Der Schädelring: Thriller (German Edition)

sea of fear and float adrift. She couldn't afford to break this last lifeline of trust. "I talked to one of the officers who worked my father's case."
    "Who was it?" Dr. Forrest asked, sounding angry again. Why should she care which one Julia talked to?
    "James Whitmore. He's retired now."
    "Have they learned anything new?"
    "Nothing new," Julia said. "In fact, the case is pretty much buried."
    Just like the box had been.
    Julia felt well enough to drag herself onto the bed. She twirled the phone cord and waited for Dr. Forrest to speak.
    "You're not going to see Dr. Danner while you're there, are you?" the doctor finally said.
    "No. Why should I?"
    "Well, some patients develop an addiction to their therapists. I've been friends with Lance for many years. But I think you need to sever those ties to Memphis. They're not doing you any good."
    "I don't want to go backwards," Julia said. "I'm grateful for the help he gave me, but I really feel like you understand me better. I believe you'll help me heal."
    "Of course I will, Julia. You just have to trust me."
    "I trust you."
    "Then listen to me. Practice the visualization exercises we've been working on. Take a deep breath, a belly breath." The doctor's voice became, soothing and even. "Your hands are inflating. Your fingers are swelling with light, warm heat. They are feathers, they are little clouds, they are fish sunning in a pool."
    "Mmm," Julia said, the memory of the treatment as effective as her practice of it. Dr. Forrest took her through the rest of the exercise, until she was lying flat on the bed. By that time, the bed was a magic carpet floating high under the sun.
    "Are you relaxed now?" Dr. Forrest whispered.
    "Mm-hmm." Julia was so relaxed she wasn't even aware of her pulse rate. She remembered something had been bothering her, but somehow only the lightness seemed important at the moment.
    "I'll see you on Tuesday. Have a good evening, Julia."
    "Bye, Dr. Forrest," she said softly. "And thanks."
    She hung up the phone and was very nearly asleep when she remembered the ring.
    She rolled out of bed, clinging to the peaceful images that Dr. Forrest had suggested. She took the old stained cloth from the desk and picked up the ring without making skin contact with the metal. She sealed it inside the box and tucked the box back in her purse for safekeeping.
    Outside, darkness was falling, and pricks of light appeared in the buildings as the city changed shifts. Julia undressed, slipped into a thin nightgown, and climbed into bed. She fell asleep wondering if Mitchell would call.
    She awoke refreshed, unburdened by the lingering images of any dreams. She scarcely thought of the ring in her purse. After a shower, she dressed and went down to the lobby for a cup of coffee. Caffeine was bad for her, made it harder for her to remain calm, but the habit was old. Maybe someday, after Dr. Forrest healed her, she'd be able to give up all her little crutches.
    When Julia got back to her room, she dialed the offices of The Commercial Appeal and reached her old friend Sue.
    "Well, looky what the cat dragged in," Sue said in her slow drawl. The sounds of a busy newsroom spilled from the background.
    "Did you get my message?" Julia asked.
    "Just got it this morning. I figured you'd call me here, and I didn't want to call back in case Mitchell was with you."
    "There was nothing to interrupt, unfortunately."
    "That's a shame, girl. Damn, that man is a hunk." Sue McAllister had never been shy about poking into other people’s bedrooms or closets. That was why she was such a successful reporter. "Well, if you're not in Memphis to rumple the sheets with Mitchell Austin, what the heck are you doing here?"
    "Just doing a little digging," Julia said. "And I was hoping you could help."
    "Honey, we've been through all the files in the morgue. You've got every scrap of information on your father's case that was ever printed. Hell, you know more about the case than the cops do."
    You can say that again , Julia thought, and almost told Sue about finding the ring. But it was her one little secret, the one thing that provided a solid link to that long-ago night. Julia knew she was being paranoid, but she decided that the secret was worth keeping for now. “I’d like to get a list of the detectives who worked on the disappearance."
    "I thought you already did that."
    "Well, I wasn't paying attention to the names."
    "Hey, I can tell you're onto something. You going to let old Susie Q in on