Page 102 of The Last Session

“Yes. We’ll find a place where you can get help, and then after, we’ll do all the things—go to art museums, movies, Central Park…”

She stared down at the table. Some inner calculation was happening behind her eyes.

“You like shopping? We’ll go shopping…” I said the words as a kind of lullaby. “Broadway shows… or off Broadway, whatever you prefer.”

A slight smile. I had her; I could feel it.

“All you have to do is come with us after lunch,” I said, then held my breath.

“No.” Her eyes snapped up at me, a new determination behind them. “We have to leave tonight.”

I exhaled. “Tonight?”

“We have to leave secretly. They won’t let me go otherwise.”

“You want us to drive away in the middle of the night?”

“Yes.” She gazed at me, defiant. “You think this will be easy?” Her volume increased. “That they’ll just let me fucking leave?”

“Okay.” I held out a hand, placating. “Fine. We’ll leave tonight. If that’s what we need to do.” I wasn’t thrilled about the prospect: taking one of the Center’s cars and leaving it at the airport. But they had a second vehicle; they could come get it. Catherine’s mental health was more important.

“Really?” She looked uncertain but hopeful, like a child who’d gotten a whole cake she’d pointed at.

“Really.” I pulled out my phone. “What time should we leave?”

“Let’s leave at four a.m. The keys—”

“Are in the lobby. I know.”

“Okay.” Her whole body relaxed—shoulders slumping, head lowering. It was like she’d just completed a marathon.

“You’re going to set your phone’s alarm?” I asked.

“Don’t worry.” She stood unsteadily and went to the bed, where she collapsed. Her words were half mumbled into a pillow. “I’ll be up.”

42

“So you’re really staying?” Mikki’s eyes were wide behind chunky glasses I hadn’t yet seen her wear. I’d caught her in the midst of packing, and her suitcase yawned next to me on the bed.

“Just until tonight.” I’d told Mikki that Moon and Sol had asked me to stay, but not why. If I told her about the “disturbing” belief system her source Clint had mentioned, then that was definitely going in the article. And maybe that would be okay, but my first order of business was to get Catherine out of here.

“Ah yes, the car-stealing plan.” She nodded, sitting on the chair and pulling out her vape.

“I mean, it’s probably Catherine’s car anyway, right? She’s been the one funding everything around here.”

Mikki took a pull. “Touché.”

“If it’s the only way she’ll leave, that’s what we have to do,” I said. “Someone will come get the car from the airport, anyway. We’re not actually stealing it.”

“But Thea…” Mikki tugged at the tangle of necklaces around her neck. “What if she doesn’t go? And you’re already missing your flight… I don’t know. This all sounds weird.”

If only she knew.

“I trust her,” I said finally. “I can read her; I don’t know how to explain it. Maybe it’s my clinical skills.”

Mikki leaned forward, her arms on her knees. “Do you think it’s safe?”

“How do you mean?”

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