****
"I know this is going to be painful for you,” Dr. Gerhardt said, “but I need to know what you remember about December third."
"Didn't you read the newspaper?" I said.
"Yes, I did, but I want to hear it from you."
"It's the same story, that's all I know."
"Okay, I'll buy that. Have you ever heard of the subconscious mind?"
"Yeah, a little."
"Well, the subconscious mind often remembers things that have been purged from the conscious mind. What I'd like to do, with your permission, is hypnotize you and see if your subconscious mind remembers anything that happened the night of December third."
"I don't know. I don't like the idea of someone else controlling me. I guess I've watched too many horror movies."
"I'm not going to control you, all I'm going to do is ask you questions, explore the depths of your subconscious mind to see what’s there," Dr. Gerhardt said. "I'm a professional. I would never try to get you to do something against your will."
"Okay, but I would feel better if Greg were in here with us. Is that okay?"
"Sure, Greg can watch if he's quiet."
Dr. Gerhardt buzzed his receptionist and asked that Greg be brought in. A minute later he walked in looking somewhat perplexed.
"Mr. Peterson, I'm going to hypnotize Miss Winters to try to see if we can find out more about what happened on December third and she'd feel more comfortable if you were present."
"Oh, okay."
"Have a seat, but please be very quiet."
"Yes, sir."
"Okay Sarah, I'm going to shine this little flashlight at you and I want you to focus on it."
Dr. Gerhardt picked up a small flashlight, turned it on and began manipulating it around Sarah's eyes. After a minute the doctor said, "Now Sarah, your eyes are beginning to feel heavy, you're very tired but relaxed. Now I want you to think back to the night of December 3, 1981 and tell me what you see."
Sarah's eyes closed and she began to toss and turn.
"It hurts . . . Oh, my God! . . . It hurts so much. Please make it stop!"
"Where are you?"
"My bed, I think. Yes . . . Oh no. . . . Please God I can't take this pain anymore. Why are you doing this to me?"
"Are you alone?"
Sarah moved her head back and forth as if she were looking around, but her eyes were closed. "I think so.
She squirmed involuntarily in her chair. "Oh no, this can't be happening. No, no. Please, God. Ah! What am I going to do?"
"What's happening now?"
Sarah stiffened as if listening intently. "It’s a knock. . . . Someone is knocking at the door. . . . Go away. I’m sick! Oh, ah! . . . oh shit . . . Oh. . . . It’s coming out . . . ahhhhh . . . God!"
"Did you have the baby?"
"Oh God . . . oh God . . . what am I going to do?"
"Is the baby alive?"
"It's crying . . . oh my God, . . . oh God, no . . . what am I going to do? Please God, help me."
Apparently I began screaming and jerking back and forth in my chair. Dr. Gerhardt had to hold me down to keep me from falling out of the chair. "All right, Sarah, calm down,” he said. “I am going to count to three and then I want you to wake up. When you awaken you'll feel relaxed and you'll remember everything you’ve just been through. Ready . . . one . . . two . . . three."
I opened my eyes and looked around not knowing where I was. Then it slowly came back to me. It was then that the memory of my delivery hit me like an avalanche. I remembered holding my baby and thinking how beautiful she was.
"How do you feel?" Dr. Gerhardt asked.
"Tired, very tired."
"I bet. Do you remember what happened to the baby?"
"No. I just remember watching it cry. After that it's a blank."
"Well, we've made some progress," Dr. Gerhardt said. We also discovered that someone was knocking on your door. Whoever it was may have heard what you were going through. They must have heard you screaming. We need to identify that person. Maybe in our next session we'll be able to do that."
"I hope so, Doctor. Good or bad. I need to know the truth. It's terrible to have lost a part of your life, particularly when people are accusing you of murder and you can't remember anything."
Second Chair, A Stan Turner Mystery, Vol.4 Page 15
