The Dead House

“How exactly are we going to do this without the teachers noticing?” Scott says. “You know that Coach O’Grady and Mrs. Mayle both stayed over Christmas, right? And they both live in this part of the school. What happens if we’re caught?”


“Make something up. But try not to be caught. These stairs”—Naida nods towards the door behind her—“they used to be the old servants’ stairs. They lead up between the walls and into the kitchen. We’ll be safe to use them after supper at night and early in the morning. Then out into the main hall. Other times, use the broken window at the other end of the main basement, okay? But make sure no one sees you.”

They all nod, with varying degrees of confidence.

“We should get going soon,” Naida says after a while. “The dinner bell will ring any time, and if we’re all missed, they’ll know something’s up.”

“Do you all have to go?” Kaitlyn asks.

Brett raises a hand, then realizes what he’s done and puts it down again. “I don’t. I’d booked out to go to dinner with my dad, but he canceled.”

Naida checks Scott’s watch, then claps her hands. “C’mon, chop chop”—clap, clap—“See you later, Brett. Stay safe, Kaitie.”

Kaitlyn nods, and everyone files out.

“Need me to stay?” Ari asks at the door.

“No. They’ll miss you. It’s okay. Later, though, yeah?”

He glances at Brett, nods once—tightly—and then vanishes up the servants’ stairs with the others.

Brett wipes his hands on his jeans and rocks up onto the balls of his feet, while Kaitlyn sits down on the mattress.

“How… how does it work?”

“I come out at night. Carly during the day.”

“Oh, right, yeah.” He nods, seriously.

Kaitlyn rolls her eyes, but Brett pushes on.

“That’s why… at the party—you said to talk to you during the day. That you’d be more yourself.”

Kaitlyn regards him. “And you said you preferred me at night.”

“It’s true.” He steps closer, then pauses, tilting awkwardly forward. “I do prefer you at night. Like that night on the field, we talked, remember?”

“Hm.”

Kaitlyn shuffles back on the mattress, her face lost in shadow.

“You’re more, I don’t know, confident. So… do you remember stuff that happens during the day? Like, do you remember when we talk during the day and stuff?”

“No. Because it’s not me.”

He looks around. “So… you’re stuck down here, then.”

There is a beat of silence before Kaitlyn speaks again. “Hey, Brett?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m actually kind of tired. I think I’m going to sleep for a bit.”

“Oh—I, yeah… yeah, okay.”

He teeters for a moment, steps forward, then back, and with continual glances behind him, shuffles out of the door and up the stairs.

“I’m sorry… but it’s not you I want,” she whispers.

[END OF CLIP]





70


When introduced to powerful emotional stimuli, the individual who is dealing with personality disorders—especially those that are trauma-based—and who is at risk of experiencing psychotic thought patterns is in a very fragile state. The effect of such emotional intensity may be invigorating or even calming at first, but this is merely the silence before the hurricane. Care must be given and precautions taken.


—DR. ANNABETH LANSING, 2010





Criminal Investigation Department, Portishead Headquarters

Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Portishead, Bristol

Friday, 7 June 2005, 10:00 AM

AUDIO INTERVIEW #1, PART 2: Detective Chief Inspector Floyd Homes (FH) and Dr. Annabeth Lansing (AL)

(FH): During treatment, did Carly Johnson know the details of her parents’ death?



(AL): No. She could never remember the incident, and I never revealed the details.



(FH): Why?



(AL): Because it might have resulted in a psychotic break.



(FH): Wouldn’t you say that the psychotic break was inevitable?



(AL): Now… yes. But at the time, I had no way of knowing that, and medically I couldn’t risk it. My duty was to my patients.



(FH): Forgive me, Doctor. But don’t you suppose that if you had told Carly the details and she had experienced a break, at least she would have done so in a safe environment, rather than out there in the world?



(AL): We didn’t expect her escape from the facility. We were working towards disclosure. These things take time, Inspector. And with all due respect… you don’t know anything about mental disorders, particularly those rooted in trauma. It was my job to protect Carly, not to inflict yet more trauma on her.

[Squeak as though of chair]



(FH): With all due respect to you, Doctor, you failed to prevent the death of several people and the serious injury of another. Not to mention the two we can’t even find.