InSight

fault where your ex-husband is concerned,” Norm said. “If I were you, I’d want him dead.”
    “I’ve come to terms. Keeping hate in your heart makes the hurt last longer.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven
    The Heart of the Matter

    A fter returning to Hub City , Abby received a call from Don Weston asking if she could make time to see him. She knew what he wanted but had hoped he’d let it ride a little longer. They agreed to meet at her office. She braced herself for the worst when he arrived.
    “Abby, I have to inform the police about Stewart. You’re asking too much to keep him secret any longer. It’s against everything I stand for. I’ve already compromised my position.”
    “You know what they’ll do to him, don’t you?”
    “You haven’t any proof.”
    “He’s so much better now than when you put him in Dayton , Don. You know that.”
    “Yes, but he’d been free for weeks. Did he take medication regularly? Were the pills you found the ones he’d been treated with? We don’t know, and it’s anyone’s guess. I have to turn him over. I’m sorry.”
    Abby heard the resolve in his voice. “Give me a little more time. Two days more, that’s all I ask. Then you can claim you didn’t know who he was or that he was a wanted man. I’ll verify it.”
    “His picture’s all over the news. Even though I admitted him under a different name, the staff at the hospital has to be wise. Someone will talk, and we’ll both lose our licenses for harboring him.”
    “When the truth comes out, we’ll be vindicated. It’s imperative we keep him away from Scanlon. Two days, please.”
    Weston sighed and Abby held her breath.
    “Two days, Abby.”
    “Thank you. Another favor.”
    “Don’t push it. I’m feeling the noose tighten around my neck now.”
    “Please,” Abby begged. “Do you think Stewart would respond to hypnotherapy?”
    After a long pause, Weston said, “I don’t know. That’s not my field of expertise.”
    “Do you know an expert?”
    “Yes, but I can’t promise it’ll work on Stewart.”
    “Would it hurt to try?”
    “If it’s traumatic, it might. If what you say is true, then someone has gone to a lot of trouble to either suppress information or get it out of him. Probably the latter.”
    “He’s already remembered part, but there’s more; I’m sure of it.” Abby felt that since Don had stuck his neck out, he should know as much as she did. “There’s something I should mention. Stewart told me that before he got sick he heard his mother and another man admit to rigging the plane that killed his father. He thinks he told me and then said we were going to the police. I think Doctor Scanlon might have used some form of mind control on me to make me forget the conversation.”
    “And you want to see if you remember under hypnosis.”
    “Yes.”
    “You went through a traumatic experience. There’s a chance you won’t remember anything, even under hypnosis.”
    “I’d still like to try.”
    “Anyone I involve will have to be told beforehand of the situation and the risks. I’m already involved, and if it were anyone but you, I wouldn’t be.”
    “I know that.”
    “I know two people, neither in the area.”
    “I’ll pay expenses and any rates. This is important or I wouldn’t ask.”
    “I’ll let you know.”
    * * * * *
    L ater that day, Don called. “The doctor’s name is Carl Schell. He’s from Minneapolis and one of the foremost psychiatrists specializing in hypnotherapy. I have someone picking him up tomorrow at the airport around noon.
    “I explained Stewart’s condition. He said he would tread carefully. Hypnotherapy can be dangerous when administered to someone suffering from psychosis, but considering lives may depend on the information Stewart is suppressing, he agreed to try. Any resistance and he’ll stop.”
    “Do you think we’re doing the right thing?”
    “Carl is good. If he thinks he’s in dangerous waters, he’ll know what to do. He’ll expect to be reimbursed for his plane fare but said he’d hypnotize both you and Stewart as a professional courtesy. The background information piqued his curiosity.” Don released a small chuckle. “In other words, he sees a paper in this.”
    Psychiatrists see a paper in everything, but she didn’t want to say that to Don. “Did you mention Scanlon?”
    “I did. He knows him but refrained from saying anything derogatory. Carl’s European and very reserved. I’d have been surprised if he