Page 20 of Phoenix Rising

Reese followed Ron Akers and his swishing ponytail down a carpeted hallway. What was it with the men in Sedona and their long hair and man buns? Wasn’t there a decent barber in town? The way it swung like a pendulum could be one of his hypnotic techniques, he supposed. It was rather compelling.

“We’ll be in here.”

Ron stood back and motioned with his arm for Reese to enter the room. There were no windows, and the walls were painted a deep blue and adorned with artwork ranging from ocean scenes to flower-covered fields. Large potted palms were placed in two corners, and Reese figured they had to be fake since there was no sunlight for them to grow. A white padded recliner took up the center of the room beside another white leather chair. The only light came from a floor lamp. The room smelled like lavender, and he noticed a diffuser on a side table pumping out the calming scent.

“Please take a seat.”

“Anything suspicious yet? What about the great Rondini? Don’t let him cast any magic spells on you.”

Reese snorted.

“What was that?” Ron asked.

Reese cleared his throat. “Sorry. I had a tickle.”

Audria knew he couldn’t answer her. If she didn’t quit teasing him, he’d never be able to pretend to be hypnotized.

“First, I’ll tell you a little about me and my process.” Ron proceeded to outline his credentials, including where he’d studied and what courses he’d taken. “Hypnosis utilizes the subconscious mind and allows the person to tap into the alpha brainwave state that happens when brain waves slow down. The alpha frequency range bridges the gap between the conscious, thinking mind and the subconscious one. It’s an altered state of consciousness with increased focus and awareness. You will be in a deep state of relaxation; the more you relax into the hypnotic state, the more suggestible the mind becomes. Do you have any questions?”

“Yeah, ask him if he believes the crap he’s spewing.”

Reese coughed into his hand. “Stop.” He smiled at Audria’s chuckles. “Uh, no questions.”

“How long have you been smoking?”

“If he means smoking hot, tell him at least five years.”

That’s how long Reese had known Audria. His heart picked up speed as he faked a coughing fit again. Did that mean she thought he was smoking hot? “Stop, or I’ll mute you.”

“Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?” Ron asked sympathetically. “Emphysema?”

“Uh, no, I’m, uh, allergic to lavender.”

“Lame!”He was a second away from ripping out his comm device.“Sorry. I’ll be quiet now. Scout’s honor.”

“I apologize,” Ron said as he fiddled with the diffuser. “I should have asked first. Let’s try ylang-ylang.” Soon, a sweet and earthy scent filled the air. “Better?”

“Yes. Thanks.”

“Now, how long have you smoked, and how many packs a day?”

Reese never went into a mission unprepared. Never. He was meticulous to a fault. He studied strategies and planned for contingencies. No T was left uncrossed or any I undotted. But he hadn’t done his research on smoking. He had no idea what was considered a heavy smoker.

“Almost a pack a day since college.”

Audria always had his back. He parroted her response to Ron, who scribbled the info into a notebook. Old school. Reese figured he would’ve used a tablet.

“Now lay back and get comfortable.”

The sound of crashing waves wafted from speakers somewhere high on the wall. Ron dimmed the light.

“Focus on the star on the ceiling, take a deep breath, and hold it in your lungs. Now, close your eyes and slowly exhale. Feel your body relax. Start at your head and work your way down until you reach your toes. Good. Now, we are going to go deeper. Open your eyes, and as I count down, your lids will get heavier and heavier.”

Ron issued more instructions until Reese closed his eyes, pretending he couldn’t keep them open. He had to admit, he felt relaxed. Maybe it was the sound of the ocean or the scent, but he could easily fall asleep.

“You have decided to be done with smoking. You want to be free, so you will not allow distractions. Imagine throwing your cigarettes into the trash. Crumple up the package. Hear the crinkle it makes. Smoking is bad for your health. It makes you feel lousy. Nauseous. It’s expensive and smells rancid. It rots your teeth and poisons your lungs. Reaching for a cigarette means a lack of control, and you are in control.”

Reese tried hard to concentrate on his words, but his mind kept replaying Audria’s flippant comment. She thought he was smoking hot. She’d never given any indication that she considered him anything other than a boss or coworker. Was it possible she’d felt the same attraction?

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