When Dr. McHugh finally returned, Grace got to her feet quickly, bracing herself for bad news.
“How is she?”
McHugh sent a look of pure and unfiltered empathy, as if a gaze could reach out and wrap her in a hug. She didn’t detect a single whiff of arrogance about him, and allowed herself to think he might actually be an ally in this fight.
“She’s going to be fine,” he said, sounding a warm and encouraging note. “Dr. Bouvier is looking after her, and he’s an excellent physician from what I can tell. She’s resting in the ER right now. I’ll go check on her soon, though I may require an escort. Not entirely sure I can find the place on my own.” Grace had never roamed the halls here or visited the underground tunnels that connected the various buildings in the Edgewater complex, but she imagined they could be as confusing as a rabbit warren.
Grace said, “Is she drugged?” She hated to use the words “chemically restrained,” but that’s really what she meant.
“No, it’s not advisable in cases of head injury,” he said. “There could be a mild concussion. I’ve talked to her though, and she seems fine, emotionally, that is.”
“Well, how could that be?” Grace’s eyebrows shot up. “She must be sick with fright.”
“We’ve kept the most damaging information from her,” explained Dr. McHugh.
“Is it … is it still Penny?” Grace’s voice was hopeful.
“When I asked her name, that’s the one she gave me.”
Grace let go a sigh. Her girl, her heart, was still here.
“We told Penny she’s in a special mental care hospital, one related to her condition, and that seemed to suit her fine. She’s accustomed to being treated and evaluated.”
“Oh, thank goodness. What a nightmare. If Penny knew what really happened … if she had any idea … it’s … it’s never been Penny, you see. She’s never been here before. It’s always been Eve.” Grace couldn’t get her thoughts straight, but she sensed Dr. McHugh was following her just fine.
“Eve is the more … difficult of the alters, am I right?”
Grace returned a succession of resigned nods. “Yes, she’s always been the angry one … filled with rage, really, so it makes sense she’d be the one to stick around in a place like this.” Grace gestured at McHugh’s office as though it were emblematic of all that was wrong with Edgewater.
“From what I saw today, Penny needed all the anger and rage she could muster to defend herself,” McHugh said. “I’m surprised she didn’t revert to Eve for protection.”
“Me too,” said Grace. “I don’t know what triggered the switch, but maybe there’s a reason Eve couldn’t return.”
“Could be,” said McHugh. “As I work with her, hopefully we’ll get an answer. I want you to know, I’m reporting that guard with the baton, Blackwood, for disciplinary action. Good gracious.” He shook his head in utter dismay. “First week on the job and I’m already making friends and influencing people. Apologies for the mess,” he said, gesturing to the towers of moving boxes, some piled three high, many with packing tape still in place. “Still settling in. Sit, please.”
“So, do you think Eve will come back?” Grace asked once they’d both seated themselves. She heard a tickle of apprehension enter her voice.
McHugh tugged at his beard as he lowered his gaze. He took his time answering, and it pleased Grace to see he was a thoughtful man.
“I can’t say for sure when or, if Eve will return,” he replied. He had spoken Eve’s name as though she were genuinely separate from Penny, and that small gesture meant absolutely everything.
“You believe her condition is real,” Grace said with great relief.
Dr. McHugh nodded, and Grace could swear the lines on his face grew deeper in that moment, as if some of the burden he’d taken from her had burrowed into him.
“I’m a believer in the condition, but I can’t say for sure that Penny has it. I know what’s in her medical file, but I’ll need to work with her to form my own opinion.”
“That won’t be easy if it’s Eve. She won’t talk to you. She doesn’t talk to any of her doctors. I think that’s why Palumbo labeled her with antisocial personality disorder. He didn’t like being bested by a teen.”
“He doesn’t like DID as a diagnosis, either,” McHugh replied. “I’m open to the idea though, Grace. Could be she’s got DID, a real and true case of it, or it could be borderline personality disorder, or…”