Eye of the Beholder

hotel reception.
    Alexa stepped around Trask. "Is Joanna okay?"
    "She'll be all right." Webster gave her a weary smile. "Thanks to you. I stopped by to say thanks. You probably saved her life today."
    "We hadn't realized that she was so deep into a state of clinical depression," Foster said gravely. "She obviously needs intensive psychiatric care. Webster is going to make arrangements for her to go directly from the hospital into a private facility for a while."
    "Are you sure she tried to commit suicide?" Alexa gazed thoughtfully at Webster. "Maybe she just took too many tranquilizers by mistake."
    "I'd like to think that's the case," Webster said quietly. "But I'm afraid she's very ill. She's still hallucinating."
    "The doctor allowed Webster to see her for a few minutes," Foster said. "She wasn't very coherent. Apparently she's anxious about her journal. We went to her house to get it for her, but we couldn't find it. You didn't happen to notice it when you were there earlier today, did you?"
    "Are you talking about her Dimensions personal journal?" Alexa asked slowly.
    "Yes," Webster said. "Did you see it, by any chance?"
    "No, I'm sorry," Alexa said. "I didn't notice it."
    "We weren't in the house very long," Trask added. "Things were hectic. After the medics left with Joanna, I called you, and then we locked the doors and left."
    Webster ran a hand across his face as though trying to erase the weariness etched there. "She wouldn't talk to me very much, but she seems to want the journal very badly."
    "I'm sure it's a source of comfort to her," Foster said. "Webster and I hoped we could find it."
    "Maybe it's at her shop," Alexa volunteered helpfully.
    Trask barely managed to subdue a strong impulse to plant his heel on her toes.
    "No, it's not there, either," Webster said. "We checked the shop after we couldn't find it in her house." He gave a dispirited shrug. "I guess that's all we can do for now. Maybe when her mind clears she'll remember where she left it."
    "If there's anything I can do, please let me know," Alexa said. "Joanna is a friend. I want to help in any way I can."
    "Thank you." Webster smiled gently as he slid back into the front seat of the Range Rover. "Think positive thoughts."
    "I will," Alexa promised.
    Foster raised a hand in farewell. "Peace and serenity."
    The heavy vehicle's engine roared to life. Trask took Alexa's arm and turned her away from the blinding headlights. He guided her back to the patio.
    He was furious with himself.
    "Damn it to hell, after what happened at Liz's house, we should have thought to look for a journal at Joanna's place," he said.
    "Hey, we aren't exactly trained detectives." Alexa gave him a wry smile. "Besides, as I recall, we were busy making another brilliant deduction at the time. Those late-night phone calls, remember?"
    "I wonder what the hell she knows about all this."
    "From the sound of things, we won't be able to get close enough to her to ask any questions for a while. You heard what Foster said. Bell is making arrangements for her to go into a sanitarium."
    "Whether she needs one or not," Trask said dryly.
    "I know you've concluded that Webster is behind all this, but I'll tell you one thing," Alexa said.
    "What's that?"
    "I got a good look at his face tonight. Whatever is going on, I can almost guarantee you that he never intended to put his sister at risk."

    The monsters surrounded her. Some hung by serpentine tails from the ceiling and leered. Others stood three deep, slathering jaws agape. Perched atop the backs of their scaled companions, a few glared down at her with menacing eyes.
    None of them moved. It was as if they were all frozen ...

    "Alexa, wake up. You're dreaming."
    "Go away." Annoyed by the interruption, sensing she had to get back to the dream before it evaporated, she turned her back to Trask and snuggled into the bedding.
    Trask shook her gently. "It's okay, it's just a dream."
    "I know that," she grumbled into the pillow. "Important. Leave me alone."
    "I guess that tells me where I rank in the general scheme of things around here." Trask sounded only slightly amused.
    Alexa opened one eye. There was no recapturing the dream now, anyway, she decided. She turned back to face Trask.
    He was propped on his elbow, looking down at her. The sheet had fallen to his waist. His bare shoulders blotted out a very wide swath of moonlight.
    "I changed my mind." Alexa drew a finger slowly down his biceps. "You're more interesting than tike