Free Awakened (Intimate Relations) by Kate Douglas Page A

it help if you knew what Marc’s trying to find out? Would that help you direct your questions?”
    “It could, though I don’t want to lead you in a predetermined direction. Can you tell me what you hope to learn without too many specifics?”
    Marc stared at him for what felt like a very long time, but Mandy knew the moment he came to his decision. He glanced her way before speaking to Alden. “My reoccurring dream is a violent one. I need to learn the identity of the man who might have murdered a woman. I don’t know when it happened or who she was, but somehow I know I’m involved. I need to find out if my dreams are telling me the truth, or totally confusing the issue.”
    “Fair enough. Let’s try a simple session this first time. See how difficult or easy it is for you to reach a state of altered consciousness. We might not even get into the dream this time, or we could find all the answers you’re hoping for. Honestly?” He chuckled. “Sometimes it’s a lot like life—an absolute crapshoot.”
    Marc shrugged and took a quick look at Mandy. “You’ll be fine,” she said. “I’ll be right here with you.” She was surprised when he visibly relaxed, as if that was all he needed to hear.
    “What do I do?”
    “Get comfortable.” Alden adjusted his position in his own chair and waited while Marc settled into a spot on the sofa. He didn’t let go of Mandy’s hand.
    “Now, I want you to close your eyes and think of a number. Just one. Concentrate on the shape of it, the color as you see it, what it makes you feel. Does this number have a particular meaning for you?”
    Mandy had to force herself to concentrate on Marc, not on Alden’s voice. His rich baritone seemed to shiver over her nerve endings, made her want to fall into the sound of his words as much as what he was saying.
    She watched Marc, wondered what he was thinking. The man was undeniably brilliant. He was thirty-five years old with only a few months of college education, yet his net worth was already in excess of seventy-five million dollars, all on the basis of the software he’d developed and his business acumen in investing his original earnings. His mind fascinated her. Beyond his intelligence, it was the way he still cared so deeply about his friends, even while he carried this horrible burden. She hoped Alden Chung could help him. Wished she could help him, somehow ease the load.
    Alden continued to speak, but Mandy knew the moment Marc went into a trance. It hadn’t taken long at all before his grip on her hand relaxed and he settled against the pillow-soft back of the sofa.
    Dr. Chung stopped speaking and studied Marc for a moment. Then he nodded as if to himself, and said, “Marc? I want your subconscious to choose a finger to indicate yes. Show me which one means yes with a small movement.”
    Marc’s right forefinger tapped the arm of the sofa.
    “Good. That’s very good. What finger would you like to use to signify no?”
    Marc’s middle finger tapped the sofa.
    “Excellent, Marc. Very good. Now, if you become uncomfortable with my questions and want me to stop, I’ll need a signal from you, maybe…”
    Before he’d finished, Marc lightly drummed his three middle fingers against the arm of the sofa.
    Alden smiled. “Perfect, Marc. There will be no confusion on my part at all. Now I’m going to ask you a few questions, Marc. Indicate yes or no with the appropriate finger. First of all, I want to remind you that you are safe here. Do you understand that?”
    Marc’s forefinger tapped the sofa.
    “Excellent. Marc, we’re going to talk about dreams. I want you to feel safe when I ask you questions. Please indicate no if you feel at all uncomfortable, or if any of my questions are inappropriate. Can you do that?”
    Forefinger. A single tap.
    “Marc, sometimes you have dreams that make you uncomfortable. Do you remember them?”
    Forefinger again.
    “You don’t like to talk about the dreams, though, do