Page 31 of The 24th Hour

“You don’t have to ask twice,” said Dr. Birney. “It’s my life’s work. How long have we got?”

There was appreciative laughter in the courtroom followed by complete silence as Dr. Birney explained DID.

“DID is notable for the patient’s missing chunks of memory that cannot be explained by forgetfulness. And the hallmark of DID, the inspiration for movies likeThe Three Faces of Eve,is the presence of at least two distinct and as many as dozens of personalities that are enduring parts of the individual’s main personality.

“These fragmented personalities are generally utilitarian in nature in that they come into being to protect ‘the body’ byserving as a line of defense against further attack or fear of attack.”

“This is recognizable, is it not?” said Yuki.

“It can be. Memory loss, disorientation, depression, suicidal thoughts are a number of symptoms that are common in dissociative disorders—and from the point of view of the afflicted person, awakening inside your main personality in a situation you don’t recognize, or similarly coming into real time in an alternate personality, can be disabling, especially if the individual has been physically assaulted. With DID, you have no memory of this situation, this assault or circumstance. That’s devastating.”

There was a loud shriek from the prosecution table behind Yuki. She whipped around to see Mary Elena standing, facing and screaming at DA Parisi, who rose awkwardly to his feet, stepping backward.

Mary Elena yelled, “You go. Go away, Oompah!”

Parisi said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean …”

“Go away!” Mary Elena yelled again.

Judge St. John banged the gavel and said to the court, “Court is in recess for a half hour. Does that give you and your client enough time, Ms. Castellano?”

Yuki said, “Your Honor, I can’t be sure. If that’s not enough time, we’ll return without the plaintiff.”

Bailiff Riley Boone escorted the jurors out the side door to the jury room and at court officer Louie Mack’s direction, those in the gallery complied as the room was emptied.

Yuki said, “Mary Elena, come with me.”

“My name is Ana. Don’t you know me?”

Yuki understood that an alter named Ana was present. Anaseemed larger than Mary Elena. She stood straighter, making her shoulders appear wider. She was angry, furious actually.

Nick Gaines said, “I’ll walk Dr. Birney to her car.”

Yuki put her hand loosely around Ana’s upper arm in order to guide her and said, “Ana. My office is just at the end of the corridor. We’ll talk, okay?”

Ana ripped away from Yuki and, glaring at the foot traffic in the corridor, walked alongside, stayed with her to the DA’s office suite. Yuki thanked God that they had not run into Parisi.

CHAPTER 39

SONIA ALVAREZ SHOUTED at me, “Quick! Patty’s room. Second floor, second room on the right.”

I slammed the desk drawer shut, put the key in my front pants pocket, drew my gun, and followed Alvarez up the stairs. Bevaqua lunged past me, stiff-arming Alvarez out of his way and kicking open Patty Delaney’s door. Alvarez held her weapon in a two-hand grip. Bevaqua was halfway across Patty’s room when Alvarez yelled, “Arthur! Stop! Hands up. Stay where you are.”

I didn’t get it. “What’s happening here?”

“I’d really like to know,” said Alvarez.

We were in Patty’s bedroom, a peach-colored chamber with a view of the bay through a pair of French doors. It had changed since I’d been here last. Patty had redecorated with a romantic bent.

I looked across the room to Patty, a cherubic blonde in her thirties, about five six, 140, now sitting naked on the edge of her four-poster bed. She pulled a floral quilt around her up toher chin, while heaving deep, wailing sobs. Alvarez had maneuvered Bevaqua so that he was facing the closed bedroom door.

I looked around. The gas fireplace opposite the bed was lit. An oil painting of an entwined nude couple on a chaise longue hung above it. The man’s face was hidden in his partner’s pale blond hair. There was a full-sized beveled mirror on the ceiling positioned over the bed.

I looked back to Patty, who was sobbingno, no, no,hugging pillows and crying into them.

Bevaqua shouted at Alvarez as she patted him down.

“I’m not armed. Don’t be crazy, Inspector. I was trying to … Listen, Sergeant, I meant no harm. I’m in charge of the staff. Now more than ever. Okay if I put my hands down?”

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