Obscurity

Chapter 73: Debrief

Alma

As we round the corner of the hallway towards the therapy rooms, I scan the floor to see if any of the other patients are around. I don't see any of my fellow patients anywhere. The day room seems empty of patients. There are several agents and police in there meandering about. The nurses station is full of more law enforcement putting files into marked boxes. I assume they're taking them for evidence.

Spencer stops in the hallway briefly and asks two agents dressed in all black, "Debriefing?" he asks.

The point to the group room. We head in that direction. He never lets go of my hand, and I'm grateful for it. We come upon the group therapy room, and he gives me a reassuring look as we enter.

The room is just as it was the last time I was in here. The only difference is there's been a long fold out table set up in the center of the room and there are four strange faces behind it. Each in their own chair looking at Spencer and me expectantly.

The woman seated in the middle of the others points to two chairs sitting across from the table opposite of them. We take the hint and each of us takes a seat. Spencer moves his chair closer to mine and keeps a hold on my hand.

She reached over on the table and clicks on a recorder.

"For the record, please state your names." She says nodding to Spencer first.

"Special Agent Spencer Weaver." He says and looks over to me.

"Alma Weaver." I say in a low voice.

"Please speak up so our device can record your answers." The woman says.

"Alma Weaver." I repeat, louder this time.

"I'm Special Agent Jill Northman." The woman says.

The man next to her speaks up next, "I'm assistant prosecutor Eric Stone."

The third person, a man, seated next to Stone says, "I'm the Agent in Charge, Wilton with the F.B.I." my eyes go wide, it's so hard to believe this is happening.

The last person at the table, a woman, speaks up next. "I'm Dr. Daniels, a leading expert in psychiatry."

"I beg your pardon, Special Agent Northman. I thought this was a debriefing?" Spencer asks.

"It is." She responds.

"This is highly irregular." He says as he points to the other people at the table.

"This is a highly irregular situation, Agent Weaver." She responds.

He nods.

"I'd like to know everything you can tell me about your stay here, Alma." Agent Northman says.

I observe the stacks of files and paperwork setting before these agents and the doctor on the table. They clearly know a little about what's been going on, or else they wouldn't be here.

"Where do you want me to start?"

"From the beginning. Start with your intake." Northman says.

I run through the whole story. I tell her everything right up to the point the raid interrupted Chris's plan of giving me shock therapy in retaliation for my insubordination.

Every so often, the agents would interrupt my recounting of events to clarify a particular detail but largely they all just listened and took notes.

Spencer grasped my hand a little tighter during the difficult parts of my retelling. I'd look over to him when would squeeze my hand and he'd give me a reassuring look. I was surprised I didn't feel the need to sugarcoat my initial feelings about Chris or omit the punch I gave Sierra in my debriefing. I was glad I was just able to tell someone about everything. Everything.

I saw the psychiatrist at the end of the table cover her mouth a couple of times when I was telling my story. She seemed shocked at some of the things I recounted. The agents at the table, as well as the prosecutor that was sitting in on my debriefing, didn't make any indicators that they were surprised by any of the events that have taken place. I imagine they've all seen some pretty horrific things in their careers.

When I finished up my speech and answered a few questions, Northman looked to Spencer awaiting his account of events.

Spencer clears his throat. He seemed upset by all the things I had told the panel before us. He shook it off and began.

"Where do you want me to start?"

"Start at your arrival to this facility." Northman says.

"When I arrived, I first came to seek a visitation with my ex-wife here, Alma. I had been alerted by a family member she was here. Anyway, when I came to visit, they wouldn't allow it. I then spoke to my supervisor, you- agent Northman, and requested an identity kit and an assignment to admit myself into the facility to help the current ongoing investigation. My assignment request was granted, and I was admitted as a suicidal patient."

I look at Spencer in disbelief. I don't say anything to him. I don't want to interrupt but my mind is racing through a million questions. I stay mum.

Spencer continues, he runs through the different instances and events he witnessed while on the unit. Curiously he leaves out the early morning hours he sneaked into my room to talk to me. I assume it's irrelevant in the scheme of things.

He recounts how I was onto him about the cell phone he had in his possession and I chuckle quietly. He looks over to me and grins. I knew I was right!

"When Sierra was taken to Secondary this afternoon, I contemplated alerting the agents that were conducting surveillance on the facility about it, but I decided against it. I didn't want to break cover. When another patient alerting me to the fact that someone in Secondary was undergoing shock treatment I was even more concerned."

Northman breaks into the retelling. "So ultimately what made you hit the kill switch on the investigation and call us in?"

"When Chris came back after taking Sierra to Secondary and took Alma, I couldn't handle it." He admits, his eyes welling up a bit.

"Another patient informed me that the electro-shock therapy treatment was what was most likely awaiting her on the other side of that door. That was the last straw. Chris had no basis for removing Alma from the unit." He says defensively.

He clears his throat, and continues, "no sooner than that main door between the units closed, I was in my room phoning you. You know the rest." He says, re-situating himself in his seat.

I squeeze his hand and smile at him.

Northman asks, "Did your investigation turn up anything on the whereabouts of Michelle?"

"No. I got my hands on her file but there was no evidence or information, nothing of value contained in it. I still don't know what happened to her or where she is." He concedes.

"We're still investigating, but reports indicate Michelle died on this floor. Another patient, Abigail, is suspected of causing her death." Northman says in a solemn tone.

Spencer's mouth falls open. I cover my face with my hands and sob into them. That poor girl. My body rocks with the sobs and Spencer reaches over and puts his hand on my back.

"Surely the investigation will show what happened." Spencer says.

"Thanks for the information." Northman says as she clicks off the recorder. "Great work Special Agent Weaver." She smiles.

"Are we free to go?" Spencer asks.

"You are. Take the next few days off and touch base with me on Monday." She says.