21
When Dante and I returned to the front room, Leo and Lizzy were nowhere to be seen. Natalie said they had left a while ago, cameras in hand, off on an impromptu photo shoot. A large book of scenic photos lay open on her lap.
I handed Natalie the print I’d made.
She held it carefully, propping the opposing corners between her palms.
The image showed Natalie sitting in the chair, looking directly into the lens. Her hair was haloed around her head like a crown. A smile lit up her face. She looked exactly like herself.
“How do you feel?” Dante asked Natalie.
“Fine, I guess.” She looked down at the picture in her hands. “I mean, I don’t feel any different than before. It’s a good picture of me, though.”
“But you still believe me, right?” I asked.
She didn’t even hesitate. “Yes, I do.” Then she caught herself and looked at me with wide eyes. “As soon as I said it, I knew it was the truth. That’s amazing. I don’t feel any doubt at all. I totally believe you.”
The photo book fell to the floor with a thud as I pulled Natalie to her feet, hugging her, picture and all. I felt a laugh bubble up inside me, a gladness that made me feel as light as air. “It’s better than amazing. It’s wonderful. It means you’re safe—and you’ll stay safe. It’s perfect.”
“Careful, don’t crumple me,” Natalie said, holding the picture out of the way.
“Oh, sorry.” I stepped back, but I couldn’t stop smiling. “It worked. It really worked.”
Natalie laughed at my enthusiasm.
“Congratulations, Abby,” Dante said quietly to me.
The front door opened and Lizzy stepped through, followed by Leo, laughing at something she had said.
They saw us standing there and Leo quickly handed his camera to Lizzy. “How did it go?” he asked me before glancing at Natalie. Then he smiled. “Dare I assume it was a success?”
“A complete and total success,” I said.
Lizzy walked over and looked at the picture of Natalie. “Not bad for your first try,” she commented. “Very nice. I like how you captured her personality in the picture. That can be hard to do.”
“Thanks.” I felt a light blush creep into my cheeks. “And thank you for teaching me today. You were more help than you know. Um, Lizzy? Would you mind if we left the picture here? You know, for safekeeping?”
Now that I had protected Natalie with a picture, I wasn’t sure what would happen if that picture were to be destroyed or ruined in some way. Valerie had warned me that if Zo found out about the pictures, he’d try to steal them from me, and then he would have the power. I couldn’t take that risk.
“Of course,” she said. “I’d be happy to keep it for you.”
Natalie handed Lizzy the picture, and the small woman disappeared into the back room.
Thinking of Valerie’s warning made me think of something else. I turned to Dante.
“We helped stabilize Natalie with a picture. Do you think we could do the same for Valerie?”
“I thought Valerie was . . . not well,” Dante said, a question wrinkling his forehead.
Leo stepped closer. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Abby.”
“No, I don’t want to take a picture of her when she’s . . . in her current mental state. But both times I’ve gone to visit her there have been flashes of her old self. Her regular self. Maybe if I’m quick enough, I can capture that part of her and bring her back.”
“Do you really think you can?” Natalie asked, hope in her voice. “That would be wonderful.”
Leo shook his head sadly. “I know it’s tempting, but think of the risks. We’ve had one success, but none of us really know what the rules are for this process. What if you miss your chance and capture her at her worst instead? Do you really want to risk that?”
I swallowed, tasting tears of frustration in my throat. “I know it’s a long shot, Leo, but she’s my friend.” I looked to Dante. “What do you think?”
He met my eyes. “You know I’ll stand behind you.”
The frustration I felt evaporated in the strength of his confidence.
“She needs my help,” I said to Leo. “I have to go. I have to try.”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t try to help her,” Leo began. “I’m just saying you should think about the consequences—” He stopped short as Lizzy returned to the room.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“Everything’s fine,” Leo said, his tone smooth and untroubled.
“You know, Leo,” Dante began, “if you wanted to stay and develop the pictures you took, I could take Abby and Natalie home.”
“You’re welcome to stay,” Lizzy said. “I’d love the company.”
Leo paused, his frown turning into a polite smile so fast I doubted anyone else saw it. He looked from Dante to me and then to Lizzy. “If you’re sure . . .”
“It’s no bother,” she said.
Leo handed over his keys to Dante, but as I gathered up my Brownie camera and headed for the door with Dante and Natalie, I didn’t miss the look Leo flashed my way, a look that said
Be careful.
I gave him a look of my own:
Trust me. I will.
***
V was waiting for us outside the door.
“Abby,” he said, startling me so badly I almost dropped my camera.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my heart picking up speed. If V had found us here, did that mean Zo could too? I thought we’d been so careful at the house.
V leveled his gaze at Dante and folded his arms across his chest so his gold-banded wrists were clearly visible. “Nice to see you, Dante. You’re looking well.”
Dante’s only response was to narrow his eyes at V.
“I know you!” Natalie said.
V flicked a disinterested glance her way. “Yeah, we’ve met.”
“I know. I saw you play with Zero Hour at the Dungeon.”
“So? What about it?” V asked her.
“It’s just that I didn’t remember it the other day when you found us at Helen’s, but I do today. I wonder what else I’ll remember,” Natalie said, her voice tinged with surprise.
V shot me a confused look.
“We fixed it so the changes that are happening in the river won’t affect her anymore. I guess her true memories are coming back as well.” I was happily surprised by this unexpected turn of events. It gave me hope that if we could replicate the process with Valerie, we’d be able to return my friend to being the Valerie-before-Zo.
“Whatever,” V said, brushing away my explanation. “I built your door. You got him back”—he jutted his jaw toward Dante, who bristled—“now it’s your turn to hold up your end of our deal.”
I put my hand on Dante’s arm. I could feel the muscles twitch with repressed tension. “I made him a promise,” I said simply.
He exhaled slowly. “Sorry. It’s just that the last time I saw him, he was doing Zo’s bidding.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not anymore.” A shade of red crept up V’s neck. He turned his dark eyes on me. “Are you going to help me or not?”
“Actually,” I said, trying to remain calm, “we were just going to see Valerie. You can come with us.”
I was glad to see V relax a little, if only because it made Dante relax as well. Clearly the two of them couldn’t both come. Not if they were both going to act like snarling alpha dogs. Plus, I doubted I could get all four of us in to see Valerie. Especially since I didn’t know yet how I was going to get V past Dr. Blair.
I ground my teeth and made the hard decision.
“Dante, why don’t you drop me and V off at the hospital and then you can take Natalie home.”
He opened his mouth, no doubt ready with a list of reasons why he thought dropping me off with V was a bad idea, but I started walking to Leo’s car before Dante had a chance to say anything.
The car ride to the hospital was stressful and uncomfortable. I didn’t dare suggest that V sit up front with Dante, and yet I didn’t much like the idea of V sitting with Natalie in the backseat either. So I sat in the back with V, which didn’t make Dante happy, but it was the best I could do.
By the time Dante pulled up in front of the hospital, I had a tension headache and my stomach was in a knot.
Closing the door, I bent down next to the driver’s side window.
“I don’t like leaving you with him,” Dante said under his breath.
“I’ll be fine,” I said, reaching in to grasp his hand. “Don’t worry.”
Dante squeezed my hand. “Call me the minute you’re done, all right? I’ll be at Natalie’s house.”
“I will.” I leaned past him and waved at Natalie. “Thanks for watching out for him, Nat.”
“Glad to help. I suspect we’ll have plenty to talk about while you’re gone.”
Grinning, I brushed a kiss on Dante’s cheek. That same stray lock had fallen free again, and I tucked it behind his ear. “Maybe I should be worried about you,” I teased, feeling relieved when Dante offered up a smile.
“Good luck, Abby,” he said. “Remember—do what you have to do. Just don’t do anything you can’t undo.”
I patted my bag that held my camera. “I’ll only use this if it’s a sure thing.”
I gave him one last kiss before he drove away, leaving me alone in the parking lot with V. He’d pulled down the sleeves of his shirt to cover his wrists.
“Is this where she is?” V’s voice was a strange mix of hope and despair.
Nodding, I headed up the steps of the James E. Hart Memorial Hospital, my own heart filled with the same hope and despair.
***
Needless to say, Dr. Blair was not happy to see us. She frowned when I asked to see Valerie. She positively scowled when I told her that V was a friend who was in town visiting for the day, and could he come with me?
After making us wait on the steps, she finally moved aside and gestured us in, directing us to her office just inside the door. I noticed that her pastel hospital scrubs were the same color as her fingernail polish—the same baby-pink flesh she’d worn the other day.
“I don’t believe you,” Dr. Blair said as soon as V and I had sat down on the love seat.
Next to me, V stilled immediately. His eyes darted to the door.
“Excuse me?” I asked, gripping V’s arm so he wouldn’t bolt.
“I don’t believe that he ‘just happened’ to stop by to see an old friend.” Dr. Blair clasped her hands together on her lace-covered desk. “You brought him here for a reason.” She shifted her attention to V. “Tell me why you’re really here.”
“Mi dispiace. Non parlo inglese,”
V said.
“Yes, you do,” she said almost pleasantly, brushing aside his words. “What’s your interest in Valerie?”
V looked to me for help.
“We’re just friends,” I insisted. “Honest. We just want to visit her for a few minutes.”
“Dr. Hamilton was not happy when I spoke to him about your last visit. He was very reluctant to authorize any additional visits for you.”
“So does that mean he
did
authorize a visit?” I asked, smiling politely.
Dr. Blair’s frown deepened. “It means he trusts me to use my best judgment when it comes to Valerie.”
I was quiet, trying to exude that aura of peace Dr. Blair seemed to appreciate. I continued smiling, and waited.
She tapped her fingers together. “Who is the Pirate King?” she asked suddenly.
It took everything I had to keep the bland smile on my face and not betray the flash of panic that ran through me.
“Valerie only talks about the Pirate King when she’s with you. I’ve asked her about him in our therapy sessions, but she refuses to tell me who he is or why he dominates her hallucinations.”
“I don’t know,” I said and felt a muscle tick in my jaw. I knew why Valerie was fixated on the Pirate King so much, but I couldn’t tell Dr. Blair that. I also knew Valerie’s “hallucinations” were simply glimpses of the river, but I couldn’t tell Dr. Blair that either.
Dr. Blair’s lips thinned. “If I grant you a visit, do you think you could get her to talk about the Pirate King again?”
My smile wavered the tiniest bit. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
Dr. Blair hesitated, then leaned forward as though imparting a secret. “Valerie’s psychosis is unlike any I’ve seen before. I’ve decided to feature her in my next research paper. But I need more data before I can publish my findings. And since she’s no longer speaking to me . . .” She left the request unspoken, but I finished her thought anyway.
“You want me to be your spy?” I demanded, my smile vanishing for good.
“I want you to be my assistant,” she clarified smoothly. “If Valerie confides in you information that could help us help her get well, then wouldn’t you want to be a part of that miracle of healing?”
Yes, I wanted Valerie to get well. And I knew if she was going to be healed, it wasn’t going to be in a place like this or under the care of Dr. Blair, whose bedside manner apparently stopped at the point of publication. My frustration itched. I’d known that my visits with Valerie had been recorded—I’d been told that on my very first visit—but for some reason, I hadn’t realized they were using those recordings for research. Valerie was my friend—not some bug pinned to a board to be studied and then discarded. The thought made me sick.