems with lately?”

  “No, not that I can recall. But who knows what people who’ve been arrested think when they pass through our office? Maybe I made someone angry there.”

  He nodded. “It’s a possibility. But for now, do what the doctor says. I’ll come by in the morning. In the meantime, if you think of anything, call me. I’ll be on patrol all night.”

  “I will, and thank you again, Scott.”

  She held out her hand, and he grasped it. She covered his fingers with her other hand, and his skin burned from her touch. The scent of her perfume filled his nostrils, and he inhaled the fruity smell. The warm rush of emotion that coursed through his veins turned to ice at a chilling thought. Lisa could be the one—the woman he’d prayed he would never meet.

  He’d known it since his first day on the job, and it scared him. For both their sakes, he needed to keep his distance. He pulled free of her grasp.

  A questioning look crossed her face. “Is something wrong?”

  He frowned and shook his head. “I need to get back on patrol. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  He turned and hurried from the room. Back in the parking lot, he climbed in his squad car and gripped the steering wheel. What had happened to him just then? One moment he was questioning Lisa about her attacker and the next he was experiencing emotions he thought he’d long laid to rest. He had vowed he would never become involved with a woman. Not when he knew there was no future in it. There could be none, after all he’d seen and done.

  How many assignments had there been through the years? He didn’t know. He’d lost count long ago, but they’d taken their toll. His buddies might have been able to come home and pick up their lives with wives and children, but he couldn’t. Now he found himself attracted to a woman he worked with every day, but he would never act on those feelings.

  Lisa Wade was too nice a person to be exposed to the nightmare of his life.

  TWO

  Most mornings after coming off all night on patrol Scott couldn’t wait to get home, have something to eat and fall into bed. Not today. One minute the thought niggled at his mind that he should go check on Lisa, and then every reason why he should stay away popped into his head. He never would have believed a pretty blonde with the biggest blue eyes he’d ever seen could produce such conflicting emotions in his soul.

  Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he clutched Lisa’s purse in one hand, and trudged down the hallway of the Island Health Center. The door to her room stood ajar, and he stopped to knock. A man’s voice drifted from inside.

  “Why didn’t you call me last night after you were brought in? I would have been here with you. You know how much I love you.”

  Surprise, mingled with a grudging disappointment, set his pulse to racing. He’d never considered Lisa might be involved with someone, but it was for the best. Right now he needed to get out of here. He took a step to leave when a nurse exited a room at the end of the hall.

  “May I help you?” She held a breakfast tray and smiled as she walked toward him.

  He glanced down at Lisa’s purse. “I’m the officer who found Miss Wade yesterday. I’ve brought her purse.”

  The woman’s smile grew bigger. “I’m Kathy Prescott. I work nights when Doc Hunter needs a patient watched. I’m taking Lisa some breakfast. Come on in with me.”

  Scott held out the bag and backed away. “I don’t want to bother her during breakfast. You can just give it to her.”

  Nurse Prescott juggled the tray in one hand and pushed the door open with the other. “I’m sure she’d like to see you. Come on in.” The door swung open, and she walked into the room. “You have another visitor.”

  “Oh, who is it?” Lisa’s voice drifted into the hall.

  “The officer who found you yesterday.”

  “Scott?” Lisa called out. “Is that you? Come on in.”

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sp; Taking a deep breath, Scott forced a smile to his face and stepped into the room. The nurse set the tray on a table beside the bed. “I’m going to leave this for you. If you need any help, let me know.”

  Lisa shook her head. “I’ll be fine. Thank you, Kathy.”

  He stopped at the end of the bed and nodded to the nurse as she brushed past him. When she’d disappeared out the door, he held out Lisa’s purse. “I went by your house last night to put some plywood on the window. Your groceries were still in the bags in the kitchen, and I put them away. I saw your purse on the table beside them. I thought you might need it.”

  “How kind of you.” She pointed to the bedside table. “Just put it there. It’s good to see you this morning.”

  He set the purse on the table next to her breakfast tray and darted a glance at the man standing on the other side of the bed. His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach. It was clear what Lisa saw in this man. With his rugged appearance, he could very well have been on the cover of any of the outdoor magazines on the rack at the Island General Store.

  The cargo shorts and T-shirt he wore made Scott think this guy, even though he appeared to be in his late twenties, could fit right in with the college students who flocked to their beaches in the summer. His dark hair tumbled over his forehead, and a day’s growth of beard that shadowed his face gave him a scruffy look.

  Scott pulled his gaze away from the man and back to Lisa. Even in a hospital gown she had a glow about her this morning. He wondered if it was because of her visitor. Scott tried to act casual. “How’re you feeling today?”

  “I’m fine.” Her eyes sparkled, and she glanced at the man beside her. “Scott, I’d like for you to meet my cousin Jeff Wade. He came by to check on me.” She turned to Jeff. “And this is Scott Michaels, the man who found me unconscious yesterday.”

  “Cousin?” Scott tried to ignore the relief that washed over him.

  Jeff came around the bed and stuck out his hand. “Yeah. My dad and Lisa’s were brothers.”

  Scott grasped Jeff’s hand. “I’m new to Ocracoke, so I don’t know all the family connections yet.”

  “There’s not much to learn about our family. Lisa and I were both only children, and our parents are dead. We lost our grandmother a few months ago, so Lisa and I are the only ones left.” He paused. “And she’s about to leave me by myself on Ocracoke.”

  Lisa sighed and repositioned the pillow behind her back. “We’ve been over this a dozen times, Jeff. We’ll stay in touch.”

  “I know. I guess I’m trying to make you want to stay.” He glanced at his watch. “I didn’t realize it’s getting so late. I need to get to work.”

  A small frown creased Lisa’s forehead. “How are things going at the lighthouse?”

  “Fine. Of course it’s just part-time, and it’s mostly maintenance-type stuff. But I did get another part-time job with Travis Fleming.” Jeff shrugged. “I’m mostly a gofer for him. Last week I took one of his boats to the mainland to get it worked on, and I’ll go over to bring it back in a few days.”

  Lisa’s frown turned to a smile. “Good for you. I’m glad things are working out for you. Travis is a nice guy. Maybe your job with him will turn into something better.”

  “I hope so. But enough about me… Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you for a few days?”

  Lisa shook her head. “No, I’ll be fine. Now, go on. Don’t be late.”

  Jeff shook his head. “Lisa, I wish you’d listen to me. Until the police find out who attacked you yesterday, you don’t need to stay by yourself. Grandma’s house is too isolated.” He inclined his head toward Scott. “I hate to think how long you could have been there if Deputy Michaels hadn’t come by.”

  “You’re being overprotective as always, Jeff. I’m sure this was a random burglary. Whoever did it is probably already on the mainland by now.”

  Jeff scowled and let out a ragged breath as he turned to Scott. “She’s too quick to dismiss this incident. There may be more to this than she’s willing to admit. Can’t you persuade her to at least check into a motel or stay with friends until this guy is caught?”

  Scott tensed at the concern flickering in Jeff’s eyes. “You sound as if you think Lisa might be the target of someone with a grudge. Is that possible?”

  Jeff’s eyebrows arched, and he glanced at Lisa. “Doesn’t he know?”

  Lisa pushed up in bed and shook her head. “Scott is new to the island. There’s no reason he should know.”

  “Know what?” He took a step closer. “Lisa, is there something you’re not telling me that might help catch this guy?”

  Her face turned crimson, and she clutched the top of the sheet covering her. “It’s personal, Scott. I don’t want to talk about it.”

  A long sigh escaped Jeff’s lips. “I’m sorry, Lisa, but I think it’s something he needs to know.” He turned toward Scott. “A year ago there was a deputy on the island who was arrested and sent to prison for being involved in a burglary ring on the mainland.”

  Scott nodded. “I know about that. Calvin Jamison was the deputy. I took his job.”

  “What you may not know is that he was a ladies’ man. He almost had a hypnotic effect on women, and Lisa was no exception. He thought he had her under his spell, but it turned out she was the one who discovered where he met up with his buddies on the mainland. He’s in prison now, and he blames Lisa for not protecting him.”

  “Is this true?” Scott stared at Lisa.

  “Yes.”

  “How do you know he blames you?” he asked.

  “He’s written me several times from prison. In his letters he says he still has friends on the outside, and I should be careful.”

  Scott’s heart hammered in his chest. “Is that why you want to leave the island?”

  She nodded. “That’s one reason. There are others.…”

  Jeff returned to her bedside. “I just want you to be safe, Lisa. Who knows what Calvin is capable of? If one of his friends attacked you, they may very well do it again.”

  “Jeff’s right, Lisa. This is information we needed to know.” He glanced back at her cousin. “Thanks for telling me.”

  “I knew Lisa wouldn’t, and I thought this information might be helpful.” He glanced at his watch again before he leaned over and kissed Lisa on the forehead. “I really have to go now. If you change your mind about me staying with you, let me know.”

  “I will.”

  When Jeff left, Scott searched his mind for the right words to say to Lisa. He stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “I’m sorry if you were embarrassed by what your cousin told me, but I think it’ll be helpful in our investigation.”

  She pushed her long blond hair away from her face. “Jeff made it sound much worse than it really was. I didn’t date Calvin, although I wanted to. He strung me along with promises, but he never intended to follow through on anything. He was using me just like he did everybody else he knew.”

  “Has he really threatened you since he’s been in prison?”

  Lisa shrugged. “It’s been more like reminders of what he can do. He’s written me several letters. In them he’ll say things like he knows what a deserted spot my house is in, and how I should look over my shoulder all the time.” She took a deep breath. “He’s angry with me because I told the sheriff about a telephone conversation I overheard him having with someone on the mainland. That’s where the deputies found his accomplices and arrested them.”

  She sat up straighter in the bed and drew the sheet up to her chin. His heart raced at how vulnerable she looked lying in the hospital bed. Like him, she’d had some experiences in her past that had left scars. He didn’t like to dwell on his, and she probably didn’t want to focus on hers, either. Perhaps he should chan
ge the subject. There would be time later to discuss Calvin and any threats he had made. He smiled and glanced at the tray on the table. “Do you need some help with your breakfast?”

  “No. I’m not very hungry this morning. I just want my coffee right now.”

  Scott picked up the cup and handed it to her. “Cream and sugar?”

  “Black’s fine.” She took a sip, and her shoulders relaxed. “I needed this. Dealing with Jeff under the best of circumstances can be challenging.”

  Her words surprised Scott. He pulled a chair to the side of the bed and sat down. “What do you mean?”

  Lisa leaned against the pillows at her back and held the coffee cup with both hands in front of her. “Jeff has had a lot of problems in his life, but he seems to be on the right track now. If I didn’t think so, I couldn’t leave the island.”

  Scott wanted to question her further, but it was none of his business. He exhaled deeply. “He may have problems, but the things he said concern me. I talked to my sister Kate this morning. She wants you to stay with her for a couple of days.”

  Lisa nodded. “I know—she called. But I hate to impose on her like that. She’s getting ready for the baby. I really just want to go home.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Especially after what I’ve heard this morning.”

  She took a sip from her cup. “I’ve thought about what happened yesterday, and unlike Jeff I’ve come to the conclusion that Calvin had nothing to do with it.”

  “What makes you think so?”

  “I came to know Calvin quite well when he worked as a deputy. He likes to make people think he’s strong and in control all the time, but I really think he’s scared now that he’s in prison. He wants to get back at me, to make me as scared as he is. But it’s not going to work.”

  “If it wasn’t a friend of Calvin’s, then who was it?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. I think I probably interrupted a burglar who panicked after I arrived home, and he hit me on the head to give him time to get away. I can’t let this scare me and keep me from continuing with what I’ve already started. I’m leaving this island for good as soon as I finish renovating and selling my house.”