Lost Memories

By Ruth Ann Hixson

Ellie Winter is on the run from dangerous men who are trying to abduct her and she doesn't know why because she has amnesia. She hitches rides with truckers from Montana to New York City to find that they have traced her flight and try to kidnap her again. After she witnesses the murder of a NYPD cop, Lt. Drew Ward takes her into protective custody while he tries to find out her real name and where she is from. He also wants to know why such dangerous felons are after her. His search leads him to Billings, MT, and beyond. While Drew is away doing some undercover work, Dana (her witness protection name) remembers her parents' murders.
she takes off for Boston, stealing a thousand dollars from Drew's safe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ruth Ann Hixson
• Release date: Aug 14, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476000497

Ruth Ann Hixson

Ruth Ann Hixson is a retired newspaper journalist who writes novels, short stories and poetry. She lives in central PA with her adult son. Her daughter lives nearby. She has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Lt. Drew Ward hated getting called out at night but that went with the territory of being a homicide detective. He dressed hurriedly and pulled on his boots. Taking the stairs from his ninth-floor apartment, he went out the north entrance of the building to where his black Gran Cherokee was parked. Drew paid for two reserved parking spaces right outside the door for just this purpose.

He swung by the station to pick up Sgt. Karen Hall. When he arrived at the scene he found one cop dead on the street and another wounded in the patrol car. He went around to the passenger side of the vehicle and opened the door to find himself looking at a pistol pointed at his heart. His hand automatically went beneath his black leather jacket to his holstered gun. NYPD! Put down the gun and raise your hands.

The girl crouching behind the blown airbag on the floor of the car complied. He carefully reached in and picked up the gun by its trigger guard and laid it on the roof of the car. Leaning in to grab both the girl's arms, he hauled her out of the car and cuffed her hands behind her back. You have the right to remain silent. Use it.

Sgt. Karen Hall came around the car. Watch where you're walking, he told her.          There's a blood trail here. Whoever was shot left his blood on the car door. Find a female uniform and tell her to take this little lady to the station and put her in an interrogation room. I'll talk to her as soon as I'm through here.

What's she done? Karen asked.

Pointed a loaded gun at a police officer. That should be enough to hold her for a while. She's probably our only witness. Except Moore.

On the other side of the car, paramedics and EMT's were pulling Moore from the car. He's lost a lot of blood, one of them said. but he still has a pulse.

A CSI came around the car. Did I hear someone say there's a blood trail over here?

On the window of the car, too. Maybe the girl shot the shooter. She had Moore's gun. I want a DNA ASAP. He shone his flashlight on the sidewalk to show the CSI where the blood trail was.

Drew went around to where Sgt. Thomas lay with the ME squatted down beside him. What do you have, Doc? Drew asked.

The ME indicated the gunshot wounds in the top of Thomas' head. He was already down when the kill shots were made.

Shots came from the alley. Drew responded. I'll have someone try to find a back trail. The person who can tell me what happened is on her way back to the station and I'm going back to the station to talk to her. Karen, hitch a ride with a squad car to the hospital to find out about Moore. I need to talk to him as soon as he's able. He strode back to his Gran Cherokee and headed for the station.

The December sun painted the morning sky red. While stopped at a light, he ran his hand over his face feeling the stubble of beard. He hadn't gotten to sleep until past midnight and got called out early. He hadn't had time to shave. He pulled into the parking garage thankful he had a reserved spot.

He found Sylvia Klose and Clayton Eisler, the two officers who brought the girl to the station, in the break room with coffee, filling out reports. Which room did you put her in? Drew asked.

Sylvia looked up. Number one. She asked for paper and pencils so I gave them to her. I thought perhaps she wanted to write down what happened. I cuffed her hands in front of her. I got her some water.

Drew got himself a coffee. Klose, you're with me.

My shift is almost over, she protested.

You got something against overtime?

No. But the 'powers that be' do. She stood up to follow him.

I don't interview women without a female officer present, he explained as they walked to the interrogation room. That precaution came as a result of an interrogation turned bad when he was still a junior officer in Nashville. That woman had thrown the tape recorder against the wall and then screamed her head off claiming police brutality.

Drew turned on the monitor to the camera in the room. The girl sat at the table totally engrossed in what she was putting on the paper.

Drew knew he cut an imposing figure. He stood six two, had black hair and his skin looked like he had a tan but it was because of his Native American ancestors. When he was sixteen he'd tried to figure out how much of his DNA was Native American and how much was European. The tangle of intermarriages made him give up in defeat. He knew his father was a crossbreed and his mother was white. Drew had his paternal grandmother's stunning blue eyes that seemed out of place with his dark complexion.

He unlocked the cuffs to free the girl's hands. Coffee in hand,  he seated himself on the edge of the table. Now I want you to tell me about what happened this morning starting with your name.

The name I have given myself is Ellie Winter, she answered slowly.

The name you gave yourself? What's your real name?

I don't know; I have amnesia. I can only remember what happened after I fell.

Drew's blue eyes narrowed as he looked her over. She seemed younger than she had at the crime scene. Her honey golden hair was cropped short, no more than an inch long. Looking closer he could discern the scar that told him she'd had recent brain surgery.

Do you remember what happened this morning?

She perked up at that. Oh, yes. I don't have any problems with my new memories.

Where are your coat and shoes?

I left them behind so I could run faster.

Ellie began her story. It wasn't fifteen minutes after I got out of the truck...

Out of the truck?

Yes. I hitched a ride from Scranton with a truck driver. I'm trying to get to Boston.

What's in Boston?

I don't know. But I feel I'll be safe in Boston. I think someone is trying to kill me. She continued on describing what happened. He kept calling me Dana. I was scared so I ran.

All the time she talked, Ellie sketched. She gave her sketch to Drew. He frowned. Is this supposed to be the shooter?

She nodded. It's how I remember him.

He passed the sketch to Sylvia. Anyone you know?

Sylvia studied it. It looks like Wesley Morrison. We've arrested him several times for shoplifting. He's on parole for burglary.

As a felon he can't have a gun. We can jail him for parole violation until we get the evidence to prove the murder. Do you know where he roosts?

Sylvia picked up one of the pencils and wrote the address on the sketch. He lives on the fifth floor of a walkup.

Drew took out his cell phone to call his partner. Karen, what can you tell me about Moore?

He's still in surgery.

I'll be by to pick you up in about fifteen minutes. He disconnected.

I need to get to Boston, Ellie insisted.

You aren't going anywhere until I can be sure you'll be safe. It's called protective custody. We're going to take you to a place where you'll be safe. I'll put Sergeant O'Connor on it. Meanwhile I have other police business to attend to.

Ellie made a sour face. I really need to get to Boston.

You are a witness to the murder of a cop. You aren't going anywhere until I say you can.

Chapter 2

She's just a kid, Drew explained to Karen. She has amnesia but she can recall what she calls her 'new memories'. Drew filled Karen in on the information he had gleaned from Ellie.

So where are we going?

Drew reached inside his jacket and brought out a folded paper. The kid drew this. Klose recognized him. We're going to try to find him. He's our shooter. That girl shot him but I don't know how bad. There isn't a big blood trail from the scene.

Didn't CSI follow it?

Um-hum. It ended where he got picked up by someone. It's my guess he wasn't acting alone. Ellie said she saw another man get out of a car and start toward her. That's when she started running. He ran his hand over his straight black hair and glanced over at his partner.

Karen said, His DNA and prints will be on file.

Look at that sketch. He's wearing gloves. But his DNA should be in that blood spatter on the car door. Here we are. Hope you feel up to some exercise. Klose said it's on the fifth floor of a walk-up.

He's holding the gun in his left hand.

Yup. Klose confirmed he's a lefty.

After they climbed five flights of stairs, Drew rapped on the apartment door. NYPD. Open up.

The woman who opened the door was very pregnant with a year-old baby on her hip. Wes ain't here. He didn't come home last night.

Mind if we look around?

She stepped back. I told you he ain't here. What's he done now?

Killed a police officer and put another in the hospital. Drew stepped past twin girls fussing over toys. Do you mind? He motioned toward the back of the apartment.

Go ahead. Wes ain't got no gun. He said he had a job lined up that would get him some big bucks and we can move away and start over. He promised he would stay clean.

Drew came back. He's not here.

I told you that. How can I find out where he is?

If we find him, we'll tell him to call you.

He can't call me. We couldn't pay our bill and they shut us off. Wes has one of those cheap cell phones, but he has it with him.

Drew gave her his card. If he comes home please ask him to give himself up. It could go easier on him. By the way, he could be wounded. The girl who drew this sketch shot him. He showed her the paper. This is your husband, isn't it?

She stared at the drawing. That's him.

Going down the stairs was easier then climbing them. It must be hard on the boys who are in school, Drew commented when they were back in the car.

How so? Karen wondered.

When they talk about what their parents do for a living, they have to say their father's a thief and their mother has babies so she can get a bigger welfare check.

Are you that soured on women?

He shrugged. Once bitten, twice shy.  I have a bad feeling about this. Whoever came after Ellie may try again. I had Hank put her in a safe place with a couple uniforms to guard her. I have to find out where she is. I have some more questions. Call O'Connor and ask where they stashed her.

Karen made the call. He said she's in the apartment building where you live. One floor up.

Drew parked his Jeep Gran Cherokee in one of the two reserved spaces he paid for.

I am not walking up ten flights of stairs, Karen asserted.

Drew looked over with a grin. Good exercise. I do it all the time. We can take the elevator. Outside the apartment he pressed the door bell.

Who is it? came the call from inside.

Ward.

Drew heard the locks turning and Marlon Olgivie opened the door with his pistol at the ready.  Come on in, Lieutenant. Miss Winter is sleeping right now. She said she was awake all night.

Wake her. I need to talk to her.

When Ellie came to the living room Drew asked, Ellie, where did you say you're from?

I...I don't know. I was living with Megan Winter in Billings. I don't know if that's where I'm from or if it's someplace else. I just don't know. I'm hungry. I haven't eaten since eight o'clock last night.

What would you like to have? I can order it and have it brought to my apartment on the floor below. He looked at Marlon's brown face. What do you want?

How about some fried chicken with sides? Enough to feed all three of us. They usually send along a free bottle of Coke.

Drew gave Karen his key card. Order from my apartment and wait for delivery. I want to talk to Ellie. Drew sat on the couch with Ellie across from him. Did anyone get her prints and DNA to try to trace her?

O'Connor did, said Roberto Salvador. He gave them to the lab.

Ellie, don't you remember anything from your past? Drew asked. Anything at all that might help find where you belong.

Ellie scrunched down in the overstuffed chair  as if she'd like to disappear. Her plight touched Drew's heart.

Just one thing. It will take me longer to tell it than it lasts. A brightly lit Christmas tree with a toy train running around it. A little boy is jumping up and down, clapping his hands and squealing with delight. That's all.

What does he look like? What color hair?

A frown puckered Ellie's forehead. The same color as mine.

What's he wearing?

Blue pajamas with red trim.

Is he related to you? A brother, perhaps.

I don't know. Dr. Fenton tried this with me. I try to pull out more and the thread breaks. It just isn't there anymore.

Tears filled her eyes. Beautiful eyes. Rust colored with amber and green flecks. Haunting eyes. I get so upset when I try to force memories. It's like all these images are zipping through my mind but I can't slow them down enough to really see them. When I try I get a bad headache. I don't have my medicine anymore. And now Dr. Fenton's dead and I can't get anymore.

He's dead? Drew asked, How do you know that?

She. Her first name is Olivia. I saw him shoot her. I went for my usual appointment and she came running from her office, yelling, 'Run, Ellie, run!' I heard him holler, 'Bitch.' There were two shots and she fell down. I ran away. She cocked her head to one side. The shots weren't very loud. Like a sput. I know that means something but I can't remember what.

Silencer, said Ogilvie.

Drew nodded just as the doorbell chimed. Salvador went to answer it. Who is it?

Hall.

Karen carried in a bucket of chicken and sides to the dining table grabbed a piece for herself. I didn't have any breakfast this morning.

Neither did I. Drew helped himself. I thought we might have a peaceful Christmas this year.

There will be more than this before Christmas. Sometimes the holidays make people go off the deep end. Domestic disputes, robberies, shoplifting.

We're Homicide. Remember?

Sometimes those things escalate into killings.

Drew made a sour face. Don't I know it.

****

When he got back to the station, Drew went straight to Capt. Hallinan's office. Hallinan had an open door policy. If the door was open any cop could walk in to talk to the captain. Drew settled onto a green leather chair across from the captain.

Hallinan looked up from the papers he was reading. I would guess you're here to give me the lowdown on Thomas's killer.

You guess right. Drew grinned. We need to call a press conference this afternoon, say around four o'clock. He withdrew a copy of the sketch Ellie made. This is the man we're after. Wesley Morrison.

Where'd you get this?

That girl who was in the patrol car. She drew it while I was questioning her.

If we give it to the press we need to be sure of its accuracy.

Klose recognized Morrison from it. And Morrison's wife said it looks like her husband. He wasn't home and she was worried about him. He's certainly graduated from petty shoplifting and burglary to murder. He frowned. I just thought of something. Miss Winter said he wanted her to come with him. Maybe he was trying to abduct her instead of killing her. But she shot him with Moore's gun.

Matt Hallinan passed the sketch back to Drew. I want one of these in every patrol car that leaves the station until we find him. This is good. Is she an artist?

She doesn't know. She has amnesia. She can only remember what's happened since her 'fall.' I'm going to call the Billings police department and try to find out about her.

Billings, Montana?

Yup.

How'd she end up in New York?

She was trying to get to Boston where she feels she'll be safe.

Drew gave the sketch to a uniformed officer. Put this into the computer system so it goes out to every computer to every patrol car. Pull up Wesley Morrison's mug shot and add it to the corner. I need a hundred copies to pass out to the media. Have them on my desk by four o'clock. He strode to his desk and draped his black leather jacket over the back of his chair. After checking online for the number for the Billings Police, he placed the call.

Billings Police Department, said a female voice. How may I direct your call?

This is Lieutenant Drew Ward, NYPD...

New York?

Yes, ma'am. I'd like to talk to someone about Ellie Winter.

I'll put you through to Sergeant Orren. One moment please.

The sergeant answered on the first ring. Homicide, Orren speaking.

Lieutenant Drew Ward, NYPD. I didn't expect to get homicide. I'm calling about a young lady who goes by the name of Ellie Winter.

Didn't think our BOLO would get that far east.

It didn't. I have Miss Winter in protective custody as a witness to a murder. One cop dead, another in the hospital. I want to know how much information you can give me about her.

I want her for questioning about the murder of Dr. Olivia Fenton and the arson of her office. How the hell did she get that far east?

Same way almost everything moves across the country.  She hitched rides with truckers. She said she's trying to get to Boston because she'll be safe there. But she can't tell me why she feels she'll be safe there.

Real sad case, that one. Some hikers found her out in the wilds. She'd fallen or was pushed down a seventy-foot cliff. Hit her head on a rock. The doctor did a delicate operation to remove a hematoma. She was in a coma three weeks.

Have you been able to get a fix on her real name? Who she is or where she's from?

Nope. Ran her fingerprints. They're blocked by the feds. About a week later this U.S. Marshal  shows up and wants to take her into custody. She's in the witness protection program. It strikes me as a little strange that right after he shows up, Dr. Fenton is shot, her office burned and Ellie disappears. I went to see Megan Winter, the woman Ellie lived with, after Megan filed a missing person report because Ellie didn't come home after her appointment with Dr. Fenton. That made me really suspicious. Of course I don't have any evidence to prove that marshal had anything to do with Ellie's disappearance.

But you have a gut feeling, Drew finished for him.

I guess you could say that.

Go with your gut. Did this marshal have a name?

Lewis Drumheller. Not likely to forget a name like that.

Shit! He's not a marshal. He's FBI.

He said he was a marshal and had the credentials to prove it.

What's that son-of-a-bitch got to do with Ellie? Witness protection isn't under FBI's jurisdiction. I'm going to call Chuck Davidson and find out. Drumheller shouldn't be involved in Ellie's case.

You know him?

Drew could almost hear the sergeant grinning. We've crossed paths a few times. The last time I told him to stay the hell out of my cases. I have a gut feeling that your murder case and mine are related and the string that connects them is Ellie Winter. I take it you never found out about where she's from.

Nope. I know she didn't just drop out of the sky. And she wasn't dressed for being out in the mountains. She was dressed like she was going on a date. No sexual assault. Just the injuries from falling down that cliff. It's a good thing those hikers were there to see her fall. One of them is an EMT. They called it in by radio and got a chopper out there to air lift her to the hospital. If she'd laid out there very long she'd have died.

Drew said, I have a name for you. Dana. Check the drivers licenses for Montana and surrounding states.

Orren finished for him, And cross reference it with any missing person's reports. Where'd you come up with that name?

The man who was trying to kill her or kidnap her called her that. It's worth checking into. Do you think she killed Dr. Fenton?

Not the slightest suspicion. I just want to talk to her in case she saw something.

Drew gave him his cell phone number. She saw something. She just told me about it a while ago. Call me around six this evening. I'll let you talk to her. Drew disconnected.

Drew sat at his desk trying to absorb everything Orren had told him. His conversation with Orren posed a slew of new questions. If someone was trying to abduct Ellie, how did they know she was in New York? Why would a New Yorker try to kidnap a girl who had just arrived in the city? Two murders nearly across the country from each other and Ellie Winter was present at both. Drumheller had told Orren that Ellie was in the witness protection. What was the reason?

The captain came by. News conference at four in the conference room downstairs.

I'll be there. Right now I'm going to the hospital to talk to Moore if he's able.

Drew's cell phone vibrated and he took it out and opened it. Charlotte. He let it go to voice mail. It vibrated again when he got out of his SUV at the hospital. Charlotte again. He didn't have time to put up with his sister just then. She'd wait until he was ready to talk to her.

He walked up behind the nurse on duty and put his arm around her. How's my favorite nurse?

Jan Turnbaugh looked up at him and grinned. How's the worst patient I ever had?

I'm here to see Sean Moore. What's his status and prognosis?

He's serious but stable. Prognosis good. He's in three. He may be a little groggy yet but he's awake.

He found Moore with the head of his bed raised enough for him to be in a reclining position. His left arm was bandaged and propped on a pillow. Drew held out his hand to Moore. How's our rookie hero?

Moore took his hand. Not feeling very heroic right now.

I won't bother you very long. Just came by to get a statement.

Sean looked puzzled. I already gave a statement to that FBI agent.

What FBI agent? This is NYPD's case. Not Drumheller, I hope.

Yup, Sean returned.

I'll have to give Chuck Davidson a call. I don't want Drumheller messing in my case. I'll never see anything of the statement you gave to him. You'll have to do it again. He turned on his tape recorder and laid it on the tray table.

Moore told him what happened.

That girl probably saved your life. She used your gun to shoot the shooter. Drew turned off the tape recorder and put it in his pocket.

Kill him?

No. He got away but I have Karen calling the hospital ER's to find out if he came in for treatment.

Sean grinned. This isn't exactly how I planned to spend my first week on the force. It's going to take a long time for me to heal.

You're going to have some very interesting scars. The bullet had gone through Moore's arm and hit a rib to be deflected and exited through his chest just above his left nipple. You got a girl friend?

I'm engaged. Penny doesn't like my being a cop. I hope she doesn't break it off because I got shot.

Some women can deal with it; some can't. Cops have a very high percentage rate of divorce.

What about you?

Drew nodded. Long time ago. I get a little antsy when a woman starts talking marriage. I'll see you later.

His cell phone vibrated when he got back in his SUV. He opened it and looked at the name. Shoving aside the temptation to let it go to voice mail again, he pushed the talk button. Yeah, Charlotte. What's your problem now?

I've been trying to reach you all day. I've left at least three messages.

Drew spotted a tall man in a tan trench coat entering the hospital. There was something familiar about the way he walked. Gotta go, Charlotte. He disconnected. Getting out of the SUV he ran for the door. He entered the lobby in time to see Drumheller get into an elevator. He caught the next one over before the doors closed. Floor three, he told a woman standing by the buttons.

As he exited the elevator, he saw Drumheller enter Moore's room. There wasn't a doctor or nurse in sight. He could hear a tumult of voices in the next room. Apparently that patient flatlined. Staying close to the wall, Drew eased along the corridor until he could see inside Moore's room.

Drumheller held the oxygen line crimped shut. ''I want to know about Dana Terrell, the girl you were trying to protect when you got wounded. I want to know where she is."

Moore responded, That doesn't matter. I can breathe without that oxygen. I don't know any Dana Terrell.

Drumheller pushed the button on the morphine dispenser. You know what too much of this stuff can do to you?

It's timed so I can't OD on it, Moore informed him.

Drumheller took a syringe from his coat pocket. I brought a little extra just in case. You know just a little bit too much.

Moore reached inside his hospital gown and loosened one of the leads hooked up to the monitor to set off an alarm.

Drew pulled out his pistol just as nurse Jan Turnbaugh came into the hall. Drew put his finger to his lips for silence and motioned for her to approach close to the wall. As soon as she was close enough, Drew went in. Put down the syringe and step back or I'll shoot you where you stand.

Drumheller laid the syringe on the tray table and stepped back with his hands in the air. You can't get away with this. I'm an FBI agent. That girl is in the witness protection program.

"I don't care if your God's right hand man. You threatened to kill a cop. As for that young lady, right now she's in my witness protection program. Back off!"

Who are they going to believe?

Drew nodded toward Jan. I have a witness. Jan get a glove on and put that syringe in my coat pocket. Lew, you'd better hope that it doesn't contain morphine or I'll lock you up and throw away the key. Now get the hell out of here and don't come back. I'm going to call your boss and file a complaint. I told you before to stop meddling in my cases. I meant it.

Drew took out his cell phone. You can't use that in here, Jan reminded him.

I need to call headquarters to get a guard posted on Moore's room. If you even see Drumheller in this hospital other than as a patient, call me. He gave her his cell phone number.

Moore was losing consciousness. He said groggily, He said the girl's name is Da...na... He drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 3

Where the hell are you? Matt Hallinan yelled into his phone. The press conference is due to start in fifteen minutes.

"I'm in