โI really must insist,โ Leon said awkwardly, looking around at the packed guest bedroom, โthat we thin the crowd, just a bit.โ
โWell, Iโm not leaving,โ I said, stepping forward and bouncing Rafe in my arms. I looked down at my sister lying on the bed. Cora looked awkward and uncomfortable as she surveyed the collection of investigators: Roger, me, Rafe, and Sinclair, all standing around her. Leon sat primly squeezed into a chair beside her.
โPerhapsโฆthe child?โ Leon suggested, and I sighed, realizing he was right. I turned to Sinclair, my eyes pleading.
โCan you leave?โ I asked.
Sinclair blanched. โEllaโI have to be here to hear this.โ
โPlease,โ I said, stepping toward him. โMaybe we canโฆ is there a way to set up a video feed or audio feed? So you can hear from another room?โ
Leonโs eyebrows rose. โThat would work,โ he said, looking at Sinclair, who nodded firmly, reaching out for Rafe.
โI owe you,โ I whispered, standing on my toes to kiss his cheek and handing him the baby. โI canโt leave her.โ
โI understand,โ Sinclair murmured. โIโll send someone up with AV equipment in a few minutes.โ He brushed my cheek with his thumb before signaling to the investigators to leave with him. I turned back to my sister, then blinked. Roger was still standing in the corner, arms crossed.
โWhat are you still doing here?โ I asked, surprised.
Roger stared at me, apparently appalled. โIโm the lead investigator on this, Ella!โ he exclaimed, frustrated, gesturing emphatically. โI need to be here! To ask questions! To guide the investigation!โ
โOkay!โ I said placatingly, raising my hands. โI just didnโt know lead investigators were usually soโฆirritable.โ
โIrritable!โ Roger gasped, leaning forward, aghast. โElla, Iโโ
โRoger,โ Leon interrupted, holding up a hand. โWe need a calm environment for this to work, and your agitation isโฆnon-conducive.โ
Roger stared at Leon, mouth open, shocked to have been so politely reprimanded.
โYeah,โ Cora said, grinning at Roger and wrinkling her nose. โSo, in other words, stop being so irritable.โ
Roger stared between us, then leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes and pressing the bridge of his nose. โSistersโฆโ he muttered, โI am never again spending any time withโฆsisters.โ
A younger member of Sinclairโs team entered quietly, nodding to me and beginning to set up a computer and microphone on Coraโs far side. He worked quickly while Roger composed himself and Leon prepared the ether injection. I sat on the end of the bed, putting a hand on Coraโs ankleโthe only thing near enough to touchโand mouthed, โThank you.โ
She sighed, leaning her head back on the pillow and nodding, accepting her fate.
โNow, Cora,โ Leon said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, causing her to flinch. I grimaced, knowing how tense she was. โI know youโre aware of Ellaโs experiences with hypnosis, but everyoneโs journeys are different. Iโm going to give you the injection, then Iโll guide you back to your memories of that day. Youโll hear my voice, and then, when youโve accessed your memories, Roger will join me in asking questions. Is that all right?โ
โCan I stop whenever I want?โ Cora asked anxiously. โIf I getโฆscared?โ
โYes,โ Leon assured her, tightening his grip slightly on her shoulder. โThe antidote is right here. We will stop whenever youโd like. And if youโd like to give your sister permission as well, we can stop whenever she gives the word if she sees youโre distressed. Would you like to give your sister permission for that?โ
Cora nodded eagerly and looked at me for confirmation. I slowly nodded, letting her know I had her back, as always.
โAll right then,โ Leon said, smiling at Cora, Roger, and me. โLetโs get started, nice and easy.โ
Cora exhaled deeply and closed her eyes. She didnโt flinch as Leon administered the injection.
I saw Coraโs eyes flicker behind her eyelids as the ether took effect, and she quickly entered a dreamy, half-awake state. I watched, curious, wondering if Iโd looked the same under Leonโs care. His eyes also on Cora, Roger sat next to me on the bed, wanting to be closer. I gave him a warm nudge, both in welcome and apology for teasing him earlier. I was glad he was there.
โHello, Cora,โ Leon said quietly after a few minutes. โHow are you feeling?โ
โIโm just fine,โ she said, a peaceful smile on her face.
โWhere are you?โ he asked.
โIโm at my apartment,โ Cora replied, her voice carefree. I blinked, surprised. This was indeed different than my own hypnotic states.
โAh,โ Leon said, nodding and taking a notepad from his bag, beginning to write. โAnd is this a happy place for you?โ
Cora shrugged. โEh. Iโd rather be at work.โ
โDo you like work, Cora?โ
My sister nodded and smiled. My heart warmed to see her happiness. โI like to be helpful,โ she said, her voice breezy. โAnd busy.โ
โThatโs lovely, Cora. Why donโt you go to work now, and tell me when youโre there.โ There was a pause, then Cora nodded. Leon continued. โWhat day is it, Cora?โ he asked gently.
โItโs today,โ she said, as if Leon was foolish for asking. โDuh.โ I bit my lip to stifle a laugh.
โWell, today is very dull, isnโt it?โ Leon said, his voice peaceful, soothing, and persuasive. โLetโs go back a little bit in time. To that day, a few months ago, when your sister came to you and you helped her conceive her little baby. Can you go there?โ
Cora inhaled deeply, then exhaled. โAll right,โ she said, her voice humming with contentment and ease. โElla is coming soon. I am excited.โ
โGo ahead, Cora,โ Leon encouraged, and I shifted my gaze to him, interested in his different approach to my sisterโs hypnosis. Heโd taken a much more hands-off approach with me. I was pleased Sinclair had brought him onto our team.
โTell us what is happening,โ Leon continued.
โIโm preparing the sample,โ Cora reported, a happy smile on her lips. โWe keep them onsite frozen in liquid nitrogen. We had several vials of this patientโs sample.โ She yawned, relaxing more deeply into the memory. โBut Iโm just taking out one.โ
โAnd were you quite careful, Cora?โ Leon asked, his voice more curious than accusatory. โTo ensure it was the sample from the donor that Ella selected?โ
โOh yes,โ Cora murmured. โNo mistakes there. Donor 284726. I can see it on the vial and the paperwork. Itโs the right one.โ My eyebrows rose; under hypnosis, she remembered such details.
โWhatโs next, Cora?โ Leon prodded, calmly taking notes.
โI take it into the lab for thawing to room temperature,โ she murmured. โThen, I will check it for motility to ensure the specimen is viable.โ
โIs that what youโre doing now?โ Leon asked.
โNo,โ Cora replied with a happy sigh. โNo, I canโt. Because thereโs someone already in the lab,โ she said contentedly. My blood ran cold; this was a detail she hadnโt mentioned before.
โWho is it?โ Leon said calmly, as if Cora had just described a bird. His voice betrayed none of my shock and anxiety.
โA priest,โ she murmured.
โA priest?โ Leon continued. โWhat kind of priestโa Catholic priest? Or a priest of a goddess?โ
โNo,โ she murmured, shaking her head. โNo, this oneโs robes are like the goddess robes. But theyโre all black.โ