Free The Alpha's Search (The Craven Trilogy, #1) by Natalie Shaw

no name. The police had arranged for a social worker to visit me:
    “My name's Maxine. I've been assigned your case.” 
    “Hi.”
    “This is rather awkward.” She hesitated. “I need a name to use on your file, but—”
    I laughed. I couldn't stop laughing. I couldn't help it. I had nothing—not even a name. Then, I cried.
    “Sorry,” Maxine said. “I didn't mean to upset you. We can sort that out later.”
    “It's okay.” I wiped my eyes. “I guess I should have a name.” I thought about it for a moment. The Akita that found me was called Jack.
    “Jackie,” I said.
    I was on Coleman Ward.
    “Jackie Coleman.”
    “Right.” Maxine looked uncertain. “That'll do until we know your real name.”
    Maxine was a little too fussy, but did everything she could to help including organising a one-off payment from a social fund to cover my initial expenses. I had only the clothes I'd arrived in. She also organised a place at a hostel. Two days later, it was time for me to leave the hospital. Judy, the nurse who was the first person I'd seen when I came around, had been a regular visitor to my bedside.
    “You leaving us?” Judy asked.
    “I guess so.”
    “Where will you go?”
    “I've got a temporary place at a hostel.” I took the slip of paper from my pocket. “Dunston Hostel.”
    I saw the reaction on her face.
    “That bad, eh?”
    “You shouldn't have to go there. It's full of drunks and addicts. Couldn't they find you anywhere else?”
    I shrugged. “I'd better get going.”
    “Wait!” Judy put a hand on my shoulder. “Me and my flatmate are looking for someone else to share. The last girl moved out to live with her boyfriend.”
    “That's sweet of you, but I don't have any money or a job.”
    “You can pay us when you do.”
    “What will your flatmate say?”
    “Alison? She'll be fine with it. You'll like her—she's nice. What do you say?”
    “That would be brilliant. Thanks!”
    ––––––––
    J udy and Alison were great flatmates. The most difficult part about finding a job was getting the paperwork sorted. I had a zero identity. It took weeks and a lot of help from Maxine to get paperwork under my new 'temporary' name of Jackie Coleman.
    Over the next two years, I did a number of jobs—bar work, shop work—most of it part time and/or temporary. Then I landed the job at Dexter Travel. Judy moved out a year later. Me and Alison never did get around to finding a new flatmate. I built a new life for myself in Camthorpe. I even managed a few brief relationships although they were short-lived and forgettable. At the back of my mind was always the hope that one day my memory might return, or that I might meet someone who knew me—the old me.
    Now I had.

Chapter 10
    ––––––––
    I was still lying in bed when there was a knock on the door.
    “Yes?”
    “It's me,” Craven said.
    I was naked, so grabbed the white dressing gown provided by the motel. It was at least three sizes too big.
    “Morning,” I said, but he'd already slipped by me into the room. “What's wrong?”
    “Look!” He grabbed the remote control and switched on the TV.
    The news item was using footage which appeared to have been taken from a helicopter. I recognised the stricken police car which I'd escaped from the previous day.
    “What—?”
    “Wait!” Craven held up a finger to shush me.
    The reporter in the helicopter had handed back to the studio. The female news anchor was talking about the mass murder scene where two police officers and two other men had been killed, in what was described as a brutal attack. I was only half listening to the woman's words. I was too busy staring at the image displayed on a large screen behind her. It was a photograph of me.
    “The police are appealing to anyone who knows the whereabouts of this woman. Her name is Jackie Coleman. Anyone with information should contact police on—”
    Craven switched off the TV.
    “Do they really believe I was