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Damien stopped his car in Dr. Austin’s parking lot and shut off the GPS navigation. Rain pounded the car, falling in sheets outside. “We’re here, Nina.” He reached over and squeezed Nina’s hand.
Nina retracted her hand. She didn’t deserve to be comforted by his touch. “Thanks for driving. This should be quick, then you can take me to the police station.” She grabbed the door handle.
“Wait a second. I know you. And I know you’ve had... problems. But I do not believe you could murder someone.”
Nina opened the door. “I’m sorry to disappoint you.” She glanced back at him. “Why are you doing this for me?”
“Because regardless of how you feel, I’ve never stopped loving you. You were my best friend, and I can’t not care about you.”
Nina lowered her eyes from Damien’s intense gaze. After everything that she’d done, she couldn’t understand how he could say that. And look at her now: fat, ugly, and crazy. No one could love her. She got out of the car, easing the door closed behind her.
Damien trailed Nina when she walked to Dr. Austin’s office. Rain soaked her from head to toe, but she didn’t even think to put on her hood. She couldn’t help feeling like a complete and utter failure. Dr. Austin had been trying to help her this past year, and it had all been a waste. Now, she wasn’t just crazy, she was a killer. Dr. Austin would hate her too.
Dr. Austin greeted her at the door. After introducing herself to Damien, she ushered Nina into her office. Nina chose to sit on Dr. Austin’s couch today.
“So things are getting worse?” Dr. Austin asked.
Nina nodded.
“Tell me what’s going on.”
Nina had to choose her words carefully. She needed to admit what she’d done, but not in a way that incriminated Deja. “I killed a man. I hit him over the head with a bottle, and I killed him. I hid his body in the park. Someone’s been stalking me ever since. A black sedan is following me. Someone was in my window. I’m scared, and I’m tired. Please, call the police now.” Nina wanted the nightmare to end.
Though clearly listening, Dr. Austin seemed unfazed by what Nina had said. She reached into her desk and retrieved an envelope. Opening it carefully, she removed a piece of paper. “Nina, this is the crisis plan we created. We reviewed it last time you were here, but I want to read what you wrote under the warning signs of an episode again.”
Nina waved her hand dismissively. “I need to be at a police station, not here reading a crisis plan. We’re past that stage now.”
“Just listen.” Dr. Austin seemed so calm. “You wrote, one, if I’m not sleeping. Have you been sleeping?”
Nina shook her head.
“Two, if I start to feel paranoid—that Rodney’s cheating like last time. Has that happened?”
“Yes, but—”
“Three, if I blame myself for another person’s death. Remember you blamed yourself after Isaiah died?”
“Dr. Austin, it’s not the same. What I’m trying to tell you is the truth!” Nina yelled.
“Please don’t yell at me. I’m listening. But honestly, what you’re telling me is hard to believe. Who is this man that you killed? What happened?”
Again, Nina couldn’t give away all of the details without implicating Deja. “I can’t say.”
“Two, you said you hit this mystery man over the head with a champagne bottle. Do you really think you hit him hard enough to kill him? It could happen, but it doesn’t seem likely.”
Nina hadn’t thought that’d be the result, but it had been. Deja had asked Nina to help her. She had only wanted Kevin to stop strangling Deja, and Deja had pointed right at the bottle. “Well, it did.”
“And third, you said you hid the body in a park. How on earth would you be able to drag a grown man’s body through a park all by yourself?”
Still unable to tell the full truth, Nina just sat there. She couldn’t argue with Dr. Austin. “You should be asking these questions to a police officer, not me. I’m guilty. I deserve to be in jail. I can’t live like this. With the guilt.”
“Nina, one more question. Where on earth did Damien come from? You had said you hadn’t been in contact with him or seen him since your brother’s funeral.” Dr. Austin asked.
Nina shrugged. “It’s a long story.”
Dr. Austin rose. “If it’s all right with you, I’d like to talk to Damien for a minute.”
Nina stood also. “Why? I don’t want him involved any more than he has to be. Call the police.”
“Just briefly. What you’re saying is very serious. Please, take a seat. I’ll be right back.” Dr. Austin left the room.
Nina reluctantly sat. She would miss Dr. Austin after being locked up. Outside the window, the rain and dark sky blended to create a dreary day. It reminded her of when she would paint as a child and mixed all the colors together until they were one ugly color. She deserved the rain, though. More agony. More of life—if she could call it that. It had been more like a living hell since Isaiah had killed himself. All of the sorrow exhausted her. She couldn’t take it.
Dr. Austin and Damien returned to the office. It appeared they’d just solved a complex problem.
“We think it’s best for you to go to the hospital, Nina.” Dr. Austin said.
Nina had to hold her ground. “No. I want to go to the police station. I need to get this off my chest.”
“Confessing to murder is a serious crime. Let’s get you a mental health check first and evaluate your condition before involving the authorities,” Dr. Austin said.
Only one thing would convince them. “Can we make one stop then?”
Dr. Austin checked her watch.
“Please. Just one,” Nina asked.
Damien turned to Dr. Austin. “I have time. I’ll do anything to help Nina.”
Nina hated herself for what she had to do. “Then let’s go.”
***
THE RAIN POURED SO hard Nina could barely see through the windshield. She pointed. “Turn right into this driveway where it says, ‘park ahead,’” Nina instructed Damien. “Then park in that space to the right.”
“What are we doing at this park?” Damien asked quickly. He always talked a little faster when worried.
Dr. Austin parked her car next to Damien’s.
“I have something I need to show you both.” Nina cast her eyes to her hands in her lap. “It won’t be long. I’ve already taken up this much time out of your day.”
Damien placed his hand on Nina’s shoulder. “Time isn’t a factor. We’re here to help.”
She recoiled from his touch. “After this, you’ll see it’s past that point.” She got out of the car then started walking down the dirt path, ignoring Damien’s attempt to shield her from the rain with his umbrella. Dr. Austin had joined him and held her own umbrella, which splayed in the wind.
“Nina, what’s this about?” Dr. Austin called.
Nina sped up. Rain battered the large oak trees that cast shadows on the muddy ground. Nina shivered. She crossed her arms, following the path she and Deja had taken Saturday night. The farther into the park she walked, the darker and colder it got. Her shoes slipped on wet leaves. Though they thought she was crazy, Dr. Austin and Damien’s footsteps could be heard crunching leaves and twigs as they followed her. Since she hadn’t received confirmation from Deja that the guy had taken the body, she hoped the body hadn’t been removed yet so she had the proof she needed to convince them.
As she got closer, her stomach growled, begging her to stop. Bile rose in her throat. Once she showed them the proof, nothing would be the same. At a large tree with a sunken trunk, her whole body shook. She stepped off the worn path and ducked underneath its low-hanging branches and took several more steps into the brush. Farther in, she spotted the log, which covered the ground they’d dug. She groaned as she moved the log then hefted one end of the duct-taped comforter out of the hole. She pushed the comforter with all her might back onto the path where Damien and Dr. Austin waited.
Damien gasped.
“Nina?” Dr. Austin said.
“See?” Nina pointed at the filthy, dirt-covered comforter. “I did it. I killed a man. I dragged his body here, and now you have your proof.”
Damien stood. He reached his hand into his back pocket.
“Go ahead and call the police,” Nina said. It was too much to keep all this in. She deserved punishment for Kevin and Isaiah’s deaths.
But instead of a phone, Damien pulled out his keys and flipped the blade on a pocket-sized Swiss army knife.
“What are you doing?” Nina’s heart pounded in her ears. She didn’t want to see Kevin’s body, which must be decomposing. She turned her back and covered her ears to block out the tearing noise.
“Nina!” Damien yelled.
Nina cringed. He’d never look at her the same. From now on, he’d see a murderer. It didn’t matter. That was what stared back at her in the mirror every day.
“Nina, look,” Dr. Austin said.
“Why are you trying to torture me?” Nina’s previous thought about missing Dr. Austin vanished. This woman was sadistic.
Damien’s hand forced her to turn. She closed her eyes tight.
“Open your eyes, Nina.”
Nina opened her eyes slowly. “What?”
The comforter lay sprawled open, exposing several large sand bags.
Nina ran to the comforter. She fell to her knees. Struggling to pick up one of the heavy sandbags, she examined it. “No, it can’t be.” She dropped the sandbag. Tears crowded her eyes.
Dr. Austin placed her hand on Nina’s back. “There’s no body. You didn’t kill anyone.”
“I did.” Nina thought so, at least. Deja had been there. She’d seen the whole thing, too. Nothing made sense anymore.
“We need to go to the hospital,” Dr. Austin said.
Tears and rain mixed together, dripping down Nina’s face. “It can’t be.”
Damien returned the knife to his back pocket. “You’re not well. We just want you better.”
Deja knew she wasn’t making it up. “I need to call her! She’ll tell you.”
Dr. Austin tilted her head to the side. “Who?”
Nina froze. Shit. She couldn’t call Deja to confirm she’d killed a man. But she had to figure out what was going on. She rose to her feet. “Damien, please. I need my phone and two minutes. That’s all.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Damien said.
“Please, Damien. I need this! Two minutes.” She’d never sounded so desperate before, even to her own ears.
Damien reached into his pocket then handed Nina her phone. “Just two minutes.”
She jogged away from Dr. Austin and Damien until she was out of earshot. After pulling out her phone, her dirty fingers dialed Deja. “Please answer. Please—”
“Nina? Where are you? I’ve been worried sick,” Deja said when she answered.
“Deja, please, I’m at the park with Dr. Austin and Damien. I need you to tell me I’m not crazy. But Kevin’s body is gone, and I’m freaking out. Did they take the body? The comforter’s here, but the body’s gone.”
“What?”
“Kevin’s body. Did they move it and leave a bunch of sandbags?”
“Nina... I don’t know...”
“Dammit, Deja. Just answer the question!” Nina screamed.
“I’m sorry, Nina. I don’t know what you want me to say. I think you need help. I can come and get you.”
“I don’t need help. I need you to tell me what the hell happened to Kevin’s body. Please.”
“You need help. I can meet you wherever you are and take you to the hospital.”
Nina hung up and screamed in frustration, falling to her knees.
Damien hurried to her. He had the same expression he’d had after they’d found Isaiah. This time, he’d lost Nina, too. Dr. Austin stood behind him, her face completely sullen.
“We need to go. You’re not well,” he whispered as he took back her phone.
Nina believed him. She didn’t believe herself, but she believed him. She struggled to her feet. Damien wrapped his arm around Nina’s waist. She was too tired to fight him. “Follow me. We’ll take her to the hospital downtown,” Dr. Austin said.
They walked in silence through the park to the car. Damien opened the door for Nina, and she resumed her position in the passenger’s seat.
Damien buckled his seatbelt then drove out of the parking lot, tailing Dr. Austin’s car.
“I haven’t seen you in years, and I’m like this. I’m so sorry, Damien.”
“No, I’m sorry.” Damien glanced at her. “You’re obviously stressed out, and Dr. Austin said you don’t have many people you can talk to. I want us to be friends again. I want you to be able to come to me when you need someone to talk to.”
Nina didn’t like the sadness in Damien’s eyes. She always caused so much pain, so much hurt. She looked away and to the street. “Damien, watch out!”
A car appeared from nowhere. Damien slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. A large whap rang out as the car slammed into Damien’s. The airbag knocked Nina back, and the windshield shattered, raining glass into the car. An engine revved, then tires screeched, speeding away.
Nina glanced at Damien, who slumped over the airbag. “Damien! Damien!”
He didn’t move.
Her door opened, and rain blew into the car. “Are you two okay?” Dr. Austin asked.
“I am. But Damien...” Nina placed her hand on his back, but he didn’t move. She closed her eyes tight, picturing Isaiah and Kevin. She couldn’t face being responsible for a third man’s death.
Dr. Austin gasped. “I’ll call an ambulance.”
Nina’s hand touched her stinging forehead and came away bloody.
A man jogged to the car, pulling a wet dog on a leash. “I saw everything. Should I call the police?”
Dr. Austin turned to the man. “I’m calling now. Did you see what happened?”
Rain dripped down the man’s baseball cap. “I saw a car speeding down the street, and it looked like it was following this car. It must have hydroplaned and lost control. It slammed right into this one.” The man gestured to Damien’s car.
“What... what happened?” Damien asked.
“Oh, thank God you’re all right,” Nina said to Damien. Her shoulders relaxed a little, and relief swept over her.
Nina shook the glass from her lap and climbed out of the car. “What kind of car?”
“A big black Sedan. I didn’t have a chance to get the license.”
Dr. Austin’s mouth dropped open. “Nina, an ambulance is on the way. Didn’t you say a black sedan has been following you?”
Nina nodded.
“Sir, thank you for all your help. I’m a doctor.” Dr. Austin reached into her purse and dug out her card. “I need to get these people to the hospital. I’ll call the police and make a report. But for now, safety is the main concern.”
“Why don’t you just wait for the ambulance?” the man asked.
“I don’t know if that person will come back, and whether we’ll be able to wait that long. I need to take them somewhere safe.” Dr. Austin opened Damien’s door and helped him out. “Damien, can you walk?”
Damien bent over, hugging his ribs. “Yeah.”
Tires screeched in the background, like the night she’d been walking to the liquor store. “We need to go faster than that,” Nina said.
“Nina, Damien, let’s go!” Dr. Austin yelled.
They hurried to Dr. Austin’s car and got into the backseat before she sped off.
“What... the hell... happened?” Damien labored to speak.
Nina couldn’t believe it herself. “That’s the car that’s been following me! It’s trying to kill me.”
Dr. Austin gave Damien a worried glance. “How are you, Damien?”
“Can’t... catch... my breath.” Damien’s chest heaved.
If Damien died, it’d be all her fault. “Damien, I’m so sorry. You were trying to help me, and now this happened.”
Damien grabbed her hand. “It’s not... your... fault.”
Dr. Austin peered at Nina through the rearview mirror. “He’s right. It’s not your fault at all. We’re going to get to the bottom of all this.”
Nina sobbed into her hands. “I’m scared. I’m really scared.”
Dr. Austin got out her phone and called someone. “Travis, it’s Nancy. I’m heading to your hospital now. We’re going to need a stretcher and two private rooms. I’ll explain it when we get there, but please, just do it.”
Damien squeezed Nina’s hand. “It’s going to be okay.”
Nina disagreed. Everything in her life headed downhill fast. Her gut told her that the worst was yet to come.