Scene of the Crime: Deadman's Bluff Read Online Free

Scene of the Crime: Deadman's Bluff
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bacon was crisp. The coffee was a bit strong, but it warmed her a little bit as she drank it. And she needed the warmth, for there seemed to be a cold hand clenched around her heart that refused to release its hold.
    She focused solely on the meal, not wanting to think about anything else, afraid to delve too deeply into her own mind until she figured out some things.
    She ate everything on the plate and then swung the table away so that she could get out of bed. She needed to use the restroom. She moved her legs to hang off the side of the bed and sat up, wanting to make sure there was no dizziness that would create a potential fall.
    As she got to her feet, she was grateful that the IV was gone and pleased to discover that she felt strong. She quickly made her way into the bathroom, the green-flowered hospital gown swimming around her small frame.
    The reflection that greeted her in the mirror was that of a stranger. The knot of anxiety that had momentarily subsided grew bigger, tighter in her chest.
    She didn’t recognize the woman in the mirror with her blue, widened eyes and her dark hair hanging limp and dirty to her shoulders. She reached up to scratch her itchy scalp and her fingers came away with tiny granules of pale sand beneath the nails.
    Sand...everywhere, pressing in on her, suffocating her. She couldn’t move as she heard the scrape of a shovel, felt the weight of the sand covering her. As the strange memories shot through her she slapped a hand over her chest to keep her rapidly banging heart from beating right out of her skin.
    She whirled away from the mirror, took care of her needs and then quickly exited the bathroom and got back into the bed. Safe, you’re safe now. The words reverberated through her head, finally slowing her heartbeat to a more normal pace, and the trembling that had taken hold of her eased.
    She wasn’t in bed long before an aide came in. She looked like a teenager and chirped a cheerful greeting as she removed the breakfast tray and then disappeared out of the room.
    Linda came back in the room, carrying a pair of lightweight blue jogging pants and a matching T-shirt and underclothes. “Do you feel up to a shower?”
    She nodded eagerly. There was nothing she’d love more than to wash the sand out of her hair, to feel clean again. Maybe a shower would better prepare her for whatever happened next.
    Even though she needed no help, Linda offered her an arm to lean on as they walked to the bathroom. This time she consciously avoided looking in the mirror and leaned against the wall as Linda started the water in the small shower enclosure.
    “I brought you some clothes,” Linda said. “Actually, they belong to my daughter, Samantha. She’s sixteen and you look to be about the same size. Shampoo...soap, it’s all in the shower. Take as long as you need and I’ll be back to check on you in just a few minutes.”
    Moments later she stood beneath a warm spray of water and scrubbed the shampoo into her hair. It took three shampoo-and-rinses before she felt as if all the sand and grit were finally gone.
    She’d wanted to thank Linda for the clothes, for her kindness, but she was afraid to speak, afraid that somehow the sound of her own voice would make this all frighteningly real. And she didn’t want it to be real.
    There was toothpaste and a toothbrush, a hairbrush and a comb on the sink and she used them all before finally leaving the bathroom. She almost felt human again...almost.
    As she returned to the bed and sat on the edge, the knot of anxiety returned, make her feel half-breathless. Amber Lake Memorial Hospital. The name was everywhere. But where exactly was Amber Lake, and how had she gotten here?
    At that moment the sheriff and Seth walked into the room. Linda entered as well, leaning against the wall and out of the way.
    She immediately looked into Seth’s eyes, seeking the same kind of calmness she’d found there the night before. She wasn’t
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