“She did. You ready for this?”
“Come on, damn it.”
“It reads, ‘May God forgive me. An innocent man is dead. Please tell Dr. Malik to stop it. I couldn’t reach him.’ What do you make of that?”
“I had a head start on you. I think your friend Malik has been executing child molesters, Cat. I think he listened to his patients recount their horrors for one too many years. He finally snapped and decided to do something about it. I can’t say I blame him. I snapped myself for almost the same reason. But we can’t let Dr. Malik go around removing criminals from the planet without benefit of trial. Do you agree?”
“Of course. If you’re right.”
Kaiser says nothing for a few moments. “The trouble with vigilante justice is that eventually an innocent person gets lynched. Ms. Lavigne’s note is telling us that’s just what happened. I wonder what Malik will do when he hears that? Do you think he’ll turn himself in?”
“I don’t know. You’re still speculating. Why did Lavigne’s note say tell Malik to ‘stop
“We’ll probably never know.”
“Was Margaret Lavigne related to any of our victims?”
“Not by blood. But I think you’ll find this interesting. Ms. Lavigne’s biological father was arrested just before her suicide attempt and charged with multiple counts of distributing child pornography. Interesting timing, no? He broke down under questioning and confessed to several incidents of sexually abusing children. Then his daughter tried to kill herself.”
“I’m not sure I understand. Are you saying you think he’s a potential target of our killer?”
Kaiser laughs drily. “He may be
“I’ll never forget him.” I had my first panic attack at the Nolan crime scene.
“Tracy Nolan was Margaret Lavigne’s stepfather.”
“Holy God. Lavigne told someone her stepfather abused her, and that person murdered him?”
“Bingo,” says Kaiser. “Then it turns out that her real father was the molester.”
“Jesus.”
“I think Ms. Lavigne was sexually abused as a child,” Kaiser says. “She repressed her memories of these events. Dr. Malik tried to help her recall those events, and she did. Only she made a mistake about who the molester was. I mean, wouldn’t most kids prefer to think their stepfather raped them rather than their father?”
All I can think about is Group X, and Malik’s “groundbreaking” treatment protocols. What the hell did Malik do to those women? Or convince them to do?
“Cat? Are you there?”
“Yes.”
“Have you talked to Dr. Malik since we last spoke?”
I want to tell Kaiser the truth-that I talked to Malik and that he denied committing the murders-but until I know exactly how Aunt Ann is involved with him, I’m not saying a word. If I knew the identity of anyone in Group X, I would. But I don’t. “Look, I can’t talk to you anymore right now. I’ve got to find my aunt. She could be in real danger.”
“Help us find her, Cat. We’ll protect her.”
“If you need my help to find her, you can’t protect her. She’s bipolar, John. Do you have any idea what that means? She’s tried to kill herself twice that I know about. Malik has obviously been manipulating her. Can you imagine what kind of stress she must be under? She could be
“Yes, she could. So-”
“Listen to me. Those two patients of Malik’s who were related to the victims…Riviere’s daughter and LeGendre’s niece?”
“What about them?”
“Ask them about something called Group X.”
“Group X? What’s that?”
“A therapy group. I think they might have been part of it. That’s all I know that could help you right now. I have to go.”
“Wait! How do you know that? Did Malik tell you about it?”
“I’m sorry, John.”
I click END and almost leap out of bed, startling Michael to his feet.
Chapter 39
“What happened?” Michael asks. “You look like you’re going to faint.”
“My aunt Ann paid Nathan Malik’s bail.”
He shakes his head in disbelief.
“She must be a patient of Malik’s.
Michael’s eyes are bright with excitement. “If your aunt is a patient of Malik’s, he’s almost certainly treating her for sexual abuse. That means your grandfather is the one who molested you.”
“Not necessarily. Malik also treats people for bipolar disorder.”
“Exclusively? Or bipolar people who’ve also been sexually abused?”
“Exclusively, I think. Bipolarity, PTSD, and sexual abuse. Separate categories. May I use your phone?”
“Sure. Did your cell phone die?”
“No, but I don’t want the FBI to hear this call.”
Michael looks at me for several seconds in silence. “Are you calling Malik?”
“I’m going to leave him a message, yes. Are you okay with that?”
He goes out into the hall and brings back a cordless phone. “As long as you don’t do anything to risk your life.”
Even as I nod, I decide to tell Michael nothing about Margaret Lavigne’s suicide attempt or her note. When I dial the number Malik gave me last night, an automated voice instructs me to leave a message at the tone.
“This is Catherine Ferry. I’ve just learned that my aunt paid your bail. I’m assuming she’s a patient of yours. You’ve been dishonest with me, Doctor. I’d like to talk to you as soon as possible. You can reach me at-” I look up at Michael. “What’s this number?”
Michael rattles off his number, and I repeat it into the machine. “If you don’t return my call within an hour, I’m telling the FBI everything you’ve told me to date. Good-bye.”
I hang up Michael’s phone, pick up my cell, and scroll through the digital phone book. When I reach
A recording says, “We’re sorry, but the Cingular customer you’re trying to reach is unavailable or has traveled outside the service area. You may leave a voice mail at the tone.”
When the beep comes, I say, “Ann, this is Cat. I’m sure a lot of people are trying to get hold of you right now. I’m not trying to bother you. Your life is your own. But I know about you and Dr. Malik. I’ve talked to him, and I know why you like him. I have no desire to hurt him, or to help anyone else hurt him. All I’m asking is for you to call me back. You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. God knows, if anyone can relate to how you feel right now, it’s me. Mood swings are my life. I promise I won’t tell Mom or Grandpapa anything, and I won’t talk to the FBI. In fact, I’d like to talk to you about Grandpapa. Also about Daddy. I’m trying to figure something out about my childhood, and I have a feeling you can help me. Thanks. Please, please call back.”
Michael is staring at me like a doctor now, as though trying to decide whether I might be in a manic state myself. I’m tempted to call my mother and ask if she knows where Ann is, but I know better. All that would accomplish is to put my mother into a panic. If Ann wants to disappear, no one in the family will be able to find her.
