by Peggy Slocum
* * *
Joanna glances between Captain Aims and Elliot. “When I was in school, they taught us hypnosis, but we were told to use it with extreme caution.”
“Why?” Elliot asks.
“Go on, Joanna.” Captain Aims motions Elliot to be quiet.
“If you’re not careful, you can add false memories. That’s why hypnosis doesn’t hold up under law,” Joanna says. “The government doesn’t like to use it. Psychologists don’t like to talk about it, and they all agree that in the wrong hands it could be detrimental. A well-known hypnotist once admitted he turned a normal guy into a psychotic and then erased his memory of ever walking into his office.”
“No way. Who was that?” Elliot asks.
“I forget his name offhand, but you can Google it. It’s how I came across it.”
“Are you suggesting that Chip and that kid were hypnotized?” Captain Aims asks.
“That’s exactly what I am suggesting.”
“But . . . Chip and the kid both lost it after they talked on the phone,” Elliot says.
“That’s a good point, Elliot. Don’t you have to have eye contact to be hypnotized?” the Captain asks.
“That’s the beauty of this whole thing,” Joanna says. “A message could be hidden deep in the subconscious by the hypnotist and one command could bring it out of dormancy.”
“Can it be reversed?” the captain questions.
“I’d like to say yes, but all the documentation I’ve studied advised how dangerous it could be. No one has admitted to doing it.”
“Could you give Chip a subconscious suggestion that everything is OK and to calm down?” Elliot asks.
“That’s the thing. If this is what’s going on, I don’t know what he’s been told. He could be programmed to have a heart attack and die,” Joanna replies.
“They can do that?” Elliot asks.
“Yeah, it’s very possible,” Joanna says. “And I don’t have the experience to handle a case like this.”
“Do you know anyone who does?” Captain Aims asks.
“I know a guy who took it a lot further than I did. If anyone can help Chip, its Dale.”
“What makes you so sure about this guy?” Elliot asks.
“He worked for the government specializing in brainwashing reversal.”
“I don’t know if it is wise to get the government involved. We don’t have enough evidence to prove this theory,” the captain says.
“Dale became a believer and decided that hypnosis can be very destructive and that God is the only one that should know what is going on inside your head,” Joanna says.
“So, you’re sayin’ he’s ex-government?” Elliot asks.
“Yes.”
“All right, I’m convinced. Give him a call,” Captain Aims says. “But if this falls through …”
“You never heard about it,” Joanna says, finishing for the captain.
“Right. Now get out of here and get me some answers,” Captain Aims says. “Elliot, stay behind for a second.”
“What’s goin’ on?” Elliot asks as the door closes behind Joanna.
“It’s time for you to come back from your leave of absence,”
“Thanks but …”
“No, this is an order, not an offer,” Aims interrupts Elliot. “If you do any more on this case, it’s as Detective Elliot Synclair. So, what’s it gonna be?”
“Detective?”
“Good. Glad you’re back.” Captain Aims unlocks a drawer and takes out Elliot’s gun and badge. He stands up and hands them to Elliot. “Try not to lose ’em this time. You’re an asset to us, son. Don’t let anyone tell you different.”
Elliot grabs the doorknob with his right hand and winces. Switching to his left hand, he opens the door. “Thanks.”
The Captain acknowledges him with a solemn nod as Elliot disappears behind the closing door.
“What was that about?” Joanna asks as Elliot enters her small but well-kept office.
“He took me off my ‘voluntary’ leave of absence.”
“He can’t do that. You have to be properly evaluated. I know you haven’t been because I’m the one who does it.”
“He gave me a choice. Come back or stay away from the case.” Elliot flashes his badge. “This is what I had to choose to help my friends.”
“Elliot, you’re not ready. I’ll prove it,” Joanna says. “Answer this one question. If you could go back before you were suspended …” Joanna starts to ask Elliot.
“My ‘voluntary’ leave of absence,” Elliot interrupts.
“Whatever … tell me what you would change?” Joanna finishes her question.
“You really want to know?”
“Yes.”
“Off the record, right?”
“Sure, off the record. I really want to know.”
“I wouldn’t have touched him.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, then he would’ve gone to prison. Guys like him don’t make it long in there,” Elliot says.
“That’s my point. You didn’t even know that girl, and you became emotionally connected. How are you going to respond this time?”
“A seven-year-old girl was being dangled over the edge of a four-story building, Joanna. When she dropped, I thought she had plunged to her death. At that moment I felt he deserved the same. I didn’t know about the net.”
“That’s not our call. That’s why we have rules. Not just to protect them, but to protect us from becoming like them. People are dying. You can’t afford to lose it again,” Joanna says. “I’m going to be keeping a close watch on you. If you cross the line, I’m going over Aims’s head to the Chief. Got it?”
“Got it,” Elliot answers. “So where’re we at on the case?”
“I’m trying to get Dale to meet us at the hospital to help Chip. He’s not at work. I was just about to try his cell phone when you walked in.”
“Good, I’m going to grab a coffee and call Beth.” Elliot steps into the hall.
Chapter 14: Cracking the Safe House
“Beth, it’s Elliot. Where you at?”
“You don’t want to know. Why?”
“Our last witness just died.”
“What happened?”
“The kid killed himself, but we’re not convinced it’s suicide.”
“That doesn’t make sense. When you take your own life, it’s called suicide.”
“That’s the thing. We didn’t put it together when Chip lost it and tried to kill ’im, but he got a phone call right before he attacked the kid. The kid called someone and the same thing happened. Only this time a rookie was on the job, and the kid got his gun and shot himself in the head.”
Beth is silent for a moment before she asks, “Did they trace the numbers?”
“They’re working on it. We have no idea who’s behind this, and I’m worried about Sarah,” Elliot says. “I was hoping you could stay with her until we can get someone over there.”
“We’re tied up at the moment in Death Chester. It will be at least an hour before I can make it.”
“Joanna and I are goin’ to the hospital to see Chip. I’ll check in on Sarah while I’m there.”
“Sound good. I’ll call Elizabeth and let her know what is going on,” Beth says.
“Great. Be careful Beth. Sarah’s attacker may be after you too. I don’t know who is behind this but they seem to have people everywhere.”
“Don’t worry about me; just make sure nothing else happens to Sarah.”
“I’ll call you after I check on her.”
“Thanks.” Beth disconnects the call and scans her contacts for Elizabeth Perkin’s number. She finds it and presses Send.
“Hello,” Elizabeth’s sweet voice answers.
“Hi, Elizabeth, it’s Beth. How is Sarah doing?”
“Much better. She wants to go home. They told her they would let her go after she walks for them. So you can guess where she is at.”
“Yeah,” Beth
chuckles, “walking. Elliot is on his way over. He wanted me to tell you that he’s worried about Sarah’s safety and doesn’t want her left alone.”
“I thought they caught the guys.”
“Yeah, so did I,” Beth says. “But Elliot said they are finding evidence that proves otherwise.”
“Don’t let this bother you, Beth. God is the one that’s really in control. Everyone else just thinks they are. I’ll go get Sarah and bring her back to the room, but it won’t make her any safer than she already is. Sarah is a child of God, and there is no place safer than the center of God’s will.”
“I see where Sarah gets it from.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Elizabeth says. “But the truth is, we both have the same Father and true wisdom is found through God. So when we are like-minded, it’s only because our blessed Father in heaven has shared his truth with us.”
“OK, well, I’ll let you go then, and I’ll check in with you later.”
“Sounds great, hon. I love you, and remember as much as I love you, God loves you more than I or anyone else could dream possible.” And with that, Elizabeth ends the call.
Beth listens to the silence on her phone for a moment while thoughts invade her mind. She closes her phone. I hate it when they end their conversations like that. Somehow, it makes me feel all alone. Like I’m missing something or someone. What if they’re right? What if God is real and when that guy died today he went to hell. But Sarah’s dad said that, as good as I am, if I don’t believe in Jesus I’ll split hell wide open too.
“Are you ready?” A solemn voice asks from inside the jeep.
Ready for what? Death?
“Can we get this started? It’s getting colder,” Symphony says, losing patience.
Beth reaches for the radio on the dashboard. “I’m on my way. I’ll push the talk button as soon as she comes to the door so you will know it’s clear.”
“Great. When I’m done I’ll call you on your cell.”
“Perfect.” Beth puts the radio in her pocket. She gets out of the Jeep and strides toward the safe house, casting a long shadow in the setting sun.
* * *
Hurry up, Beth. It’s not getting any warmer.
“Hi, I was here earlier …” Beth’s voice comes through the radio.
That’s the signal. Symphony mounts the rusty steel dumpster under the overhang. Grabbing hold of the eave trough, she swings a leg over it and onto the roof and eases her body up. She makes her way across the roof where the snow and ice have mostly melted away. When she reaches the second floor bathroom window, she retrieves a large pocket knife and locks it open with a quick flick of her wrist. Working her way around the window, she finds the opening and slips the blade through and unlatches it. Lucky. They never fixed it. She slides open the bottom sash and balances on the window sill. Symphony removes the rubber overshoes from her combat boots and leaves them outside the window before slipping inside.
She enters into the upstairs bathroom and slinks her way out and down the hall to Maggie’s office. Symphony locates to the filing cabinets and opens the drawer labeled “M-N.” She flips through the tabs on the folders reading the names. Marks, Marshalls, Mathers, McHenry . . . McRoy. Sweet. Pulling out her camera phone, she proceeds to take pictures of each document in the folder. She reaches the last form. OK, this one’s got the address. Symphony closes the folder and returns it to the filing cabinet.
As the drawer latches in place, the sound of footsteps reach Symphony’s ear. Great plan, Beth. Symphony’s pulse quickens. Without a sound, she crosses the office to the window leading to the sloped roof. Unlatching the sash, she slides it up and crawls through. She closes the window from the roof. The snow and ice have not melted from this section of the roof. No way to get straight down without leaving prints, and Maggie’ll notice me if I move now. The window to Maggie’s office is ninety degrees to the bathroom window that Symphony broke in through. The overshoes are black and blend in with the exposed slate gray shingles.
The light in Maggie’s office flicks on. Symphony holds her breath, concealing the steam from her nostrils and presses her body tight against the siding. Her Goth trench coat and dark attire melt into the deepening January dusk. A moment later the light goes out. Without hesitation, Symphony sidesteps along the snow free band of exposed roof under the eves. If I can get off this roof without leaving any prints, Maggie’ll never know. When she reaches the overshoes, she stows them in a deep pocket inside her coat. She retraces her steps to the lower eve. She slips over the edge, landing on the dumpster, and jumps to the ground.
Symphony runs along the hedge keeping herself low enough to stay hidden by the shrubs. She reaches in a pocket and pulls out her phone to dial Beth. “Where are you?” she whispers half out of breath as she darts for the small exit she created between the branches.
“Come out of the yard to the right and you’ll see me.”
Symphony scales the fence and drops onto the sidewalk.
Beth catches sight of Symphony in the rearview mirror and leans over to open the passenger door.
Symphony quickens her pace to reach the Jeep and gets in out of the cold. She slams the door as the SUV takes off.
“Did you get the address?” Beth asks as she takes the first left, putting distance between them and the safe house.
“Yeah, barely. I thought you were supposed to keep the warden busy,” Symphony says, irritated.
“I know. My phone rang, and a blocked call showed up. I excused myself. By the time I realized it wasn’t you, Maggie had shut the door and turned the porch light off. So I waited where you went in, hoping for the best. So what’s the address?”
“Nice. I froze. I climbed an ice-covered roof, almost got caught because someone had a really great plan without a backup. And all you have to say is where’s the address. What’s wrong with you?”
“You didn’t get caught; you came out without a scratch; and you have the information. What’s the problem? I’d say it went well.”
Resigning to Beth’s lack of empathy, Symphony relents and opens her phone to retrieve the photographed address. “Three-twenty-nine sycamore drive, room number thirty-seven.”
“Do you know where this is?”
“Yeah, it’s on the other side of town.”
“Sarah’s place is on the way. We’ll stop and take Fleshling out for a walk before going to find Jade.”
Chapter 15: Sarah’s Walk
Elizabeth closes her phone. “Edwin, I’m going to find Sarah. Elliot’s on his way over because he’s concerned about her safety.” She hurries to the nurse’s station. “Excuse me,” Elizabeth pauses to read the nurses name tag, “Heather, do you know which way the nurse took my daughter Sarah? I need to talk to her.”
“Let’s see.” Heather inspects the schedule. “We just had a shift change, and her nurse is in room 202. I’ll send her to Sarah’s room when she comes out.”
“No, you must be mistaken. My daughter wanted to go home so her nurse is taking her for a walk as we speak.”
“Were you informed of anyone taking room 204 out for a walk?” Heather asks the nurse next to her.
“No. I’ll go ask the nurse in room 202.”
Concern and fear wash over Elizabeth. Oh Lord, the nurse doesn’t seem to know where my daughter is. The Lord brings Phillippians 4:6-7 to her mind, “Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Then, 1 Peter 5:7. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” She prays to herself, Dear Jesus, I put my trust in you …
The nurse runs out from room 202. “Call security. Cynthia hasn’t finished her rounds and the other nurse left thirty minutes ago!”
“What is she saying?”
“I’m sure theres’ been a mistake. Go into you daughter’s room and wait while I get her.”
“Yeah, to the right towards the elevator. Why?”
Elizabeth lifts her eyes toward heaven. “Sweet Jesus, please help our daughter. The nurses don’t know where she is.”
“Let’s go find her!” Edwin grabs his keys off the over-the-bed table. He and Elizabeth race out of the room toward the elevator. “You take the elevator, and I’ll take the stairs to make sure nothing is missed. We’ll meet by the doors in the main lobby,” Edwin says as they reach the elevator.
“OK,” Elizabeth manages to say, grief stricken. She presses the “Lobby” button, watching Edwin disappear toward the stairwell. The doors close and the elevator descends to the lobby. Sarah’s always there for others in need, putting them first and giving God the glory. You’ll use this Lord and may you be glorified. Thank you, Jesus.
The doors open and she hurries toward the lobby to meet Edwin. Elizabeth rounds the corner with her thoughts on Sarah’s safety, not noticing Elliot before they collide. Her purse tumbles to the floor and it’s contents scatter.
“Elizabeth, what’s wrong?” Elliot says, helping Elizabeth scoop everything back into her purse.
“Sarah’s missing. Edwin is checking the stairs, and we’re meeting by the doors in the lobby. We’re going to find her.”
“Yes, we will,” Elliot assures Elizabeth as he guides her to her feet and escorts her to the lobby doors.
As Elizabeth reaches the front doors, the head nurse Catrina is getting into her car. Elizabeth hurries through the doors hailing her. “Sarah’s missing! Have you seen her?”
“Yes, I just saw her get into the back of that gray Subaru next to the exit sign.” She points to the vehicle leaving the lot. “I assumed she was discharged.”