Chapter 26

Now she knew what Mick had meant when he said "you really don't remember, do you?" Remember what?

Beth had vehemently denied knowing what he was talking about. She had been so young. Who remembers much at four? Vague images, suppressed by her subconscious to help her cope and then allowed to be forgotten.

But Mother had known something more about Mick and in that last day at the hospital had tried to tell her. What did she say? She had gone back to the agency but couldn't find him? Mick was the P.I. hired to find me! Mother thought he had stopped protecting them. And maybe he had until the night of the fountain, but he knew all about her! Of course, now the recently returned nightmares and conversely feelings of warmth when around him made sense.

Audrey was safe, thank God. Odd that it was another young girl needing his protection that had brought them to Mick's where the long held secret was uncovered. She had been curious, surely he must have realized she just couldn't keep from poking around. And just what was he doing keeping these old files anyway?

But there she was: this dossier had more pictures of her childhood up to age 17 than even her mother had. Shots of her at camp and at places she hadn't remembered having her picture taken! Of course, Mick was there. No wonder she had always felt supremely confident and safe!

She felt angry that he had kept denying her memories of him but now realized that her guardian angel thought of himself as a stalker. Never. She tried to comfort him, to let him know that it was okay.

Especially to let him know that she didn't hold him responsible. But he was not the kind of man who let himself off the hook easily. No, he wasn't responsible and he couldn't have known Coraline's plan. He had saved her then and now was becoming more than just her savior.

But if Morgan was the same woman who had destroyed her childhood, God help us all.