Although I am a doctor, I donât work with people when they are sick like when you needed your heart to get fixed. I work with people like you, Amy, when they are having trouble sleeping because they are remembering something bad thatâs happened to them.â
She nodded her head but kept her eyes downcast.
Vanhise motioned to Keelyn. âAmy, this is my friend Keelyn. Sheâs here to help me talk with you because sheâs a girl, and you know sometimes boys donât get what girls think. Plus, she has a little girl at home, too.â
Amy looked up. âYou do?â
Keelyn offered a warm smile. âI do! Her name is Sophia. Sheâs a lot younger than you though. Hasnât started preschool yet. Howâs your summer been?â
âNot good. I donât feel like doing anything.â
Keelyn nodded. âI bet thatâs very hard for you. Iâm sure you miss your friends.â
The girl kicked her feet out in response. Vanhise looked Keelynâs direction.
âAmy, who lives at home with you?â Keelyn asked.
âMe, Mom, Dad, and my brother.â
âDo you have any pets?â
âJust one crazy dog.â
âOh, Iâm jealous. I always wanted a dog. Why is yours crazy?â
Amy looked up at Keelyn with a little brightness in her eyes. âHe always steals my shoes!â
âNo kidding!â
âWe call him the Shoe Thief. You just canât leave them anywhere. Youâd think heâd have grown out of it by now.â
âThat does sound silly. Whatâs your dogâs name?â
âMuffin.â
âIs he a small dog or a big dog?â
âMmmm . . .â She shrugged her shoulders. âMedium, I guess. Heâs a cocker spaniel. Looks like chocolate, but dogs canât have chocolate, which is weird to me.â
âWhy is that weird?â Keelyn asked.
âThat something people can have can make someone else sick. Like my heart is making me sick.â
Derrick and Keelyn exchanged glances. Vanhise cleared his throat. âCan we talk about that, Amy? Why do you think your heart is making you sick?â
âBecause I wasnât having nightmares before I got my transplant.â
Vanhise crossed his legs. âCan you tell me about the dreams?â
The girl hugged her arms around her body, clasping her hands on each shoulder. âI donât think itâs a dream.â
âWhy not?â Keelyn asked.
âBecause I see him when Iâm awake.â
Brett settled his hand against the wall as acid roiled in his gut.
âWhat happens?â
âItâs like Iâm not me anymore. Iâm in someone elseâs body. Her world.â
Brett eyed the man at the recording equipment. âSome sort of flashback?â
The officer gave a contemplative nod. âCould be, I guess.â
Keelynâs voice drew his eyes back. âCan you describe what the world changes to?â
Amy grabbed onto both sides of her chair, as if she sensed an earthquake coming. She began to kick her legs out, mimicking stationary swinging. âIâm running in a park. I donât even like running.â
âDo you recognize where you are?â Vanhise asked.
âNo.â She tossed her hair over one shoulder. âThatâs what makes it all really weird. That itâs not like itâs me doing these things. Itâs like someone is taking my body and Iâm just along for the ride.â
Brett massaged the taut muscles in his neck.
âSo, youâre running in the park and then what happens?â Keelyn prompted.
âSomething shoves me off the path. At first, I donât know what it is. It feels like what must happen to my brother when he plays football. Heâs a quarterback, you know.â
âThatâs great. You watch his games?â Keelyn asked.
âAll the time. It was just like that. Heâll be getting ready to throw the
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