Chapter 9 - Ashcroft
Ashcroft House had been abandoned for six years.
The main building sat behind weeds and boarded windows, but Archive Building B still had power.
Officer Kim came with Daniel, Rachel, and Emma.
“You stay behind me,” she told Emma.
Emma nodded and immediately moved beside her father.
The brass key opened a records room in the rear.
Dust covered everything except one metal drawer.
Daniel noticed the clean handle.
“Someone has been here.”
Inside were microcassette tapes labeled with patient numbers.
One had a name written underneath.
L. MARCH / PRIVATE SESSION / 10-14-02.
Daniel pushed it into an old recorder.
Static filled the room.
Then his mother’s voice came through.
“My name is Laura Mercer. I am not delusional. I am not suicidal. My husband knows that.”
Daniel gripped the desk.
Rachel touched his shoulder.
Laura continued.
“Samuel Price brought the papers. Martin Hale signed one. Robert signed the other.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
His father.
Laura’s breathing shook on the tape.
“They say this is temporary. They say it keeps Daniel safe. They say I need to disappear until the investigation is over.”
A man asked, “Do you believe your son is in danger?”
“Yes.”
“From whom?”
Silence.
Then Laura said, “From the person Robert refuses to name.”
The tape clicked.
Emma whispered, “That’s it?”
Daniel turned the cassette over.
A second label was taped to the back.
SESSION CONTINUED - TAPE 2.
The slot beside it was empty.
Officer Kim swore softly.
Footsteps sounded in the hall.
A shadow crossed beneath the door.
Daniel reached for the handle.
Rachel grabbed him.
The lights went out.
May you like
Then Samuel Price’s voice came through the darkness.
“You always were impatient, Daniel.”
