“Yeah, that didn’t turn out so hot. Dr. Devins is better. The other doctor blamed me for not remembering. He said I was intentionally repressing the memories. I never went back to him.”
Luc wiped his mouth with a paper napkin. “When did Mac mention it again?”
“I think it was maybe ten weeks ago, when we were going over my initial witness statement to prepare for the trial. He asked if I would be willing to undergo hypnosis again.”
“And you said yes without any hesitation?” He popped the last bit of burger into his mouth.
“I agreed, as long as it wasn’t with the previous doctor. Mac assured me that they’d lined up a new psychologist. Dr. Devins has done more research into hypnotherapy and published a few papers in medical journals. Earlier, Dr. Devins said we could do another session this afternoon, but I guess that will have to wait until we’re settled in a new location.”
Luc wasn’t sure there was such a place. “Who else would know you were considering hypnosis again?”
Priscilla narrowed her eyes and her body stiffened. “You don’t think it’s a coincidence that someone is trying to kill me now that I’ve resumed hypnotherapy?”
“No, I don’t.” Luc kept his voice low, his eyes never leaving her pale face. “I think someone doesn’t want you to recall any more details about what happened that night.”
FOURTEEN
Luc snagged a couple of paper towels, then grabbed the bag of microwave popcorn. After their meal, several more marshals had arrived bearing groceries, fresh clothes and serious expressions. Based on their somber looks, Luc didn’t waste any time suggesting to Priscilla that she join him in one of the bedrooms for a movie on TV. The last thing she needed was to overhear the marshals debriefing about the morning’s harrowing events.
“Did you find something to watch?” He couldn’t help but smile seeing Priscilla in a pair of flannel pajama bottoms and a faded University of Virginia sweatshirt, her damp hair loosely braided after her shower. It did his heart good to see her relaxing. He could see vestiges of the carefree teenager he’d met that long-ago summer in the Arizona desert.
“There’s not much on at five on a Wednesday, mostly home improvement shows or the news.”
Luc joined Priscilla on the small love seat squeezed into one corner of the bedroom. He plumped a pillow behind his back and head, then handed her a paper towel. “Choose whatever you’d like to watch. To be honest, I’m just enjoying the quiet time with you.”
She waggled the remote at him. “I need something to take my mind off everything that’s happened.” She cracked a smile, the first he’d seen in a long time. “We could watch Turner Classic Movies. I love to watch old black-and-white films, and Turner is playing Suspicion with Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine.”
Luc returned her smile. “I’ve been meaning to watch that one. Hitchcock, right?” He held out the bag of popcorn to Priscilla.
She popped a handful of kernels in her mouth and nodded. “Suspicion it is.” She leaned back and snuggled down a bit, her body slumping sideways just enough for their shoulders to touch.
When she didn’t move away, Luc relaxed too. This was normal, like any other couple watching a movie. Except that they weren’t a couple at all.
Watching the film close to her distracted him in a whole other way. He breathed in the flowery scent of her shampoo, the fragrance reminding him of the small bouquet of flowers she’d carried at their wedding.
As he reached into the popcorn bag, his hand brushed hers. Against his better judgment, he ate more popcorn than he really wanted just to have more opportunities to “accidentally” touch her hand. All too soon, the bag was empty, and Luc placed it on the end table.
At the climactic scene where Grant’s character drives recklessly on a narrow road along a cliff, Luc glanced at Priscilla. Her eyes were closed and her breathing even. His attention shifted from the TV to his sleeping companion. He shifted slightly, raised his right arm, and her head lolled onto his shoulder, fitting snugly against him. Memories of their brief time together in Vegas threatened to overwhelm his senses.