Page 23 of Stone Coast (Tyson Wild Thriller)

" Y ou could re-implant my memories," I joked.

Ross chuckled. "We're working on that. But the technology is not quite there.”

It was a frightening concept. The thought that someone could implant memories in your brain was the stuff of nightmares. For a moment, it made me concerned. What if the amnesia wasn't an accident at all? What if my memory had been erased? I asked Ross that very question.

He chuckled again. "It's not like a hard drive," he said. “We can't wipe a person's brain clean. It just doesn't work that way."

"But you're experimenting, aren't you?”

"Not me. But I'm sure someone, somewhere in the agency, is working on that technology. Perhaps through a combination of drugs and external stimuli. Somebody's always cooking up something, aren't they?"

He laughed again, but it wasn't really funny .

"I can assure you, whatever's in there,” he said, gently tapping my skull with his index finger, “is all you."

Ross and Jared left, and I followed them into the cockpit. They stepped to the dock, said goodbye to Tyson as they passed, and returned to the parking lot. The four of them hopped into the black SUV and drove away.

Tyson joined me in the cockpit, and I told him about my impromptu interrogation of Ross. He shared my sentiments and said I needed to proceed with caution, as usual.

"What are you going to do now?” Tyson asked. “Are you gonna take the position they offered you?”

I shook my head. "I don't know much, but I do know that's not what I want." I exhaled a frustrated sigh. "I just started this new life of mine, and I already want a do-over.”

Tyson laughed, and I just shook my head.

“I have to find out why all this happened,” I said. “I have to bring Carter Wallace to justice. Anything else is a distraction.”

"That's the Savannah I know." Tyson paused. "Are you sure you’re gonna be okay?”

I nodded and put on a good front.

We stared at each other for a long moment. He was easy to stare at.

"I should be going," he said. “But you can call me anytime. Jack’s band has a few dates lined up in Europe. I manage the band, so it’s my job to keep the show on the road.”

“Sounds like you’ve got your hands full. ”

“I do,” he said with a smile.

“Thank you. You’ve gone above and beyond.” I stepped close and gave him an awkward hug.

He hugged me back, and I felt safe. Secure. The smell of him filled my nostrils, and I didn’t want to let go. I felt like he was my only real connection to my former self. A world that only he and I shared.

We broke apart before things got too awkward again. We said our goodbyes, and I watched him stroll down the dock to the parking lot.

I returned to the boat and took a minute to unwind. But there was no unwinding from this.

I called Olivia and caught her up to speed. She had a lot of questions about Tyson. I told her as much as I thought I reasonably could without going into detail about how we met or what little memory I had of our past. I used the same story he did. That I was friends with his sister, Madison.

"So, did you guys ever, like, bump uglies?"

"I told you, he's just a friend."

"A friend. Right…,” she said in disbelief. "How would you really know?"

“He’s just a friend,” I assured.

“Is he single?”

“Olivia!”

“Well, is he?”

“No,” I lied .

She didn’t believe me. “And he spent the night with you?”

“Nothing happened.”

“You’re a naughty girl.”

“Would you stop?”

“You’re right. I shouldn’t tease you at a time like this. How are you holding up? I mean, you seem pretty nonchalant about the whole thing. That kinda scares me.”

“I’m processing.”

“Just don’t hold it all in and try to be a tough girl.”

“I won’t.”

“I know you. You will. And that makes me worry. You hold shit like that inside for too long, then one day you snap. I don’t want to see you on the news again.”

“I appreciate the concern," I said and changed the subject. “I know the woman’s name Grayson was having an affair with. I think I’m going to reach out to her.”

“Why?”

“I have questions. Maybe she knows something or can help me piece this thing together.”

“Honey, there’s nothing for you to piece together. Some bad people attempted a home invasion. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“You’re right.”

“I know you feel helpless and want to do something, but leave it to the police. It’s what they do. You’re in IT sales. What are you going to do? Go all vigilante? ”

I wanted to tell her so bad, but I kept my mouth shut.

I felt bad withholding information from Olivia.

We had that instant connection, and I just knew she was my best friend.

I guess keeping secrets would get easier as I settled into my new life as a former spy.

But it was the one thing that just didn’t seem natural.

“I killed one of them,” I said in a flippant voice. “Why not kill the other?”

“Okay then. Vigilante it is.”

I laughed.

“I think I like the new Savannah.”

“I wish I had something to compare her to.”

“You’re incomparable, my dear.”

I smiled.

“Tell you what. When I get off work, I’m swinging by to pick you up and we’re going out for a girls’ night. You need to blow off steam.”

“I don’t think bar hopping is what I need right now.”

“Who said anything about hopping? We’ll go to one bar, get hammered, and you’re going to tell me all about Tyson. Who knows? We might meet some cute guys and really get hammered,” she said in a lascivious voice.

I laughed and shook my head in amusement. Olivia had no problem finding suitable men. It seemed she had a problem keeping them around.

“I think I need to meet Tyson,” she said .

“No, you do not need to meet him.”

“You’re just friends, right? He could be perfect for me.” She was just fishing. But I wasn’t going to take the bait.

“You might be just his type,” I replied in a sassy tone.

“I might. Gotta run,” she said. “Be thinking about where you want to go.”