Chapter 10
M
Know? Know? Yeah, I knew what she was getting at. She was suspicious of me. Which I was going to have to correct the moment I had the opportunity. The fact that she read me so clearly ate away at the doctor part I put on a pedestal. I underestimated Anna from the moment I realized who she was, and it was my mistake—one I had to fix before she somehow turned Boston against me. If she eventually discovered more and convinced him I had something to do with this, it wasn’t going to be good. I could try to persuade him of my innocence, even convince him, but his new obsessive crutch to Anna could make my job harder. He’d want to believe her. His mind would try to force him to.
“I can see how you would believe all that, Ms. Monroe. I really can. I’m even impressed by your analysis. I’m sorry to say it’s not true. Not even close. My large build has nothing to do with my hate of women and everything to do with the fact that I’ve heard and seen things over the years that make it impossible to sleep. It’s my way of unwinding and getting rid of the stress that comes with my job. It’s not easy listening to murders or pedophiles. But someone has to help them. I didn’t take this job because I have some secret affection for killers. I took this job because I thought I could make a difference.
“Yes,” I continued. “Some of my patients murder under my care. It’s bound to happen anyway. But, really, how many more would they have killed had it not been for me? Boston was twelve when his mother called. At that time, Lucy was five. Without my expertise, Boston may have done things he shouldn’t have, long before he did. I helped calm him. I redirected his obsessive, homicidal tendencies into theater in high school. To making movies once he graduated. Just like I do with all my patients. I’ve seen what killers do. I know how they think. And I’m here for them, to prolong the inevitable as much as I can. That is all. I’m sorry if we got off on the wrong foot. I really am. Like you saw and stated, I’m extremely protective over Boston. I’ve helped raise him in a way. My real profession is not known to the outside world. You have to understand that.”
Her lips pursed while her brow creased. She was considering my excuse.
“Say I believe you. Fine. But stop trying to read me. I’m not your patient. You’ll get no therapy session out of me. I’m here for Lucy and Boston. That’s it.”
“I respect your wishes and will stop trying to help you. Again, I’m sorry. To both of you,” I said, glancing at Boston, who was also keeping a close eye on me. “Sometimes I’m more of a doctor and less of a friend. Boston, you know I care for you and Lucy. I never meant to insinuate you felt differently about her. I just want you better so we can find her.”
Silence followed us to the airport, but both Anna and Boston seemed more at ease. It worked. They were calm, and me…I had to tread carefully so I could keep it that way.
I pulled into parking, unable to turn off the car before Anna’s hand came up.
“If you don’t mind, I think I’ll wait here. This is more of a personal meeting. I have things to research for Lucy while I wait, and some of those might consist of making a few phone calls.”
“Things? What things? Who will you call?”
Boston was already moving in as Anna pulled out her phone.
“I used to work at the newspaper before I went to the station. I thought I’d call an old friend there and discuss recent stories. After that, I’ll go to their website. It’s best to double check.”
“I think I’ll stay with Anna,” Boston said, looking up at me. “You can get Joy. She likes you more anyway.”
“You don’t get along with your mother?”
My mouth opened to argue with Boston, but closed as I unbuckled.
“She tries, but she’s afraid of me. It’s probably better Dr. Patron gets her. I don’t feel like repeating everything that’s happened anyway. I want to get back to looking for Lucy. Why don’t you call, and I’ll look up the paper on my phone? What is it called?”
Anger thrummed as I opened the door. “I’ll be back.”
They didn’t even seem to hear as I got out and shut the door. Each step was full of hate. Full of my need to return to my house and take it out on the little bitch whose fault this was. I should have never let Boston and Lucy’s relationship get this far. I figured I had time. Up until Boston’s accident where he’d gone into a coma, I’d had him under my control. Then came the amnesia. It erased all my hard work and put his obsession into overdrive. Now, it was worse than ever, and that wasn’t good for the killer in Boston. All it would take was someone to look at Lucy wrong, and he could slip up and get caught. The years of hard work would be wasted. He’d be wasted. I couldn’t allow that.
I headed into the airport, not having to look at the signs to find my way to the luggage area. I’d been here enough times that I knew this place like the back of my hand. And luckily, I wouldn’t have to wait. Joy Marks was already standing there with her small suitcase.
“Dr. Patron.” She rushed forward, pulling her black leather luggage with her. Joy’s dark hair was pinned back, and she looked more tired than I had ever seen her. “Where’s Boston? How is he?”
I held out my arm, letting her loop hers around mine. “He’s in the car with a friend he met here. A reporter who’s helping with the case. Her name is Anna. They’re going over articles online.”
“Oh. But…how is he?”
I glanced down, giving her a reassuring smile. Joy had never been approving of Lucy, or Boston’s obsession with her, but I convinced her I knew how to take care of it. When they finally got together, it was me who pushed for the acceptance, and she had trusted me. Lucy had become part of the family before they moved to Florida for school, and I could see Joy’s concern over the girl and her son.
“He’s taking it very hard. I’m afraid he’s not doing so well. He’s going to seem distant. Even aggravated at times. I’m going to be blunt because I know you can handle it. You’re a strong woman and you want to offer support, but that might not be what Boston needs right now.” I sighed, giving her a sad look as we headed toward the main doors. “Lucy is in grave danger. Whoever took her knew what they were doing. Boston knows this, and that’s why he’s desperate to find her as fast as he can. Let him know you’re there for him, but for your own safety, keep your distance.”
She came to a stop, her eyebrows drawing in as she gazed up at me. “You’re not insinuating Boston would hurt me, are you?”
“Of course not. Not physically, but he may be mentally harsh at times. You know his behavior. The obsession keeps him overly focused on things. Before, it was Lucy, but now that she’s gone, it’s branched out to this Anna woman. She can help him, and he’s holding on rather tightly to that fact. I don’t even really think he wants me around.”
“But you’ll stay with him, right? You’ll help him until Lucy’s found?”
I nodded, beginning to lead her again. “I will as much as he allows, and as much as I think is best for him. There’s only so much I can do, and I believe Anna is very experienced in this sort of thing. She’ll be good to keep Boston’s mind off the facts. Off the reality of what could be happening to Lucy. As long as he’s distracted, he won’t be imagining the horrors she’s undergoing. That’s for the best.”
“Do…” she paused, wiping away a tear, “do you think we’ll get her back?”
A cool breeze swept over us as we headed outside. I stared at the parking ahead, switching on my false emotions.
“I hope I’m wrong, but, no…I don’t think so, Joy. Not alive. Just this morning they found a girl’s body who was around the same age as Lucy. My time with the FBI has taught me a lot of things, and I’ve been pretty accurate on all of them. I’ve been asking around with some friends, and there’s another girl aside from Lucy whose also been taken. I’m afraid we’re at the beginning of a killing spree, and if we don’t find Lucy fast, she’s going to be one of the next victims.”
“Oh God.” A sob had her hand flying to her mouth. “Poor Lucy. Poor, sweet Lucy. We can’t let that happen. Boston…he can’t take that. He can’t lose her. Not after everything he’s been through. She’s all he knows. All he loves. Without her…”
“I know. Hurry, dry your tears. Don’t let him see how upset you are.” I drew us to a stop, turning her to face me. “I know you worry for him, but don’t. I will make sure he’s okay. To do that, I need you to listen very carefully. What your son needs is not to see his mother’s anxiety over the situation. We will go back to the hotel. I will take you to lunch, where you will look up flights to go home. The last thing Boston needs to feel is your fear. It’ll make his obsession worse. He will feel the need to rush, and that could set him off on an episode that may get him in a lot of trouble.”
“But…I’m his mother. How will it look if I just abandon my son to deal with this on his own? He may be unfeeling toward me for the most part, but he’s still my son.”
“He is, but sometimes we have to do what’s hard in order to help our children. Do you understand? Call him regularly. Speak with him and let him vent. But keep your concerns inside. Don’t make this worse, Joy.”
Seconds went by before she nodded and wiped her tears again. Our walk continued until we were approaching my car. Through the dark-tinted windows, I couldn’t see Boston or Anna, but I knew exactly what they were doing. I opened my door and found I was right.
“How’s it going?” I asked.
Joy and I got in, turning to look toward them. They both had their phones, only glancing up when I spoke.
“Good. Mother, so glad you could come.”
Joy’s hand outstretched, and Boston took it, giving her a light squeeze.
“Of course. Dr. Patron tells me you’re looking over newspaper articles?”
“Yes. It was Anna’s idea.” He gestured. “Mom, meet Anna Monroe. She’s been amazing with helping me try to find Lucy. I don’t know what I would do without her. She thinks of things I never would. I guess because I can’t really think at all.”
“Anna, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The women shook hands while I put it in reverse and headed out of the garage. I barely even listened to their conversation. My mind went back to Lucy. About how I needed to get back soon. I’d bathe her before I went for round two on her ass. I really couldn’t wait to do that again.
Ideas came, as did tidbits of conversation. My memory weeded through the highlights, and I let it fade as I got back onto the freeway and tapped the address of Boston’s hotel into the GPS.
“Detective Casey probably wants to speak with you,” Boston said, looking up from his phone. “Not that you know anything, but he’ll still want to ask questions. Probably to both of you, actually,” he said, glancing to me in the rearview mirror. “You should take my mom there after you both have lunch. Anna and I decided to get takeout in the room. We have some ideas we thought over while you were gone.”
“I can do that,” I said, smiling over to Joy. “I doubt it will take us long. You should still be fine on catching your flight back.”
“Yes,” she mumbled. “Boston?” Joy rotated more in her seat to face her son. “Is there anything I can do for you while I’m here? Anything you need that maybe I can get you so you don’t have to stop your search? Clothes, socks, snacks for your room? I want to help you in any way I can.”
“That’s very nice of you, Mom. Thanks. Yes…I…” He blinked rapidly, and then hard at the end. “I don’t know what I need. Food is always good. Coffee. Lots of coffee, and maybe a bigger coffee pot? The one in the hotel room is so small.”
“All right. Can you think of anything else?”
“No, but I need a car that’s not a rental. I’ll be buying one.”
“You act like you’ll be here for a while.”
Boston got quiet for a few seconds, his face hardening. “I’ll be here as long as it takes to find Lucy. And when I find her, we’ll be driving home. No more airplanes. No more over-populated places. Just me and her together. Alone.”
I kept my attention on the road, withholding the smile that wanted to come. Lucy wasn’t going anywhere but the grave. When Boston finally got her back, there wouldn’t be much left to recover. He’d be mentally obliterated…and he’d come back to me to control.