“You have been talking with Dakota too much.”
“So what? Morphenol isn’t any different. They both open up your mind. That’s what it’s all about, opening up your mind.”
Morphenol again. Everyone sang the praises of Morphenol.
“How long did you say you have been at the Abernathy Clinic, Bobby?”
“Two weeks.”
“What do you think Morphenol has done for you?”
“I can’t put my finger on it. I feel great, I love being here, I love being able to come down to the ocean whenever I want. Born and raised in Southern California and I have to get my tan from a sun lamp and bronzer.”
“You didn’t answer my question. What effect has Morphenol had on you?”
“I have the best dreams!”
“Good ones?”
“Always.”
“Nothing disturbing or frightening?”
“Maybe the first couple of times.”
“Like what?”
“Fear. Fear of losing my fame. Fear of falling from my pedestal. Fear of heights. Feeling like I am being crushed under incredible weight. Being in an earthquake and becoming buried under all the rubble from all the buildings. Suffocating. In the dark with no light, no air. Feeling like I am lying in the desert under the hot sun, being picked apart by vultures. Everybody wants a piece of Bobby Dixon. Symbolism so obvious even I can understand it.”
“Are you still afraid of heights?”
“I guess we’ll find out next time I get on a plane.”
“Did you dream a lot before you came here, before you started taking Morphenol?”
“If I did I didn’t remember them. Every now and then I would have a nightmare. Doesn’t everybody? But nothing I remembered for very long.”
“Do you ever dream about anything evil?”
“What do you mean?”
“Devils and witches…that sort of thing.”
“You mean like in The Wizard of Oz? Not since I was a little kid. That witch scared me so bad I wet the bed.”
“Do you believe in witches, Bobby?”
Bobby laughed. “Are you kidding?”
“I mean do you believe that there are people today who practice witchcraft.”
“You’re talking about all that Black Magic stuff, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know. I guess there are people who are into that kind of stuff, rituals and blood and all. I guess maybe they believe it, but I don’t. Why do you ask?”
“Bobby, I still think Joan Monaghan may not have committed suicide, at least not by her own choice.”
“You think somebody killed her?”
“I think somebody may have made her kill herself.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Bobby was silent for a moment, then he said: “Joan was totally tripped out, everybody knows that.”
“I agree. But I found something, something that might be evidence that Joan didn’t kill commit suicide of her own volition.”
“What do you mean?”
Elizabeth wondered if she had said too much already. What would Bobby say when she told him about the voodoo doll?
“I have this feeling I can’t shake that something isn’t right here at the clinic. I don’t know who to trust. I think there may be someone here at the clinic who is a very dangerous and sick individual.”
“You think someone here is practicing witchcraft?”
Elizabeth nodded. “That sounds crazy, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, but that’s why we’re all here, right? Trying to get over the crazies.”
“Bobby, you know that my husband was murdered, right? You know that the police have linked his killer to one of these witch cults?”
“I think I heard about that.”
Elizabeth swallowed. “Bobby, I think the killer may be here at the Abernathy Clinic.”
“No way!”
“I know I must sound completely mad, but in just the past two days I have seen things…either that, or…”
“Or what?”
“Or someone is deliberately trying to make it seem like I am crazy.”
“Elizabeth, I wish there was something I could do to help.”
“I know, Bobby. You’re very sweet to listen. I appreciate that.” She shuddered and drew her sweater close around her shoulders. “I should be getting back. It’s getting chilly, and I have therapy with Dr. Abernathy after lunch.”
Bobby put his arm around Elizabeth’s shoulder. It was a natural movement, and she supposed she would have done the same thing in his position, but he was so young, barely more than a boy. It was not comfort from a boy that she wanted. She took his hand and removed it.
“You don’t like me, do you?”
“I like you well enough, Bobby. I think you’re a bright young man. You have an incredible future ahead of you.”
“You think I’m too young. You think I’m a child.”
“Don’t try to tell me what I am feeling. I am still grieving for my husband, and I’m in constant turmoil at the way he died. It has nothing to do with you.”
The sun, which should have been high overhead and bathing the beach in the eternal southern California glow, was obscured by clouds. The day was dim and depressing. After the long conversation between them, the silence was awkward.
They started up the path toward the stairway leading back to La Casa del Mar. When they reached the bottom of the steps, Bobby stepped aside for Elizabeth to go ahead of him, but the gesture made her feel self-conscious, knowing that the boy’s eyes scrutinized her from behind. She hurried along the path. When she stumbled over a clump of earth, his hand reached out instinctively to make certain she didn’t lose her balance. As soon as it was clear that she was okay and able to walk unaided, he removed his hand, but no words passed between them. Her shoulders formed hard peaks.
Something at their left caught her attention. Her head jerked. For a moment she thought she heard a child crying. Her eyes scanned the wild tangle of vegetation sprouting from the base of the cliff, but saw nothing. Hearing it again, her eyes searched the undergrowth. This time she saw it.
“Bobby, do you see that?”
“That goat?”
“Yes. Do you see it?”
“Sure. I see it.”
Elizabeth was relieved. “What’s it doing there?”
“Eating his vegetables like a good kid,” Bobby said and chuckled at his own joke.
Elizabeth looked at the goat. The goat looked at her, its jaws chomping away at whatever was in its mouth. It bleated at her once, an ugly thing with its tiny horns and a tuft of hair under its chin. Then it turned and wandered aimlessly away.
The site of the thing sent a convulsive chill through Elizabeth’s body. They had reached the wooden stairs that led up to the main road. She grasped onto the railing and hauled herself up the long flight of stairs as fast as she could.
At the top of the stairs she paused to catch her breath.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Need to catch my breath.”
She was light headed from the climb and glad that the sun was not out. She would have been drenched in sweat.
When she was ready to go on, Elizabeth and Bobby crossed the road and stood at the base of the cliff facing the unwieldy rock stairway waiting for security to acknowledge them. Elizabeth crossed her arms. Bobby whistled. The gate clicked open.
“Bobby, I’d feel safer if you’d go first.”
Bobby went ahead and began the steep climb. After a few steps he looked behind to make certain Elizabeth was doing all right. The return trip was more difficult than the descent.
She looked up, straight up, to see how much farther they had to climb, and as she did she saw a dark, indiscernible figure looking down at them from the edge of the wall that lined the property of La Casa del Mar.
“Look, there’s someone up there,” Elizabeth said.
“I don’t see anyone.”
“They’re wa
ving.” Elizabeth waved back, wondering who it was. She couldn’t quite make out the face.
Bobby’s face half turned toward her. “Elizabeth, there’s no one up there.”
Elizabeth was annoyed with Bobby. He had to see the figure at the top of the promontory. He was looking right at whoever it was.
A rock the size of Elizabeth’s fist came bounding down the steps. It was immediately followed by another, and then a shower of tiny stones and pebbles began to clatter and rain all around them. Elizabeth concentrated on keeping her feet on the dangerous stone steps as they continued to climb upward, but stole a moment to glance up again. They were less than twenty steps from the top now, but the figure above them continued to push against the stones where the wall was loose, and now a half dozen large, heavy rocks came thudding down the steps toward them.
Elizabeth screamed and clutched at Bobby.
Chapter Nine
Bobby pulled Elizabeth close to him, shielding her body with his. Elizabeth felt the jarring of the rocks as they bounced against the steps and ricocheted off the cut in the hillside. A few pebble-sized stones braised her skin. Mercifully none of the larger rocks hit either her or Bobby. Another few inches and one of the heavy rocks would surely have smashed against one of them. There would have been broken bones, or worse. Either of them could have been hit in the head or face.
Elizabeth realized her heart was racing. She was all too aware of Bobby’s body pressed against hers. Luck was on his side, but she was determined not to allow the moment to turn into the opportunity for an embrace. Glancing up again she saw that the figure at the top of the cliff was gone. She pulled away from Bobby.
“Let’s go before we’re both killed.”
Bobby took her by the hand, helping to pull her up the last few remaining steps. When they emerged onto the driveway Elizabeth stared at the great gouge in the stone wall where it had been kicked away. Other than the handful of cars parked along the roundabout, the entire drive and entranceway to La Casa del Mar was deserted. Whoever had pushed the rocks down on them was gone.
“They tried to kill us,” Elizabeth said, her lungs clawing for air.
“Shh,” Bobby said, “It’s okay. There’s no one here. No one’s trying to kill us.”
“What do you mean? Of course someone was trying to kill us. They deliberately pushed those rocks down on us.”
They were halfway around the drive toward the house when Elizabeth realized Bobby was still holding her hand. She tore loose from him and picked up her pace, stalking ahead of him.
Reaching the front door Elizabeth pressed against it. Tears of anger stung her cheeks as she realized she didn’t have the strength to open the door. She beat on the door with open palms, her breath still coming in panicked gasps, knowing she could not begin to calm down until she was safe inside.
“Elizabeth,” Bobby said, “It’s locked.”
Bobby lifted the knocker and knocked on the door. Elizabeth turned away from him, her arms folded across her breasts. She could feel heat in her face and realized she was shaking.
The door opened. Mrs. Valdez stepped aside as Elizabeth pushed her way into the house.
“Mrs. Valdez, did anyone just come in the house ahead of us?” Elizabeth demanded.
“No,” Mrs. Valdez said without question.
“Someone was just outside. Someone just tried to kill us. Bobby and I were coming up the steps from the beach and someone began kicking over the rocks along the wall. Dr. Abernathy showed me the other day where the wall is deteriorating. Someone deliberately pushed those rocks over on us.”
Bobby shook his head. “She’s upset. Nobody kicked or pushed those rocks, they just fell.”
Elizabeth whirled around to face him. “You saw that person, you must have. They were looking right at us. They even waved. They waved and then they started pushing rocks down on us!”
“It’s true, Mrs. Valdez, the rocks did fall on us. The wall just seemed to collapse.”
“I can’t believe this.” Elizabeth clenched her fists. She was so angry she wanted to grab Bobby and shake him until he admitted that someone pushed the rocks on them.
Mrs. Valdez said, “I will have the wall repaired. Perhaps the landscaping can help. In the meantime I will have Balthazar put up a sign to warn.”
“A sign won’t do any good. It’s already happened.”
Dakota came out of the drawing room and stood in the archway, observing the heated scene in the foyer, a puzzled look on her face.
“That area of the wall is very dangerous.” Mrs. Valdez confirmed the obvious.
“No shit,” Elizabeth snapped. “I know it, you know it - everyone knows it. Someone was out there and saw us coming up the steps and kicked and pushed those rocks as hard as they could to make them fall.”
Elizabeth felt all their eyes on her. She knew she was making a scene but couldn’t have cared less.
Now Dr. Abernathy appeared in the great hall as well. “Elizabeth, you seem very disturbed. What seems to be the trouble?”
As she told Dr. Abernathy what had happened, Elizabeth realized that she was shouting. Her words came out in a jumbled rush. How many times did she have to explain what happened before anyone would believe her? “We could have been seriously hurt.”
“I’m glad to see that both of you are all right. That portion of the wall near the stairs is very dangerous. Didn’t I point that out to you yesterday?”
“Yes, but what none of you seem to understand is that the rocks didn’t just fall on us…they were pushed.”
Bobby said, “I didn’t see anybody, Doc.”
“He’s lying. Check with security. There are cameras all over the place. They must have seen what happened.”
“Elizabeth, you’re overwrought. Come into my office. It’s almost time for your appointment. Do you want a drink?”
Elizabeth knew she needed something to calm her down. She could see herself, as if another part of her was looking down on the scene in the hall from the gallery at the top of the stairs. Mrs. Valdez, Dr. Abernathy, Bobby, and Dakota all standing around her in a circle, watching her unravel.
“Yes.” She allowed Dr. Abernathy to lead her into the drawing room. His hand hovered just above her shoulder, poised so as not to touch. At that moment she wanted to press herself up against him, wanted to feel the arm of a mature man around her, this man who reminded her so much of Sven. She wanted Sven, wanted him to be alive so she could feel his loving arms wrapped around her.
She heard Bobby whisper behind her, “I didn’t see anyone. Honest.”
The rage boiled over. She turned on him. “Drop dead, Bobby,” she spat. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“Elizabeth, come,” said the doctor. “Let’s talk about what you saw, not what Bobby saw.”
Heat flooded her face. Her hands shook. What made Bobby lie like that? He must have seen who it was. He must. Did he know who it was? Was that it? Did he know and was deliberately protecting that person’s identity? Bobby wouldn’t do that. He was such a sweet kid. She trusted him.
Until now.
Dr. Abernathy handed her a glass stiff with vodka. She put it to her lips. It was strong, but she forced herself to take a few swift sips, hoping the alcohol would quickly wash over her with its relaxing effect.
Elizabeth sank into the wing-backed leather chair and waited while the doctor situated himself in the chair on the other side of his desk. Shirt neatly pressed, tie immaculately straight, upright in his chair, not one item out of place on his desk. Elizabeth tossed back another mouthful of vodka. Damn him. She wished he would sit closer. She needed to feel the reassurance of another adult right now. No, she needed to feel the presence of this man sitting close to her, not this vast distance between them that seemed as wide as Laurel Canyon.
“Now then, comfortable?”
“Yes.” The snap of her voice seemed amplified in the vast room.
Abernathy was silent for a moment, eyeing her, inspecting her. Elizabeth ra
ised the glass to her lips, met only ice cubes. The vodka was gone already.
“Would you care for another drink?”
What is this, happy hour?
“I said I’m fine.” A muscle began to tick inside her cheek. She wanted a cigarette.
“I don’t have any cigarettes,” the doctor said.
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