He still didn’t remember me, but I was happy that he wanted to see me none the less. I had to push those thoughts out of my mind for the time being because your ability to focus was important when you broke into mental hospitals.
“What if he never remembers, but you two end up together anyway?” Esme asked when I hung up the phone.
“I never thought of that. I’d never considered that what brought us together in the first place would bring us together again.”
“Would you be okay with that? I mean, it’s different than him remembering everything, but ya’ll would still end up together.”
“Did you just say ya’ll?” I teased.
“Are you avoiding my question?” She retorted.
“Yes, I would be over the moon if he fell in love with me again. I want him to regain his memory, but if he doesn’t, starting over would be okay too. How many people get to have the love of their life fall for them twice.”
“I think that if I got a second chance to meet Brad, I’d do a few things differently.”
“No, you wouldn’t.” I laughed. “And Brad wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“You’re right.” She said and started towards the shadows that I assumed led to the side or back of the main building. “I’m magnificent.” Esme gave her long, curly blond hair a shake.
“You don’t look right as a blonde,” I said. “You’ve made yourself look like a Disney princess.”
“I made you look like one too.”
Before I followed her, I looked in my Jeep’s side mirror. Esme hadn’t told me not to this time. We had to have been the most ridiculously beguiling cat burglars in history. Esme had turned my blonde hair into a thick mane of brunette waves that were pinned up in an elaborate updo. My eyes were twice their normal size, and my jeans and t-shirt had been transformed into a ruffled yellow sundress. I looked like I was about to meet my Beast at the beach.
“We’re not very inconspicuous,” I said as I ran to catch up with her.
“So? This is more fun.”
We found our way around the building without being seen and then located the window that belonged to Dr. Carmichael’s office. Esme mumbled some sort of incantation and then slid the window open silently.
Esme sat down at the computer and booted it up. She pulled a small flash drive out of her pocket and stuck it in the tower.
“I’m just going to download her files. We can look at them when we get back to your place.” She said.
“Whoa, you got into the doctor’s files already?” I asked as I watched the door.
“Yeah, a little magic makes hacking a cinch.” She pulled the drive out and hit the power button on the computer. “Got it.”
We went to the window and panic made my stomach lurch as I saw that a security guard was standing right outside. We ducked down.
“What now?” I whispered.
“Well, when they move away from the window, we can escape quietly. I can make us invisible for a short time.” Esme answered.
“Hey, who’s in there.” We heard another security guard call from down the hall.
“Do it now,” I demanded. “We’ll have to slip into the hallway and find another way out.”
We blinked out of the visible light spectrum with a wave of Esme’s hand, and I made for the office door. I had no idea where I was going, but I kept moving. The only sign that Esme was still with me was the soft sound of her shoes on the floor behind me.
“It’s wearing off.” I heard Esme whisper.
I looked down, and sure enough, our bodies were coming back to being visible. We moved through a couple of locked doors that I used a bit of magic to open quickly. Looking back, I wish that I’d paid attention to the signs on the doors.
Very quickly, I realized that we were in the criminal ward of the hospital. Not only were we stuck inside the wing that housed some of the most dangerous patients, but there would also be more guards there.
“We’ve got to get out of here.” I hissed “Your spell wore off, Esme. If the cameras see us, we’re done for.”
“I can make us look blurry on the recordings, but that’s it. I can’t do another full transformation right now. It’s too much.” Esme said and recited another short incantation.
“We’d better get moving, then.”
“I know. Hold on, let me think. I can visualize the way out if I can just have a minute of quiet.” Esme pleaded, and even she sounded nervous.
Right then, it sounded as if every patient on the wing started whooping and hollering. There was no way Esme was going to get a moment of peace, but I could see that she still tried.
I could hear the heavy footfalls of guards rushing towards our location. We had to run the other way no matter where it took us. Three hallways opened up near where we stood, and I had no way of knowing which would lead us out and which would possibly take us deeper into the building.
“This way.” A soft, and very familiar, voice cut through the mayhem.
My head whipped around, and I started off towards the sound. Esme grabbed my hand and ran with me.
When I found the source of the voice, I almost fell over. Tears flooded my eyes, and suddenly I felt as though I couldn’t breathe.
“Don’t cry, baby. You have to go. I’m okay. I promise.” The woman who looked like an older version of me said from the other side of the cell door.
“Oh my Gawd, Lenny. She looks just like you.” Esme said in shock.
My mother waved her hand in front of my eyes, and a path of light appeared down the hall. I understood. Her spell would guide us out.
“I’ll get you out,” I said and started to unlock her cell door.
“No, baby. You can’t. You must go, and you have to leave me here. It’s not safe for you to let me out. I love you, sweet Lenora. Go. Please.”
Chapter Eight
Seeing my mother in the wing of the Northview West Mental Hospital used to house the criminally insane had shaken me to my core. I had so many questions, and no one could answer them for me. I couldn’t have asked Aunt Kara because how would I have explained knowing my mother was there. It was also probable that Aunt Kara had no idea where her sister was because I doubted she would keep something like that a secret from me.
Esme and I went to Nathan’s house after we left the mental hospital. It was difficult for me to not talk about what had just happened, but Nate wouldn’t understand why we’d broken into Northview. I promised myself that I’d tell him later if he regained his memory.
We stayed for a couple of hours, but he got tired quickly. After a long hug, I said good night and asked if he’d call me tomorrow.
“Yes. Of course.” He said with a bright smile.
After that, Esme and I went back to my house. We booted up my laptop, and Esme stuck the flash drive into the USB port. I flipped through the file looking for anything that would clue us into how she’d died. It seemed like a fool’s errand since everything contained in the hospital records was from before she was released, but we felt like we had to try.
Irene’s original diagnosis was borderline personality disorder, but after a few months in the institution, she was diagnosed with malignant narcissism. What was more interesting was that about a year before her release, she was assigned a new doctor.
Dr. Maxwell Mountebank took over Irene’s case when her former doctor retired. After a few weeks of treating Irene, Dr. Mountebank began the process of getting her released from Northview. He met with the District Attorney on Irene’s behalf and got the D.A. to drop the charges against her.
He explained in his patient notes that while she had been violent and delusional in the past, she’d complied completely with treatment and should not have to go to jail for the things she’d done while mentally unsound. Apparently, the D.A. didn’t want to go through the expense and trouble of a trial where Dr. Mountebank would have testified on Irene’s behalf, so he agreed to three years of probation once she was released.
I had to know why t
his Dr. Mountebank would suddenly decide that Irene was cured, when she obviously wasn’t, and fight for her release. My first step was to look up as much information on him as I could.
The picture of him that I found on the internet shocked me. One look told me he was the man Irene was at dinner with the first-time Nathan saw her at the restaurant. Could it be possible that they had a relationship? It’s possible that he was just taking her to dinner in a professional sense to celebrate her release, but I seriously doubted that.
They had behaved like a couple when I saw them. Irene and Maxwell were entirely too cozy to be having a professional dinner. Anyone who saw them would have assumed they were on a date.
“You think she and the good doctor were in some sort of weird and illegal relationship?” Esme asked.
“That’s what it looks like. Doesn’t it?”
Before we could discuss it further, my phone rang. It was Brad.
“You have to get down to the station right now.” He blurted out as soon as I answered the phone.
“What’s going on?”
“Helen turned herself in for the murder of Irene. Someone called Nathan, and he’s out in the waiting area yelling and demanding to be let in to see her. I’m going to have to arrest him if I can’t get him calmed down.”
“I’m with Esme, we’ll be right there. Call an ambulance, Brad. He’s had a stroke recently and has amnesia. Something could be wrong with his brain.”
“You’re right. I’ll do that.” Brad said and hung up.
Esme and I got to the police station right after the ambulance. Two male paramedics were in the station trying to talk Nathan into letting them take a look at him.
“She didn’t do it,” Nate yelled. “Let me in to see her.”
He just kept saying it over and over again like a broken record. Then, he saw me and stopped.
“Lenny, please. Please tell them she didn’t do it. I need to see her. My Dad is so worried.”
“I know, Nate. Please let these gentlemen take a look at you, though. Please don’t make Brad arrest you. You have to calm down, sweetie.” I said and took a step towards him.
He nodded quietly and sat down on the paramedic's gurney. They checked him over quickly, and I could tell they were worried.
“You say he has a history of stroke?” One of them asked me.
“Yes, he’s recently checked himself out of the hospital against medical advice too.” I kicked myself for not taking Nathan to the doctor as soon as Irene was dead. “I know he’s been seeing a physical therapist, but I’m not sure what other medical treatment he’s received since then. He has amnesia.”
“His blood pressure is too high. Given his history, we’re going to take him to the ER.” He said and tried to get Nate to lie down.
“I have to stay here and help Helen.” Nate protested.
“Nathan, you’re not going to help her or your Dad by having a stroke. Please go. I’ll come too.” I said and smiled reassuringly at him.
He nodded his head yes and laid back on the gurney. I had to know why Helen had turned herself in because I knew she couldn’t have killed Irene, but at that moment, Nathan was going to be my focus. I gave the keys to my Jeep to Esme and asked her to feed Jezebel. Then, I climbed into the back of the ambulance and held Nate’s hand all the way to the hospital.
Chapter Nine
Nathan spent the next week in the hospital. Tests revealed that his brain hadn’t healed enough from the stroke when he’d checked himself out of the hospital with Irene. The stress she’d put him through at home plus the additional strain of her death had caused further damage.
“He’s lucky to be alive, and he’s even more fortunate that there isn’t more extensive damage.” I knew it wasn’t luck.
There were forces at work protecting him, but that would have only gotten him so far before the universe had to let nature take its course. But, he was back in the hospital healing.
During that week, I’d go home and spend time with Jezebel when I could. I had Aunt Kara over for dinner one night because it felt like I hadn’t seen her in ages. I tried to hold back, but I couldn’t.
“I need to ask you something,” I said as I cleared our dishes. “I hope you don’t think less of me when you find out how I acquired this information.”
“I would never think less of you, Lenny.” She said, and I could tell Aunt Kara already knew something was up. “Go ahead, I’ll tell you whatever I know.”
She sat patiently and listened while I told her about seeing my mother at Northview West Mental Hospital. I got the feeling that nothing I was saying to her was a complete surprise.
“Did you know she was there?” I asked at the end of my story.
“I didn’t know where she was specifically, Lenny. If I did, I would have told you. At least she’s safe and can’t hurt anyone. That’s a relief.” She said sadly.
“Did she hurt someone?” I asked.
“I don’t know, Lenny. I really have no idea what happened to her after the last time I saw her. Your mom got involved in some dark stuff, and it drove her mad. I’ve been afraid for a long time that she’d completely lost her soul. If she helped you, it means she’s still in there somewhere.”
“Maybe we should get her out of there. If even part of her still exists, we could help her.” I said.
“When she’s ready, I’ll know. Until then, we have to leave her where she is. At least she’s safe.”
I wanted to protest again, but there was no point. Aunt Kara knew more about the situation than I did, so I’d have to trust her. When she left that night, I promised to keep her updated on Nathan and not let so much time pass before our next visit.
Later in the week, it dawned on me that I hadn’t seen Abby at all for at least a few days. I asked Jezebel, and she confirmed that our ghostly roommate was M.I.A.
I walked across the street and knocked on Esme’s door. I knew that she’d had the day off, and we’d made plans to meet. When she answered the door, I told her I needed her at my house. We went back to my place, and I explained to her that Abby had been missing for a while.
“She started disappearing when Irene was stalking me, but with Irene gone, I can’t figure out why she’s hiding,” I said.
“And you don’t think that maybe she just crossed over?” Esme answered.
“I highly doubt that. Even if she was going to move on, I’m sure she would have said goodbye first.”
“I don’t know that it works that way, Lenny.”
“Just humor me,” I said and poked her in the arm. “We need to do something to try and bring her back.”
“So, you want to have a séance for your ghost roommate?” Esme asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Yep.”
“I’m in,” Esme said and started for the door.
She’d gone back across the street to retrieve her Ouija board, a few crystals, and a bag of herbs. I was skeptical, but Esme explained that there was a reason that movies always showed people using the Ouija to channel spirits. It was because it worked.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked once we had everything set up.
“Nope, it’s probably not. In fact, we have to be very careful because if we do anything wrong, we could let evil spirits or even demons through to this side.”
“What?”
“Relax, we’ll make sure we do it right. Besides, that’s what makes it fun.” She said with an impish smile. “Now, take my hands, and whatever you do, once we start, don’t break the circle.” We were sitting in a protective circle of salt. “That means you too cat,” Esme said to Jezebel who was sitting next to me.
“Sure, Other Lady. Whatever you say.”
“Don’t we need to have our fingers on the triangle thingy?” I asked.
“We’re just using the board for its magical properties. We’re trying to summon Abby, and she’s demonstrated that she doesn’t need the board to communicate.” Esme said and gave my hands a squeeze. “Whatever you do,
don’t put your fingers on the planchette. Even if you feel an overwhelming urge to do so. That means something else is trying to break through, and we can’t let it. Okay?”
“I’m not so sure about this,” I said nervously.
“It’s fine. Let’s begin.” Esme said and began the ritual before I could protest further. “Spirits, hear us now. We’re looking for Abigail Lenox. Abby, if you’re here, please come forward.”
I heard a rustling in the kitchen, but that didn’t bother me. I knew that Abby loved the kitchen, and it made sense that is where she’d feel most comfortable.
What bothered me was the sudden, overwhelming need to touch the planchette thingy. It was a terrible and maddening itch that felt impossible to ignore. Something wanted in, and I could feel how rotten it was in the pit of my stomach.
“Esme, something else is trying to get through,” I whispered.
“I know. You’ve got to fight it, Lenny. I can feel Abby coming through, and she just needs another minute.”
“I’m so scared, Esme. It’s going to hurt us if I don’t put my fingers on the planchette. I’ve got to do it.” I don’t know why I said this, but I was panicking.
“No. Don’t do it,” Esme said, and she clenched my hands tighter. “You’re stronger than some stupid, malevolent entity.”
“It’s the thing from Sally’s house. It says it will tell me why it was in her house if I let it speak.”
“No,” Esme said, but I tried hard to pull my hands away from her.
Just before I could let go, a bright white light filled the room. Abigail appeared outside of the circle and shot Esme and me an exasperated look.
“I’m trying to hide from one evil person you have hanging around here, and you go and attempt to let a demon into the house,” Abigail said with her hands on her hips.
“Close the circle, Lenny, by telling the spirits goodbye,” Esme instructed. “Goodbye spirits, and thank you for your assistance.”
“Goodbye spirits, and thank you for your help.” I followed.
“Goodbye spirits, and thanks for everything.” Jezebel sassed.
Esme let go of my hands, and we turned towards Abigail. She sat down on the sofa and crossed her legs while straightening her apron.
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