Free JUMP (The Senses) by Cindy Paterson Page B

bed and the next—gone. It was only an hour or so before Violet brought you back. Maybe it was the morphine we had you on, but . . . I thought you’d remembered that.” She crinkled her long, thin brows together. “When you came back, you had a cut on your neck that wasn’t there before. Violet couldn’t say how you came by it, only that you’d called her and she came and got you. She was so concerned, fussing over you like a mother hen. She had you wrapped up in her coat. You were shivering like a leaf.” She hesitated, taking Danielle’s hand and giving a gentle squeeze. “Are you seeing anyone, child? I mean, maybe if you had someone to talk to . . . I could suggest . . .”
    “What did she look like? Did she give a last name, her phone number, anything?”
    “No, just Violet. She had red hair and a petite frame. Pale face wearing all that black. Such a beautiful girl to be wearing all black.”
    She was at a dead end. A name. The police had nothing after questioning her , considering she recalled nothing and they were at a loss. All they had was her abductor’s DNA taken from beneath her fingernails. But without him in their system, they had zilch.
    Danielle turned to go when Susan said, “Violet did mention another name in passing. Annie or Ansley. No, it was more unusual. I think it was . . .”
    “Anstice,” Danielle offered, her breath lodged in her throat. She didn’t wait for a reply as she ran from the hospital.
     
    She went home, grabbed her car and headed straight to Anstice’s place. She handled her Mini like the car had been built to be driven, and the engine purred with glee at being able to strut its stuff. She made it in record time without another speeding ticket to add to her collection.
    “Who’s Violet?” Danielle said as soon as Anstice opened the door. She pushed past her and took a quick scan of the foyer, noticing they were alone. Dealing with Keir’s overbearing protectiveness of Anstice was not what she needed to have this conversation.
    When she turned around, Anstice had her hand on the wall , supporting her weight, and her face was cadaver pale.
    “You know her? You know her?” Danielle swore under her breath. She had hoped in the back of her mind that the nurse had been mistaken. “Who is she?”
    “Danielle . . . Danielle, I . . .”
    “Hun, what is it? I . . .” Keir stood at the top of the stairs. Ah crap, so not who she needed to see. “Danielle, nice to see you again.” He gave a quick perusal of his wife and then descended the stairs. He walked to Anstice and wrapped his arm around her waist like a protective shield. “What’s this about, Danielle?”
    “Don’t give me that bull. You know damn well what I’m talking about. Violet. Who is Violet?”
    Anstice looked to her husband with pleading eyes, her fingers curled in his shirt. He remained stoic, unblinking as he met Danielle head -on.
    “Let it go, Danielle,” Keir said , his voice harsh and deliberate.
    “Like hell. This Violet knows Anstice. She was at the hospital.” She ignored Keir’s severe glare and looked at her friend , who was having difficulty meeting her eyes. “Anstice?”
    “I . . . I . . . oh, God, Danielle please don’t ask me.”
    Danielle jerked, every muscle in her body tightening. Her mouth fell open with utter astonishment. She gripped the banister, fingernails, penetrating the wood. “I can’t believe you’re going to stand there and pretend you don’t know anything. So much for best of friends, eh. I guess now that you have your little family here, you don’t need a friend like me all fucked up. Well, screw you. I’ll find out for myself. I don’t need you.”
    Keir’s face turned deadly, brows lowering, eyes darkening. Anstice put her hand on his cheek and stepped from his arms. “Danielle, please. You can’t go searching for answers that even the police can’t find. It’s dangerous. Come and sit down—”
    “Who’s Violet?” Danielle stood her