Stand Alone by P.D. Workman Read Free Book Online Page A

what with the police station and everything    …”
    “I think it’s more of a fugue state or self-hypnosis. Sort of a dissociation.”
    “That sounds dangerous.”
    “Not at all. I think we are getting closer to figuring out the basis of her psychological problems.”
    Em pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes at him.
    “I thought that you believed it was probably because of when she was sick when she was a baby. She didn’t bond with me properly because she was in the hospital, and that caused the behavioral problems.”
    “That’s one theory    …   but it’s always been a bit of a reach, because attachment disorder is usually based around a traumatic experience, or a lengthy separation from the caregiver or period of neglect. You said that she wasn’t in hospital for that long, and when she was, you were usually there with her. She wasn’t in isolation, and you were able to hold her and maintain a bond.”
    Em shrugged helplessly.
    “But you thought that’s probably what it was.”
    “Was Justine ever away from you for any other period of time?” he prodded.
    Em shook her head.
    “Tell me about where you lived when she was younger.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “The house that you lived in. Describe the rooms and decor to me.”
    “We’ve always lived here,” Em said, “in the same house.”
    “She’s never lived in any other house?”
    “No.”
    “Or stayed with someone else, an aunt or sister or someone, while you had to go somewhere else?” he persisted.
    “No,” Em shook her head.
    “Just the hospital.”
    “And that was only for a couple of weeks, and I was there, taking care of her.”
    Dr. Morton sighed.
    “She continues to elude me,” he sighed.
    “Are you going to be much longer?” Em said, looking at her watch.
    “No. I’ll bring her out of this dissociative state and continue on. Shouldn’t be too much longer. It just    …   doesn’t make sense. I don’t think she’s lying to me, but what she says just doesn’t match up. It just doesn’t make sense.”
    Em nodded understandingly.
    “I know    …   I wish I could help.”

C HAPTER 3

    J USTINE HAD MISSED MOST of the school day, but she insisted on getting to her last couple of afternoon classes. Em insisted that she didn’t have to. Em said that Justine had had a long, grueling day, and she didn’t have to go to school until tomorrow. But Justine had staunchly refused to miss her last couple of classes. Em couldn’t help showing her pleasure that Justine was being responsible and not skipping classes when given the chance. She smiled and gave Justine Dr. Morton’s sick note for the earlier part of the day, and dropped her off in front of the school. Justine walked right in the front doors without turning around to see if Em was watching her in. Of course Em was watching her in. She wanted to be sure that Justine was actually going to go in, and not just skate around the neighborhood for the rest of the day. Justine went directly to the office.
    “Hi Justine,” Clara, the student manning the reception desk in the office greeted. “What’s up?”
    Justine handed over her sick note. Clara picked it up and looked it over.
    “Okay,” she told Justine, “I’ll enter this into the computer. Everything okay?”
    Justine rolled her eyes. Clara wasn’t actually supposed to be paying attention to any of the details on the sick note. She was supposed to act like she didn’t know anything, didn’t know anything about Justine’s personal life. That was all protected, private information.
    “I’m fine,” Justine growled, and shouldered her back pack. “I gotta get to class now.”
    “Next period starts in ten minutes. You might as well take your time.”
    “Thanks,” Justine agreed, and walked out.
    She stowed her board and her backpack and picked up her books for the last two periods. Her next class was math, and for the first few minutes, she was okay. But the lecture was beyond