Page 48 of Storm Warning

“Who is she?”

“A homeless woman who lived in the Homestead camp.” She dragged in a ragged breath. “I lived in a tent next to hers.”

“How old were you when you lived in that camp, Riley?”

“Sixteen.”

Andre froze. “You left the foster care system at sixteen years old?”

“I ran from the system. I had been living with a nice family for a couple of weeks. One night, the man of the house sneaked into my room after midnight.”

He groaned. “Oh, baby, no.” Andre tucked her closer to his side. “He molested you?”

She gripped his free hand. “He didn’t get far. I fought him off while screaming bloody murder. His wife ran into the room,as did his 18-year-old son. They forced him out of the room and called the police. The son kept his father from bolting before the cops arrived.”

“What happened next?”

“The wife called the police while I packed what few things I owned and shoved them into my backpack. The police detectives got me out of that home and convinced me to file charges against the husband. A jury found him guilty of attempted rape and child molestation. When child services made plans to put me in another foster home, I packed my things in my backpack, climbed out a window, and ended up at Homestead camp.

“Angie was like a second mom. She helped me set up a new identity so I could go to school and finish my high school degree. Angie encouraged me to work hard so I could go to college and get out of the homeless camp.”

“She sounds like a good woman.”

“Angie was the best.”

“Was?”

“The day I moved into one of Middle Tennessee State University’s dorms, she disappeared from the homeless camp. I haven’t seen her since that day.”

“Have you looked for her with Fortress Security resources?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Oh, it’s tempting, Andre. I want to know what happened to her and why she bothered to care about me and help me.”

“But?”

“I’m afraid to find out she didn’t really care, that this was just a twisted game to her and when the game ended, she got out.”

“That must hurt.”

“Yes. I want to find her, but I don’t want to find out she abandoned me like my parents’ families. I don’t want to learn she didn’t care as much as she claimed.”

“So, you went to college. Did you graduate?”

She smiled. “I graduated with honors.” What a great day that had been. Solid proof she made something of herself and trained hard to have a job that would allow her to contribute to society.

Andre squeezed her hand. “Not surprised by that. What happened next?”

“Before I graduated from MTSU, the CIA recruited me to join their organization as a computer analyst.”

His head whipped in her direction. “You were a spook? Holy smoke, Riley. How long did you work for The Company?”

“Eight years. I stayed with them until Brent recruited me to join Fortress.”

“Wait. I know you’re a whiz with computers. That skill caught Brent’s eye. So why aren’t you working with Zane?”