Chapter 2

The next day, I set up my waffle stand as usual.

A voice crackled through my earpiece. "Unit 0307, watch the man coming toward you. Brown jacket, baseball cap. Keep it quiet."

This was one of the busiest streets in Dover. We hoped to make the arrest without drawing a crowd.

The man walked up to my stand. "I'll take an order of waffles."

Then he spoke into his phone. "I'll be there in a bit."

As I handed him his order, I deliberately let the open syrup cup tip over, spilling it onto his hand.

He kicked a wooden crate beside my stand. "Watch what you're doing!"

I ducked my head and apologized several times. He raised a hand to hit me, but someone stepped between us before he could.

It was Lindsay. Without hesitating, she knocked him to the ground with a kick.

For a second, I thought her memory was back. But I knew that wasn't possible.

The officers waiting nearby rushed over, flashed their badges, and took him into custody. One of them told me to come to the station to give a statement, and I went with him.

It was almost dusk by the time I returned to pack up my stand.

To my surprise, Lindsay was still there. She looked as though she had been waiting for a while.

Seeing her waiting for me brought back memories of our school days.

I often stayed after class to play basketball, and whenever Lindsay came to find me, she never hurried me along. She just sat quietly in the gym until I finished.

I pushed the memories aside. "Back for more waffles?"

"Yeah." She smiled. "I don't know why, but your waffles taste so familiar."

Of course they did.

The older man who ran our favorite little breakfast spot on that side street retired to Dover. As luck would have it, he ended up living right next door to me.

When I learned that our target loved waffles, I asked him to teach me how to make them.

I gave Lindsay an extra-large order to thank her for stepping in earlier. "This is probably my last day running the stand, so there's no need to come back."

She looked up sharply. "Why?"

Because my assignment was over.

Still, I lied without hesitation. "I'm barely making any money, and I'm tired of being out here in the sun and rain."

Lindsay went quiet for a moment, then held out a business card. "I could help you find a small place to rent. Then you wouldn't have to work outside."

I didn't take the card. A gust of autumn wind stung my eyes and made them water.

"Are you always this generous with strangers?" I asked quietly.

She shook her head. "No. It's just that my son hasn't been feeling well since we moved here. Those waffles I bought yesterday were the only thing he could keep down."

She probably had no idea what those words did to me. I stood there without answering, the ache in my chest tangled with feelings I couldn't sort out.

Lindsay had taken over her grandfather's company, which was based in Dover, and planned to stay for quite a while.

Both Joshua and Cody struggled to settle in after the move and barely ate. She worried about them so much that she waited all that time just to buy more waffles.

That was how Lindsay always cared for the people she loved. She gave them everything she had.

Once, she treated me that way. Now, Joshua and Cody received that same love.

I slid the takeout container toward her. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm done with the stand."

Lindsay looked at me as though she wanted to say more. Then a child's cheerful voice called out, "Mom!"

She turned as Cody ran toward her, with Joshua close behind.

The moment Joshua saw me, his smile slowly faded. He almost seemed to recognize me, though as far as I knew, we had never met.

He stumbled, then quickly steadied himself.

"What's wrong?" Lindsay asked.

"Just got a little dizzy. I'm alright."

Lindsay reached up and pressed a hand to his forehead. "You feel warm, too. Wear a heavier jacket next time. This one's too light for the weather."

He gave her a small smile. "You picked it out. It's my favorite."

An older woman selling flowers nearby watched them wistfully. "What a sweet couple."

I finished packing up and walked away.

The fog in Dover seemed thicker lately. Through the tears in my eyes, it was hard to see much at all.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Anthony. We hadn't spoken in a long time.

"Eric, some members of that group from seven years ago are still out there. If you're willing to come back, the department can arrange a temporary transfer."

Aside from Lindsay, no one knew that case better than I did.