The Hypnotist

SIXTY

Iris Bellmer was bewildered and overcome with remorse. She’d let Malachai hypnotize her with his soft, smooth voice, using her own damn snow globe. Sitting at her desk, trying to make sense of what she’d done and calculate its ramifications, she stared out the window at the tree that filtered the view of the street. The wind was blowing, and one branch kept tapping on the glass almost as if agreeing that what she’d done was unforgivable.

Closing her eyes, she practiced deep breathing for five minutes, inhaling to the count of five, holding the breath to the count of five, then following the same pattern of exhaling, holding and then starting all over again until finally she felt calmer.

When Iris opened her eyes again she knew what she had to do: stop Malachai Samuels from doing anything illegal with the information she’d given him and let James Ryan know that she’d released information about his past-life memories without his approval.

She called her patient first. Ryan’s phone rang three times before his voice mail picked up. Iris had prepared what she was going to say, but to him, not a machine. She just identified herself and asked him to call her at his earliest convenience.

What she had to do next would be more difficult. How could she convince Malachai of anything? What could she say to him that would stop him from interfering with their patients’ lives?

Opening her door, she took a step out into the hallway, surprised to see Malachai and Beryl standing close together talking at the far end. Should she confront him with Beryl there, or wait? Before Iris had a chance to decide, Malachai turned and walked in the opposite direction as Beryl started toward Iris. Should she go after Malachai? He was almost at the staircase that led to lower-level library.

“Are you all right?” Beryl asked.

If Malachai heard his aunt, he didn’t turn around. How many more steps till she could be sure he wouldn’t be able to hear her?

“Iris?”

“Yes?”

“Is something wrong?”

Iris heard a door shut in the distance-the door to the library. She nodded. “Yes.” It came out in a whisper.