Chapter 48 - The Husband I Buried

Now

Dr. Avery didn’t even pretend what I’d said was impossible. Instead, he considered my request. ‘Excuse me for just a moment. I’ll be right back,’ he said.

‘Of course.’ I watched as he disappeared through a set of doors. Luis had been here.

I tried not to pace as I waited. A woman in linen pants and a cotton blouse opened the door. ‘Dr. Avery asked me to invite your friend back in,’ she said. ‘The doctor shouldn’t be long.’

Keith stepped out from behind her and entered the room.

‘I’ll leave you to it.’ The woman was gone before I could thank her.

Dr. Avery was trying to gain my trust. Showing he was willing to grant the first part of my request. Would he grant the second?

My phone buzzed. Jessica. I snatched it up, silencing it quickly and stepping away from Keith. ‘Now’s not a good time, Jess. I—’

‘Mackenzie, what’s going on? I received a transfer request from the correctional facility. Apparently, you wanted an assessment for a Rebecca Ryan?’

Shit. I didn’t have time for this. Not now.

‘Yeah.’

‘Well, someone must’ve agreed with you. Your client tried to hang herself earlier today, and they put the request through immediately. We sent someone over to collect her, but she didn’t arrive.’

Shit.

I checked the time. ‘How long ago?’

‘About an hour. The transport vehicle should’ve arrived twenty minutes ago, but there’s no sign of them.’

I tried to lighten the mood. ‘Maybe someone stopped for coffee?’

‘Now’s not the time to joke,’ she snapped.

Humor was my go-to when things got stressful. Jess knew that better than anybody.

‘Kenz, where are you?’ asked Jessica.

‘I’m—’

‘Mackenzie, we gotta go,’ said Keith, ignoring my shushing.

‘Oh my god. Is that conspiracy guy still there?’

I sighed. Denying it would only make me seem more guilty.

‘I knew you two were fuc—’

‘Jess!’ My face scrunched up at the thought before I could stop it. ‘It’s not like that.’

Keith picked up on our conversation, the speaker volume on the phone too loud. ‘Well, thanks,’ he said. ‘That’s offensive. And you could do worse.’

‘I don’t trust him,’ said Jessica.

I looked at Keith, expecting a reaction, but he seemed to have stopped listening.

‘You don’t trust anyone, Jess,’ I pointed out.

‘What’s that sound? Where are you really?’

‘Nowhere. I’m . . . just doing some research for a case I’m working on.’

‘Rebecca Ryan?’

‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Something like that. Listen, I think she might be part of a cult.’

‘Really?’

I looked at the walls around me. I couldn’t tell Jess I thought Luis was mixed up in it too, but she might still be able to help.

‘Your thesis was on cults, right?’ I asked.

‘It was on psychological programming and the influence of coercive social systems,’ she said. I guess you weren’t actually supposed to say ‘cult’.

‘Jesus, that’s catchy,’ said Keith sarcastically.

I shot him a warning look.

‘How would you get someone out of a . . . coercive social system?’ I asked.

‘It could take a long time to deprogram someone from cult activity, and how successful it is would depend on how involved that person is and the methods that were used to influence or change their beliefs in the first place.’

‘So how would I convince someone to leave?’

‘It would require voluntary exit and counselling over time, while they reconnected with the outside world.’

‘They seem to already be a part of the outside world,’ I said, thinking of Luis, and how he’d acted almost normal, besides ignoring me. ‘And in terms of methods, I think they’re using psychological doctrine to manipulate them.’

‘I mean, it could still be an isolating social system, but it’s not easy to show that. You can’t just go in and take someone out of there.’

‘No, I know,’ I said, pretending that wasn’t an option. I wasn’t above doing what I had to do. I heard the click of the door being opened.

‘I need to go,’ I said to Jess, ending the call and pocketing the phone.

Dr. Avery walked in and eyed Keith, who was pacing, looking more comfortable on his feet than if he were sitting.

‘I’m sorry. It’s just Mackenzie from here. You’re welcome to get a massage or visit our hot pools while you wait?’

Keith looked at him like he’d asked him to perform his own dental surgery.

‘He comes with me,’ I said, and Keith nodded his agreement. I didn’t trust Dr. Avery, and apparently Keith didn’t either. We were safer together.

‘Where’s my dog?’ I asked.

‘She’s taking a walk around the grounds,’ he said. ‘Dogs aren’t allowed in this part of the building, but some residents have pets in their homes.’

‘Residents?’

‘Yes. The Coterie Institute is home to some of our staff and students,’ he said.

‘What are they studying?’ asked Keith.

‘A variety of things. Philosophy, psychology. Business. Medicine.’ Dr. Avery smiled tightly. ‘If you’ll follow me, please.’

‘Where exactly are we following you to?’ asked Keith.

Dr. Avery looked at him like he was a petulant child asking questions on a car ride, and didn’t answer.

Keith hesitated, so I overtook him. ‘Do you want to find out what’s going on or not?’ I whispered as I went past. I’d come this far. I was going to find Luis.