Evening cleared his throat. “Are you familiar with the term Flicker Phenomenon?”
Ryan exchanged a glance with his brother. Even Weston looked confused. Apparently, their strange visitor hadn’t shared this particular part of his tale with the sheriff.
“Flicker Phenomenon is a type of hypnosis using light.” Evening spoke patiently as if instructing children. “The concept behind the study is that flickering light is able to cause alterations in consciousness, even induce visual hallucinations. Subjects are manipulated through regression.”
“What does that mean?” Ryan asked.
“They are mentally guided backward in time to the point of their encounter. This allows the practitioner to determine whether or not the episode is genuine or a contrived fantasy. Specific details that might otherwise be buried in a subject’s subconscious can then be harvested. In the case of Mr. Mason, he was in a deep hypnotic state when a disruption occurred.”
“What kind of disruption?” Weston asked.
“A high intensity alarm was inadvertently activated at the facility. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the interruption severed my connection to him. I left for a moment to pursue the nature of the alarm. When I returned, the subject was gone.”
“You mean Lyle?” Ryan disliked the term “subject.” Regardless of his feelings for Katie and his gut reaction to her ex, he liked Evening’s haughty manner of talking even less. “Are you saying he’s still under hypnosis?”
“In a manner of speaking.” Evening folded one hand over the other on his lap. “Mr. Mason is fully cognizant of the present, but during our sessions, I reawakened something from his past. I’ll call it a wall. I was unable to determine the cause, only that he has internalized what he perceives to be a grave wrong. In a lucid state, he would never act upon these feelings, but his mind is no longer functioning rationally and has twisted the injustice out of proportion. Mr. Mason holds extreme animosity for someone in Point Pleasant.”
“Katie.” Ryan’s gut clenched. “Damn it! I knew he’s been stalking her.”
Evening’s brows drew together. “Who?”
“Katie Lynch,” Weston supplied. “Mason’s ex-girlfriend. They have a son together. Lyle never admitted to being the father, but it’s common knowledge to most everyone in town.”
“I see.” Evening contemplated the thought briefly. “That would appear to make sense. It’s my belief Mr. Mason will return to Point Pleasant, if he hasn’t already, with the intent of collecting debt on someone’s past sin. It’s why I’m here. I felt it prudent to share the information so appropriate measures could be taken. Naturally, I’ll need to see Mr. Mason as well in order to…rewire his brain, so to speak.”
Weston frowned, plainly soured by the terminology. “We haven’t seen him yet.”
“Doreen Sue did, according to Eve.” Caden offered the information with a shrug. “I’m not sure how reliable that is. Eve heard it second or third hand. Supposedly, Doreen Sue saw Lyle buying cigarettes at the gas station.”
Evening raised a pale eyebrow. “Doreen Sue?”
“Doreen Sue Lynch,” Weston inserted. “She’s Katie’s mother and runs a hair salon here in town.”
“Of course. I believe I’ve passed it. I’ll make a point to talk to her.”
“We’ve also seen Lyle’s van,” Ryan said.
Caden frowned. “With a West Virginia plate that dead-ended at the DMV. I’m not sure it was his, Ryan.” He shifted his gaze to Evening. “Do you know what kind of vehicle he was driving?”
“I can’t say. The facility I work for is located in Pennsylvania. Mr. Mason’s car malfunctioned shortly after he arrived. He requested advance funds to have it repaired.”
“Or he could have replaced it with a van and transferred his tags. Katie said the van outside her house was dark blue or green. Plain panel, like a work vehicle. He could have picked it up cheap.” Mulling the thought over, Ryan tugged on his bottom lip. “But would he be skilled enough to alter the plates? Would he even think about that if his mind was warped the way you said?”
“He would if he wanted to fly under the radar.” Caden looked back to Evening. “This facility you work for…you said it’s in Pennsylvania. Where exactly?”
Evening pressed a fist to his lips and cleared his throat. “We don’t make a habit of broadcasting our location. The area is rural, north of Pittsburgh.”
Caden narrowed his eyes. “Where?”
“Who cares?” Ryan paced off a tight circle. “Katie’s had some creep watching her house for two nights in a row. Mason’s been seen in town and we know he’s here because of a grudge.” He pivoted to face the sheriff. “Pete, I’d like to put protection on her place. I’m going to have to tell her about this.”
Weston nodded. “I can have a car make regular rounds. You might want to suggest she stay somewhere else for the time being. I’ll put out a wire on the van and the plate. We’ll bring Mason in for questioning.” Standing, he steepled his fingers on his desk, shifting his attention to Evening. “Are you staying at the Parrish Hotel?”
“I am.”
“Katie Lynch is the manager there.”
“I believe I met her this morning.”
“Then take a good look, because that woman’s got an eight-year-old kid. She doesn’t need some hothead with a buried grudge targeting her because you rewired his brain. Make sure you clean this up, Evening.”
“Understood.” Evening acknowledged the command with a thin smile bordering on arrogance.
Ryan was tempted to knock it from his face, but Caden grabbed his arm and dragged him from Weston’s office.
“Did you catch that guy’s name?” his brother asked.
“I caught his conceit. It stinks. Like shit.”
“Evening, Ryan. His name is Evening.”
“So?”