Page 25 of Over the Edge

“Perfectly fine in the immediate aftermath of a frightening experience. A return to routine as soon as possible may be helpful, though.”

“I intend to pick up the running again tomorrow and the rowing on Wednesday. And I’m not planning to cancel my Horizons cooking class on Tuesday.”

“Excellent. Any concerns about going back to the scene of the crime for your job?”

“Some. I’m sure Chad Allen feels the same way.”

“The handyman you mentioned, who was also on-site during the incident?”

“Yes. I know him and his wife from church. And his wife is taking a cooking class from me. Nice couple. Probably as much in need of encouragement as I am. I’m trying to stay in touch, but it’s hard to offer reassurance when you’re on shaky ground yourself.”

“Then let’s do our best to get you off that shaky ground. Why don’t we schedule another session for Thursday and end today with the visualization I mentioned?”

“That works for me.” She settled back in her chair.

“I know you like to use your morning row as a visualization when you do this on your own, but today let’s travel to that white-sand beach you enjoyed on your trip to Antigua a few years ago.” He tapped an app on the phone beside him, calling up soothing music. “Go ahead and close your eyes. Concentrate on filling your lungs. Slow and easy. Now let the air out, slow and easy. Picture the stress leaving your body along with your breath.”

As Lindsey listened to his mellow baritone and followed his instructions—calling up an image of the turquoise sea, the taste of salt on her tongue, the caress of the warm breeze, the pliant sand squishing between her toes, the lulling cadence of the lapping waves—her tension melted away.

Fifteen minutes later, as Dr. Oliver brought her back to reality, the restless agitation that had plagued her had dissipated.

“Better?” He smiled at her.

“Much.”

“I’ll alert Margie you’ll be calling tomorrow and tell her to work you in on Thursday.” He rose. “Let me walk you out.”

Bottle of water in hand, she followed him to the door that offered clients discreet access to the hall in the professional building. “Thank you again for going above and beyond.”

“My pleasure. And remember I’m here anytime if you need to talk. Since the beach visualization worked well today, try it again tonight if you can’t sleep.”

“I will.”

Hoisting her shoulder tote into position, Lindsey left his office behind and strode down the quiet corridor that led to the outside door, mulling over the session.

What Dr. Oliver had said about routine being helpful made sense.

So beginning tomorrow, she’d do her best to forget those terrifying minutes in the Robertson kitchen and stop worrying about the possible repercussions of sharing a room with a murderer.

After all, as her psychologist had pointed out, the perpetrator didn’t know she’d been there. And if they did find out, she’d seen nothing that would incriminate them. They had no reason to target her.

She had to set aside foolish fears and get on with her life. She’d survived, and she was safe.

There was nothing to worry about.

“THANKS FOR BUMPINGour dinner up a day, and sorry I’m late. A glitch at the scene delayed me, and I had a call while I was in the parking lot.”

As a breathless Bri slid into the chair across from him at their favorite neighborhood eatery, Jack sized up his sister. The long hours she worked as an investigator with the St. Louis Regional Bomb & Arson Unit sometimes took a toll, but tonight she was animated and energetic despite the tiring rigor of poking through a fire scene and the aftereffects of a job-related near-death experience nine days ago.

“From the sparkle in your eyes and the flush on your cheeks, I presume the call in the parking lot was from the new boyfriend.”

She waved his comment aside and picked up the menu. “You know better than to trust circumstantial evidence.”

“A preponderance of circumstantial evidence is compelling. Like reading the menu you know by heart from the restaurant we come to every other Tuesday.”

With a wry twist of her lips, she set the bill of fare down. “Fine. It was Marc. He said to tell you hello. You’re lucky he doesn’t hold that overprotective-brother act you pulled at your first meeting against you.”

“We reached an understanding. Besides, after I saw him in action when that nutcase went after you, he got my stamp of approval.”

---