I saw the news clip on the accident and heard about the appearance of a young women who didnt know her name.
Ryan frowned. But there was no picture of Tess on the TV.
The description they provided fit the description of my daughter.
So, youre not positive she is your daughter?
Ryan forced himself not to glance in the direction of the pantry. Something in the generals face told him that the man was waiting for exactly that kind of reaction.
Im not positive, Flynn said begrudgingly, but my daughters name is Tess.
Its critical the general locate his daughter, Bloom said. She has a lot of serious problems.
What kind of problems?
Bloom pulled a thick file out of his briefcase and dropped it onto the table. General Flynn was kind enough to bring a copy of his daughters psychiatric file. Ive looked it over. This is a young woman with a long history of very severe psychiatric problems.
Which might explain the dead man in the cornfield, Cole added, setting his glass down.
Ryan shook his head. Im sorry, but theres no way Tess is responsible for the death of that man. He tapped the file in front of him. I dont care what kind of crap is in this file.
The Ryan Donovan I know doesnt jump to conclusions without reading all the evidence, Bloom said. Read the file. Shes a paranoid schizophrenic, suffering from auditory and visual hallucinations. Shes attempted suicide five times, and she has physically assaulted her father, two boyfriends and a whole line of different hospital staff over the past five years. She even tried to stab an orderly while escaping from the last facility she was in. She was there on a seventy-two-hour court-ordered evaluation. You know what that means.
Ryan stood up. This was just getting worse. He knew only too well what a court-ordered evaluation meant. A person didnt get committed unless he or she was totally out of control. Unless he or she was suicidal or homicidal.
He raked a hand through his hair. We cant be talking about the same person. He paused, his eyes connecting with the generals. Im a good clinician. Ive spent time with this woman-not just a session or two in my office. Its ridiculous for me to even consider the possibility that shes psychotic or capable of the level of violence youre talking about.
Flynn smiled coldly. Believe me when I say that I know my daughter, too, Doctor. Perhaps better than you. He reached over and tapped the psychiatric file. Do as Dr. Bloom suggests-read the file. My daughter is capable of the things Dr. Bloom describes.
Ryan shook his head again, refusing to buy any of what they were saying. Im sorry, but again we have to be talking about two different women.
Flashing a look of disdain, Flynn flipped open the file and pointed to a photo stapled to the inside front cover. Is this the woman currently staying at your house?
Dread tightened around Ryans throat. There was no mistaking the stunning cloud of white-blond hair. He leaned closer, studying the photo. Tesss face stared out at him from the photo. She had a more sophisticated, polished look. Her trademark hair was twisted up off her smooth porcelain shoulders, and soft, wispy tendrils escaped to frame a classically oval face and wide expressive green eyes.
Is this the woman? the general demanded.
Ryan dragged his eyes away from the picture. Yes, thats her.
I thought so. Flynn sat back. You need to understand something, Doctor. Tess was a difficult child. A violent teenager prone to both verbally and physically aggressive behavior.
Most teenagers go through a rebellious stage, General, Ryan protested. In our society its almost a rite of passage.
Flynn smiled indulgently. Tess rebelled at age eight. She was plagued with horrible nightmares from birth on. But she was always bright and articulate. Perhaps tragically bright. She was admitted to Rochester Institute of Technology when she was only seventeen. It was there that she experienced her first psychotic break.
How? Ryan asked.
Her first semester, campus security found Tess on the roof of the high-rise dorm, stark naked and covered in paint. She insisted that she was involved in an ancient tribal ritual that made it imperative that she jump off the high-rise and soar out over the campus. She had to be restrained by three security men.
Ryan swallowed hard. Surprisingly, the scenario didnt seem that far-fetched. Hed heard and seen enough similar incidents in his own practice. Had her earlier appearance at the Carsons farm, naked and confused, been the first indication of a new break? The thought threw him. How could he have been so wrong about her? How could he have missed the clinical signs?
Tess is quite good at manipulating people, Flynn said, as if picking up on Ryans train of thought. Im not at all surprised you werent able to pick up on her psychosis. She has moments of very rational behavior.
But she wasnt so rational when she killed the driver of that car, was she? Cole asked, sounding like a one-note recording.
Ryan turned on the police chief. Youve wanted to pin this on her from the moment you met her. Whats your problem?
A part of Ryan knew he was being unreasonable. Unwilling to look at the evidence with an open mind. But he was angry. Angry that hed missed the evidence. Angry that any of this had to be true.
In case youve forgotten, Doc, the man is dead, Cole said.
How do you even know she was with him?
Because I hired him to bring Tess here to Half Moon, Flynn said.
You what? Ryan whipped around to face Flynn. Hired him? Why?
His name was Trevor Vaughn. He was a registered nurse I hired to transport Tess here to the center. I heard about some of the experimental work being done here, and I thought it was worth the effort to see if Dr. Bloom could help Tess.
A wave of suspicion brushed the back of Ryans neck, and his clinical radar went off with a silent wail. Something was not right. Flynns story didnt fit what Ryan had witnessed at the crash site.
He kept his face impassive as he studied the General. The weariness and concern on the mans face seemed forced, as if he was playing a role.
Vaughn was supposed to hire two other professionals to assist him with Tesss transfer. But it seems that he decided to pocket the money rather than hire additional help. Its a mistake that seems to have cost the man his life.
Ryan knew there were huge inconsistencies in what the man was saying. The story didnt ring true. It isnt often that a person crashes through a fence in an attempt to get into a facility.
Steel-colored flecks of anger flashed in Flynns eyes, but he hid them as quickly as they appeared. Perhaps Tess forced Vaughn to crash through the fence when she realized she was about to be incarcerated in another facility. He shrugged. If she overpowered him with a gun, he wouldnt have had a chance.
Steel-colored flecks of anger flashed in Flynns eyes, but he hid them as quickly as they appeared. Perhaps Tess forced Vaughn to crash through the fence when she realized she was about to be incarcerated in another facility. He shrugged. If she overpowered him with a gun, he wouldnt have had a chance.
Where would she have gotten a gun?
The angry flecks were back in Flynns eyes. How should I know, Doctor? Like you, I wasnt there. We can only make educated guesses at this point-until were able to talk to Tess, that is.
I find it interesting that you are all ready to pin this on Tess. Nothing youve said proves that shes capable of killing a man in cold blood, Ryan said.
Flynn threw up his hands. Obviously nothing will convince you, Doctor, and I dont have time for this nonsense. Where is my daughter? Were leaving now. He pushed back his chair and stood.
Ryan got to his feet, too, not backing down from the mans hostile stare. Last time I looked, General, this was still the United States. That gives Tess some rights. And one of those rights is to say where she goes and who she goes with.
Bloom cleared his throat nervously and pulled a thick document out of the front of Tesss file. Uh, actually that isnt quite true, Ryan. General Flynn has full guardianship over his daughter. He opened the document and handed it to Ryan, adding, Its for her own protection. The courts have determined that shes a danger to herself and others.
Ryan glanced over the paperwork, acutely aware that theyd played their ace in the hole. The cold satisfaction on Flynns face told him that the man had been waiting for just this opportunity. He knew that Ryan understood only too well what such a court order meant-essentially, that Tess had no rights. She was a person without any decision-making ability in the eyes of the law.
Shes not going anywhere until Ive had the opportunity to talk to her, he said firmly. Let me talk to her alone and then shell come with you. At least until we get this straightened out.
The generals eyes darkened and the muscle in the center of his lean cheek jumped. I want my daughter now, Donovan.
Well, were going to have to do things my way, Ryan said, his voice soft and deadly. Tess deserves some degree of dignity. And that means you wait outside while I talk to her.
I thought you said she wasnt here.
I lied.
A cold smile crossed the generals face. For a moment Ryan thought hed refuse, but finally he nodded and moved to the patio door. He paused before stepping outside. You have exactly two minutes to convince her. But dont ever try to cross me again, Doctor.
Ryan closed the door, already trying to figure out how to get Tess to cooperate, at least until he was able to pull some strings and find out what was going on. He didnt want her hurt and there was no question that Flynn was going to force the issue no matter how cooperative or uncooperative she was.
Ryan knew he needed more time. Time to investigate how legal and binding the court papers were. Time to see if Tess had any other options.
But he only had two minutes and something told him that Tess was just as stubborn and impatient as the man who was here to whisk her away.
Chapter Six
Tess seethed with outrage. Who the hell did Ryan Donovan think he was, making promises he couldnt keep? He had no right to speak for her.
She hit the flat panel of the pantry door and it swung open in his face. She could barely contain her fury, and from the calm expression his face, she could tell he had anticipated just such a reaction from her. That in itself irritated the hell out of her.