The Lesson of Her Death

“Please tell her this is an emergency.”
    The psychiatrist came on the phone and said coolly, “Yes, Mr. Corde?”
    He said, “Do you personally know Dr. Breck?”
    “Why, what’s the problem?”
    “Do you
know
him?”
    She paused a moment in irritation but must have sensed the urgency. She said, “No. But I’ve spoken to him several times about Sarah’s course of treatment.”
    “But it might not have been Breck you talked to.”
    “You mean you think he was an impostor? Oh, I don’t think so. He seemed to know a great deal about your daughter. Come to think of it, he knew a great deal about your whole family, Detective.”
    “What’s your daddy doing today?” Dr. Breck asked.
    “I don’t know. He’s at work, I guess.”
    “Do you love your daddy?”
    “Oh yeah. Sure.”
    “Does your mommy love your daddy?”
    “Sure. I guess.”
    Dr. Breck drove quickly. The scenery raced past as if Sarah were riding Cloud-Tipper the eagle. A barn was a red dot in the distance then a red ball then a huge red whale then it vanished behind them like a wish.
    Dr. Breck slowed and pulled into the driveway of the college. He turned toward a part of the school that was deserted, more trees than buildings. Sarah was able to read at least one sign.
Auden University
. She couldn’t understand the word “university” but she had memorized it because this was where Dr. Breck worked and that made it important to her.
    “I like these buildings,” Sarah announced. They looked to her like castles—only without gates and drawbridges and the lakes around them. Some even had up-down teeth on the tops like in
Robin Hood
(the old
Robin Hood
, the good one) where the sheriff’s soldiers stood and shot crossbow darts at the star, renamed by her “Arrow Flynn.” Sarah’s book contained two stories about castles.
    Dr. Breck had remained silent as they drove. He seemed lost in thought and she didn’t want to trouble him but she tried to read the sign in the front of the building they were passing. She couldn’t and she asked him about the words. “It says ‘Graduate School of Education,’” he answered. “Read the other sign there.”
    She frowned. “‘Arts.’ Oh oh oh, and ‘School of.’ I can read those. And ‘Sciences.’”
    “That’s good,” he said. “‘School of Arts and Sciences.’”
    “I got back my last story from Dr. Parker,” Sarah said. “Can we read it today?”
    “If you’d like.”
    “It’s my favorite. It’s about a wizard. I saw over by Blackfoot Pond. He lives in the woods behind my house. He watches the house a lot. It took me like forever to write it. I wanted to get it just right. It’s got Cloud-Tipper the eagle in it and—”
    With sudden curiosity Dr. Breck asked, “This wizard’s in your story?”
    “Uh-huh. It’s called ‘The Sunshine Man.’ That’s his name.”
    “And you saw him by Blackfoot Pond? When?”
    “One morning. Last month, I guess. He’s been behind the house too.”
    “What does he look like?”
    “I never saw him up close.” Sarah brushed a strand of hair off her face. “You know, Dr. Breck, I wanted to ask the Sunshine Man to make me smart only I was scared to. But I think he knew. I think he sent you to me.
    “You think so?” Dr. Breck pulled the car onto an empty parking lot beside a deserted building. He braked to a stop. She reached for the door handle but before she could pull the lever up Dr. Breck’s hand touched her arm. “No, Sarah. Wait just a minute.”
    She did as she was told.
    Corde ran to the front door. He said to Tom, “Deputy …” His voice shook and he took a deep breath to calm himself before starting again. “I think that man who’s been coming here for the past month, Breck, I think he’s Gilchrist.”
    “What?”
    “I’m not going into it now.” He turned to Diane. “He and Sarah left when?”
    Through her tears she said, “A half hour ago.”
    Where are they, where could they go?
    Where has he taken my daughter?
    “They were going to the school.”
    “Which school?”
    “Auden. To take some tests. Oh, Bill.” She sobbed and gripped the pillow hysterically. “He said he was going to
tape
her. He had a camera.…”
    Corde said to the deputy, “Do an APB. State andfederal. Call in a kidnapping-in-progress code and an approach-with-caution. Check Auden first but if he killed Okun this morning—” This brought a moan from Diane. “—I doubt he’s anywhere near the campus now.”
    “Right,