Page 145 of Everything She Feared

“That could mean so many things on so many levels, Carl.”

“Seriously, she’s here. She says she has information that may be pertinent to the Shaw case.”

“No appointment, just walked in?”

“Martin says she seems legit but nervous. Couldn’t hurt to talk to her.”

“Alright.”

Pierce closed her drawer and they left.

Passing by Grotowski’s desk, they overheard his end of a phone conversation.

“What’s up, my Mountie friend?... Really?... Something out of British Columbia?... Vancouver?... Could be. Hold up, I want to take some notes, and could you send me...”

68

Seattle, Washington

One consequence ofleaks to the press on active investigations was that it motivated people to come out of the woodwork.

You got all kinds: disturbed individuals who wanted to confess, those who claimed to have a tip and wanted a reward, even well-meaning people who just wanted to help. No matter what kind they were, they tied up investigators because each one had to be assessed.

But until your case was cleared, you had to keep an open mind and guard against tunnel vision, Pierce thought as they met Dr. Sally Mehta at the front desk.

After signing her in and issuing her a visitor’s badge, they found a small empty office. They checked her driver’s license and confirmed her license as a psychologist and her position at the University of Washington.

Mehta was poised and carried a professional air about her, Pierce thought.

“I’ll record our conversation for my own notes,” Pierce said.

“But this will remain confidential?”

“Of course.”

Pierce adjusted her phone and set it on the table before Mehta.

“You have information pertinent to our investigation?” Pierce said.

“First, I need to stress that the fact I am here comes after an enormous amount of difficult thought. I could be taking a professional risk with my license, but I have a duty to report if I have reason to believe a patient has been harmed, or will harm others.”

“We understand,” Pierce said. “What is your relationship to the case?”

Dr. Mehta gathered her thoughts.

“I volunteer with a crisis counseling network. In the aftermath of Anna Shaw’s death, we worked with the Sunny Days group to provide grief and trauma counseling to the children, families and staff who were touched by what happened.”

Pierce nodded.

“Katie Harmon was among the first I saw. After that she became a patient, and I’ve had several sessions with her.”

Dr. Mehta related Katie’s case, her observations and growing concern. Katie’s cryptic references to bad thoughts and guilt over Anna Shaw’s death. How Sara had suggested her family had a violent history and was concerned if violent traits could be inherited. Sara had acknowledged Katie was present when another child, a boy, died years earlier.

“She was present at another death?” Benton said.

“Can you provide the name of the boy, and dates?” Pierce asked.

Dr. Mehta shook her head.

---