“I’m the person asking the questions. What psychiatric center were you in prior to being transferred to Delphi?”
It’s the first time I’ve heard anyone here use the word Delphi. There haven’t been any signs or logos on the paperwork. Nothing to identify the place in any way. It’s nice to have it confirmed, but also seems ominous. Would he be tossing out information like that in front of Deo if he planned to actually honor our agreement? I don’t think so.
“I was at Greenbriar Psychiatric in Waltham. But I don’t think I was transferred. I was a minor, and my parents never signed any papers.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised. Insurance covers so little these days. Most parents are more than happy to sign away rights to their crazy offspring simply to be rid of the responsibility.”
“I notice you didn’t say my parents. Just most. And I’m guessin’ what that really means is a few. The rest of the time, you don’t even bother with the formalities.”
Cregg doesn’t respond, simply moves on to the next question. “When was your last clairvoyant episode?”
“Little over a day ago. Usually running a day or so apart, unless somethin’ has me really on edge, then they come more often. I logged it with Marnie as usual, but didn’t mention the details. She stopped askin’ for specifics about a month back, so I’m thinkin’ you been plannin’ this little tea party for a while now.”
“What was the last thing you foresaw?”
“Same thing as the last few times. The Rock over there playin’ executioner. Did he drug Oksana before bringin’ her in? Sure looked like it.”
“What happened after that?”
Jaden snorts. “My head exploded.”
Cregg is silent for a moment. “After that, please.”
“I wasn’t in my body anymore. I could see my body, sort of. But I wasn’t in it. It was cold. Kind of . . .” He’s thinking crowded but decides not to share that. “Loud. Maybe the heating system. I don’t know. I saw him bundlin’ us up like garbage. Next thing I know, somebody pulls off the trash bag and this hand”—he lifts my hand and waggles my fingers at Cregg—“is touchin’ my leg. And then I’m seein’ my dead body through these eyes.”
“Could you continue to control the body if you wanted?”
That gets Deo’s attention, as well as mine, but Jaden says, “Don’t know. Don’t think so. Wouldn’t want to test it, either way. Seems like that would be . . . bad karma. In fact, if that’s all you want to know, I’m gonna clear out. Let the lady have her body back.”
He doesn’t wait for Cregg’s permission. And the physical sensation of zooming back to the front, combined with the smell of blood that hits my nose as soon as I’m in control again, is the last straw for my stomach.
When I lean back from the trash can, Cregg is looking the other way, his nostrils pinched.
Sorry about that, Anna. Didn’t know—
Not your fault.
Deo is holding a wet paper towel and another bottle of water. He nods toward the trash can. “Still need that?”
I shake my head. “I’m okay now.”
“It’s after three a.m.,” Cregg says. “I have one other thing I’d like to know concerning Park, but I suspect it may take a while. Perhaps you should rest before attempting to acquire the next one. I’ll have someone bring in two cots and some food.”
There’s a part of me that wants to tell him no. That I want to get this over with. But Daniel’s comment that he would try again tomorrow echoes in my head. While I doubt he can do anything with us in here, I’m also pretty sure that Daniel is our only hope for getting Deo out of here alive. Anything that buys us more time is a plus.
“Thank you,” I say. “I only got a few hours of sleep last night and this kind of thing is always exhausting.”
I really want to ask for my pills. The odds of me getting much sleep without them are basically nil, no matter how tired I am. But I’m worried that Daniel may have left another note in my room, so I stay quiet.
Cregg nods toward the bodies. “I’m afraid you’ll have our friends here as company. But you’re used to hanging out with the dead, I guess.”
“True.” I glance at Lucas, then back at Cregg. “Sometimes, they’re better company than the living.”
The guard named Timmons brings in two roll-away beds and a bag of food about twenty minutes later. He doesn’t go near the bodies, but he doesn’t seem surprised to see them, either. I’m guessing this isn’t the first time he’s seen Lucas’s handiwork. Or maybe Lucas isn’t the only one who’s willing to get blood on his hands to please the boss.