Page 9 of Black Hearts

She flinched and held her hands up in front of her in a protective gesture. “Please just listen! When they first took me, I was blindfolded and drugged. I didn’t see anything until we were inside the mansion.”

I tapped the gun impatiently. “Still, you lived there. There must be something you can tell me.”

She shook her head miserably. “I was never allowed outside, except into a greenhouse to get herbs and vegetables for meals. That was connected to the house, so I was never really outside, anyway. All I could see through the walls was that the mansion was red brick. And from being inside, I could tell it was old but expensive. Three stories.”

“What could you see out of the windows when you were inside?”

She shook her head slowly. “Land. Lots of green. Trees, grass, gardens. Fields stretching for miles.”

“So it’s quite far out of the city.”

“I think so. When I was ready to leave for good, they blindfolded me again, and they didn’t take it off until we were on the city outskirts. I’d say it took around forty minutes, going pretty slowly.”

I sighed. Forty minutes from Pittsburgh—even at a relatively slow speed—could mean anywhere within a thirty to thirty-five mile radius. Maybe even more. That would take fucking forever to find, and I didn’t have that kind of time. I probably didn’t even have more than a few days.

My insides turned to ice at the thought of what might be happening to Celeste while I sat here speaking to the therapist, getting fucking nowhere.

“What else? Did you see any landmarks in the distance?”

She shook her head. “Like I said, it was just trees and grass fields. Oh, and the road which led up to the gates. That’s it.”

I twisted my watch round my wrist and clenched my jaw, beyond agitated with her lack of help. “What about the bricks? You said they were red. What sort of red?”

“Light red. More like a salmon color, I suppose.” More tears spilled out over her cheeks, and she scrunched her face up with misery. She was an ugly crier. “Please, that’s all I know. I swear.”

I pulled a skinning knife out of my left jacket pocket, tiring of her irritating sobs. “Think harder.”

“I… there’s nothing….” She shook her head wildly.

“Come on,” I said. “Do that trick you do with your patients. Concentrate on something calming and close your eyes. Try to remember something useful.”

I knew she wouldn’t be able to fully calm herself while she was in my presence, but still, it might work somewhat.

She did as I commanded and closed her eyes.

“Pretend you’re back there. What do you remember when you were getting herbs? Or looking out the windows?”

She was silent for a while, then opened her eyes again. “There was a fountain out the front, in the middle of a big lawn. You know, those big old fashioned marble fountains? There was a big crack in one side of the base. I remember not long before I left the place for good, a new girl arrived. She would sit at the window and stare out at that crack, and one time, she told me she thought if she wished hard enough, she could slip into the crack and disappear into another reality.”

And that wasn’t a clue to her that the place was fucked up? Jesus. I stiffened and gritted my teeth. “What was that girl’s name? Was it Evangeline?”

Her eyes widened. “How did you know that?”

“Lucky guess,” I muttered. “Anything else you remember?”

She shrugged listlessly. “The windows were white sash windows. That’s it, I swear. I don’t remember anything else that would help anyone find the mansion.”

With a heavy sigh, I stood up. Going by what she told me, I’d probably be able to find the place, but it would likely take days if not weeks. My heart was heavy as I realized Celeste might be gone by then. I needed more fucking time.

Still, Dr. Fitzgibbons had helped somewhat. At least I had something to go on now.

I put the gun down on the table. “This is for you. There’s a silencer on it so the neighbors won’t suspect. And don’t bother trying to shoot me instead of yourself—I’ve got another one on me, and I’ll shoot you before you even pull the trigger if you aim it anywhere near me.”

She shook her head. “Please, no,” she muttered, not meeting my eyes. “I’m not ready to go.”

“Too bad. Unless you can tell me where they’ve taken Celeste, your time is up.”

“No. Please. Have… have mercy,” she babbled, black tears still slipping down her cheeks. “I’ll never tell the police or anyone else who you are if you let me live. I won’t tell the Circle you came to see me, either. I kept their secret for decades. I’ll keep yours too. I swear.”

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