THIRTEEN

“STOP the car!”

I fumbled with my seat belt and the door handle at the same time.

“Clare, the car is moving!” Madame cried. “Do you want to get killed?”

“I’d rather be dead—or committed to a mental hospital—than ride in this vehicle with that man. In fact, if I stay, I probably should be committed because I could not possibly be sane!”

Madame’s violet eyes were pleading. “Be reasonable. You can’t just get out of the car. Where would you go? You have no money, no clothes.”

“Clare! Please listen—” Matt’s gaze found mine in the rearview mirror. “The bad stuff that happened between us was many years ago. I haven’t done drugs in a decade, and since the divorce you and I have become good friends and business partners.”

“Global amnesia or not, I find that very hard to believe!”

“It’s true. Try to remember—”

“Focus on the road, son,” Madame commanded. “We must stay ahead of rush hour at the Lincoln Tunnel.”

“Lincoln Tunnel? Are we going to New Jersey? Are you taking me home—”

As soon as I said it, I checked myself. Dr. Lorca had made it clear that my life in New Jersey was in the past, completely over. Frustrated, I felt tears forming.

“Be strong, child.” Madame patted my hand. “We have a plan to keep you safe and help with your memory. This is just a short diversion, so no one can find—”

Matt’s curse silenced her. “Everyone, stay calm,” he ordered, his gloved hands tightening on the steering wheel. “And for God’s sake don’t turn around.”

Esther and Mr. Dante stopped short of doing just that.

“There’s a cop car right behind us,” Matt informed us. “I think these guys may have spotted my counterfeit license plates. If they call us in, we’re sunk. I don’t see us winning a high-speed car chase through Manhattan or—”

Matt went quiet when the NYPD patrol car activated its roof light and blasted the siren. No one in the vehicle took a breath until the police sped around us and up First Avenue, its siren fading as it went.

We all stayed quiet after that. Matt made a few turns and reached the Lincoln Tunnel well before rush hour. We made it through in less than thirty minutes, but we didn’t stay on the highway. We took the first exit in New Jersey. Then we traveled through Weehawken and along the riverfront.

By now, the rain clouds had cleared, so we could see for miles when we passed Hamilton Park, site of that fateful Hamilton-Burr duel. With its view from the top of the Palisades, the park’s landscape was striking. All around us autumn’s colorful leaves swayed with the breezes while, across the river, Manhattan’s fixed skyscrapers sparkled in the afternoon sun.

Soon we reached a residential area of large houses and expansive lawns. Two more turns, and we hit a narrow backstreet, ending on what appeared to be an unpaved driveway flanked by bushes and tall trees.

“What is this?” I asked.

“A local lovers’ lane,” Matt replied, “but it’s too early for any action. The place should be deserted.”

I sighed in disgust. “So, you were cheating on me in the States, too?”

Matt’s eyes left the road for a second to meet mine. “What are you talking about?”

“This place. How many women have you brought to this so-called lovers’ lane?”

“None. I’ve never been here before.” Matt took one hand off the steering wheel to wave a crinkled piece of paper. “I followed this map.”

“Oh, really? And who gave you this map? Anyone I know?”

“Our daughter.”

“What?”

“Joy told me she came here in high school.”

Dumbstruck and horrified at the same time, I suddenly lost my ability to speak.

“Don’t worry,” Matt went on. “She didn’t lose her virginity here. That didn’t happen until after she graduated.”

“Too much information!” I cried, covering my ears.

“Sorry,” Matt said. “But I didn’t want you to think that I ever came here. Oh, bad choice of words. I mean—I never came here with a woman. I mean—”

“We know what you meant, son!” Madame declared. “Just drive!”

The SUV bounced along the narrow path until we reached a large clearing of dirt and grass, bounded by a battered chain-link fence. Only one vehicle was parked here, a dingy white panel van. Nothing else was in sight, except the trees around us and (beyond the fence) a view of the city skyline, rising up across the Hudson River far below.

Matt stopped and cut the engine.

“Everybody out! Stretch your legs.”

“Then what?” I asked.

“Then we’re all getting into that van.”