Excusing himself, he walked into the kitchen with Nick’s phone in hand as they whispered back and forth to each other. After looking up her brother’s information, it was easy enough to get a hold of his cell number.
It rang three times before a strong, haggard male voice answered. “Detective Wallace.”
“Detective, this is Deputy Ace Mitchell with the sheriff’s office in Golden–” Before he could finish, her brother was interrupting him.
“Tell me you’ve found her! Is she okay? Where can I find her? Oh, fuck!” He cursed as though an idea struck him. “Is she dead?” Ace could feel the other man’s pain as real as his own.
“Calm down, Detective, she’s fine. Well, mostly. Sheriff Kelly and I found her two weeks ago.”
“Two weeks!” James screamed through the line. “Why the fuck have you waited so long to get in touch? What kind of shit show is your sheriff running down there!” Ace tried to hold his temper, this was Pepper’s brother after all. A man he would have to converse with on a regular basis if they had their way, but his own patience was wearing thin.
“Detective!” he snapped back. “Some things have happened, and I’d rather not discuss it over the phone.”
“Things? What things? Where’s Pepper?”
Ace’s voice was getting out of control just as Pepper and Nick walked out of the office, obviously hearing his escalating tone at trying to get her brother under control.
“Let me?” she asked quietly.
Ace chanced a look at his cousin. Was she ready?
Nick took the phone, pushing the speaker phone button so they could all hear. “Detective Wallace?”
“Who’s this now?”
“This is Sheriff Kelly. I understand you’re upset and need to know what’s happening. Before I allow that, you need to understand not everything can be explained over the phone.” Nick was far more patient than he was able to be.
“Fine, whatever. Where’s Pepper? Where is my sister?”
The agony in her brother’s voice was Pepper’s undoing as she broke down in tears, snatching the phone from Nick’s strong grip. “James?” she sobbed into the receiver.
“Pepper?” His voice was full of amazement and relief. “Christ, Pepper, are you alright? Where are you?”
“I’m fine, James. Mostly. There was an accident. I’m sorry I couldn’t call.” Closing her eyes, she absorbed the love exuding from the other end of the line.
“How could you when I haven’t been around? I’m so damn sorry, kid. You have no idea.” A bark of laughter left her mouth at his apology.
“What do you have to be sorry for, James?”
“For what I said before you left. I didn’t mean any of it.”
His answer confused her. “What do you mean? What did you say?”
“You don’t remember?” He was the confused one now.
“James, I don’t even remember my name. Until a week ago, I didn’t remember you,” she explained.
“What? What happened up there?” The grief in his words was palpable.
The reality of speaking to a man she only remembered in name was so much more difficult than she ever could have anticipated. “I don’t know,” she responded quietly. While she was getting her memory back, she still had no idea of who had done this to her.
“Sheriff?” James called out.
“I’m here, Detective,” Nick’s strong voice gave her strength when she thought her own was zapped.
“Take me off speaker phone please.” Her eyes widened in shock at his request. Was he going to tell Nick to keep her, that he didn’t care about her? Was she really the burden he’d accused her of?
Ace must have sensed her turmoil as he pulled her into his strong arms, rubbing her back in soothing circles as she fought to control her frantic mind.