Chapter 29
Alister looked at the simulated scenery outside his window. He poked a stiff finger off the glass as he spoke. “What I see is a bunch of plants that are alive, and I know they were dead before you boarded my window.”
“Alister,” Anna said as she shook her head, “think about what you saw while you were outside. Everything was alive.”
Anna moved close to him and he turned so he could see her out of the corner of his eye. He didn’t like the idea of her standing behind him. Her nearness had changed from a feeling of comfort and acceptance to one of danger and concern.
“I feel the heat from a flame that doesn’t burn.” He looked at her and widened his eyes in anxiety. “That is what you’ve come here to tell me, isn’t it?”
Anna blew out a gentle sigh. “Let us not harp on the same subject over and over.”
“Don’t patronize me,” Alister said. “You put a patient in an orderly’s uniform—”
Anna reeled. “A patient in an orderly’s—”
“—I could smell the smoke from the fire on his clothing.”
“There was no fire.”
“Ah, so there it is.” Alister nodded. “And that must mean there weren’t any bodies being burnt either.”
“I can bring Michael so you can question him if you’d like.”
“Don’t bother.”
“I would leave the room if you somehow thought I’d sway him.”
“He would still lie because you kill people and he’s probably afraid of you.”
Anna pointed to herself. “I kill people?” She shook her head. “That’s ridiculous.” She started for the door. “I’m going to get Michael.”
“And I told you not to bother.”
Anna turned to Alister and opened her arms wide in question. “What would he have to gain by lying to you?”
Alister folded his arms and leaned against the wall. “You don’t get it. It’s not a question of what he would have to gain by lying but rather what he would have to lose by telling me the truth.”
“How can I defend myself against your accusations?”
“I could see his fear,” Alister said. “I had that look once, and it was when I first realized I’d gotten your attention.”
“This conversation has gone from silly to absolutely ridiculous.”
“Why aren’t you scribbling down any notes? Am I cured or have you finally given up on me?”
Anna’s eyelids fluttered. “We’re running around in circles here. We’d made such terrific progress, but lately we’ve regressed. I’m disappointed.”
Alister smiled. “Should I apologize?”
“I’m disappointed in myself, not you. I told you when we first started this things would be trying and there would be certain things you’d have to confront that would challenge you. This includes facing your delusions, the conspiracy theory you have running around inside your head and the loneliness you have to endure when I’m gone. And just because I’m not taking notes doesn’t mean I’ve stopped listening or that I’ve given up on you.”
“I think that was the make-you-feel-bad speech.” He turned his back to her. “I still say you’re hiding something. I’m interested in meeting the hospital staff. All of them.”
“I’m not going to bring you around anyone while you’re acting like this.”
“And there it is again,” Alister said, and he made the sound of a bomb dropping. “Boom! The perfect reason to keep me here and far away from finding the truth.”
“You’re completely unreasonable today.”
“You know something?” Alister kicked off his slippers and got into bed. He looked away from Anna and settled on his side. “I’m done talking.”
“Don’t shut down on me like this, Alister. We need to talk through this.”
Alister closed his eyes and fought the urge to retort. The knowledge that she would eventually leave if he kept quiet ruled.