Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“This is really distressing for us all, you know that, Eve?”
I looked up at Dr. Langley who stared me down through his bifocals. He looked pale, circles under his eyes. I was willing to bet he hadn’t gotten much sleep, having to oversee Emery’s care. The clock in his room ticked away in the silence between us. His pen tapped on the desk as he made a few more notes in his report.
“Distressing?” Dr. Hannah laughed quietly, standing on the other side of the room, arms crossed. “This is a criminal act in my opinion, and we should call the police.”
John shifted behind me by the door. I had returned for the final time, showing up for the meeting we were originally supposed to have about Emery’s future, now turned into an explanation of what had happened that morning and then into a confession. The energy in the facility was incredibly tense when I arrived. It was quieter, the guards looking on edge. I knew it had to do with Emery. I imagined he needed extra security now after what happened. Someone having to watch him after his episode.
According to Dr. Hannah who had gone to check on him. He sat in his room in silence. Even as she tried to talk to him, tried to get some response from him, nothing worked.
“This is a serious violation,” Dr. Langley said. “What were your motives, Eve? Were you looking to…harm him in some way?”
“Of course she was,” Dr. Hannah said before I could respond. “What other reason could she have? All it could have taken was a laced pill. Make him take it and wait for the results. Maybe she was lacing it already. He was getting sick, after all.”
“He was getting sick because of the anxiety,” I said in defense. “Dr. Langley, I swear I never meant to harm him. Not physically.”
“Ha! There, you see?” Dr. Hannah waved her hand at me. “So, you wanted to harm him emotionally? Mentally? He’s unstable as it is, and now, he’s practically catatonic so I’d say you’ve succeeded.”
I closed my eyes. “I didn’t mean for this to happen,” I said quietly. I opened my eyes and gave Dr. Langley a serious look. “In the end, I wanted him to get better but…”
“But?” Dr. Langley raised his brows.
“I…I admit I had planned to tell him who I was. At least in the beginning. But things changed. And I really did want him to get better. I chose in the end to not tell him. I came yesterday to end it on my own terms, but then Ethan—”
“Ethan found her confessing to him,” Dr. Hannah interrupted. “He said Emery was on his knees before her. Clearly, she was already there to do some mental harm.”
“He was upset that I was leaving, that’s all,” I explained.
“That’s not what Ethan heard.”
I glanced over at her. “Whatever Ethan said, he’s lying.”
Dr. Hannah made a dismissive sound, turning toward the window. “Emery is back to square one. Actually, more like zero. He won’t respond to me or anyone, he won’t move, won’t eat, won’t sleep. You’ve damaged him in more ways than you know.”
That stung, a lot. I felt the jabbing pain in my chest, making me feel queasy. Knowing Emery was just down the hall sitting in his room in silence, that he might stay that way forever because of me, made me feel worse than I had ever felt in years. I had wished for revenge. Now, it was too late to take it back.
I wanted to rush to Emery’s room and pound on the door, see him through the narrow window and beg him to look at me to see how sorry I was. Instead, I had to sit there with my head bowed, maybe on the verge of tears again as I waited for Dr. Langley’s verdict.
“This is very disappointing, Eve, very,” he said. “There was so much promise, we were so close.” He shook his head. “Your sessions are done. You will not be allowed to return again. If the guards find you near the property, we’ll call the police, you understand?”
It took all my will to say “yes” without my voice breaking.
“The police will need to be notified, but I will not call them on you now out of the little respect I still have. And because you came here today and told us your intentions, whether true or not, I’m choosing to believe they were,” he said, his tone growing softer, graver. “I will call and file my report later today. Emery will also need blood drawn so that we can make sure there’s nothing foreign in his system. As a precaution. Understand that if we do…”
“I understand,” I said. Thankfully, I knew Emery would be clean. I didn’t want to know how John and the others were going to get the needle in him.
Dr. Langley nodded. “Assuming there’s nothing, we will say you weren’t meaning to harm him, at least not in that way. As for the mental damage…expect that there may be charges.”
I couldn’t have expected otherwise. I rose from my seat, ready to have John and his crew escort me out. “I’m sorry. I really am,” I said. I went to leave, and Dr. Hannah called to me, “You’ve ruined his best chances, all for your petty revenge,” she said. “If I can’t get through to him, I can’t help him. If anything, you should apologize to him, but there’s no way you’ll be allowed near him so...I’ll tell him for you. I’ll be talking to the police myself as well. Hope he comes around, Eve, or this could be seen as patient negligence and abuse.”
I had no response for that. “Goodbye,” I said without faltering, following John out into the hall.
When we got to the main landing, I glanced around and saw Agnes's portrait staring at me, the little smirk appearing more wicked somehow. Then I remembered my dream where I saw her covered in blood. A chill ran down me as I looked away.
“You take care, Eve,” John said as we passed the security desk.
I offered my hand, and he took it. “Thank you for your help, John.”
He let my hand go. “I believe you meant well,” he murmured in a low voice so Kyle couldn’t hear. “I saw you with him. You cared. I don’t know or understand your motives for helping him, but I believe you. Best of luck to you.”
I gave him a half-hearted smile. “If you do talk to him…please, tell him that I want him to be…”
John frowned but nodded as if understanding even when I couldn’t speak. “I’ll try.”
I glanced around one last time, then turned for the door.
The rain fell in streaks down the glass. Rain flooded the streets in a slow downpour, soaking up dried earth and forcing trees to lose leaves already waiting to fall. Sammy purred softly on my lap where I sat by the window, impervious to anything and happy to be home.
I was back in my apartment full time, back to working on my thesis which sat open on my laptop before me.
Except all I could seem to do now was sit there and stare at it.
The last week had been a sort of hell. The police got a hold of me, and I was called down to the Bayville station so they could question me.
And because of that, of course, someone let slip what happened and it got back to journalists, some who had been on my case for years.
Several articles went live, people at school caught wind, and next thing I knew, I was in the limelight. Which meant isolating myself in my apartment for the foreseeable future. Jamie was the best friend I needed so desperately. He brought me groceries and stayed with me when he could.
“I’d say I warned you, but you knew the risk,” he said the day I returned and he helped me unpack. “Cat’s out of the bag now. At least you got out unscathed.”
I mentioned to him about the charges they put against me, and he assured me he’ll be there for me.
Unfortunately, Uncle Wes found out before I could tell him.
“How much did you tell the police?” he had asked.
“Only that I was seeing Em—the patient—for school purposes. That I didn’t tell them who I was but was doing my thesis on him. Then I got found out and they made me leave.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all.”
“Alright. No more talking to police without your lawyer, you got that?” he said.
“I understand, Uncle.”
“This was careless of you, Eve, extremely dangerous…and with your past.” He blew out a breath as if exasperated. “I can’t believe you would do this. Years of therapy and you go and talk to that—” He paused. “What did you say to him? What did he tell you?”
I thought the questioning odd. That was the first time I suspected my uncle knew what might have happened in the warehouse. Because of that, I was almost inclined to ask him what he knew.
“He told me he had been badly abused,” I answered truthfully. “That he and his sister went through something horrendous. And not at the hands of his foster parents…”
Uncle Wes went quiet.
“I didn’t tell him about me until I was forced to at the end,” I continued. “He didn’t take it well.”
“Well, it’s a good thing he’s locked up. I can imagine what he would want to do to you.”
“Maybe he had a good reason,” I said, clenching my phone. Forget going about this carefully. If Uncle Wes had anything to do with what happened to Emery and the others, I had a right to know now. “He was a victim, after all. And Dad had some very dark secrets, didn’t he?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” he hesitated.
“The warehouse, Uncle.”
He sighed. “I knew I shouldn’t have mentioned it. If I had known you were going to go back there…”
“So, you knew?”
“Not everything. Your father was tight-lipped about it. But I had some idea. He promised me not to investigate it for the company’s sake. That if I wanted to keep what we had at any cost, then I would let whatever he and Uncle Pete were doing stay hidden. It was their own personal project, but it was funded by someone—”
“Who?” I asked.
“I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me much.”
“Did you suspect his death might have had something to do with what he was doing?”
“Yes, I had a feeling. But what happened, happened, and couldn’t be undone. Your father took that risk. For the sake of his promise and for the future of the company, I didn’t dig. They found the killer and he was locked up so justice, in a way, had been served.”
My hand shook. “Justice served?” I laughed bitterly. “Emery is locked up in an institution, mad out of his fucking mind because of my father. I guess he got his justice too when he got his revenge, didn’t he?” I was practically shouting. “This never would have happened if my father—”
“I know, I know,” he cut in, trying to calm me. “I’m sorry, Eve, I really am. If I had known more, maybe…but it doesn’t matter now.”
I wiped away an angry tear. “Yeah, it doesn’t, huh?”
“Eve…it’s time we let it go. No more talking to the police, do you hear me? Not without your lawyer.”
I hung up on him in disgust. A part of me wanted to rat out the company, reveal everything. But by now, Uncle Wes would have made sure to wipe the warehouse clean. Still, I had the files.
Maybe if I could find the missing kids who had survived, maybe I could give them the justice they truly deserved. I knew it would mean the downfall of my father’s company, but I was alright with that. The only thing keeping me from acting right away was the spotlight that was on me currently. I was also sure Uncle Wes would do whatever he could to stop me. I was going to have to talk to him again in person, tell him I was withdrawing my shares from the company, and tell him everything that I knew. For Emery’s sake, I would do something.
After I’d talked to him, my fingers itched to call the one person I didn’t want to talk to at all.
Liam.
He might have information about what was going to happen to Emery.
Now that Emery had gone into a sort of catatonic state, he wasn’t going to be taking his medicine any longer. And that meant no more St. Agnes.
It would be cruel, but it wouldn’t be surprising for them to still transfer him away. And I desperately wanted to know where.
I won out on my temptation in the end, only because I also figured by now Liam knew what I had been up to and the last thing I needed was to be interrogated by him.
So, I only talked to Jamie and on occasion Lena, who was recovering well, back home now and using a wheelchair, about to start her physical therapy.
I tried to focus on my thesis, too. But it was difficult. Interestingly, my teacher was extremely eager now to read it. I could only imagine why.
I continued to stare out into the rain, hardly giving my thesis any notice.
It can’t rain all the time , Emery whispered inside my head. My eyes stung again with the threat of tears, and I shook them off. I was already sick of crying.
My phone went off, and I picked it up to see it was Jamie texting me.
Lena wants us over tonight. She swore not to pressure you into talking. She’s feeling down though. I know it might be too much to ask…
I was about to text back when another one of his came through.
Liam might be here, too. I told him if he said one word to you, he’d never be allowed back. He swore he wouldn’t, but I get if it’s too much for you still…
I thought it over, then sent my response. As it grew darker, and the rain stopped, I kissed Sammy on the forehead before taking her off my lap and heading for my bedroom.
I wouldn’t stay long. And it was kind of a perfect opportunity. Make Liam tell me about Emery without him being able to question me back. I threw on a T-shirt and jeans, slipped on my boots and coat, said goodbye to Sammy and left.
When I got to her house, the place was packed. I didn’t know whether to be pissed or not that Jamie didn’t mention Lena feeling down meant she wanted to throw a huge block party.
I let myself in, asking for Lena. A girl pointed to the outside patio. I went out and found Lena in her chair sitting with Jamie, Ben, and a few others by a little fire pit. Liam stood beside her.
Lena saw me and waved me over, grinning.
I felt eyes on me as I walked over and caught someone lifting their phone at the corner of my eye. I definitely wasn’t going to stay long.
“I'm so glad you came,” Lena said, taking my hand. “Don’t worry. I told everyone not to talk to you about…you know…the crazy thing you did,” she whispered.
“Lena,” Jamie said in warning.
She looked flushed. “Sorry.”
I smiled. “It was crazy.”
“But fucking amazing,” Lena responded. “You are like my idol. Balls of steel. And I work with the dead. You beat me out by a mile and a half. Seriously, Eve, holy sh—”
“Lena,” Jamie snapped.
“It’s okay,” I said. “It’s cool. But I probably won’t stay long.”
She nodded. “I totally get it. Thanks for coming anyway.”
“Of course.” I glanced over to find a seat and saw Liam watching me. We locked eyes, and he looked away into the fire.
I talked with them for a while, taking a drink offered, looking around and noticing the Halloween decorations were getting more elaborate. Pumpkin lanterns along one side, creepy scarecrow dummies by each pillar, and little skull lights by the gate.
“I know it’s around your birthday,” Lena said, when mentioning her upcoming Halloween party. “So, if you can’t come…”
“I’ll be there. I won’t be going to my uncle’s anyway.”
They didn’t ask why, thankfully, and the subject changed. I looked over at Liam who was taking a swig of his beer while still staring at the fire. I was itching to go but not without talking to him yet. And something in the way he shifted around, glancing at me every so often, I knew he wanted to talk, too.
When Lena was ready to go inside, I moved to let her and the others pass while catching his gaze.
“You coming?” Jamie asked.
“I’ll be right there,” I said.
He looked between me and Liam.
“It’s cool,” I said.
His eyes narrowed. “I’ll be close.” He gave Liam a warning glare before returning into the house.
Liam drew up beside me by the fire. “I know I’m not supposed to ask…”
I stared into the flames as they flickered in the breeze. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Are you alright at least?”
He did look concerned. “Yeah. I mean, I’m shaken up, but I only have myself to blame for that.”
“You had your reason, I won’t pry. Not getting paid to anyway.”
I snorted. “Yeah.” I crossed my arms. “But I’m sure they’ve been talking all about it, haven’t they? At your work?”
“They thought they’ve heard of everything, but not a victim trying to give their family’s killer therapy.”
I clenched my jaw. “Yeah, it’s messed up. Guess I cracked too.”
“If you ever need to talk…”
I nodded but didn’t say I would take the offer. I watched the flames for a moment, then said, “I know I don’t have the right to ask…but have you heard anything? Did the judge make a decision about…him?”
He looked at me as if he felt sorry for me and I hated his pity. But I wanted to—needed to know.
“They had the hearing last night. He’s stopped responding to treatment,” Liam said. “And is considered too dangerous now for a place even like St. Agnes. He’s getting moved…to Oklahoma. A special prison for those who are unstable. It probably won’t be pretty, but maybe it won’t matter at all if he’s non-responsive.”
“Thank you for telling me.”
“He’ll be transferred by the end of this week,” Liam continued. “They’ll be preparing for it in the next couple days.” He reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Seriously if you ever wanna talk, I’m here…or I can find someone better trained if you think you might need that sort of help again.”
I laughed. “Yeah. Maybe I do.”
His hand slipped from my shoulder. “I think him being gone is for the best,” he said.
I didn’t answer. I felt too much of everything, thinking about him locked away in some cell with no one to talk to, no one to be there for him when the smiling woman beat him down with her words. He would become a shell of himself, and I had to live with knowing that now.
“Well, see you around.”
“If you’ll take any of my advice, don’t close yourself from your friends, Eve,” he said. “You’ll need them now more than ever. I don’t know what went down between you and him, but don’t let it destroy your life. Don’t let him swallow you up even now.”
A shiver coursed through me. I looked at him. “I know,” I whispered, knowing the nightmares would linger for a long while. I turned and left Liam by the fire, then whispered as I came to the sliding door, “But it’s too late.”