died at the hands of this madman. The more I think about what happened, the more I get the feeling I know something.â
âShh.â Jesse scanned the hallway leading out of the building. âWeâll talk when we arrive at your house. I donât want anyone overhearing us. We havenât released your name to the press. The bomber doesnât know who the survivors are.â If that truly was the case, then the waitress died naturally.
He waited until he brought the car around and assisted Lydia into the front passenger seat to tell her about the death of the waitress. He didnât want a public reaction to the news.
On the drive to her house, after a long silence, Jesse stopped at a red light and looked at Lydia. âI didnât want to say anything until we were alone, but the waitress died last night. An autopsy is being performed to determine the cause of death.â
âYou donât think her death is a result of the bomb explosion?â
âProbably. She was in more critical condition than you were, but she had been responding to treatment and improving so I canât say for sure.â
âWhat does the press know?â
âHow many died in the blast and that there were four survivors. No names at this time because we were still identifying victims and notifying family. That will change now since everyone is accounted for.â
Lydia stared out the windshield. âYou think I might be in danger?â
âI hope not, but itâs a possibility if the bomber thinks you can ID him. Thatâs why we wonât release your name, but the press have their ways of finding out.â
âI canât. Yet. But what if I did see him and I canât remember?â
âYou suffered a head trauma. Not remembering, especially right away, isnât uncommon. Donât force yourself. If you have any information, itâll come to you in time.â
âAre you sure you work for the police? Iâd think you should be pushing me to remember right now.â
When the light turned green, he threw her a half grin and pressed on the accelerator. âI know you. Force wonât work.â
âIâve been trying, and I can remember a few bits like how Melinda looked when she heard the laugh track, how I felt when I did. After that nothing and not much else before other than remembering Bree thankfully left ten minutes before the bomb went off.â
âYes, I talked with Bree. She remembered some of the people we found in the rubble.â
âLunch was starting. The door opened and closedâfour times after she was gone.â She shifted toward him. âI just thought of that.â
He glanced at her smile, which lit her whole face. Heâd always loved seeing her grin from deep inside her. âSee. It will come.â
âI feel like I need to remember right now because someone else might die if he strikes again.â
âWeâre interviewing a lot of people who were there earlier or on that street sometime that morning. Youâre not our only hope.â
Jesse pulled into her driveway, the same house he would pick her up at as a teenager. A memory flashed into his mindâof kissing her on the front porch. Eons ago when he was a different person. His chest tightened. He wouldnât go down that path again.
âIâll see you to your door.â
âWill you stay until Kate comes home from school?â
âIâI...â He didnât want to be with her any more than necessary, but one look into her pale face and he couldnât say no. âFine. When does she get home? Iâll need to let Thomas know what Iâm doing.â
Lydia checked the clock on the dashboard. âNo more than an hour. She carpools with a few friends.â
As they walked slowly toward the house, Jesse just thought of something. âHow are you going to get in? Your purse was destroyed by the bomb.â
She slipped