Free Identity Unknown by Terri Reed Page A

I’m dressed exactly like Sasha.”
    She let out a little noise of irritation. “Black clothes don’t make you a criminal.”
    He had to make her see his point. “But I could be. You said I’d muttered a word when you found me on the beach.” He reached out, and though it was too dark to see her, his aim was true. His hand gripped her shoulders. “Do you remember what I said?”
    â€œOf course. Betrayed. ”
    The word hung between them, sending a shudder down his spine.
    â€œThen doesn’t it stand to reason that whomever I betrayed is after me?” He released her to pace into the inky corner. “And if I betrayed someone who has the means and the mind-set to hire guns to kill me, I’d say that there’s no doubt a criminal element is at play here and I’m smack-dab in the middle.”
    â€œI agree there is a criminal element at work.” Her voice took on that soothing, you’ll-do-as-I-want tone he’d heard her use on others.
    A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth despite himself. She really was something, this beautiful and determined deputy.
    â€œBut until you’re proven to be a criminal, I have to consider you a witness and a victim.” Her words were a punch to the gut.
    He let out a scoff. “I’m a victim, all right. A victim of a defective mind.”
    â€œCan you hold off on the pity party until we get out of here?”
    He barked out a laugh. The woman never gave an inch. He liked that about her.
    Audrey drew in a breath. “John, you also have to consider the fact that someone might have betrayed you.”
    The darkness pressed in on him. Had someone betrayed him? Was that what this was all about? The reason someone wanted him dead? His fingers curled into a tight fist.
    Audrey’s cell phone lit up as she dialed the sheriff. She covered the screen with her hand to mute the light. The ringing of the sheriff’s phone placed him still in the side yard. Audrey put the phone on speaker when the sheriff answered.
    â€œI’m taking John out of here through the tunnels,” she informed him. “Then I’m driving him to the captain’s.”
    Where exactly was this captain located? And what tunnels? John kept his curiosity in check. He’d ask later.
    There was a moment of silence before the sheriff responded. “That’s probably the safest place. I’ll send Paulson with you and then I’ll relieve him tomorrow.”
    â€œFine. Tell Dan to go home and pack a bag. Ask him if he has anything that might fit John,” Audrey said. “John and I will swing by and pick him up in an hour after I’ve stopped by my place.”
    â€œCopy.” The sheriff hesitated before adding, “Audrey, be careful.”
    â€œOf course.” She hung up and grabbed John’s arm and slid her hand down until she clasped his hand. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
    He allowed her to pull him from the vestibule to one of the double doors. “Uh, how exactly are we getting out of here?”
    â€œHave you ever heard of the Embargo Act of 1807?” She led him into the sanctuary.
    â€œCouldn’t tell you one way or another.”
    â€œRight. Okay, fair enough.” Moonlight streamed through the high stained glass windows, allowing enough multicolored shards of light for them to weave their way through the pews toward the front of the church. “Construction on this church began in 1805 and was finished in 1810. In the year 1807, President Jefferson imposed an embargo on foreign trade that lasted for two years. Needless to say the whole Down East was hit hard. The small settlement at Calico Bay was in jeopardy of disappearing. Being that people still needed to export and import goods, the craftsmen working on the church devised a plan. They proceeded to build a tunnel under the church that extends all the way to the cliffs.”
    She knelt in front of the