The Missing

‘That’s difficult to say, since I don’t have much information about the case, or the circumstances causing her trauma. She’s in a highly agitated state because she wants out of her restraints. Under no circumstances are you to do that. Despite your success the previous evening, Rachel may not be as receptive this time. She attacked a nurse.’

‘Yes, I know. Dr Hathcock told me what happened yesterday.’

‘I was referring to this morning’s incident,’ Lom-borg said. ‘A nurse, thinking Rachel Swanson was still sedated, reached across her face to change a bandage, and Rachel bit her arm. Speaking ofwhich, what’s this business about the numbers and letters she wrote on her wrist?’

‘We don’t know.’ Come on, you stuffy bastard, let me in there.

‘You need to try and convince her that we’re here to help. She seems to think she’s being kept somewhere. That’s all I can tell you.’

Rachel Swanson screamed for help, her bed thumping against the floor.

‘Those two gentlemen standing outside her door, the ones dressed in hospital whites, they’re psychiatric orderlies,’ Lomborg said. ‘They know how to restrain patients, if it comes to that.’

‘That’s fine, but I don’t want them or anyone else looking through the window. It might scare her.’ Darby took out her microcassette recorder. It was a small model, easily concealed inside a shirt pocket, and held a brand-new ninety-minute tape.

‘I know you’re anxious to get in there,’ Lomborg said, ‘but please understand this: If anything happens to you, the hospital will not be held liable. Are we clear on that point?’

Darby nodded. She pressed the RECORD button and tucked the recorder in her shirt pocket.

It seemed to take a long time to reach the door.

Gripping the cold steel handle, Darby fished for some scrap of memory, some thought or image she could use to keep her anchored against the rising tide of fear. The summer when she came back home for the first time, Sheila told her there was nothing in the house that could hurt her and held her hand as they walked through the house together. Her mother wasn’t here, and nobody was going to hold her hand. Nobody was holding Carol Cranmore’s hand.

Darby took in a deep breath and held it as she opened the door.

Chapter 30

Rachel Swanson’s body was drenched in sweat. Her eyes were clamped shut and she was whispering to herself, as if saying a prayer.

Darby walked toward the bed, taking slow, quiet steps. Rachel Swanson didn’t stir, didn’t move. When Darby reached the side of the bed, she leaned in close to make out the words caught between Rachel’s pinched, wheezing voice:

‘One R L three R L.’

Rachel was chanting the words she had written on her arm.

‘Two L R two R L R R S L – no R, the last one is R.’

Darby placed the tape recorder on the pillow. She waited a moment, listening as Rachel Swanson counted all the way to six and then started over.

‘Rachel, it’s me. Terry.’

Rachel Swanson’s eyes flew open, focused. ‘Terry, oh thank God you found me.’ She tugged at her restraints. ‘He’s got me. He’s got me good this time.’

‘He’s not here.’

‘Yes, he is. I saw him.’

‘There’s no one in here but you and me. You’re safe.’

‘He came to me last night and put on these handcuffs.’

‘You’re in a hospital,’ Darby said. ‘You… accidentally attacked a nurse.’

‘He injected me again and before I fell asleep. I saw him look around my cell.’

‘You’re in a hospital. There are people here who want to help you – I want to help you.’

Rachel moved her head up off the pillow. Her bloody and nearly toothless smile made Darby want to scream.

‘I know what he’s looking for,’ Rachel said, her arms and legs straining against the restraints. ‘I took it from his office. He can’t find it because I buried it.’

‘What did you bury?’

‘I’ll show you, but you’ve got to find a way to help me out of these handcuffs. I can’t find my handcuff key. I must have dropped it.’

‘Rachel, do you trust me?’

‘Please, I can’t… ’ Rachel started crying. ‘I can’t fight him anymore. I don’t have anything left.’

‘You don’t have to fight anymore. You’re safe. You’re inside a hospital now. There are people here who are going to help you get better.’

Rachel Swanson wasn’t listening. She eased her head back against the pillow and shut her eyes.

You’re not getting anywhere. Try something else.

Darby slipped her hand inside Rachel’s, the woman’s bony fingers lifeless and rough against her skin.

‘I’ll protect you, Rachel. Tell me where he is, and I’ll find him.’

‘I told you, he’s here.’

‘What’s his name?’

‘I don’t know his name.’

‘What does he look like?’

‘He doesn’t have a face. He keeps changing his face.’

‘What do you mean?’

Rachel started shaking.

‘It’s okay,’ Darby said. ‘I’m here. I won’t let anyone hurt you.’

‘You were there. You saw what he did to Paula and Marci.’

‘I know, but I’m having trouble remembering. Remind me what happened.’

Rachel’s bottom lip quivered. She didn’t answer.

‘I saw the letters and numbers you wrote on your wrist,’ Darby said. ‘The letters are directions, aren’t they? L equals left, R equals right.’

Rachel opened her eyes. ‘It doesn’t matter if you go right or left or straight, they all lead to dead ends, remember?’

‘But you found a way out.’

‘There’s no way out of here, there are only places to hide.’

‘What do the numbers mean?’

‘You’ve got to find the key before he comes back. Look under my bed, I might have dropped it there.’

‘Rachel, I need –’

‘FIND THE KEY!’

As Darby pretended to look around the floor, she wondered if Rachel would reveal more information if she wasn’t in her restraints. Lomborg would never allow it – not without him being in the room, not without the orderlies present.

‘Did you find it, Terry?’

‘I’m still looking.’

Think. Don’t let this opportunity slip away. Think.

‘Hurry, the door’s going to open any minute,’ Rachel said.

No one was standing outside the door; no one was even near the door. As much as she hated the idea, Darby wanted to go consult that stuffy prick Lomborg and see if he had any ideas.

‘I can’t find it,’ Darby said.

‘It’s here, I just dropped it.’

‘I’m going to get help.’

Rachel Swanson bucked against her restraints.

‘DON’T LEAVE ME ALONE WITH HIM, DON’T YOU DARE LEAVE ME ALONE AGAIN.’

Darby grabbed her hand. ‘It’s okay. I won’t let him hurt you, I promise.’

‘Don’t leave me, Terry, please don’t leave me.’

‘I won’t leave you. I’m not going anywhere.’ Using her foot, Darby pulled a chair over and sat down. Think.

Okay. Rachel thinks we’re still trapped, so let’s go along with the delusion.

‘Who else is in here with us?’

‘There’s no one left,’ Rachel said. ‘Paula and Marci are dead, and Chad…’ Rachel started crying again.

‘What happened to Chad?’

Rachel wouldn’t answer.

‘Paula and Marci,’ Darby said. ‘What are their last names? I can’t remember.’

No answer.

‘There’s someone else down here with us,’ Darby said. ‘Her name is Carol. Carol Cranmore.’

‘There’s no one named Carol in here.’

‘She’s sixteen. She needs our help.’

‘I haven’t seen her. Is she new?’

‘Where is she?’

Think, don’t blow it.

‘I heard her cry out for help,’ Darby said, ‘but I can’t see her.’

‘She must be on the other side. How long has she been down here?’

‘A little over a day.’

‘She’s probably still sleeping. He always makes them sleep when they first get here, puts drugs in the food. The doors won’t open for awhile, then. There’s still time.’

‘What’s he going to do to her?’

‘Is she tough? Is she a fighter?’