Into the Dark

51

San Marino, California

Claire was still reeling from what the detectives had told her.

She kept twisting the cap of her pen while waiting for Martha Berman to return her call.

Through the window she saw a marked San Marino patrol car roll into her lot to keep a vigil on her office, underscoring the gravity of her situation.

Twenty minutes had passed since the detectives left and Claire sent Robert home. She was alone at her desk, battling her fears while staring at her patient list on her computer monitor. She had to take control of her situation but first she needed some advice.

For one selfish instant, Claire glimpsed at a calendar note for her new appointment with Dr. LaRoy and was reminded of what he’d said about disrupting her regime and avoiding stress.

I can’t think about any of that now. I just can’t.

As she waited for Martha’s call, Claire reread the news clippings Tanner had given her and contended with the horror that was unfolding. Not only was Eric an abusive husband, police suspected he was the Dark Wind Killer.

Five women murdered.

And he is still out there.

Images of the blood in Amber’s home and Eric’s enraged face rose in the back of Claire’s mind. Her knuckles whitened as she tightened her grip on her pen.

Please let police find him. Please let Amber be safe.

Claire’s desk phone rang. It was Alice transferring a call.

“Dr. Berman, I’ll put her through.”

The line clicked.

“Hello, Claire, it’s Martha.”

“Oh, thank goodness. I need to talk to you.”

Claire explained events, telling Martha everything and seeking her advice.

“I’m so sorry, Claire, it’s a terrible situation,” Martha said. “But you shouldn’t feel guilty. None of it is your fault. You’ll get through this, but you need to take several steps.”

Claire took a breath and let it out slowly, grateful for her older friend’s steady, calm voice as she guided her.

“First, call your insurer. I know malpractice is a sad part of our business, but tell them what police are directing you to do. Get it on record.”

Claire made notes.

“Then when you call your patients, advise them of what’s taken place, how you’re working with police to be sure everyone is safe during this time and that there’s going to be an interruption of therapy. Be certain you explain that this stems from the violent and unpredictable behavior of the abusive spouse of one patient and that the spouse is suspected of other serious crimes.”

“But it’s going to have such a negative impact on their states of mind. They’re already vulnerable.”

“I agree and I’ll come back to that, but Claire, the alternative is worse. Should you not tell them and they learn about it later, they’ll never trust you again. That would cause irreparable damage. When you talk to them, you must continually assure them that you’re following police direction and you agree that it is for their safety and well-being.”

“But some are going to have problems. It could reopen abandonment issues at a time they may perceive as threatening,” Claire said.

“Absolutely, and it could go beyond that, so you have to be prepared. Your patients have a great deal of emotional dependency invested in you. There’s every chance they’ll feel frightened, frustrated, resentful and angry when you interrupt therapy, especially under these circumstances. Some may see it as so damaging and countertherapeutic that they may quit you. This could have a negative impact on your practice.”

“I understand, but I’m more concerned for my patients.”

“I know you are, and you should be. So start having those conversations with them now. Set up emergency calls, a clinic referral for them. For your exceptional cases, arrange to have short telephone sessions with them.”

“I’m thinking now that I won’t be leaving my house, or leave town,” Claire admitted.

“Why? Police advised you to leave, if only temporarily.”

“But how can I leave when they’re still searching for Amber and there’s hope they’ll find her. Martha, if by some miracle they find her alive then she’s going to need me.”

“I understand, Claire, but a jet can take you to just about any point in this country in four or five hours. You could be with your patient in a short time.”

Claire’s silence confirmed Martha’s point.

“Dear, you’re one of the biggest factors in all of this. You have to be safe and you have to keep your mind clear. Otherwise you can’t help Amber and you can’t help your patients. Believe me, they need you now more than ever.”

Martha was right.

“Come stay with me in Las Vegas, I’ve got plenty of room you can work from here. Or go to your cabin, or go to Berkeley and catch up with old school friends. I think Michelle Baker and Val Cummings are practicing in the Bay Area.”

“I’ll think it over.”

“Whatever you decide, let me know. I’m praying they find Amber safe.”

“Thank you so much, Martha.”

Claire ended the call, cupped her hands over her face and let out a long, tense breath before getting to work with calls to her patients.

It took a few hours, but Claire got messages into most of her patients. She was determined to speak with each of them and had just finished talking to one when Alice knocked softly on her office door.

“It’s on the news now. Turn on your TV.”

Claire switched on the small flat-screen set on her credenza. She flipped through channels stopping at one of the big L.A. stations. It was running a Live Breaking News flag along the bottom. The screen was split. One half showed aerial footage of police vehicles and investigators at a roadside area, identified as Camarillo. There was a small map showing its proximity to L.A. The other half showed a podium with a police official identified with a graphic as Captain Martin Bronson of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

He was taking questions from reporters.

“As we stated, we believe evidence found at Camarillo is linked to the case of Amber Pratt who has been reported missing from a residence in Alhambra.”

“And you say the evidence is connected to the Dark Wind Killer, already suspected in five murders?” a voice asked the captain.

“That’s correct.”

“Can you tell us how you made the link?”

“No, we’re not prepared to share that information at this time. All we’re prepared to release is that a person concerned about her whereabouts visited her residence and called police.”

Amber’s picture appeared on the screen.

“Sir, can you elaborate on her husband, Eric Larch? Is he the Dark Wind Killer?”

Eric’s photo appeared on the screen above his name.

“At this stage he is a person of interest, and we’d like to talk to him. We’re asking anyone who has any information on Amber Pratt’s whereabouts, or that of her estranged husband, Eric Larch, to call us.”

The words “Person of Interest in Dark Wind Killer Case. Wife Missing. Foul Play Involved” crawled along the screen under Eric’s face. Suddenly, another line of information zipped along the screen.

Eric Larch recently breached bail conditions after assaulting estranged wife, AllNews Press Agency, reporting.

“Captain Bronson, did the Dark Wind Killer leave police a message in Camarillo, or an item linked to Amber Pratt?”

The camera made a quick cut to other police officials lining the wall near the podium. Claire recognized Joe Tanner.

“I’m sorry,” the captain said. “That’s about all the information we can disclose at present. Thank you, we’ll wrap this up.”

The news conference ended and the station resumed regular broadcasting. Claire saw a cooking demonstration on an afternoon talk show before switching the set off.

She covered her face with her hands.

Her heart was racing.

“God, please find Amber. Please find her alive.”