Authors: M.Z. Kelly
***
James Osgood, the subject who had sent the video of our victim, lived in a canyon not too far from the Hollywood Bowl. His home was also about two blocks from the Park Hills cemetery, in an exclusive enclave of expensive homes, with magnificent views.
“How the other half lives,” I said to Leo as we stopped on the street behind Darby and Buck.
“My guess is that we’re in a five to ten million dollar neighborhood.” Leo glanced at me. “Beats my forty-year-old tract house.”
“Or a mobile home.” I sighed when I thought about my living arrangements. If Hermes Krump didn’t pull some magic out of his hyperventilating ass, I’d soon be living on the streets, or maybe above a bar somewhere like Jilly Montrose.
I got Bernie out of the back seat and we met up with the other detectives on the street.
“I didn’t get a chance to ask how things went with your deathspert?” Darby said to me as we walked up the driveway to the home.
I glanced at him. “She confirmed that the killing has ties to the Day of the Dead, but could go back even further to Aztec culture.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Leo tried to take the edge off what I’d said. “We’ll explain everything later. Let’s see what Mr. Osgood has to say for himself.”
The home was a sprawling affair that stair-stepped down to a backyard lot with a magnificent view of the city. Bernie was on alert as Darby rang the bell, with Buck and Leo standing at the side of the door. After several tries, there was no answer.
“Let’s check the side gate, see if we can get into the back,” Buck suggested.
I followed him and the others with Bernie. We were able to get through a gate and in a moment were standing near a pool. There was a guest house nearby. Darby went over and knocked on the door. After a couple of tries, he gave up and went around to a sliding glass door near the pool. He cupped his hands around his pudgy face and looked through the glass.
Darby took a step back and drew his weapon. “One down on the floor inside.”
Guns came out everywhere and my big dog went on alert. We found a back door that was unlocked and went inside. A couple of minutes later, we’d cleared the one bedroom house and went back to check on the body in the living room.
“His throat’s been slashed,” Leo said, after checking the dead man, who was wearing swimming trunks.
“We’d better find a way to also check the residence,” I said.
We made our way back over to the main house, where we discovered that the French doors were unlocked. After calling out several times and not getting a response, we made our way inside, going from room to room. We found the body of a woman, who we assumed was the dead man’s wife, in the master bedroom.
“Son of a bitch,” Darby said. “She’s been…”
The woman’s nude body had been cut open in a manner that was similar to what had been done to Sylvia Lacroix. Darby’s gaze moved over to the bowl that was beside the body at the same time I saw it.
I walked over, seeing that it held two hearts.
“What the fuck?” Darby said.
I took a breath. “Not sure, but if I were taking bets, I’d say one belonged to this victim and the other to Lacroix.”
“There’s a computer on the desk,” Leo said. “I’d also bet it was used to send the video of the first victim.”
Leo turned the computer on. In a moment, it began to glow and illuminate the dim room.
Darby came over and examined the screen. “The son of a bitch left us a message.”
I looked over his shoulder and saw that the words were in bold type. They were stark in both their simplicity and promise.
I read them aloud. “You can’t stop me.”
CORINNE
I had meatloaf today. It wasn’t very good, but I still ate it. I spend a lot of my time lately thinking about food. That, in turn, always makes me think about Mama. Then I get sad because I wonder what she’s doing and if she’s thinking about me. It probably sounds wrong, but I’m going to try not to think about Mama so much.
My parents are divorced. It happened when I was little, so I don’t really remember my mom and dad being together. Daddy saw me on weekends sometimes, before he got sick. Mama said it was cancer that killed him. I don’t really know what cancer is. All I know is that it’s bad. Sometimes I wonder why there are bad things in the world, like the man who took me.
I was thinking about why he took me last night. When I saw him in the parking lot after school, he was wearing some kind of uniform and a badge. Maybe he was a policeman. I don’t know why a policeman would take me. I don’t understand why he said he was going to kill me, either. If he was going to kill me, why didn’t he do it in the parking lot? The more I think about it, the more confused I get, so I’ve decided to try to put it out of my mind.
Yesterday I walked around the dark room—that’s what I call this place where I now live. I call it that because I don’t think anyone but the man who took me knows about it. I still think I’m underground. Yesterday I went up the stairway that goes up one side, but it doesn’t go anywhere. I think there’s some wood on the top. I tried pushing it, but it won’t move. Maybe if I was stronger, I could move the wood and get out. I’m going to try again later. I don’t give up easily.
I’ve also been thinking about that story I read—
The Velveteen Rabbit.
I remember that the Skin Horse told the rabbit that toys can magically become real because of the love of children. I wonder if that’s true. I’ve been thinking about Nancy, the little doll that I carried around when I was little. I still believe that she will become real if I love her hard enough. So far, it hasn’t worked, but I don’t think I should give up.
I remember that the Skin Horse told the rabbit that becoming real takes a long time. I’m going to try and not forget that, because if I give up, I think I will be very sad. It would be like forgetting what Mama looked like and that she loves me.
Ellen Moore was thankful that the trip to the Halgen Pharmaceutical Complex in Los Angeles had been uneventful. Quinton Macy had been quiet during the trip, but the few times Ellen had glanced back at him she’d found his amber eyes fixed on her. While it was unnerving, she’d done her best to dismiss it, remembering that her patient lacked any typical social conventions.
The fact that Macy knew the names of her children was another matter. During the trip, Ellen had texted her husband to make sure the children were safe, even insisting that he call the school to check on them. Brian had done as she’d requested and had assured her there were no problems. When he’d asked her why she’d been so insistent, she’d told him that she was just being an overprotective mother.
She had no idea how Macy had gotten her children’s names. Patients had no access to computers or the Internet, but it was possible he’d manipulated one of the staff into letting him use a computer or smartphone. If that was the case, she knew it just took a couple of keystrokes to find out virtually anything about someone’s life, including the names of family members.
Ellen reasoned that Macy had gotten the information so that he could feel closer to her, and that he might even try to use what he’d learned to manipulate her into giving him additional privileges. If that was the case, she knew she couldn’t empower him by giving into any such demands. Macy was her patient and she had to remain firmly in control.
“Let’s get a bite to eat in the hotel dining room,” Joshua said, as they walked through the parking lot back to their hotel at the end of the day. Their patient had been locked in his room for the night with restraints that secured him to his bed.
Ellen smiled at the guard and brushed a hand through her shoulder length hair. “I think I’m going to just get room service. It’s been a long day.”
“Come on,” he said, tugging on her arm. “I hate to eat alone, and it’s still early.”
His familiarity surprised her. Ellen took a breath and looked into his green eyes. She felt something stirring inside her. Joshua Brown was tall and handsome, and she knew that she’d let the boundary issues with the guard become blurred. It was because Brian had cheated on her six months earlier. While her husband had claimed the affair with his former secretary was over, Ellen still didn’t trust him. They had gone to counseling together, but their relationship hadn’t been the same. If it wasn’t for their children, she doubted they’d still be together.
“Tell you what, I’ll buy,” Joshua said.
Ellen’s thoughts surfaced and she laughed. “You know we’re on per diem. The state will pick up the tab.”
His brows lifted. “All the more reason to have dinner.”
Her gaze fell away from him, but she surprised herself by looking back at him and saying, “Okay. I am a little hungry.”
The restaurant was much nicer than she’d anticipated. It was located on the top floor of the hotel and had a subdued intimate atmosphere. When the server came over, Joshua surprised her by ordering them a bottle of wine.
After the waiter left, Ellen said, “I don’t think the state is going to cover our drinks.”
Joshua smiled. “It’s on me.”
She took a breath, tamping down her feelings. While they waited for their wine, she asked, “So, tell me something. How did Joshua Brown end up working for Berkshire State Hospital?”
He laughed. “Do you have a couple of hours?”
Ellen smiled. “Maybe you should give me the abridged version.”
During the next hour, over drinks and dinner, Ellen learned that Joshua Brown and his brother had both been in the military, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. His brother had been killed while on patrol, causing Joshua to reassess his life. After being discharged, he’d gone to work for the hospital while attending college part-time. Joshua told her that he eventually wanted to become a doctor to honor the memory of his brother.
“David was two years older than me, and we were inseparable as kids,” Joshua said after telling Ellen his story. “Life has never been the same without him.”
Ellen was feeling the effects of her wine and found herself reaching over and touching his hand. “It’s wonderful that you want to honor him.”
Joshua nodded and squeezed her hand. “What about you, Ellen? How did a beautiful woman like you end up in a looney bin?”
She laughed, at the same time realizing she was flattered by his compliment. “How does the saying go? All work and no play, makes Ellen a dull girl.” She took a breath. “There’s not a lot to tell. Just long hours with lots of books and homework. It was a grind making it through medical school and my residency.”
Joshua’s gaze held on her eyes for a long moment. “My guess is there’s a lot more to Dr. Ellen Moore than you’ve told me about.” He stood up and held out a hand. “Let’s go for a walk.”
Ellen surprised herself by taking his hand and saying, “I think I’d like that.”
The hotel had a swimming pool and lush grounds. As they walked along the perimeter of the property, Joshua reached over and took her hand again. Ellen felt flustered, unsure about what to do. She was about to tell him about her feelings when they reached the end of a path that overlooked the city.
“I think we’re good together, Ellen,” Joshua said, turning to her. He came closer, brushing his lips against hers.
She took a breath. It took all her resolve to resist. “I can’t…”
Before she could react, he kissed her. She responded instinctively, feeling the urgency of the moment as her tongue met his. Then, all at once, she came to her senses and pulled away. “No. This is wrong.”
“How can something that feels so right be wrong?”
She shook her head and took a step back. “I mean it. This stops now.” She turned and walked away, even as he called out to her.
An hour later, Ellen had showered and slipped into her robe. Guilt overwhelmed her as she slumped down on her bed. What the hell had she been thinking? She’d almost become involved with a security guard, someone who was her subordinate. Had she lost her mind?
She was about to pick up the phone and call Brian when it rang. She hesitated, wondering if it was Joshua. If it was him, what would she say?
She took a breath and tentatively answered. She heard a woman’s voice on the line. “This is Jane Klausen with Halgen. We’re having some issues with your patient.”
Ellen sat up on the bed. “What’s going on?”
“Mr. Macy has become agitated and extremely despondent. Since he’ll begin the drug protocol tomorrow morning, we can’t give him anything to calm him down. Would you have a moment to stop by and talk to him?”
Ellen hesitated. She was still feeling the effects of the alcohol and what happened with Joshua. Dealing with her patient was the last thing she wanted. “Can you give it some time and see if he calms down?”
“I’m sorry, no. If…if he isn’t compliant, I’m afraid we’re going to have to insist that he be removed from the clinical trial.”
Ellen blew out a breath, thinking about what she’d said. If Halgen made good on the threat to remove her patient from the program, she knew it would reflect negatively on both her and the hospital. “I’ll be right there.”
After dressing and leaving her room, Ellen contemplated knocking on Joshua’s door and asking him to go with her. But, the more she thought about that, she decided against it. She was embarrassed by what had transpired between them and the last thing she wanted was to revisit the issue. As she left the hotel and walked across the parking lot to Halgen, she resolved to deal with her patient on her own.
The medical wing that housed Quinton Macy was located in an isolated area of Halgen Pharmaceuticals. Ellen had been informed that the locked facility was reserved for patients undergoing clinical drug trials who were considered a security risk. After locating Jane Klausen, they walked to her patient’s room at the end of a corridor.
“Mr. Macy has been talking about ending his life,” Klausen said before unlocking the door to his room. The Halgen employee was in her forties, with red hair and green eyes. “As you’re probably aware, suicidal ideation isn’t something we’re equipped to deal with here. If it continues, we’ll need to ask you to remove him.”
“Suicide? I thought he was just agitated.”
“He is, but he’s also been talking about ending his life. We don’t have the staff to deal with a situation like this.”
Ellen took a breath and nodded. “I understand.”
As Klausen used her electronic card to unlock the door, the lines in her brow deepened and she hesitated. “Are you going to be okay being alone with him?”
“He’s in restraints. I’ll be fine.”
Despite her assurance, Ellen felt nothing but trepidation as the door closed behind her. Her patient’s bed was across the room, against a wall. The area was dimly lit and from where she stood she could see that Macy was lying down.
Her footsteps echoed and her heart raced as she moved closer to him. She stopped about five feet away from the bed, cleared her throat, and said, “I understand you’re upset, Mr. Macy.”
He didn’t stir or look in her direction. She wondered if he’d heard her. She was about to speak again when she heard his deep voice, “Do you know what the word ‘Halcyon’ means?”
She tried to keep her voice even. “I’m sorry?”
“Halcyon. Do you know what it means?”
“I…I’m not…no, I guess not.”
“Its origin is in Greek mythology, but in recent history it denotes a time in the past that was idyllically happy and blissful.” Macy’s body shifted. He sat up and, despite the leg restraints, swung his legs over the side of the bed. His amber eyes fixed on her and shone in the darkened room like those of a wild animal. “Perhaps you experienced a Halcyon childhood.”
In the faint light she saw his lips thin. Ellen swallowed and started to respond, but was interrupted.
“Tell me about your childhood, Ellen. Was it happy?”
She took a breath. “Yes, for the most part, but...”
“Ah, the qualification—for the most part.” He tilted his head, regarding her. “What part wasn’t happy?”
She wrapped her arms around herself. “We’re not here…”
“Was it that moment when your grandfather put his calloused hand up your dress, spread your legs apart, and felt your clitoris?”
She clutched her sides and tried to speak evenly. “I understand that you’ve been unhappy…”
“Or maybe it was that time when your disapproving mother told you that your father would be disappointed if his little girl didn’t sacrifice her life and become a doctor. You gave up everything for him, didn’t you, Ellen?”
“The staff tells me that you’ve been upset, talking about suicide.”
Macy’s amber eyes seemed to float in the darkness. After a long moment, he said, “I’m quite happy here. I have almost everything I need.”
“Good. Then I can tell the staff you’ll quiet down and cooperate.”
“That’s my every intention.”
She turned to leave. “Very well, then.”
She was nearly at the door when his words stopped her. “Are you familiar with the French term, folie à deux?”
She turned back to him. “I’m sorry?”
“The term can be roughly translated as a madness shared by two. It’s a communal psychosis, a symbiotic delusional construct whereby two individuals find common ground in their insanity.”
She was familiar with the term, but had no idea why he’d brought it up. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“The folly of two, Ellen, that’s what I’m trying to tell you about. It will define your life.”
Ellen took a breath, deciding Macy was not only mad, he was completely irrational, talking nonsense. “I think I’ve heard enough.” She turned and headed for the door again.
“My partner. His name is Joshua Brown. From what I understand, the two of you have become well acquainted recently.”
Ellen stopped and slowly turned back to him as he went on. “You must listen to me carefully, Ellen. Joshua is my binary.”
“Your what?”
“Think of us as suns that are trapped in the gravitational field of one another. We are inseparable in our madness.”
Ellen turned away. “I’m calling the hospital.”
“If you do, I’m afraid your earlier concerns will be quite justified.”
She glanced back at him. “What concerns are you talking about?”
“Eric and Jennifer. I’m afraid they will be dead.”