Chapter 4

Larry walked out of the office around 6:30. He looked around the living room and didn't see Rebecca. He went down to her bedroom door, knocked then opened the door. Rebecca was sitting on a chair staring out the window. Larry went in and walked slowly over to her. "Rebecca, are you all right?"

"I want so bad to get something back. I am driving myself crazy not knowing what happened."

"I know. I have someone trying to help, but he hasn't come up with anything yet."

Rebecca looked over at him. "You have someone trying to find out who I am?"

"Yes. Your fingerprints aren't in any database and there hasn't been any missing person report filed with your description in the state. He's widening his search."

"So, unless I remember, there's probably no way to find out anything."

"If there's anything on you anywhere, this guy will find it."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because he's the best," Larry said. "Why don't we go down and get something for dinner? It's better than pondering around here."

"What if someone sees me?"

"Then I will protect you along with my security team. You can't hide up her forever."

"I can't help but to think someone left me for dead."

"I know, but you have to live your life. I won't let anything happen to you."

"All right."

"Great. Let me put my shoes on then we can go." Larry said then walked out of her room.

Larry and Rebecca waited by the elevator a few minutes later. Larry reached over and took her hand. "It's going to be fine. My private table is away from everyone," he said. The doors opened and they got on.

"Good evening, Mr. Newman."

"Good evening Carl. This is Rebecca."

"Good evening, Rebecca."

"Hello, Carl."

Carl pressed the button.

"How's the baby doing?" Larry asked Carl.

"He's getting big. I can't believe how much he eats."

"Is the new schedule working for you?"

"Yes sir. Thank you."

The elevator stopped and they got off. Larry led her to the hotel restaurant. He led her through the crowd of people waiting to be seated. He then led her to a table in the back. He pulled her chair out for her and she sat down. He sat down next to her. "See owning this place has its perks. I never have to wait to be seated."

Rebecca smiled. A waitress came over and gave them menus. "Can I start you off with something to drink?"

"I'll take a Coke," Rebecca said.

"Make that two," Larry said. The waitress walked away. "If you don't see anything on the menu you like, I can have the chef make you something."

"I'll take one of everything. It all sounds good."

"I can have him one surprise us."

"That can be fun." Rebecca said then put down her menu. "I guess it does have it perks."

"Yes it does," Larry said. "I either eat here or have it brought up to me. Everything is good. Of course I approve the menu."

"Of course," Rebecca said. "I really don't want anything fancy to eat."

"All right. Just some home cooking."

The waitress come back with their drinks. "So, what's it going to be tonight?"

"We just want a traditional homemade meal. Nothing fancy."

"All right. I'll let Chef Stone know."

"Thank you."

"Will there be anything else for you, sir?"

"No thank you," Larry said. The waitress left.

"I have this feeling that I'm not from around here."

"Maybe you were on vacation or here for business. There could be a number of possibilities."

"I know, but you would think I would know."

"You had a bad head injury. It's still healing."

"Little things I do, I recall something. Maybe if we could drive around, I might remember something else."

"We can do that after we eat."

"All right," Rebecca said. "Maybe we can start at the diner and go to where I was found."

"Sure, we can do that."

"Thank you." Rebecca said then looked around the restaurant. "Do you think these people know you own this hotel?"

"Probably not. It's not like my face is advertised anywhere," Larry said. "They probably just see me having dinner with a beautiful woman." Larry said as reached over and took her hand. "I wish things were different or we could consider this a date."

"Why can't we consider this a date?"

"Because it isn't right. We don't know if you are married or involved with someone. I feel a connection with you, but it doesn't feel right to proceed with anything until we know your past."

"You have a valid point. I guess."

"Once you get your memory back, then maybe we can go on a date."

"All right. I am holding you to that."

"Good, because I tend to keep up my end of it. And if it turns out the other way then I'll treat you to a nice dinner."

"Well, that's so nice of you," Rebecca said. "You are a gentleman."

"I try to be," Larry said.

A man carried over two plates of food. "Mr. Newman and your lovely date." He said as he set their plates down in front of them.

"Thank you, Chef Stone. It looks delicious."

"Enjoy." Chef Stone said then walked away.

"Well, this smells wonderful." Rebecca said then started eating.

They ate mostly in silence. Rebecca sat back when her plate was clean. "That was good."

"Yes, it was."

"So, if you have a restaurant, why were you at the diner that morning?"

"I was working all night. I needed some coffee and breakfast before I drove home. The diner is just around the corner from the office.

"Oh, ok."

"Maybe I was just supposed to be there when you were. Maybe we were supposed to meet. Maybe I was supposed to save you."

"Do you think you could have prevented this?"

"Maybe if I would have gone after you that morning."

"But you didn't and it happened. We can't change it now," Rebecca said.

"I just wish I could turn back time and then you wouldn't have gotten hurt."

"What happened, happened and we can't change it. We can just move forward."

"I know, you're right," Larry said. "Why don't we take that drive?"

"All right."

Larry got up. He pulled out her chair for her then took her hand. They walked out of the restaurant.

Larry drove along the streets quietly. Rebecca looked out the window. They stopped at a stop light. Larry reached over and touched her arm. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, just thinking. What if I am bad? What if I am some kind of criminal?"

"If you were a criminal, your prints would be in the system, but they weren't. They checked the national database. You are not a bad person, Rebecca."

"Pull over. This looks familiar." She said after a couple more blocks.

Larry pulled over and parked in an empty parking spot. He shut off the car. Rebecca jumped out. Larry got out and hurried around to the other side of the car. He caught up to Rebecca as she stopped to look down an alley. "What is it?"

"I think I was here." Rebecca said as she slowly walked down the alley way. "It was dark. I was tired. I think I sat down over there." She said as she pointed. They walked farther down the alley. "Yes, I did. I fell asleep."

"Maybe that's when you lost your wallet."

"When I woke up it was light out."

"That's when you must have gone to the diner. It's only two blocks from here."

"But where did I come from?"

"I don't know. There are so many places you could have come from."

"It's like a jigsaw puzzle. I'm getting pieces, but not in the right order."

Larry put his arm around her shoulders. He walked her down the alley. "Do you want to walk or should we drive?"

"We can drive."

"All right. Do you want to keep going?"

"Yes."

Larry opened her door for her and she got in. He closed the door and walked around the car to the driver's side. He made a mental note at where they were then got in. He started the car and pulled out. "How are you doing?"

"I'm scared."

"Are you sure you want to keep going?"

"Yes, I need to know."

"All right." Larry drove down the street. "There's the diner." He turned the corner. "When you left, I saw you go down this way."

"Do you know where they found me?"

"Yes." Larry drove down a couple blocks. He parked on the street. "It's right down there." Larry said as he reached over and touched her arm. "You don't have to do this now. We can come back and do it tomorrow."

"No." Rebecca said and got out. "Let me do this, Larry. Alone."

"All right. I will give you space, but I won't let you out of sight," he said. He pulled out his phone and typed on it. He typed for a few moments then put his phone in his pocket. He got out of the car and watched Rebecca from a distance. When she rounded the corner to the alley, he followed her. When he rounded the corner, he saw her kneeling on the ground crying. He hurried to her and squatted next to her. "Rebecca?" He asked quietly.

"He punched me and kicked me. He cussed at me. I tried to run, but he knocked me down. I screamed and screamed." Rebecca said between sobs. "I pleaded for him to stop, but he didn't. Then it all went black."

"Do you recognize him?"

"I can't see his face. I don't know why. He's right in front of me." Rebecca said then turned towards Larry. She pressed her head to his chest and started crying.

Larry put his arms around her and held her to him while she cried. After a few minutes, he helped her to her feet while he held her close. "Let's go home. It's getting late." He put his arm around her shoulders and walked her out of the alley. They walked over to the car. Larry opened the door and helped her in. He closed the door and walked around to the other side. He got in and pulled out.