Dying to Tell (17 page)

She sipped her coffee. “He referred us to the doctors at the mental hospital. They had a wing designated for children with various disorders.”

“Tell me more about this Dr. Coker,” Jake said.

“Some folks called him a saint the way he helped the poor.” She toyed with her hands in her lap. “He was a charmer, too. Turned the women’s heads.” Edith rubbed her temple in thought. “I think there was another doctor who worked with him. Don’t recall his name right offhand though.”

Jake swallowed a sip of the tepid coffee. “Who else did Dr. Coker treat?”

“Let me see. The Nettleton twins’ mama was struggling financially herself, being a single mama and all. She carried Amelia and Sadie there when they were babies. I met her in line while we waited to get their shots.”

An uneasy feeling gnawed at Jake. “How about Grace?”

“She was there, too, with Elma.”

“Do you know where Dr. Coker is now?” Jake asked.

Edith shrugged. “He retired a while back, but I believe he still owns that old place near the river.”

Jake stood. “Thanks for the coffee.”

Edith caught his hand, worry creasing her face. “Sheriff, you think Dr. Coker did something to my boy?”

“I don’t know, ma’am. But I intend to find out.”

“Amelia?” Sadie said, bracing herself for one of the “others.”

Her sister straightened, then paced across the room. Her movements seemed jerky for a moment, her face agitated.

Sadie waited, giving her time to purge her restlessness.

Amelia’s alter patted her chest, then her waist, as if she were searching for pockets. “Where’s my damn cigarettes?”

Sadie forced herself to remain calm as she recognized the deep voice of her sister’s male alter. Skid was the tough teenage boy who had surfaced years ago. The one with all the rage.

The one who had shot Jake’s father.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t smoke in here, Skid.”

Amelia’s alter glanced around angrily. “Goddammit, I can’t believe Amelia got us locked up in here again.”

“Did she? Or was it you?” Sadie asked.

Amelia paused, crossed her arms, and leaned against the window edge. Everything about her demeanor suddenly
screamed male, from her gait to the antagonistic attitude in her folded arms to the snarl on her face.

“Not me. I’m too smart to get caught.”

“Where’s Amelia?” Sadie asked.

“She’s sleeping.” The alter made a sound of disgust. “She can’t handle what happened to your granddaddy.” Amelia tilted her head to the side, her mouth curled into a grimace.

“Then why don’t you tell me what happened.”

“Why should I talk to you?” Skid said. “What the hell are you doing here anyway? Thought you didn’t care about Amelia anymore.”

“I’ve always cared about her,” Sadie said, her anger mounting. “As a matter of fact, I’d like to talk to her now, let her tell me what happened with Papaw.”

Skid gave a dismissive headshake. “Amelia don’t know shit about that night.”

“But you were there?” Sadie asked, keeping her voice even.

Skid cut his eyes to the side, a cold look marring his face. “Not till later. Till afterward...”

“You mean until after she shot Papaw?”

Skid folded his hand into a fist and rapped on the wall. “I heard her screaming, and I tried to save her,” he said, his voice taking on a razor edge. “But someone else beat me there.”

“Was someone else in the room?”

“Fuck, yes, someone else was there. Are you deaf?” His movements became more agitated. “That’s what I’ve been telling you.
He
killed Papaw.”

“Who are you talking about?” Sadie asked. “Another person? Or is there a fourth alter?”

Skid’s eyes darted back and forth as if he was searching for someone in the room. “I don’t know. I told you I wasn’t there. But Amelia didn’t shoot that gun. She’d never believe anything bad about your granddaddy.”

“What do you mean? She wouldn’t believe anything bad about him?” Fear slithered through Sadie. “Did Papaw do something?”

“I told you, I don’t know.” Skid clawed at his arms. “But Amelia’s scared. She said
he
killed your granddaddy, and that he’s gonna kill her next.”

The chimes were ringing.
Ting. Ting. Ting
.

Then the clock.
Ticktock. Ticktock. Ticktock
.

He
was there.

Whispering in her ear.

Time to go, Amelia. Close your eyes and it won’t hurt.

But she was crying again...Bessie was scared...

He had lied.

It did hurt. She could hear the others scream. The cries resounded through the hollow walls.

The terrified pleas to let them go. To stop the pain.

Then Bessie was gone, and she was drowning, the darkness swallowing her into its abyss.

“No more Amelia,” he murmured. “No more weak girl.”

No! He couldn’t kill Amelia.

She had to tell Sadie. Sadie would come, she’d help her.

Only the black curtain fell over her again. Dark. It was so dark.

The pain was back. He was choking her...

She tried to scream, but there was no sound. Where was Sadie?

Sadie is gone.

She can’t help you now
, he murmured.

“I’ll tell,” she cried.

His voice rumbled in her ear, sinister and low this time.

No, you won’t.

Tell and you die
...

S
kid’s words reverberated in Sadie’s head.
Amelia is afraid.

“Tell me more, Skid,” Sadie said. “Who is Amelia afraid of?”

Skid’s eyes glazed over. Then he dropped his head forward and closed his eyes. Sadie recognized the shudder that usually accompanied one of her sister’s transitions into an alter.

Just as she expected, a second later Amelia opened her eyes, and the sullen teenage boy with the bad attitude had vanished. In his place, her docile, frightened sister appeared. “Sadie?”

“I’m here, Amelia. I came to help you.”

Amelia’s shoulders were slumped, her posture timid, her expression confused as she glanced around the room. When she saw the restraints on the bed and looked down at her gown, terror darkened her eyes. “What happened? Why am I here?” She gripped Sadie by the arms. “Why are
you
here?”’

A knock sounded on the door, and Dr. Tynsdale poked his head in. His bushy eyebrows rose when he realized Amelia was no longer restrained.

“How is our patient this morning?”

Amelia’s eyes widened in terror. “Why did you put me back in here? You promised you wouldn’t.”

“We had to admit you,” Dr. Tynsdale said. “Ms. Lettie said you stopped taking your medication.”

Amelia rubbed at her temple. “I did? No...yes...maybe...I don’t remember...”

“You had an episode,” Dr. Tynsdale said gently.

Amelia angled her head toward Sadie. “That’s why you’re here? But you’ve never come home before.”

Sadie flinched at her accusatory tone. But she couldn’t argue. Ten years ago, she’d walked away and hadn’t been able to face coming back.

Obviously her sister thought she’d abandoned her.

You did. You ran as far away as you could
.

“I’m sorry, Amelia, but I’m here now, and I need you to talk to me.” Battling a surge of guilt, Sadie squeezed her sister’s hand. “We were talking about you and Papaw before you transitioned.”

A desperate look flashed across Amelia’s face, her eyes flitting back and forth.

“Do you remember anything about yesterday?” Sadie asked. “Did something happen with you and Papaw? Is that when you found the letters?”

“No...oh, God...no, I found those a while back.” Amelia wiped at her tears with a shaky hand. “Where is Papaw? And where’s Ms. Lettie?”

Sadie cradled her sister’s hands between hers. “Ms. Lettie spent the night here with you. But Papaw...Amelia...he’s gone.”

“What do you mean, gone?” Amelia asked in a haunted whisper.

Dr. Tynsdale gave Sadie a warning look. She knew Amelia was fragile, but how would she find answers if she kept the truth from her sister?

Sadie coaxed her toward the bed. “Come here and sit down, and I’ll explain.”

Amelia pushed at her hands. “You’re not going to tie me back down. Please...”

Emotions clogged Sadie’s throat. “I won’t, I promise, Sis. Just sit down so we can talk.”

Amelia spotted the round table in the corner and reluctantly allowed Sadie to lead her to a chair. When she settled into it, she began to pick at her fingernails. “Where did Papaw go?”

Sadie swallowed hard, well aware Dr. Tynsdale was watching.

“He died, Amelia,” Sadie said, her voice cracking. “That’s the reason I came home. I have to plan his funeral.” She pulled Amelia’s hands into hers to stop her nail biting. “We have to bury him.”

Tears filled Amelia’s eyes and trickled down her face. “No...no. Papaw...he’s not dead...he wouldn’t leave me...”

“I’m sorry, honey, but it’s true,” Sadie said gently. “When was the last time you saw him?”

Amelia tugged her hands away. “I...don’t remember.” She bounced up and down, making the chair legs clang against the floor.

“Please try,” Sadie said.

Amelia rocked more fiercely, the banging echoing in the sterile room.

“What about Papaw’s shotgun?” Sadie asked. “Do you remember taking it?”

Distress lined her sister’s face, then a shocked glaze settled over her eyes, and she started trembling uncontrollably.

Sadie braced herself for one of the alters to appear. “Stay with me, Amelia. It’s important that you tell me if you took Papaw’s gun.”

Amelia rocked harder. “Blood...blood...so much...everywhere.”

“Yes, there was blood,” Sadie said. “Papaw’s blood, because he was hurt. And you were in the room—”

Amelia shot up from the table. “I have to save Papaw...get the gun from the bad man...make him go away.”

Sadie caught her arms, forcing her to look at her. “What bad man, Amelia? Did you shoot Papaw, or was someone else there?”

“He did it,” Amelia cried. “He shot him, and he’s going to kill me.” She wrenched away from Sadie, ran toward the door, and grabbed the doorknob. “I have to get out!”

Dr. Tynsdale caught her by the arm. “I’m sorry, Amelia, but you can’t leave right now.”

She shook the doorknob with a piercing scream. “Yes, I have to. He’ll find me here like he did before.”

“Who’ll find you?” Sadie pressed.

“He will,” Amelia shouted. “You can’t make me stay here, Sadie!” Amelia jerked at Sadie’s arms. “You promised you wouldn’t lock me back in here!”

“Amelia,” Sadie said, lowering her voice. “Calm down, sweetie. I’m here. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

“They will,” Amelia cried. “They’re going to kill me and bury me in the basement, and I won’t ever get to go home again.”

Dr. Tynsdale reached in his bag for a hypodermic, but Sadie shook her head. “I can’t work with her if you keep her drugged and incoherent.”

“Sadie,” Dr. Tynsdale said, “you have no idea what you’re doing.”

“Maybe not,” she said with a challenging look. “But I want to see what my sister says when she’s lucid.”

“You can’t make me stay!” Amelia cried. “No, no, no...” She doubled over, hugging her arms around her middle. “Get Papaw, he’s not dead, he’s not dead...”