Destiny blurred his vision to make certain that he would not catch a glimpse of the shattered slivers of glass on the floor. “John Paul.” Her voice was melodic, silvery, the compulsion buried deep. “You must go back to your home and stay there. You want to sleep, not listen to music or tapes or talk on the phone. You just want to go to sleep.”
I am going through his house now, Destiny. There must be something that sets him off before he is given the trigger. I will find it. Vikirnoff is on his way to Mary Ann’s office to make copies of the photograph of the young lady the vampire is hunting.
John Paul muttered something and rubbed his eyes. He looked more confused than ever. When Destiny touched his mind, she felt sorry for him. He was totally bewildered, had no idea how he had gotten to the office or why he was there.
“MaryAnn?” He sounded like a small child seeking reassurance. “I think I’m losing my mind. I’m so sleepy, and I don’t know what happened.” He peered around her, squinting to get a better look. “Did I do this? Did I wreck your office?”
Destiny patted his arm in a gesture reminiscent of Velda. “Go home and sleep, John Paul. Everything will be fine.”
MaryAnn watched him go, her eyes troubled. “Will it be fine, Destiny? Does this have something to do with a vampire? Do you have any idea what’s going on? This violence can’t keep happening. It’s ruining everyone’s lives.”
“Velda told me of a woman, Blythe Madison, who had similar problems a while back. She was put in a hospital by her husband.”
“Harry’s wife. She’s a wonderful woman. I go to visit her twice a month. She doesn’t remember anything of what she did. She stays voluntarily in the hospital. I didn’t even consider that her breakdown was anything like what happened to John Paul and Martin. How could the events possibly be connected?” MaryAnn knelt near her lamp and began to carefully pick up the pieces, tossing the slivers of glass into the wastebasket.
Destiny could see that MaryAnn’s hands were trembling. Tears glistened in her eyes. Her reaction shook Destiny as nothing else could. MaryAnn cared deeply about these people, and it was painful to her when they were in trouble.
“We’re much closer to finding out what is going on,” Destiny assured her. “I don’t know who’s behind this, but John Paul was under some sort of command.”
MaryAnn looked up at her, blinking back tears. “Like hypnosis?” There was sudden speculation in her voice.
“Is someone around here into hypnosis?”
“There’s a doctor at the clinic. He comes in a couple of times a month. He believes in hypnotism for things like pain management and quitting smoking, that type of thing. I went to him once and couldn’t quite get over his bedside manner. He’s related to Harry, a cousin or something; that’s why he even bothers to come to our lowly little neighborhood. He has offices uptown and also at the hospital.”
Destiny frowned, trying to assimilate this new information. “I don’t know what you mean by bedside manner.”
Deep inside she heard Nicolae give an inelegant snort.
Well, I don’t know, she insisted.
He probably came on to her. Made a pass while he was examining her.
He’s a doctor!
Destiny, vampires are not the only monsters in the world. Many of them are human.
Destiny sat down abruptly beside Mary Ann. “Was the doctor inappropriate with you? Did he—”
“Touch me inappropriately? Yes. And he was a slimy little worm with a charming smile and a handsome face. Obviously, women have said yes to him and been thrilled by his advances. I was not, and made it abundantly clear. He thought hypnotism would work well on me and wanted me to let him try. What a jerk.”
“But you didn’t report him?”
Mary Ann ducked her head. “No one else was in the room. To make that kind of accusation against a professional with his reputation and money is risky. I didn’t want to risk what I do here. I just never went back to him.”