Pam stared straight ahead, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Their appointment was for eight o’clock. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Tom check his watch.
“It’s seven-fifty-five.”
Pam scowled. “The place looks haunted.”
“Well, Halloween’s in two weeks. It looks like they go all out around here.”
She scowled again. “It’s still creepy. What did you say this guy is?”
“DeOreo?”
She turned to face him, arching an irritated eyebrow.
Fortunately, Tom had a good sense of humor. He stuck out his tongue at her, then said, “He’s a psychiatrist. An MD just like you. And a hypnotherapist.”
“A hypnotherapist?” she repeated.
Tom gave her a proud grin. “Board certified.”
She grunted. “How lucky for him.” Digesting the information, she wondered what her colleagues would have to say on the subject. “Don’t you think it’s a little weird that he lives here, in the witch capital of the country?”
Tom grinned and messed her hair. “The psychologist at the Boston police department assured me that he’s really good. He does a lot of this kind of work with them. Sometimes it’s to help someone describe a face. Other times it’s to remember an event.”
“Uh-huh.” Pam looked back at the gothic building. It resembled a miniature version of Notre Dame. She searched the eaves and corners for gargoyles.
“Look.”
She turned back to Tom.
He gave her a Boy Scout salute. “Scouts honor. If you don’t like him, we can leave. Okay?”
Pam sighed and cast him a grateful smile. “At ease, soldier. And please, don’t think I don’t appreciate what you’re trying to do. I really do. It’s just that…”
“It’s just that you’re afraid of what you’re going to find out,” he finished.
She frowned. “It really bugs me that you can read me so well. Am I that transparent?”
Gently, Tom brushed her bangs away from her face. “No, silly. I just love you. And you love me. We’ve clicked from the beginning, Pam. You can’t deny it.”
He was right. They did click. From the beginning. Sure they’d been young. But even back then, he was the one person she didn’t need to explain anything to. He just understood. That’s why hearing about Susan’s pregnancy had devastated her. He’d become such a force in her life. Then, without warning, she’d lost him.
Pam sighed. And here he was again. They’d been given a gift. A second chance. It would be foolish to blow it now.
Armed with that resolve, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Let’s get this over with.”
Hand in hand, they walked to the door. A well built man in his mid-sixties, with a full head of snow white hair, responded to the bell.
“You must be Dr. Harrington,” he said kindly, “And Mr. Jarrod. Please come in.”
Entering the hall, Pam felt relieved to see this guy wearing gray flannel pants, a maroon cardigan and black wingtips. Though she tried to avoid judging people solely on appearances, a shaved head, numerous body piercings and a red velvet robe would have significantly shaken her confidence.
“I’d like Tom to be there when you hyp...hypnotize me.”
“That’s fine,” the doctor assured her. “He and I spoke about it when he called me to make the appointment.”
Tom squeezed Pam’s hand as they followed the doctor through a long hall. He led them into a comfortable, darkly furnished office and motioned for them to sit on an antique loveseat, upholstered in ivory velvet.
“Now then.” DeOreo sat in a black leather chair across from them. “I’d like to start by Pam telling me what brings you both here today.”
Involuntarily, Pam felt herself tense. Her throat tightened, making it impossible to utter a sound. The room seemed unbearably stuffy. Almost suffocating. The only illumination came from an old-fashioned brass lamp with a red fringed shade, located on top of the desk and a floor lamp in the far corner.
“Would you like some water?” DeOreo didn’t wait for a reply. Instead, he poured her a glass from a crystal carafe set up on a serving cart to his left.
Pam took the glass. “Thank you.” She wrapped both hands around it. Staring into the water, she silently prayed for help. Then plunged ahead. “In June of 1994...” Her voice faltered. She looked at Tom and, in his eyes, found the courage to continue. “My best friend, Megan Fitzgerald, died in a car accident. I was driving. The boy in the other car died, too.”
“The cops listed him as the cause,” Tom added. “He was eighteen and dangerously intoxicated.”
Pam watched DeOreo nod, then direct his gaze to her. “But you’re not convinced?”
“I’m not sure.” She paused, swallowing hard to help keep her voice even. “I’d been drinking, too.” The sentence hung in the air like a hammer coming straight at her.
“But you weren’t drunk,” Tom chimed in. “And I don’t recall any evidence linking you and alcohol in any of the reports.”
Pam listened, praying he was right, but she couldn’t be sure. She placed the glass of water on a small table and crinkled her forehead. She tried hard to remember, but the images were so scattered and blurred.
To both men she said, “I’m certain there was beer at the party. I remember seeing the other kids drinking. And…” It killed her to say this. But she had to. Otherwise, nothing in her life would improve. “I’m pretty sure I did, too.”
“But you don’t know for sure?” DeOreo asked.
Pam shook her head. “After the crash, it took me three months to understand what had happened. I had head injuries and needed a couple of surgeries. When I finally saw the photographs of the accident and read all the reports, they didn’t make any sense to me. They didn’t seem real. It felt like it must have happened to someone else.”
Exhausted, she rested her elbows on her thighs and raked her hands through her hair. “I’ve always had this nagging feeling that something just isn’t right. Like a huge piece of the puzzle is missing.” Sitting up again, she studied the antique wall tapestries, hanging behind DeOreo’s desk.
“I’m not a martyr. I’ve read all about survivor’s guilt. That’s not why I blame myself.” Shaking her head in despair, she added, “I know it sounds crazy. Who knows? Maybe I am crazy.”
“I doubt very much that you are,” DeOreo replied, repositioning himself in the chair. “What’s happened recently to make you want to find out the truth now?”
Pam deferred to Tom to explain.
“I see,” DeOreo commented, when Tom finished. He jotted down some notes. “That’s certainly disturbing. I’m glad you notified the police.”
“The nasty call to Pam’s condo came up restricted on the caller ID,” Tom said. “Now the line is tapped. If he tries again, we should get him.”
“Good. Now then. Let’s go over some of the details Tom gave me earlier. Time, place, et cetera, so I can get an accurate picture. Then we’ll get started.”
Pam felt Tom reach for her hand. “And remember,” he whispered, peering into her frightened eyes. “No matter what, it was an accident. Nothing will change how I feel about you. We’re going to catch this person who’s bothering you and put a stop to this crap. Okay?”
Oh, how she really needed to hear him say that. And how she wanted to believe him. After a moment, she nodded to him, then to DeOreo.
It took only a few minutes to review the information needed. When they finished, DeOreo put down his pen and smiled at Pam. “Good. Settle back in the recliner and get comfortable.”
Once she was ready, he said, “Now, close your eyes and try to relax. Envision all your stress working its way toward your fingers and toes. At your command, tell it to leave your body.”
Pam did as she was instructed. She was familiar with such relaxation techniques. She’d used them, along with meditation and prayer, to help her deal with all the pain she’d experienced during rehab. Later, in college and med school, she used them aga
in to help with her heavy course load and exams.
After a few moments, she heard DeOreo say, “I want you to tell me what you remember about June 25, 1994.”
Fighting the panic, Pam told him about the play, followed by the cast party and Jennifer Murphy’s announcement about Tom and Susan. Then, getting into the car with Megan.
“Excellent. What happened next?”
“I woke up in the hospital.”
“Fine. Now let’s go back to earlier in the day. I want you to picture yourself on stage. What was the name of the play?”
“The Sound of Music.”
Feeling herself being transferred back in time, Pam saw herself singing with Wayne Wagner, a fellow senior.
“What role did you play?”
“The captain’s eldest daughter. We just finished singing ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen.’”
“And after the play you went to the party?”
“Yes.”
“How did you get there?”
“I drove my car.”
“How is the party?”
“Fine. We know almost everybody there.”
“What time is it?”
“My watch says a little after eleven.”
“Let me know when Jennifer shows up.”
“She’s there. I can overhear her conversation about Tom and Susan.” She repeated it for DeOreo.
“What are you doing at this time?”
“I’m talking to Megan and some of the other kids.”
“Look at your face. What is your expression?”
“My face is red. And my eyes are glassy. I look like I’m trying not to cry.”
“So you were upset.”
Pam nodded. “Very. But I couldn’t show it.”
“Look in your hands. Are you holding anything?”
She paused, afraid to look but too curious not to. “I’m holding a green can.”
“Try to read the label,” DeOreo urged.
“I can’t. Megan is leading me out of the party. We’re going up the stairs outside. To my car.”
“Okay. As you leave, try to look around the room. Do you see other green cans?”
“Yes. Lots of them. And other kinds of cans.”
“Do you see their colors?”
It was hard to tell. Megan was practically pushing her out the door. “I think there are red ones. And blue ones too. Also a lot of brown bottles.”
“Are you holding a brown bottle?”
“No. But…”
“Were you drinking from a brown bottle?”
“No.”
“So you and Megan leave?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of car do you have?”
“A bright yellow Escort.”
“Good. Picture you and Megan in the car driving. Describe the road.”
Pam flinched. “Very dark. Narrow. Hard to see. The rain is coming down hard. Sharp curves, deep ditches and pot holes...”
“What are you thinking about?”
“Tom.” She clenched her hands. Her chest hurt, fearful of where he might be.
“What are you feeling?”
“Embarrassed. H-humiliated. I thought he really cared about me. I can’t believe he cheated on me like that.”
“Are you crying?”
Hot tears flowed down her cheeks. “Yes.”
“Where are you driving to?”
“Home. To call him.”
“Did you ever get there?”
Beads of perspiration formed on her forehead. “No.”
Then, for no apparent reason, Pam heard herself scream. It was a loud, piercing, blood curdling cry, drenched with anguish.
Truths Unveiled
Truths Unveiled
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Wake up, Pam!” Dr. DeOreo commanded. “Nothing can hurt you. You’re safe.”
She opened her eyes and gasped for air.
“It’s okay, honey.” Tom bent down next to the recliner and held her.
After a few minutes, Pam felt her heartbeat returning to normal. Sitting back now, she saw his distraught expression. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, he features etched with guilt. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
Pam closed her eyes and exhaled. “I know. I guess what made it so hard was that I expected you to be at the play. I didn’t know where you were.”
DeOreo handed Pam a cassette. “This is a copy of what just transpired. You can listen to it later.”
Pam put the tape in her purse, then accepted the glass of water Tom offered. The cool liquid soothed her dry, raw throat.
“Are you ready to talk?” DeOreo asked, returning to his chair.”
“I want to tell Pam where I was that night,” Tom informed him, still subdued.
“Go on.”
“After work, I met up with my friend, Eddie Cartwright. We got a quick bite to eat before Pam’s play. He told me he overhead something about Susan, now my former wife. She was going around telling everybody we were getting married. That definitely wasn’t the truth, at least at the time, so I invited myself over to her house, intending to put a stop to her nonsense.”
Tom paused. Pam could tell he was visualizing the events in his mind.
“When I arrived, she told me she was pregnant.”
“What did you do next?” DeOreo asked. If he was passing judgment, his expression didn’t betray it.
Tom looked to Pam. His usually bright eyes filled with anguish and shame. “The situation got out of hand. Her parents came into the room. There was a lot of yelling. Most of it came from me and her father. I just couldn’t believe it. I mean, yes, we had sex, but like I already told you the other night, Pam, that was before you and I stated dating. And Susan was certainly no Snow White. It was no secret she was seeing other guys along with me. She’d told me she started taking birth control pills when she turned fifteen. Sure we knew about HIV, but…” He shook his head. “Anyway, neither of us saw any reason to use condoms.”
“Susan named you the father?” DeOreo asked.
Tom released a deep breath. “Yes.” He stood and paced the long wooden floorboards. “I couldn’t get out of there until after midnight. I knew about the cast party. I planned to meet up with you there,” he told Pam. “Then I heard about the accident over my scanner. I remember getting a sick feeling in my gut, even before the dispatcher mentioned your car.”
DeOreo cleared his throat. “Pam, do you have any more questions for Tom about what happened before the accident?”
Tom’s hooded eyes implored her forgiveness. She offered him a small but genuine smile and shook her head. He reclaimed her hand and kissed it.
“Very well. Then I’ll presume the two of you have settled that issue between you. Now, tell us Pam, what made you scream?”
Truths Unveiled
Truths Unveiled
Chapter Twenty-Four
Pam’s breath caught in her throat. Without realizing it, she dug her fingernails into the palms of her hands. How stupid of her. She’d almost forgotten why they were here. Maybe the mellowed feeling she’d experienced moments ago came from her needing to hear Tom’s side of the story more than she’d realized. His explanation went a long way to fill in the blanks, but she didn’t feel comfortable asking him anything more than he was willing to volunteer.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” DeOreo reminded her. “Take it one scene at a time. Close your eyes, if you think it will help.”
Pam took the suggestion. “It was very dark. The road was slippery. The rain wouldn’t let up. I remember driving slower than usual because it was so difficult to see. Megan and I were talking about Tom and Susan. I was trying not to cry. We were going downhill, around a curve surrounded by huge trees and woods.”
Pam paused. She could feel her heart pounding against her ribs.
“There was no warning. Not even headlights. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, something smashed into us.” She placed her hands over her
ears. “The noise. It went on forever. And I couldn’t see anything!”
Her upper chest and neck, and her chin, began to throb as she recalled the impact against the steering wheel and dashboard.
“I could hear Megan scream. I couldn’t stop the car. Glass shattered. I kept trying to slam on the brakes and maneuver away from the woods, but I couldn’t. The car just kept going. I lost complete control. Then, like a flash, I saw an enormous tree coming right at us.”
Truths Unveiled Page 11
