Free The Sound of Seas by Jeff Rovin, Gillian Anderson Page B

it out, invited it in. She ran headlong into this, ignoring every goddamn stop sign. I know, I was there. I was the one pointing at the flashing exit signs. What we really have to do is learn more before we do anything.”
    â€œHow, Ben? I’m listening.”
    â€œAnd I’m thinking . Jacob’s breathing normally?”
    â€œFor a kid who’s unconscious, yeah.” She glared at Ben. “And that crap about Caitlin seeking this? She and I talked about that too. She was trying to provide care for a bunch of kids. She didn’t ask for her boy to be endangered.”
    â€œYou don’t have all the facts,” Ben said.
    â€œOkay, I’ll ask again: What am I missing?”
    â€œThis ‘thing’ Caitlin was dealing with,” Ben said. “It targeted children of trauma. Jacob was caught in the backwash as soon as his mother got involved, that very day. Whatever it was got some kind ofclaws in him. She realized the first time she looked at this that there were forces neither of us even remotely grasped. But as you say, there were children at risk so she went ahead. I didn’t want her to go to Haiti. I didn’t want her to go to Tehran. Things came back with her, Anita. Things we thought—no, things we hoped —were gone. But they’re not, and doctors—doctors as smart and experienced as you, Anita—can’t help her or Jacob.” He moved closer. “Anita, I’m sure that right now Caitlin is trying to fix something , again.”
    â€œShe’s. Unconscious.”
    â€œAs far as the doctors know,” Ben said.
    Anita made a sound of disgust. “You’re just guessing now, and it’s a dangerous guess.”
    â€œActually, I’m praying that’s the case. If it is, then we have to let this play out, at least a little longer. If Jacob shows even a hint of change, then we do it your way.”
    â€œDefine ‘hint,’ because he looks pretty pale right now. ”
    â€œPaler,” Ben said. “If his temperature rises or his breathing slows or he shows symptoms that are something other than the kind of reaction to a bad dream.”
    â€œHe was awake, remember?” Anita said. “This—this show may have put him in a reduced metabolic state.”
    â€œAnd drugs are not the answer,” Ben said. “There is something bad out there, something doctors won’t be able to fix.”
    Anita exhaled angrily and looked back at Jacob, who was sleeping again. They moved away from the door, into Caitlin’s room, and spoke softly.
    â€œI just don’t like it,” she said. “And I don’t trust those two. Caitlin’s in a coma and I think this woman knows why. I want her to tell us.”
    â€œI believe she will, in her own time and in her own way. She helped Caitlin heal the girl in Haiti. And she cared enough to make arrangements to fly up here.”
    â€œ ‘Cared enough,’ ” Anita sneered. “About what?”
    â€œWhat do you mean? She sensed there was a problem—”
    â€œShe may have already been here,” Anita said.
    â€œWhat are you, the INS now?” Ben asked. “You want me to check her papers?”
    â€œNo, I want you to consider the possibility that she may have caused this, all of it. Starting in Haiti and continuing here.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI don’t know!” Anita said. “A shakedown. She saw a gullible, well-off woman down there, got her bony little talons into her, saw a way to make some money. I mean, she’s just over there, waiting. Offer her money, see if she talks.”
    â€œI don’t believe that’s why she’s here,” Ben said. “I think she’s being careful. She could be afraid.”
    â€œYeah, of being found out,” Anita said.
    Now Ben was getting frustrated. “I’ll say it again, Anita: there are phenomena at work. Genuine get-thee-from-me-Satan