And much worse, she knew Kathy was not safe either.
Chapter Twenty-two
St. Jude's looked more like an exclusive private school than a mental hospital. A high, ivy-covered wall stretched back into deep woods. The administration building, once the home of millionaire Alvin Piercy, was red brick, with recessed windows and gothic arches. Piercy, a devout Catholic, died a bachelor in 1916 and left his fortune to the church. In 1923 the mansion was converted into a retreat for priests in need of counseling. In 1953 a small, modern psychiatric hospital was constructed behind the house, which became the home of St. Jude's administration.
From the gate, Reggie Stewart could see the administration building through the graceful limbs of the snow-covered trees that were scattered across the grounds. In the fall, the lawn would be a carpet of green and the tree limbs would be graced with leaves of gold and red.
Dr. Margaret Flint's office was at the end of a long corridor on the second floor. The window faced away from the hospital and toward the woods. Dr. Flint was an angular, horse-faced woman with shoulder-length gray hair.
Thank you for seeing me," Stewart said.
Dr. Flint responded with an engaging smile that softened her homely features. She took Stewart's hand ii a firm grip, then motioned him into one of two armchairs that were set up around a coffee table.
"I've often wondered what became of Samantha Reardon. She was such an unusual case. Unfortunately there was no follow-up, once she was released."
"Why is that?"
"Her husband refused to pay after the divorce and she wasn't covered by insurance. In any event, I doubt Samantha would have permitted me to pry into her life after she gained her freedom. She hated everything associated with the hospital."
"What can you tell me about Mrs. Reardon?"
"Normally I wouldn't tell you a thing, because all patient-doctor confidentiality rules, but your phone call raised the possibility that she may be a danger to others, and that takes precedence over those rules in certain circumstances."
"She may be involved in a series of murders in Portland."
"So you said. Is there a connection between the murders and her captivity in Hunter's Point?" Dr. Flint asked.
"Yes. How did you know?"
"I'll tell you in a moment. Please bear with me. I need to know the background of your request for information."
"A man named Peter Lake was the husband of one of the Hunter's Point victims and the father of another. He moved to Portland eight years ago so he could start a new life. Someone is duplicating the Hunter's Point m.o. in Portland. Are you familiar with the way the Hunter's Point women were treated?"
"Of course. I was Samantha's treating psychiatrist. I had full access to the police reports."
"Dr. Flint, would Reardon be capable of subjecting other women to the torture she experienced in order to frame my client?"
"A good question. Not many women could go through torture, then subject another woman to that same experience, but Samantha Reardon was in no way normal.
We all have personalities that are thoroughly ingrained.
Our personalities are usually very difficult, if not impossible, to change. People with personality disorders have maladaptive personalities. The signs they present vary with the disorder.
"Prior to her horrible victimization, Samantha Reardon had what we call a borderline personality, which lies between a neurosis and a psychosis.
At times she would exhibit psychotic behavior, but generally she would be seen as neurotic. She demonstrated perverse sexual interests, antisocial behavior, such as passing bad checks or shoplifting, anxiety, and strong self-centered ness. Her relationship with her ex-husband typifies this kind of behavior. There were periods of intense sexuality, frequent instability, and he found her impossible to reason with and totally self-centered. When she was caught stealing, she showed no interest in the charges, no remorse. She used sex to distract Dr.
Reardon and gain favors from him. She destroyed his finances without regard to the long-term consequences for both of them. When Samantha was kidnapped and tortured she became psychotic.
She is probably still in that state.
"Samantha saw St. Jude's as an extension of her captivity. I was the only doctor to whom she related, probably because I was the only female on the staff. Samantha Reardon hates and distrusts all men. She was convinced that the Hunter's Point mayor, the police chief, the governor, even, at times, the President of the United States all men-were conspiring to protect the man who tortured her."
"So," Stewart interjected, "it's possible she would act on these fantasies if she located the man she believed was responsible for her captivity?"
"Most certainly. When she was here, she spoke of nothing but revenge.
She saw herself as an avenging angel arrayed against the forces of darkness. She hated her captor, but she is a danger to any man, because she sees them all as oppressors."
"But the women? How could she bring herself to torture those women after what she went through?"
"Samantha would see any means that furthered her ends as acceptable means, Mr. Stewart. If she had to sacrifice some women in the process of attaining her goal, in her eyes that would be a small price to pay for her revenge.
Rick was sitting in the waiting room when Betsy arrived at work. He seemed subdued.
"I know I'm not expected, but I wanted to talk. Are you busy?"
Come in," Betsy told him. She was still angry with him for telling Kathy that her career was to blame for their separation.
"How's Kathy?" Rick asked, as he followed her into her office.
"There's an easy way to find out."
"Don't be like that. Actually, one of the reasons I stopped by is to ask if she can sleep over. I just moved into a new apartment and it has a guest room."
Betsy wanted to say no, because it would hurt Rick, but she knew how much Kathy missed her father.
"Fine."
"Thanks. I'll pick her up tomorrow, after work."
"What else did you want to talk about?"
Rick was uncomfortable. He looked down at the desktop.
"I… Betsy, this is very hard for me. The partnership, my job Rick paused. "I'm not doing this very well." He took a deep breath. "What I'm trying to say is that my life is in turmoil right now. I'm so much under pressure that I'm not thinking straight. This time by myself, it's given me some distance, some perspective. I guess what I'm saying is, don't give up on me. Don't close me out.
"I never wanted to do that, Rick. You're the one who closed me out."
"When I left, I said some things about how I felt about you that I didn't mean."
"When you're certain how you feel, tell me, Rick.
But I can't promise how I'm going to feel. You hurt me very badly."
"I know," he said quietly. "Look, this merger I'm working on, it's got me tied up night and day, but I think everything will be control in a month. I've got some time off in December and Kathy has Christmas vacation, so she wouldn't miss school. I thought maybe the three of us could go somewhere where we could be by ourselves."
Betsy's breath caught in her chest. She didn't know what to say.
Rick stood up. "I know I sprang this on you without any warning. You don't have to answer me right away. We have time. just promise me you'll think about it."
"I will."
"Good. And thanks for letting me see Kathy."
"You're her father," Betsy said.
Betsy opened the office door before Rick could say anything else. Nora Sloane was standing next to Ann's desk.
"Do you have a minute?" Sloane asked.
"Rick was just leaving," Betsy answered.
Sloane stared at Rick for a second.
"Are you Mr. Tannenbaum?"
"Yes."
"This is Nora Sloane," Betsy said. "She's working on an article about women litigators for Pacific West magazine."