Dear Readers:

Lance Legouri is devastated when Isabella ends their affair and turns to his best friend. Marci Wentworth hides her own heartache as she advises Lance to leave.

In his months away on the Pacific Island of Yanga, Lance slowly recovers. Only his separation from Marci brings about a new discovery ... she is the one he truly loves. It is Marci who holds the key to his heart, she always has.

Lance writes her a letter, only Marci has just accepted André's proposal. She has been under a lot of stress lately and this news is more than she can handle; the Wentworth twin disappears. When Marci is found she has lost her memory...

 

                     Over the Edge                      

Chapter Two

A few miles away, Audrey Windor's eyes popped open and she shot up in bed.
     "Harm?" She shook her husband's shoulder.
     "Mmm, did I miss the alarm?"
     "There's something going on with Marci."
     "Are you sure? You haven't had a premonition in a while."
     "I'm positive." Audrey was out of bed, rushing for the shower.
     "I'll wake Richie," he offered.
     Ten minutes later at the table, Richie was pleading for pancakes.
     "I'm sorry," Audrey stroked his hair, "has to be cereal today."
     "Oh, Mom, please."
     "Tell you what. We'll have hamburgers for dinner."
     "Okay," he agreed.
     She rose from the table and dropped a kiss on his head. "See ya later."
     "Be sure to keep me posted," Harm instructed.
     His wife pecked his cheek. "Promise."
     At the counter, Audrey filled her thermal cup, snapped on the lid, and was out the door. As soon as she was on the highway, she tried Marci's cell phone. It was off. Now she was concerned. Her friend would never turn off her phone.
     Taking big gulps of coffee, Audrey changed her reasoning. Marci wouldn't turn her phone off but she would forget to charge it. The phone was probably dead. She laughed at herself for getting so worked up, then called her husband.
     "Hello."
     "Hi, honey, it's me."
     "Is everything okay?"
     "Everything is fine, just wanted to make sure you took care of the insurance papers."
     "Come on, it's me. You're upset about Marci, aren't you?"
     "Yea. I couldn't reach her on the phone and it shook me up for a minute. But she never remembers to charge her phone."
     "Hon, even if something is going on with her, it doesn't mean it's bad."
     "You're right. I'm being silly."
     "Oh no, you're never silly, just protective."
     "Listen, honey, if I get tied up at work will you pick up Richie?"
     "You better call and remind me ... there will be an APB."
     Audrey laughed. "You clown."
     "Not to worry, my love, I will pick him up."
     "Okay. See you tonight. I love you."
     Audrey shut the phone and dropped it onto the passenger seat next to her purse. Now, she felt much better. How was she to know a warning was waiting a few miles away.
     It was a flashing billboard, pulled her attention to the side of the road. There was a woman holding a hair product. Audrey had passed that billboard a thousand times, but had never seen it flash. She looked again—it was Marci. What the heck was going on? When she looked back, the face on the billboard was the woman again.
     Nothing like this had ever happened. She had felt things, knew something was going on and who was involved, but there had never been a visual. This was the most profound premonition of her life.
     Maybe Marci's twin, Madi, could help. Audrey snatched her phone from the passenger seat.
     "Silhouettes. This is Regina, may I help you?"
     "Hi, Regina, it's Audrey. Has Madi come in yet?"
     "Yes. Do you want to talk to her?"
     "No, just wanted to be sure she was there. I'm on the way."
     The twins had designed and built Silhouettes right out of college. It was a full-body salon for men and women. Clients were treated from head-to-toe: warm, scented spa, full-body massage, soft facial, professional manicure, hair style, make-up and wardrobe. Silhouettes was so popular it began turning a profit within two years. There was now a Daycare Center and Children's Salon, thanks to Audrey.
     As she approached Silhouettes, with its grand exterior of golden walls and sculpted landscaping, Audrey became more apprehensive. Another message had just passed through. She was going to receive a phone call about Marci. Turning into the parking lot, her SUV swung into the nearest space.
     At the door, the redhead had to compose herself. Never before had an omen been this intense. Hand shaking, she reached for the knob. She needed a deep intake before stepping inside. The waiting room was like an arcade. Clients deliberately came early for appointments. They were on the Internet, watching HDTV or playing video games. Audrey crossed the span to the receptionist desk.
     "Hi, Regina. Is she busy?"
     "No more than usual," she pointed. "Isn't it great about the baby?"
     "Oh yes, they have waited so long."
     "We're starting a pool to guess the weight and length."
     "Count me in," Audrey called over her shoulder.
     Madi was surprised to see her. "What the heck are you doing here? This is suppose to be your day off."
     "I'm expecting a call."
     "Oookay. What's up."
     "I'm not sure. Can we go to the main office?"
     Madi laid her clipboard on the counter and followed Audrey from the room. They made their way along the corridor with its smooth, marble surface. The clickety-clack of Madi's heels seemed to match Audrey heartbeat. The main office was located near the rear of the building. It was grand and plush with its potted palms and leather furniture.
     Madi crossed the room and leanded against the sleek glass and ebony desk. Audrey heaved a sigh, as she dropped into the nearest chair. She explained about the way woke, the flashing billboard, and the breakthrough message.
     "Okay, now you're scaring me."
     "I'm sorry, it's been a strange morning."
     Madi ran her hands through her hair. "Can I ask you something?"
     "Of course."
     "You have always had omens, but I don't remember anything about visions. And what about the phone message?"
     "It's true. There has never been a visual, nor a message."
     "Audrey, is my sister in danger?"
     "Oh, I don't think so. But I do think she has..."
    The tone sounded from the front desk. Madi pushed the speaker button. "It's the sheriff from Valley View," Regina stated, "he wants to speak with Audrey."
    The women gaped at one another.
    Audrey jumped up and grabbed the phone. "Hello, this is Audrey. Yes. Yes, I do." She listened for a moment. "I'll leave right away."
    Slowly and gently, she laid the phone down, a blank look on her face. In a soft, breathy voice, she related: "Marci is at Wilma's Café over in Valley View. The sheriff said that Marci doesn't know who she is."
     Madi's voice was not so soft. "What does he mean she doesn't know who she is?"
     "That's what he said ... she doesn't know her name. She was sitting outside at a table drinking iced tea and Wilma went to talk to her. "Only she doesn't know Wilma, or anyone else."
     "Audrey, that's not possible. We have known Wilma—and everyone else in Valley View—for years."
     "Well, she doesn't seem to know them now."
     "This is crazy. I don't understand. Why did he call you?"
     "Marci had nothing but her keys and my card in her pocket." Audrey headed for the door, "I have to go. I'll call you as soon as I can."
     "Oh no, I'm going with you." Madi reached into the drawer for her purse.
     Audrey returned to Madi's side and put an arm around her shoulder. "That may not be good idea. Marci's very fragile right now, another shock may be too much for her."
     "What do you mean another shock?"
     "If she doesn't know who she is, seeing someone who looks exactly like her may be more than she can handle. We don't know what might happen."
     Madi's eyes welled-up, but she knew Audrey was right. "Okay, but call as soon as you get there. Let me know that she's okay. I'm going home to let mom know what's going on."
     Audrey shook her head. She flew from the room, raced from the building, and jumped into her vehicle. It was a thirty minute drive to Valley View, and she decided to take the back route. The freckled-faced waif wasn't in the mood to fight the highway traffic.
     She wanted to concentrate on Marci, to think of what could have caused this tragedy. Audrey went down the list: Marci finally had to part with her beloved golden Jaguar and purchase a new one, she was recovering from a badly broken ankle, they were knee-deep in plans at Silhouettes, and André had been pushing for a wedding date. But it was her Mother's stroke that may have brought Marci to the brink. The doctor tried to reassure her that it was mild and Margaret was going to be fine, but it was weeks before Marci would leave her mother's side.
     Looking at the whole picture, she realized that her friend had been under a lot of pressure for months. Audrey thrashed around in her purse, she needed to call Harm.



In the meantime, Madi had called Matt and told him about Marci. "Oh Matt, I don't know how to break this to my mother."
     "Honey, don't do this alone, talk to your dad."
     "You're right. Why didn't I think of that?"
     "Because you're upset. Now call me as soon as you leave Memorial. I'll meet you at Mayfield."
     "You don't have to..."
     "Yes, I do. Now promise me."
     "Okay, I promise."
     Ten minutes later she was at the hospital, but still didn't know how she would break the news. She boarded the elevator to the cardiac unit on the fourth floor, where her dad was working. The chamber was empty as the slender brunette stepped in and pushed the button. She spread her arms across the rail and stared at the floor. Never had words been a problem for her, this was the first time she felt uncomfortable ... almost at a loss.
     Her parents adored her and Marci. Even a cold would set the house in a dither. How was she going to tell them something like this? Although Matt was probably right about telling her dad first. He was alwasy so easy and calm about everything. She prayed he would be composed when she broke the news about Marci. She was terrified herself, it wouldn't take much to push her to the breaking point.
     As Madi stepped from the elevator, she saw Sam at the nurse's station. He was slightly grey and lean, looking younger than a man in his sixties. He smiled warmly when he spied her walking his way. "Well, have you come to cheer me up?"
     "I need to talk to you, Dad. Can we go to the lounge?"
     "Of course. You're not sick, are you?"
     "No, it's Marci."
     She hurried down the hall and into the neatly furnished room. Stalling for time, Madi took a Styrofoam cup from the stack and poured a little coffee.
     "Honey, your hands are shaking. What's the matter?"
     Madi explained everything, including Audrey going to Valley View. She continued to stand, until Sam reached up and gently pulled her to the sofa. He put an arm around her and Madi leaned her head on his shoulder. Tears were near the surface. "How could something like this happen to Marci?"
     "More than likely, it's the stress she's been under lately. Think of it like a glass of water that just can't hold one more drop."