THE TERROR ZONE

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Good morning, Paul,” said Dr. David. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Lonely and unloved, Doc.”

“What do you mean?” asked Dr. David.”

“I’m just feeling sorry for myself. I waited several hours for Susan to give me news yesterday that you would allow me freedom, but she never came back with an answer.”

Dr. David started to laugh, and then held it back. “You think she doesn’t love you anymore?” he teased.

“What do you know that I don’t, Doc?”

“If I tell you what I know, you have to promise me you won’t tell Dr. Skyler who you heard it from,” said Dr. David, as he looked straight into Paul’s eyes.

“I swear, even if they pull my fingernails out one by one, I won’t talk. Now what’s up Doc?”

“Dr. Skyler was chased by someone in a ski mask at her office yesterday, and then after you visited with her, she came running up to me suggesting someone was after her in the stairwell. I took her to the police station to make a statement and brought her back here to retrieve your SUV. She said in all the confusion, she forgot to get back to you about breaking out. I told her I’d tell you first thing in the morning that you could be sent home. Dr. Skyler is in some kind of trouble that she’s trying to keep from you, my friend, and I’m only telling you because she is fairly distraught and trying to cope with some serious issues she has no control over.”

“Thank you, Doctor David, for taking her to the station and being there when she needed help. I only wish it had been me.”

“I think you two better put your heads together and find out who’s been harassing you, or the next time I see you, it will be to identify the bodies! I’m telling you this is serious business,” said Dr. David.

“Thanks Dave. We’ve been friends’ a long time. I know you’re just trying to help. I’ll take precautions to make sure Susan and I are safe. Right now though, I ‘d just like to get dressed and take a cab to Susan’s office. I miss the little women.”

“See you later, Paul. Don’t make me have to hurt you. Keep in touch. I haven’t heard from you in some time,” he said, with a laugh. “Oh, by the way, Ginger says hi. I told her you were in the hospital again! She says you two should call and make a dinner date with us.

“Give Ginger a hug for me and tell her I’ll call soon.”

The Taxicab arrived about fifteen minutes after Paul’s call.

“That will be twenty-one, seventy-five, sir,” said the cab driver.

“Keep the change,” said Paul, as he handed the driver his fee.

Paul walked through the garage and into my office. “Kerry, long time no see, sugar. How’s tricks? You got any good news for me?” he asked, with a smile.

“Hi Paul,” Kerry said. “Dr. Susan sure will be glad to see you. She’s had a rough couple of weeks. Is she expecting you?

“Actually, I just escaped from the local loony bin, and I thought she might want to have lunch with this poor old battered victim.”

“Oh, using the old ‘feel sorry for me’ ploy, eh?”

“It can’t hurt to try.”

“I know she has an appointment with Alex Finch this afternoon, but I’ll let her know you’re here.”

“Yes, Kerry, what is it.” I said as I picked up the phone.

“There’s someone here to see you, Dr. Skyler,” said Kerry.

“I’m in the middle of a session here, Kerry, can’t it wait?”

“No, I don’t think it can, Doctor. He says he needs to see you right away.”

“Oh, all right. I’ll be out in a minute.” I said. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Swayzee, I have an irate client in the waiting room. Please make yourself comfortable, and I will be with you in a jiffy.”

“Kerry,” I said, What is so important that you have to interrupt me during a session?”

“Don’t be too hard on her, Doc. It’s entirely my fault. I have this terrible hankering to throw myself at the first psychiatrist I set my eyes on. I need help,” said Paul.

“Paul, it’s so nice to see you back on your feet,” I said, as I kissed him and held on tight. “Shame on you,” I said as I backed up and stopped snuggling with him. “You know it’s unprofessional to interrupt me in the middle of a session!”

“What are you going to do Doc? Shrink Me?” asked Paul, leaning over to brush my hair back so he could kiss me on the lips.

“OMG you two, get a room,” giggled Kerry.

“Sure, Doc. Once you get me on your couch you’ll never get rid of me!”

“Uh huh,” I muttered. “I have to get back to my real clients.”

“Now where were we, Mrs. Swayzee? Let me see, you were saying, you can’t sleep at night because the frogmen ribbets all night, sliming you with wet seaweed, and making you eat flies. Is that correct?” I asked, trying to keep a straight face.

“Yes, that’s correct,” said Mrs. Swayzee.

“What do you suppose is causing those frogmen to bother you?”

“I’m not sure, that is what I came here for.” She said.

“I think that ends our session for today, Mrs. Swayzee. Please think hard about the question I asked and I will see you next week.”

“Kerry, could you send Mr. Boecker in please, and see that I’m not disturbed?”

“Yes, Dr. Susan. Right away. You can go in now, Mr. Boecker,” said Kerry, smiling.

“Hello, Mr. Boecker,” I said. “Now what were you saying about my couch?” I asked, as I unbuttoned a few of my top buttons, hiked my skirt up and walked to the couch to lie down.

“Why, Dr. Skyler, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to seduce me! I’m shocked, this is not Psychiatric etiquette!”

“Don’t be silly, Mr. Boecker, I’m only trying to make you comfortable, so I can shrink your large psyche,” I said as Paul embraced me and lay gently atop my body. Isn’t that the word you would have used, Mr. Boecker?”

“The real reason I’m here, Dr. Skyler, is to ask you to lunch,” said Paul, while nibbling on my ear lobe.

“I’m afraid I have another engagement, but I’d be glad to take a rain check this evening. Could you pick me up, say, around fiveish?”

“Well, I’m hurt that you’d pass me up for another, but fiveish, it is,” said Paul. However, don’t think I’m that easy that you can just snap those pretty little fingers, and everything will go your way.”

“I wouldn’t dare presume to think I understand what your reaction would be in any given situation, Mr. Boecker. After all, I am a psychiatrist, and I shrink strange men, 24-7.”

“Ouch!” said Paul. “I’m going to get something to eat quick sweetheart. I’ll pick you up at six or earlier this evening. Good luck with your next patient, and honey, don’t leave the office till I get here. "

“Ooh, is that concern in your voice? My goodness, Mr. Boecker, you make me blush,” I said as I pretended to fan my face.

Smiling, Paul said, “Till five then,” and he blew me a kiss.

“Kerry,” I said, as I picked up the phone, “You can send in my next client.”

“Dr. Skyler will see you now, Mr. Finch.” Paul accidentally brushed up against Alex as they passed in the hall. Paul kept walking, but Alex grabbed his head, fell against the wall and trembled radically.

“Mr. Finch, are you okay?” I asked, gently patting his face. “Mr. Finch, can you hear me?”

“Dr. Skyler, that gentleman that passed me in the hall, he’s your lover?”

“Mr. Finch, that’s an awfully personal question,” I said.

“He’s in trouble, Doc. Call the police and have him taken in, this instant.”

“Mr. Finch, you’re terrifying me.”

“I hope so, he’s about to be driven off a cliff. Please, hurry Doctor, before it’s too late.”

I dialed 911 and spoke with Officer Beck. I got the run-around and I had to think fast. “Please, Officer just pick him up. He tried to rape me a few minutes ago. He’s driving a blue Chevy SUV. License number 3LUV7732. Hurry before he gets away.”

Officer Beck put an all-points out on Paul, and they picked him up about twenty-five minutes out of town. But not before engaging in pursuit of someone matching the identical description of George, in an old Chevy station wagon, trying to push Paul off the road. Alex drove me to the station and we were both questioned. I explained to Officer Beck that Alex said it was a matter of life and death, and I was afraid Paul was in terrible danger and didn’t know how else to go about saving him.

“Under the circumstances, Dr. Skyler, you did the right thing. Even if it was under false pretenses.” Scolded Officer Beck.

“I apologize, Officer, I won’t let it happen again. Thank you for your special attention in this matter,” I said.

“Sucking up, I like that, Doctor,” said Officer Beck.

“Excuse me Officer Beck,” said Officer Brogan,” we lost the suspect, sir.”

“How could you lose him? He was driving a station wagon for Christ’s sake!”

“We just came to a dead end and he was nowhere to be seen.”

“You are all free to go but try and stay out of trouble,” said Officer Beck.

“Oh, Paul, I’m so relieved you’re okay.”

“How did you know sweetheart?” asked Paul.

“Paul, meet Alex Finch. He’s one of my patients,” I said as Alex turned around to face him.

“Arrest this man, Officer. This is the man that tried to run me off the road!”

Officer Beck, walked up to me and looked at me inquisitively.

Paul reached out and grabbed Officer Beck’s gun and aimed it on Alex. “You bastard,” yelled Paul. “You tried to kill me! Why?”

“Sweetheart, please put the gun down. It couldn’t have been Alex. He was in my office from the time you passed him in the hall till the time he arrived here, with me. Are you sure, you don’t remember bumping into him in the hallway?”

“I could have sworn he was the man that tried to run me off the road. In fact, it seemed like he made a point of getting my attention before he started to rammed me,” said Paul.

“You are obviously mistaken, Mr. Boecker,” said Officer Beck. “But that could only leave one other suspect at large.” Officer Beck looked at me and then at Alex, and all three of us at the same time said, “George?”

“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m starting to feel like I’m in one of those doors that keeps swinging round and round, in those big hotels,” said Officer Beck.

“Yeah, I know the feeling,” I said. “It’s sort of like being trapped in a whole new version of déjà vu! The bunch of us are swirling around in some weird Twilight Zone slash Bermuda Triangle thing, and we keep banging into each other.”

“Whoa Susan, come back down to reality, or we’ll be carting you off to the funny farm,” said Paul.

“George came into my office for his appointment today, and he wasn’t himself. I mean, after our session, I felt like he’d reached into the depths of my soul and violated me in some unsettling way, without permission. Then I got chills, and it felt like my goose bumps turned to ice. I remember telling Kerry how desecrated I felt.”

“Dr. Skyler, I only met George a few days ago, but he just didn’t seem to personify the kind of person you just described.”

“I can’t be sure of anything at this point, Alex,” I said, as I stared into space. I just wanted to go home and get some sleep.

Paul alleged, “Why don’t we all call it a night. I am sure things will feel less confusing in the morning.”

“Good night, Alex. I’m sorry we didn’t get to our appointment today. If it’s okay with you, I can see you first thing in the morning? I don’t have a patient scheduled until one o’clock on Thursday.”

“That will be just fine, Doctor. I’ll see you then,” said Alex.

Mr. Boecker,” said Alex, holding his hand out as a gesture of good will…

Paul grabbed Alex’s hand, and Alex said, “It was a pleasure to meet you Mr. Boecker.”

“Same here, Alex, since from what I’ve heard tonight, you saved my life. I guess you earned the right to call me Paul.”

Alex smiled and said, “You shook my hand, you don’t think I’m a freak?”

“Oh, I still think you’re a freak, but right now, from where I stand, you’re a hero,” said Paul, smiling.

When we were safely in Paul’s SUV, I asked him if we could stop at my place so I could pick up some of my old psyche books.

“Baby, are you kidding me, right now? After all we’ve been through, you want to take a chance at stopping at your house? Why didn’t you mention this while we were at the station, so they could have volunteered to escort us?”

“I’m sorry sweetheart, but I haven’t been back to my house since you ended up in the hospital, and I really need my books.”

“That’s just my point,” said Paul.

I looked at him with my pouty face, and he said, “Okay, baby, but we are going into the house, grabbing the book fast, and leaving. You have the plan down?”

“I’ve got it Paul. Thank you.”

When we arrived at my place, I didn’t expect to see what I saw. Yellow tape was surrounding the area, which read Crime Scene. I had to tear the tape off the door to enter my own house. The house was ransacked, dusted for prints, and the kitchen was partially burned!”

I fell to the floor and tears fell like rain. “I had forgotten most of what happened that night. “This is really a shock to my system,” I said, to Paul.

I stood up and walked to my office and flipped the switch. “The lights are still out, baby,” I said. “I think I remember where those books are though.” I left Paul’s side for a second.

“Hey? Where do you think you’re going? Take my hand, baby.” I grabbed his hand and started to walk in the direction I thought the books might be.

“Sweetheart, take my hand,” said Paul.

I turned around and screamed. I began shaking my hand furiously, as it felt like someone was still holding on to me.

“What’s wrong, Susan? Why are you fighting me? Just take my hand. What are you screaming about? There’s no one here.”

Paul reached out and took my hand. “You’re so cold, baby.” He moved close to me and wrapped his arms around me, trying to keep me warm and to stop me from trembling.

“I have the books, Paul. Let’s get out of here”

“Yeah okay,” mumbled Paul. “Just one more question, sweetheart. What the hell, just happened?” he bellowed.

“Let’s just go. I’ll explain later,” I said, as I pulled on his arm in the direction of the outdoors.

In the car…

“Okay, I’ve waited fifteen minutes for you to explain. Speak to me,” said Paul. “ Tell me what happened back there.”

“You told me to hold your hand. I reached out and grabbed hold of what I thought was your hand only then you told me again to hold your hand. I was holding someone’s hand, just not yours. I couldn’t shake the feeling off of my hand or skin, until you grabbed my hand and held me. It was so spine-chilling, that my whole body felt frozen,” I explained, as tears rolled down my cheeks.”

“Susan, you’re the psychiatrist here right?” asked Paul.

I nodded.

“Well, don’t you agree that the story you just told me is, how do I put this … a little nuts?” he shouted, frustrated.

“Please Paul, don’t start. I just need to get warmed up and get some rest.”

“Sorry, I guess I am being insensitive again. I’ll start a fire as soon as we get to my place, and I’ll make you some hot cocoa. How does that sound?”

“Nice,” I said.

“I don’t have to remind you, however, that it’s almost summer, and it’s eighty-five degrees out. But I realize you aren’t yourself, so maybe you’re coming down with something?” said Paul.

Paul built a fire, wrapped me with blankets, and told me to sit next to the fire and read while he brewed cocoa.

“A variety of symptoms characterize schizophrenia. The most prominent include psychosis, delusions, hallucinations as well as bizarre behavior, strange movements and disorganized thinking and speech,” I read aloud. “Oh, thank you Paul. The cocoa is heaven-sent. I’m so cold,” I said.

“It’s late baby. I’m going to retire, are you coming?”

“I’m going to finish reading, and then I’ll be in. I love you, sweetie.”

“I love you too,” said Paul.

I continued to read, “Dissociative identity disorder. A person has two or more distinct identities or personality states. These states control the person’s consciousness and behavior. Alternate identities take on their own names, identities and characteristics, seriously differing from the person’s primary identity. A person with this disorder experiences amnesia, in that one personality usually will not remember what another personality has done or said. Blah, blah, blah, and so on and so on…I guess it’s time to retire.”