Forgotten Past by Mary Alford
Chapter Eleven
“I have some good news.” Will’s excitement was the first thing JT noticed when he answered the call.
He’d been watching the storm updates coming out of Hope Island on the TV. It slammed into the island as a category 2 a little past four in the morning. As expected, the storm took the island’s power out right away. Although the reports were sketchy, the damage appeared to be widespread. The upside was the Weather Bureau had since downgraded Tyler to a category 1.
JT glanced at his watch. Just past seven in the morning. He muted the TV.
“I’m with the first responders and we’re on the island now. They’ve opened the causeway to emergency personnel only. The electricity is out and probably will be for a few more days. The power company has crews on the island already.” JT wondered what the good news was.
“Anyway, as we arrived on the island, we drove past the houses on Harbor Road. With the exception of a couple of trees down and some debris scattered around the yard, most of them are intact. When you talk to Liz, let her know her place is still standing.”
JT had completely forgotten about the safety of their homes. “Absolutely. She’ll be thrilled to hear she has someplace to go home to.”
Will chuckled. “I’m just happy to be able to report some good news. We’re actually just passing along the beach near your place as we speak, and do you want to know the weird part? It’s like every couple of houses are gone. Almost as if the hurricane took two houses and skipped one. I’m at your house now. Part of the roof is missing so I’m sure there’s some water damage inside, but it appears minimal. God is good.”
JT closed his eyes and said a quick prayer of thanks. “Yes, He is. That’s amazing.”
“It is. The last I heard, the storm’s weakening, but I think Whaler’s Point may still get hit with a glancing blow.”
“I just heard the same thing. We’ll be fine, though. This house is a fortress. Hopefully, the same can be said for all the folks in Whaler’s Point.” After hearing such good news, JT hated to bring up the case, but he couldn’t shake the feeling time was of the essence. “Did you find out anything more on Masters?”
“That’s one of the reasons I’m calling.” Will’s tone grew flat. “I spoke with Detective Riley. Phillip Masters is sixty-five years old and he doesn’t come close to fitting the description Faith gave you.”
JT felt like someone had kicked him hard in the gut. “Are you sure? I don’t get it. I was positive he’d be the one.”
“Me, too. There is one curious thing about Masters. Guess what he does for a living?”
“What?” JT wasn’t sure what to expect.
“He’s a prominent heart surgeon in Austin.”
Masters was a doctor. That couldn’t be a fluke. “You’re kidding me. I wonder why it wasn’t mentioned on the list.”
“Because it wasn’t pertinent to what he’d be doing as a trustee, but get this. Dr. Masters was a lifelong friend of Carl Jennings and he has an airtight alibi for the night of the murders. He was performing open-heart surgery.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Sorry, buddy, but I am.”
“Still, it’s an awfully big coincidence and I don’t believe in coincidences.” It seemed like every time they had an ounce of hope, something came along and snatched it away.
“Yep. I don’t think there’s any way he’s the person who’s been stalking Faith, but I asked Detective Riley to talk to the doctor and do some more checking into his relationship with Carl.” Will hesitated. “I have a suggestion to run by you and I need you to hear me out because it might sound a little bit out there, but, frankly, I’m out of ideas.”
JT didn’t like the sound of it already. He shook off his disappointment with difficulty. “What do you have in mind?”
“I have a psychiatrist friend who’s worked with us on several cases. He specializes in treating victims of violent crimes. Specifically those who suffer from memory loss. I would like to have him speak with Faith and do a consultation. I’m hoping he can give us some insight into what we’re dealing with regarding her mental state. It won’t be easy. She’ll have to go back over some difficult details again and in light of what she’s remembering now, who knows what else it might dredge up.”
JT sighed heavily. “All right. When do you want to try this?”
“The sooner the better. In fact, I spoke to him earlier and he’s giving a lecture a couple of hours away from you. I don’t think we can afford to wait, JT. I’ll get in touch with him again and have him stop by this morning.”
“Okay, but if she doesn’t want to talk to him, I won’t force her to. She has been through too much as it is. If Faith doesn’t agree to it then there’s nothing I can do.” JT wondered how he could ask her to go back there after all she’d suffered at this man’s hands.
“Understood. Oh, I almost forgot. I mentioned what you told me about the missing money being found. Detective Riley checked on it. He confirmed the money turned up in a different bank account. It appears to have been a clerical error.” He paused. “I hate to be the bearer of more bad news, but my friend, the Whaler’s Point chief of police, is pulling his officers off the watch this morning. He’s worried about high winds and storm surge. He needs all available personnel.”
“Great. This just keeps getting better,” JT muttered.
“I know and I’m sorry. By the way, I’m still waiting to speak to the cousin. He called late last night when we were in the middle of preparing for the storm. We’ve missed each other since. When I get in touch with him, I’ll conference you in.”
◆◆◆
Faith was at the kitchen table drinking her third cup of coffee when JT found her. She’d been watching the ocean grow increasingly turbulent off in the distance. It seemed to reflect the turmoil in her heart.
JT pointed toward the ocean. “The wind’s picking up out there. The good news is Tyler has been downgraded to a category 1.”
“It’s still coming this way, isn’t it?”
“Probably. We’ll be safe enough here.”
Their eyes met. So many unspoken emotions passed between them. She stood and went to pour more coffee, but he caught her hand and held it.
“How are you holding up?” The roughness in his voice made her heart beat faster.
“I’m okay.”
He stepped closer. “Faith...”
She closed her eyes against the storm of emotion in his. “It’s just hard,” she admitted slowly.
He drew her into his arms and she leaned her head against his shoulder. “I know it is. I hate that you have to go through this, but it won’t be long before this is all just a bad memory. And then...”
The unspoken words teased her with possibilities. Just for a moment, she let her imagination take her to a place she’d refused to go in the past. The future. “I can’t wait.” She raised her head and looked into his eyes. “JT, I can’t wait for this to be over.”
He cupped her face and kissed her gently. “Me, too,” he said, breathing against her lips. “You have no idea how I’m looking forward to you being free to...”
Before he could finish, the doorbell rang, interrupting them, and she wondered what he’d left unsaid.
He didn’t move. He just kept watching her. The warmth in his expression as he searched her face made her feel special. Cared for. Needed. All the things she’d missed in her life. When the doorbell sounded again he let her go. “I need to get that.”
“Why? Who is it?” she asked once she’d got a good look at him.
“A friend of Will’s. I wasn’t expecting him so soon. He’s a doctor. Dr. Everett Blake.”
Her eyes never left JT’s. “Why is he here?”
“He’s a psychiatrist, Faith. He’s worked on several cases in the past with the Hope Island P.D.”
He barely got the words out before she understood what he wanted. “I can’t.” She shook her head as she backed away, feeling betrayed.
“I’m sorry. I know this is hard, but he wants to help you. He’s had some amazing results working with people who suffer from memory loss due to violent crimes.”
She was literally shaking with fear. Was she truly ready to uncover those memories? What if she learned the Austin police had been right about her involvement in the crime? But if that were true then why was someone stalking her?
“All you have to do is tell the doctor the things you’ve remembered. Let him help you untangle their meaning.”
“But what if—” She stopped and looked away.
“What are you afraid of?” When she didn’t answer he said, “Just tell me. It doesn’t matter what it is.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because it’s how I feel,” he told her simply. “I care about you. I want you to know everything about your past—the good and the bad—so you can finally begin to heal.”
“And what if I’m to blame somehow?”
“You weren’t part of their murders, Faith,” he assured her.
He didn’t know that for sure...and if she had been embroiled in the murders, would he still feel the same way about her? “But what if I am? What if you find out I knew the person responsible for Carl and Rachel’s deaths. Or worse. What if I’m mixed up somehow?”
His gaze never wavered. “I don’t believe you’re embroiled in this for one moment. Think about it. Why would someone be trying to silence you after all this time if you were the one responsible for their murders? You weren’t involved, Faith. You’re a good person.”
It scared her how important those words were to her. She went into his arms and he held her tight. For the longest time it was just the two of them standing alone as the world outside raged.
“Ready?” he asked at last.
No, she wasn’t. But Faith knew she had to do this for him, so she nodded her head and whispered,
“Yes.”
“I’ll be right there with you. If there’s anything you don’t feel comfortable answering, then don’t.” He touched her face gently and smiled.
◆◆◆
Dr. Everett Blake was a diminutive man with thick glasses perched below bushy gray brows. He looked as if he’d just stepped out of a research lab somewhere.
When he walked into the kitchen and spotted Faith, he smiled kindly and extended his hand. Some of Faith’s reservations melted away.
“I’m Dr. Blake. It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for letting me stop by today. I’ve had a chance to review your medical records, and I’ve been briefed on what’s been happening in your life since the night of the attack. I want to assure you, Faith, I’m only here to help you.”
She shook his hand. “Thank you.”
JT looked at her. “If you’re ready, I think we should begin. The weather’s getting worse and I don’t want to keep the doctor too long.”
Faith nodded and followed him to the great room. She sat on the sofa and JT took the space next to her.
The doctor pulled up a chair next to Faith. “Try to relax.” Dr. Blake’s soothing tone broke the nervous silence. “Don’t think about your answers. Tell me exactly what you’ve remembered so far.”
“It started with the locket,” she said, forcing the words out.
“Tell me about that,” the doctor prompted softly.
“I remember getting it for my sixteenth birthday. My father gave it to me. It had a picture of my mother inside.” She smiled at the memory. “He was so pleased with himself. It was the best birthday ever.”
“What’s your father’s name?” The psychiatrist asked curiously.
She started to answer but changed her mind. “I don’t remember.”
Dr. Blake didn’t press the matter. “Tell me what else you’ve recalled.”
Faith swallowed back emotions. “I remembered Carl’s son was killed on one of his oil rigs before the family left Midland. The news reports never mentioned it and I don’t remember the police telling me about it. And I remember someone was stalking me before the murders.”
“I see.” The doctor stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Can you tell us about that?” JT sat quietly beside her while she answered the questions. She reached for his hand, finding courage in that simple touch. “He held me prisoner for hours, but it wasn’t at my apartment, it was at the Jennings’ ranch, I’m almost positive of that.”
“And have there been any other memories?”
“It’s okay,” JT told her when she hesitated.
She let out a shaky breath. “No, it isn’t. When you asked me my father’s name just now, I almost said Carl Jennings.”
JT glanced at the psychiatrist who appeared as shocked by this as he was.
“What do you think that means?” she asked when she spotted JT’s worried expression.
He did his best to reassure her. “I’m not sure. Just relax for a bit. Everything’s going to be fine.” JT untangled his hand from Faith’s and got to his feet. “I’m just going to have a quick word alone with the doctor and then I’ll be right back.”
◆◆◆
JT waited until he’d closed the study door before seeking an explanation. “What exactly do you think it means, Doctor? Why is she remembering Rachel Jennings’s past?”
The doctor stared out the window and took his time answering. “I can’t give you a definitive answer, but I can tell you I have never seen a case like this. Without talking in depth with Faith, I can only guess at what might be happening.”
JT did his best to keep the frustration out of his voice. “Just give me your best guess. In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a hurricane bearing down on us. We need answers. Now.”
“All right.” The doctor sighed wearily. “I have two theories, neither of which is good. She could be shutting out all memories of her own past because of the brutality she suffered. She and Rachel Jennings were obviously close. She’d know the girl’s past quite well. Her subconscious might be adopting Rachel’s happier memories as her own, rather than dealing with what’s happened to her.”
JT wondered if the second theory was going to be any better. “And the other?”
“There have been some documented cases where a person who is responsible for hurting someone close to them has actually taken on the injured or deceased person’s life. The mind’s way of dealing with their crimes is to become the person who was injured.”
“You think Faith is responsible for killing Rachel and Carl.” As JT forced the words out, his thoughts went back to his earlier conversation with her. She was definitely worried about what they might uncover, yet there was no way he’d ever believe she had a hand in such a horrific crime.
The psychiatrist shook his head. “I’m not insinuating anything. I’m simply giving you my assessment. There have been several documented cases to substantiate this. I’m sorry. I realize neither of these two options is very encouraging but—”
“Doctor, I’ve seen the unmistakable fear in Faith. On that first night when I found her dog, Ollie. When the truck was outside her house. The fire. She’s not faking anything. She didn’t have anything to do with the murders.”
“I hope you’re right,” Dr. Blake answered. “Because if not, you have a very unstable woman on your hands.”
JT didn’t want to let his mind go there. “Okay, well, I appreciate your insight, Doctor. If Faith remembers anything else, I’ll let you know.”
“Good.” The doctor headed for the door. “I should go. I’ll see myself out. Please be careful. You don’t know what you’re dealing with.” With a brief nod for JT, the doctor left.
Let alone, JT felt more discouraged than ever. He wasn’t ready to tell Faith the doctor’s assessments just yet. Instead, he typed a quick text message to Liz letting her know he was okay and that her house was fine. With everything that had happened, they hadn’t spoken since he’d called her when they arrived at Mason’s.
JT glanced out the window at the steady rainfall. The wind had begun to howl with renewed vigor.
The Weather Channel predicted the outer edge of the storm would strike close to Whaler’s Point— some twenty miles away—by midafternoon, which meant they were in for some high winds, heavy rain and possible power outages.
He checked his email and found a message from Will. There was no record of the attack Faith remembered reporting to the police prior to the murders.
◆◆◆
Faith couldn’t stop shaking. Why was she remembering someone else’s memories? It was...insane.
She’d never been so scared before.
She clamped her fisted hand against her forehead. How come she couldn’t remember her own past?
Had she lost her mind or was she simply trying to cover up her guilt?
JT came in and closed the door quietly. She had tears in her eyes and he knelt in front of her and took her hands in his. “Hey, we’re just now starting to unravel what took place.”
“I don’t think I can handle it if I find out I had a part in their deaths,” she said in a wobbly voice.
He sat down beside her and pulled her close. “You’re no killer.”
She leaned against his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. “How can you know that for sure?”
He smiled against her hair. “Because I am sure.”
“Then why am I remembering Rachel’s past? It doesn’t make sense. What did the doctor tell you?” He hesitated a moment too long, further fueling her uncertainty. “What is it? Please, just tell me.” JT reluctantly filled her in on what the doctor had said.
“No.” The word escaped in a whisper. She covered her face with her hands as sobs racked her body. The doctor just confirmed what she’d suspected for a while. She could be the real monster here.
Please, Lord, no.
JT held her tighter. “That’s not what happened so don’t go there. You are not responsible for their deaths.”
She rubbed away the tears and faced him. She’d never felt so hopeless before. “You don’t know that. JT, I think it’s time we considered the possibility that what the doctor said might be the truth.”
He didn’t hesitate before shaking his head. “No. I’m not letting you blame yourself for this. You’re a victim, Faith, not a killer, and I won’t let you give up. I won’t.”
She wanted to believe him. Wanted to be strong. But everything they discovered about her past seemed to point to her culpability.