Page 58 of Wired Justice

Chapter Thirty-Five

Sophie was somewhat restoredby an energy drink and convenience store musubi by the time Jake dropped her off for her appointment at Dr. Wilson’s office on a side street near Hilo Bay.

Sophie waited in the tiny anteroom with its rattan loveseat, potted fern, and walls painted a soothing blue. She picked up her phone and continued the text Jake had interrupted. She had started to reply to Alika’s inquiry asking how things were going on her hike. “I have not had the restful trip I hoped for when you dropped me off. Jake and I found the body of our client today. Very sad. I dread telling the parents. And there are many missing people here. We might have found another body dump.”

“What the hell?”

“Yes. This island has too many people who have disappeared for it to be a normal pattern. I suspect a serial killer. We have just begun to scratch the surface with finding the body of our client, and some additional bones. Ginger is quite a cadaver dog, it turns out.”

“Do you need help?”

The question mark of Alika’s inquiry pulsed at her. Did she need help?

Yes, and no.

She didn’t know what to do about her personal life, and he would do nothing but confuse her further. She shuddered to think of Alika and Jake in the same room. The lunch her father had hosted on Oahu at the Honua Pub had been barely tolerable; the two seemed to have taken an instant dislike to each other; unusual particularly for Alika, who got along with everyone.

The inner door opened, and Dr. Wilson stuck her head around the corner of the jamb. “Please come in, Sophie.” The psychologist looked tidy and composed, her blonde bob feathering around her face. “How are you today?”

Sophie entered the room. She was still muddy and sweaty from wrestling the bushes near the stream, and her scratches itched. She resisted an urge to rub the sore places. “I have had an eventful day.”

“As if yesterday were not enough.” Dr. Wilson seated herself in the lounger and picked up her clipboard, pen poised. “Have you had a chance to investigate your mother’s secret organization? I was Googling around last night, and there was a rumor of something, some kind of palace guard, that was established to take care of the Thai royal family millennia ago. Maybe this is a modern version of that.”

“I haven’t had a chance to do anything further.” Sophie shook her head, smiling slightly. “After I left your office, I picked up Jake at the police station. We got my rental car, which I haven’t even had a chance to drive, and went to the motel here in Hilo where I’d rented a room. I admit I collapsed. Had a relapse of my depression.”

“Tell me more about that. Since you are a new client, it would help me to know a little bit of your history with the disorder.”

Sophie filled the psychologist in briefly, describing her episodes of depression since she was a teenager, and how it manifested.

“Yesterday evening I went to bed in the motel before it was even dark outside. I was deep in it, not really able to do anything else. Jake left me alone, but in the morning, he . . .” To her embarrassment, Sophie felt her cheeks and neck heat up.

“He did what?”

“Jake got in bed with me. Just held me. We fell asleep, then I woke up, and I felt better. I wanted to . . . be with him. Physically.”

Dr. Wilson definitely had what Sophie had heard called a twinkle in her eye as she leaned forward, smiling. “I take it that some sexual healing took place.”

Sophie rubbed a scratch on the back of one hand. “I’m not familiar with that phrase, but I could imagine it being called that, yes.” She struggled to find words to explain. “It was very good. Very healing as you say. Jake has agreed to my terms that we are merely partners with benefits. We are not a couple. We talked about it this morning.”

“Oh, he’s agreed to that, has he?” Dr. Wilson’s eyebrows had raised high in a skeptical way. “Tell me more about Jake. He seems to be quite a character.”

“Oh, indeed he is. Jake is large.”

Dr. Wilson burst into laughter.

Sophie fanned hot cheeks with a hand, smiling. “I didn’t mean that as an innuendo. But Jake is large physically and he has a commanding personality and presence. He has always irritated me by getting too personal. He is intrusive and bossy, and used to try to control and protect me. He made sexual comments and overtures that I declined. But as time has gone on, I find that I like him more than I ever thought I would. And he has learned that being treated like a sex object is unpleasant. Detective Freitan has been harassing him and he has learned a lesson from it.” Sophie glanced at the clock over the psychologist’s head; they still had plenty of time. “I have always found Jake physically attractive.”

“You’d have to be dead not to find Jake physically attractive,” Dr. Wilson said. “I met him on Oahu when I was doing some consulting for Security Solutions. I may be twice your age, but I’m not dead.”

Sophie nodded. “I believe Jake’s attractiveness is biological in nature. Evolution favors powerful males with survival skills. Women are drawn to those who will be able to sire strong progeny and protect them during vulnerable pregnancy and the extended period of child rearing for humans.” She blew out a breath and sighed. “But Jake is also funny, and generous. He is loyal, and focused when he has a goal. He is a creative problem-solver, much smarter than he at first appears. All of these are attractive traits.”

“You’re talking about him as if he were a research project,” Dr. Wilson said. “As if you need to justify any involvement with him. And if all these things are true, why don’t you want anything more than “partners with benefits?” She made air quotes.

“Because I don’t want to be in a relationship right now!” Sophie burst out. “I don’t trust myself. I make bad decisions about men.”

Dr. Wilson sat back, frowning. “Tell me more about this.”

“First Assan, who I agreed to marry even though I didn’t love him. I was attracted to him, yes. He was older, and sophisticated. He was good to me in the beginning. After Assan and his tortures, I didn’t date anyone at all for five years until I slowly began to have feelings for Alika as I got to know him through coaching me at Fight Club. Then, it seemed like something was happening with us, and Assan destroyed it. Destroyed him. We broke up. And then . . . Connor fascinated me.” Sophie looked up into Dr. Wilson’s bright blue eyes. “You have to keep what I’m going to tell you in the utmost confidence. It’s an open investigation, and I know things that I don’t want to have subpoenaed.”

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