Eye of the Beholder

Kerry smiled at him as she went through the doorway. "How's it going?"
    "I've been swamped." He made a face. "Four more hours including the Gallery Walk to go and then the worst will be over. We can all head for Dimensions to take in the Psychic Fair and see the fireworks."
    Kerry laughed. "Next week you and Alexa will both be whining about the slowdown in business."
    Alexa looked up from arranging gargoyles. "We're small-business people, Kerry. Whining is what we do. Don't forget my tea."
    "I won't." Kerry disappeared in the direction of Cafe Solstice.
    "I'd better get back to Spheres." Dylan started to turn away. "See you up at the Institute tonight?"
    Alexa kept her bright smile pasted firmly on her face, but her palms went cold. "Wouldn't miss Dimensions Night. But it'll be tough to find anyone in that crowd. Everyone's saying that the festival has drawn more people this year than any year in its history. Tonight the Institute is the center of attention because of the fair and the fireworks. It will be thronged."
    "We could drive up there together in my car."
    Alexa concentrated on positioning gargoyles. "Thanks, but I've already made arrangements."
    Dylan paused. "Going with Trask?"
    "Yes."
    "I was afraid of that." His face clouded with concern. "I guess there's nothing I can say."
    "No," Alexa said gently. "There isn't."
    He smiled ruefully. "None of my business, anyway. All the same, take care, okay?"
    "Don't worry, Dylan. I know what I'm doing." Sort of, she added silently.
    "Don't mind me," Dylan advised gently. "I've been feeling kind of down all day, in spite of the sales volume."
    "Because of the news about Joanna?" He nodded. "I can't stop thinking about it."
    "I know what you mean."
    "We're her friends, Alexa. We should have realized how dose to the edge she was."
    "We're not exactly mental health experts," Alexa reminded him. "Still..."
    "Hey, if it makes you feel any better, we're all feeling a little guilty today."
    "It's easy to look back and see the signs that we missed at the time," Dylan said. "She'd been getting more and more anxious and upset during the past few weeks. And she has a history of depression. There was that time right after Harry Trask died..."
    "The important thing is that she's going to be okay."
    "Thanks to you. What made you go to her house yesterday anyway?"
    "It was just an impulse."
    Dylan looked wise. "I think it was more than an impulse. When are you going to admit that there's something to Webster Bell's theories about psychic energy waves and positive vortices?"
    "I'll buy into that theory the same day I start seeing aliens and Abominable Snowmen."
    Dylan's eyes widened. "Don't tell me you missed them. They arrived on a tour bus from Tucson this morning. Checked in at the Avalon Resort."
    "Go back to work, Dylan. You're missing customers."
    "True. See you later." Dylan backed out of the doorway and sauntered off down the shaded path that led to Spheres.
    Alexa put the last gargoyle in place, straightened it, and picked up the box.
    Her palms were still cold. Her anxiety level was climbing by the minute. At this rate, she would find herself sharing a room with Joanna at the no-doubt very expensive, very private, sanitarium Webster Bell had selected.
    She had spent most of the day worrying about Trask and his plans to break into the Institute's files tonight. On those rare occasions when she had not been fretting about him, she worried about Liz and Joanna.
    It was all too easy to succumb to Trask's dark conspiracy theories.
    The doorbell chimed, announcing the arrival of a customer. Alexa was relieved. Selling gargoyles and fake swords took her mind off what lay ahead that evening.

29

    Alexa peered through the Jeep's windshield. The headlights revealed a long line of vehicles parked beside the road that curved down the hill from the entrance to the Dimensions Institute.
    "Foster was right when he said there would be a problem with overflow parking. The Institute's lots must be full."
    Trask slowed the Jeep. "I see why Pete Santana thought it would be a good idea to put on a special shuttle for the resort guests. It looks like we'd better park here and walk the rest of the way."
    He eased the Jeep to the side of the road and stopped it at the end of the line. Alexa opened the door on her side. She hesitated when she realized how dark it was. The nearly full moon did not compensate for the lack of streetlights. She turned away from the glare of the twin beams of an