Double Blind (25 page)

He waved a hand. “Easily agreed. That's not going to happen.”

“And a final point.”

His jaw flexed.

“I want to hear what you find on the chip. And when you catch the person who did this to me.”

“That is not information you need to know, Ms. Newberry.”

“You telling me I don't deserve it, after what I've been through?”

No response.

I shrugged. “That's my deal, Dr. Hilderbrand. Take it or leave it.”

To quote his girlfriend.

Hilderbrand put two fingers against his upper lip. Moved a pen around on his desk. I waited.

He pressed back his shoulders. “Agreed. I'll hear no more demands.”

“Fine.” My voice nearly squeaked. Had I done the right thing?

We looked at each other, wary partners. I let out a breath. “I guess we're done.”

“Not quite.”

He wanted to go over details so we'd have no surprises later. When the surgery would be performed. (As soon as possible, perhaps Sunday.) How I would sign the papers. (In his office, with attorneys present.) He would have the documents drawn up by tomorrow. If I wanted my own lawyer, I needed to find one fast.

By the time our meeting was over, I felt completely drained. Hilderbrand and I stood. He held out his hand. For a second I cringed from it, the hand I'd believed had killed Patti Stolsinger. Then I managed to shake it.

Back in my car I wanted to call Mom immediately but resisted. What if Hilderbrand was watching the parking lot from his office window? I didn't want him seeing me on the phone. I would drive home, tell Mom in person.

When I got to the apartment, she met me at the door. “What happened, what happened?”

I led her to the couch and sat her down. Went over everything. She managed not to interrupt. But as I told her of Hilderbrand's and my agreement, her face began to pinch. When I was done she sat back, staring at a cushion.

“
What
, Mom?”

She took my hand, clearly trying to be gentle. To not judge. “I hope this is right, Lisa, I really do. But . . . I don't think you should do this.”

Chapter 28

Mom and I had to talk this thing out. She didn't trust
Hilderbrand. Well, neither did I. But I explained to her again that our agreement left him no wiggle room. All the same, my mother's reaction made me wonder what I'd done.

We moved into the kitchen, where she made sandwiches. The food did not go down easily.

“I can still change my mind,” I said for the tenth time. “I haven't signed anything yet.”

“I know.”

“But I want that chip out of me—now. And the only way to replace it with a good one is to go through Cognoscenti.”

Mom cut the crust off her sandwich. “That's the part I don't like.”

“Can you think of an alternative?”

She put down her knife. “No, that's the thing. Other than leave the chip in place. But I'm with you—you don't know what it will do. Like you said, just think what could happen if you had a vision while you were driving. You could be killed.”

In a car accident. Like Ryan.

“Nothing's going to happen to me, Mom. Hilderbrand won't let it—his company's at stake.”

Concern still lined Mom's face. “So you're going to do this?”

I sighed. “I think so. I just . . . can't keep dealing with new memories. I can't relax, wondering what's going to hit me next.”

My mother nodded. “I have another issue, if you go through with this. I'm leading training sessions at work all next week. I have to be there.”

“That's okay.”

“I don't want to leave you if you're having surgery.”

“I'll be in the hospital recovering anyway. The last time I didn't even have visitors.”

“That was because of the trial. They'll allow you visitors this time. I should be there. And I'd certainly want to be here when you come home.”

My mother couldn't put her life on hold for me forever. “Look, I'll be fine when I come home. I managed for two days without you before, didn't I? Basically I'll just sleep a lot. And Sherry will be around if I need her.”

My mother gave me a look.

I sighed. “Mom, you have to get over this thing with Sherry. She's a really good friend to me.”

“She accosted me at my own son-in-law's funeral.”

I ran my tongue underneath my top lip.

Mom eyed me askance. “What's that look? You think I deserved it?”

Oh, boy.
“I . . . no.”

“You sound so positive.”

I pushed my plate away. How'd we get into
this
so fast? “Look. Remember what you said about criticizing me during my childhood? That you were only out to protect me?”

“Yes.” Mom drew out the word.

“Sherry was just trying to protect me, too. You were coming on pretty hard about my moving back to Denver. She knew I didn't have any strength left.”

“I knew that, too. It's why I was trying to help you!”

I gazed at her. Slowly her expression flattened. “But I wasn't helping, was I.”

“No.”

Mom leaned back in her chair and stared out the window. Emotions fluttered across her face.

“It's okay, Mom.”

“I'm sorry. Again.”

“It's okay.” I reached over and rubbed her fingers. She wasn't the only one who was learning things about herself. “Let me tell you what happened to me last night.”

I told her all the amazing things God had shown me. As I described it, the emotions welled up in me all over again. By the time I finished, both of us were crying. We'd hardly touched our sandwiches.

“Thank you for sharing that with me.” Mom wiped her cheek. “I needed to hear it.”

I nodded, my throat tight. I wasn't sure where Mom was with God. Maybe she wasn't as far away as I'd thought.

We managed to finish eating. With the last bite of my sandwich, I suddenly remembered—
attorney
! My gaze flew to the clock. One thirty. So much time I'd wasted. I shoved my plate away. “Mom—I have to find a lawyer. Now.”

“Oh, right.” She looked at her watch. “Better do it right away.”

My first thought was to call Sherry. Jay would probably know someone through the investment firm. But there was so much to tell her. That would take a long phone call, and I didn't have time for that. I glanced at Mom. She was rinsing our dishes in the sink, her back to me. “I'm going to call Sherry. I think she'll be able to help with an attorney.”

“All right.” No argument. Not even a tensing of her shoulders. It was a start.

Sherry's daughter, Rebecca, would still be at school. J.T. may be taking a nap. I crossed to the counter for the phone and punched in her number. One ring—and she answered.

“Hey!” Her voice sounded breathless. “I've been thinking so much about you. What's happening?”

“Everything.”

She sucked in air. “Oh, no, now what? You okay?”

“Yes. There's a lot to tell, but I don't have much time right now because I need you to help me with something. So just hang with me.” As my mother would say.

“Okay.”

“So here goes. First, we found out who the murderer and the victim are in my visions.”

“You're kid—”

“Then we talked to the police, only they didn't believe me, because the victim turned out to be alive. So the killer obviously turned out not to be a killer. And did I mention he's the CEO of Cognoscenti? So I went to see this woman for myself—Patti, the one we thought was dead—at her house and nearly assaulted her. Mom held me back. Then I went to see Hilderbrand, the CEO. And in a couple days I'm going to have
another
brain surgery to take out my bad chip and put in a good one. So I need a lawyer. Can you help with that?”

Stunned silence.

Maybe I'd gone just a little too fast?

“Lisa.”

“Yeah.”

“I'm a little . . . Can you give me a few more details? And by the way, I'm now sitting down.”

“Okay. But first, the main thing. Do you think Jay knows an attorney who could look over a legal document before I sign it?”

“What kind of legal document?”

“An agreement between me and Cognoscenti to take out the chip and pay me a million dollars. But there are some stipulations.”

“A
million
dollars?”

“Well, he offered half a million. I got him to raise it.”

Mom shot me a smile.

Another long pause. “Lisa, you are beyond . . . something.”

Yeah. Something. “Does Jay know an attorney?”

“I don't know. I can call him.”

“Can you do it now? I need one fast. The documents are supposed to be ready tomorrow.”

“Tell you what. I'll find you an attorney. On one condition. Since you're suddenly into negotiating and all.”

“Okay.”

“You come over here, sit down, and tell me everything.”

“What about the kids?” This was hardly a story for little ears.

“Rebecca's going home from school with a friend. And J.T. just went down for a nap.”

Sherry deserved to hear what had happened. And I really wanted to see her. Plus . . . I looked at my mother. “Okay. One thing—Mom's coming with me.”

Mom stopped her work and eyed me.

“Your mother's still there?”

“Yes. And it's good. And you two need to see each other.”

“Really.”

“We'll be over in fifteen minutes. You call Jay, okay?”

I hung up.

Chapter 29

Sherry and Jay's house was a basic three-bedroom,
two-bath starter in a well kept San Carlos neighborhood with good schools. They'd gotten it for a bargain at $690,000.

Memories hit as Mom and I walked up to the porch lined with potted flowers. Ryan and I used to love coming here. We'd eat dinner with Jay and Sherry, and play with the kids.

It seemed a lifetime ago.

I knocked softly, remembering that J.T. was sleeping. Sherry opened the door right away.

“Come in, come in.” She hugged me. Even managed to smile at my mother. “I found a lawyer for you.”

That was Sherry, true to her word.

She led us into the living room. Mom and I settled into the familiar soft couch. Wow. It had been a long time since I sat there.

“Want something to drink?” Sherry remained standing. “Coffee, tea?”

“None for me, thank you,” Mom said. “We just had lunch.”

I shook my head at Sherry. “Thanks, no.”

“Okay. I'll get that information for you.” She headed into her kitchen.

In the corner of the living room stood a large basket filled with J.T.'s toys. A tiny teapot and cups sat on the fireplace hearth. Mom pointed to it. “You used to do that, Lisa. Have tea parties.”

Sherry returned, holding a piece of paper. “That's Rebecca's favorite thing these days. We have a little party every night before she goes to bed. Jay pours.”

Pain cut through me. Someday I would have that. A husband and kids and tea parties. Someday.

Sherry winced, as if she knew what I was thinking. “Here.” She handed me the paper. “His name is Rocky Rhodes.”

I looked at her sideways. “Rocky Rhodes?”

She shrugged. “I didn't name the guy. Jay says he's good. The investment firm has sent a lot of work his way. You'd better give him a call now 'cause you might not get through at first. Jay says to tell the guy he referred you.” She sat down in the rocking chair she'd inherited from her mother.

I looked at the piece of paper. “Is Rocky a nickname?”

“I don't know.”

What mother with the last name of Rhodes would name her son Rocky?

“Maybe he's a son of the sixties,” Mom said. “Hippie parents facing hard times.”

Sherry laughed. “Hah, that's good. Or maybe they loved the ice cream flavor.”

Mom smiled.