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Seth nodded, then leaned in a to give Clary a peck on the forehead. “We’ll wait out here for you.” He ran his hands down her arms.
“I’ll be careful. I won’t trust her no matter what.”
With a quiet sigh and a squeeze of her hands, Seth released her.
She gave Seth an encouraging smile, then looped her arm through Uncle David’s. “Have you seen her since she was committed?”
“I accompanied Edward several times, but I’ve never gone in.”
“How was she with Mr. E?”
“She never speaks to him, never even bothers to take her eyes off her paintings.”
Clary nodded slowly. “So she’s never attacked Mr. E?”
“I think she knows her silence and indifference hurt Edward more than anything else.”
“That’s scary.”
“She’s a scary woman, Clary.” Uncle David turned to her.
“She’s manipulative and cunning,” Clary said.
They stopped at the front counter, handed over their IDs, and waited for their temporary visitor pass.
The air-conditioned lobby, with its oak flooring and white and cloud-gray walls, looked just like a spa center. A long white suede couch, along with a small oak table with a pot of flower tea, stood in the corner.
“There will be two doors.” Uncle David rested his arm on the counter.
Behind his arm was a diffuser, misting out a pleasing—and, she supposed, calming-blend of essential oils.
“One of the two employees leading us in will scan the pass and open the first door. You’ll go in, and they’ll close and lock the door behind you. Then the second employee will scan the second pass so the second door, the door leading into Holly’s room, will open.”
“Wow. That’s really high security.”
“Holly can be really charming.”
“So you found a place that requires two different employee passes to open two different doors.” She looked around and took in a deep breath. “Did Mr. E build this place?”
“The clients in this center are all …”
“Dangerous?”
“Unstable.”
Clary blew out a breath.
“I won’t be able to hear what’s going on in the room. We can see in, but we won’t be able to hear you unless you shout. So if you need help, scream as loud as you can.”
Clary nodded. If the blend in the diffuser was meant to calm visitors, it wasn’t working for her.
“Are you sure it’s necessary to meet her?” Uncle David asked.
“Absolutely.”
“Then, for my sake, please stay alive.”
* * *
