"I am angry. But I don't want to talk about my feelings right now. Someone is trying to kill you, Mom."

"The doctor said I was shot. I can't remember."

"Do you know who would want to shoot you?"

"I—I don't," she stuttered, but there was an odd flicker in her gaze.

"Are you sure? Because someone tried to get to you here in the hospital, too. They're not going to stop trying until they succeed."

"Here?" Her gaze darted to the door.

"Yes. There's a guard outside now. The police are investigating, but they haven't had much luck. You must know something that will help, Mom. You've clearly led a life of secrets. One of those secrets caught up to you, didn't it?"

"You should go back to Carmel, Brynn."

"How do you know I live in Carmel?" I asked.

"I bought some things from the store you and Dani started. The clothes are beautiful. Although I was surprised you didn't do more with your music. I went to one of your shows at the community center. You were so good."

"You went to my show? Why? Why did you leave us?" I asked, knowing that was the real question I wanted answered. "How could you do that? Losing you was so painful. We were all devastated." I blinked back tears. "We loved you so much."

"I loved you, too. I had to leave, honey. It was the only way to protect you all."

"How could it have been the only way?"

"I can't tell you why. You have to go home. You have to forget you ever saw me."

"It's too late for that," I said, shaking my head. "Someone tried to grab me yesterday."

Fear sparked in her eyes. "No. You must leave, Brynn. Get out of this city. And make sure Dani is far away, too."

"Tell me what's going on."

"I can't," my mom said, struggling to sit up. As she did so, the machines in the room started beeping in alarm. "I have to protect you. It can't all be for nothing," she said, her speech starting to slur as her breath came too fast.

"Mom, stop. Breathe."

My mom couldn't seem to catch her breath and a second later, Dr. Ryker and a nurse came into the room. "You need to leave," Dr. Ryker told me, as she attended to my mother.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

The nurse waved me into the hall. "Please, step outside."

I had no choice but to do as they asked. As I moved into the corridor, Inspector Greenman came down the hall.

"Is your mom awake?" he asked.

"She is, but something is happening. I don't know what. She was talking to me. Then she got upset, and the machines started beeping. The doctor and nurse are with her now."

"What did she tell you?"