Page 50 of In Her Dreams
“Mary, this is Dr.Valerie Mercer,” the Doctor began, her tone professional yet gentle.“I have Sheriff Jenna Graves and her deputy here with me.”
“Jenna,” Mary replied, a flicker of warmth threading through her exhaustion.“Have you...found anything?”
“We’re doing our best,” Jenna assured her softly, leaning forward slightly as if to bridge the distance between them.“Dr.Mercer needs your permission to talk about Sam’s sessions.”
A resigned sigh floated through the room, carrying Mary’s grief along with it.“Of course,” she agreed readily.“Anything that might help.”Her words were heavy with sorrow.“Sam believed in you, Jenna.He’d want you to solve this.”
Jenna felt a lump form in her throat and fought to keep her voice steady.“Thank you, Mary.”She glanced at Dr.Mercer, who nodded solemnly as Jenna added, “We’ll need written permission eventually, but this call really helps.”
After exchanging more comforting words with Mary, they ended the call together, leaving behind a silence thick with unspoken emotions and lingering resolve.
“I appreciate your thoroughness,” Dr.Mercer said finally.“But even with verbal permission, I’m uncomfortable sharing specific details without proper documentation.”
Jenna leaned forward, her eyes meeting Dr.Mercer’s with an intensity that spoke volumes.“Dr.Mercer, I understand the importance of confidentiality and the weight it carries in your profession,” she began, her voice low and earnest.“But we’re dealing with something that goes beyond the ordinary here.These deaths...they’re not just statistics to us.They’re people—people like Sam, who had families, dreams, lives.”
Dr.Mercer shifted slightly in her chair.She reached up to touch the edge of her silk scarf as if seeking reassurance from its vibrant colors.
“I know you care about your patients,” Jenna continued, softening her tone further.“You wouldn’t be doing this work otherwise.And right now, you’re in a unique position to help us prevent more tragedies.”
A moment passed where the only sound was the gentle hum of the air conditioning and the distant murmur of traffic outside.
“Sam was special,” Jenna said quietly, almost to herself but loud enough for Dr.Mercer to hear.“He believed in finding solutions where others saw none.”
Dr.Mercer’s expression flickered; there was a hint of something unguarded in her eyes—a glimmer of empathy breaking through her professional facade.
“I want to help,” Dr.Mercer admitted finally, a note of vulnerability threading through her words as she clasped her hands tightly together in her lap.
Jenna seized on this opening gently but firmly.“Then trust your instincts on this one,” she urged softly.“If there’s anything you can share—even if it’s just a theory or an observation—it might lead us down a path we haven’t considered yet.”
The Doctor hesitated for a heartbeat longer before nodding slowly.
Switching tactics, Jenna decided on a broader approach.“Can you tell us generally about treating issues through hypnotherapy?Not specific to Sam, but your professional experience?”
This seemed to ease some of Dr.Mercer’s tension.“Certainly.Hypnotherapy can be quite effective for phobias, though results vary widely.It involves guiding patients into a highly relaxed, focused state where they’re more receptive to suggestion.”
“And how long does improvement typically take?”Jake asked.
“That depends entirely on the patient and the severity of the phobia,” Dr.Mercer explained.“Most require multiple sessions over weeks or months.Sudden, complete remission would be...”She paused, choosing her words carefully.“Unusual.”
Jenna leaned forward slightly.“Did you discuss Sam’s phobia with any colleagues?Perhaps Dr.Anthony Walsh?”
A flicker of interest crossed Dr.Mercer’s face.“You’ve spoken with Dr.Walsh?”
“Briefly,” Jenna told her.
Mercer tapped her fingers lightly against the arm of her chair.“After my sessions with Sam, I did consult with Dr.Walsh.We occasionally refer patients to each other.He specializes in sleep disorders, which can sometimes accompany or exacerbate phobias.”
“And what did Dr.Walsh say about Sam?”Jake pressed.
“Not much, I’m afraid.He seemed unable to provide any insights about Sam’s condition or his improvement.Which was odd, since Walsh is excellent at what he does.”Dr.Mercer’s brow furrowed slightly.
Jenna stored this information away, adding it to the growing puzzle in her mind.“Dr.Mercer, is it possible for someone to be hypnotized into being unable to speak about certain things?To literally not be able to tell anyone about a specific experience?”
Dr.Mercer’s posture stiffened almost imperceptibly.When she spoke, her voice had lowered slightly.
“That’s a common misconception about hypnosis,” she said.“Contrary to popular belief, you cannot hypnotize someone to act against their will or fundamental nature.The mind has natural protective mechanisms.”
“But?”Jenna prompted, sensing there was more.
