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 t 5:25, Kat slipped the tape out of the tape recorder, and labelled it. Then she opened her case file again and wrote some additional notes. Ten minutes later, she slipped the file back into the cabinet, and locked it, then turned to check her e-mail. She replied to KatE, then slipped out into the reception area. Maya and Catie had both already left, and the reception was closed, so Kat surmised that Marc had finished with his client. She tapped on the door, and peeked her head around the door. Marc waved her in, so she entered, and sat in the chair across from him. He hung up the phone, then frowned, looking puzzled.
"What is it?"
"That was a Doctor Tod, from Germany, he said he knew my professor from Uni... and he had a client he wants me to check up on."
"Oh?"
"Yes, he's apparently just moved here. Name of Mitchell Sanders."
"So are you going to see him?"
"Well, I had a cancellation tomorrow morning, and the doctor seemed very pleased that I would agree to see this Mitchell."
"...but...?" Kat prompted.
"But... I've never heard of this doctor before, and I can't check up on him, 'cause the Prof is out of town."
"It's probably harmless," Kat smiled. "Come on, leave your work alone, and we'll go and get changed before dinner."
"You always think the best of people," Marc laughed, but obediently shut down the computer, and locked up, and together, they left.
Kat entered their bedroom, and slipped off her shoes and hung her coat in the wardrobe. A moment later, she frowned, and bent down to pick up a button off the floor. She frowned at it for a moment, then called to Marc.
"Lost some buttons, baby?"
She picked up a second.
Marc appeared in the doorway a moment later, and looked at her. "Did you lock the back door?"
"Of course I did. You were there, remember?"
"You didn't unlock it when you came back from your sisters?"
"I didn't come home from Jade's, I went straight to work. Why, love?"
Marc frowned.
"What's that?"
Kat held out her hand, and tipped the buttons onto Marc's palm before starting to unbutton her shirt.
"Buttons. Yours?"
Marc examined the buttons for a moment, then looked up.
"I don't have any Yves St Laurent shirts, Kat. And the back door is unlocked."
Kat froze.
"There's someone in our house?"
Marc quickly put his arms around her.
"Probably not. I can check."
"No! Stay here. We'll call the police."
"I'll do it."
Kat buttoned her shirt again, and stood in the circle of Marc's arm as he made the call, then, a few minutes after he had hung up, the phone rang. Kat picked it up.
"Jade," she greeted.
"What's wrong?" Jade demanded.
Kat explained, and Jade sighed.
"Was anything taken?"
"Not that I've noticed so far, but I've only looked in the bedroom. But the TV and CDs are all there."
Marc nodded.
"Sounds odd. Want me or Darryl to come over?"
"No, you have the kids to worry about. Don't wait dinner for us, I don't know how long this will take. Marc and I will come over later."
"You want to stay here tonight?"
"Yes."
"I'll make up your room," Jade said. "Call me if you're delayed."
"I will."
"Love you."
"You too."
Kat hung up, and she and Marc waited for the police.
"You said you're a psychologist?" the officer asked Marc.
"We both are," he explained. "And I know we should have an alarm purely for that reason. But we're getting married on Saturday week, and these things take lesser priority."
"Congratulations," the officer offered absently. "Any clients come to mind who would do this?"
"No, that's the strange thing," Marc replied. "Usually they'd be your first suspect, but none of my cases at the moment are in the least psychotic."
"And you're sure nothing was taken?"
"After your guys went through, we did, and there's nothing that we've noticed."
The officer wrote some more notes.
"Hon," Kat called.
"Yes?"
"The laundry door was open."
"It's not usually?"
Marc wordlessly shook his head.
"There was some clothing on the floor in there, if I remember correctly."
"Washing goes in the basket," Marc replied automatically.
"Sounds like we have ourselves someone with an obsession," the officer muttered, then nodded to someone who entered the laundry.
The second officer emerged again, then whispered in his colleague's ear.
"Excuse me, Ma'am," the officer said. "I was wondering if you could tell us how many days washing is in that basket?"
Kat frowned.
"Um... I did it on Tuesday... so Tuesday and Wednesday. Why?"
"It appears that the clothing on the floor was... uh... your undergarments, and they were... uh... recently used. There's a possibility that some may be... missing."
Kat closed her eyes, and swayed slightly.
"Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?"
"My sister's. We're staying at Jade's."
"I would suggest you go over there now," he said. "Take a few days worth of clothing. We'll put surveillance on the house, and do some analysis on the evidence. Unfortunately the analysis will take about a week, but you should get your house back this weekend. Get an alarm installed, and leave your details with me, and I'll see that you get notified about everything. We've got a couple of prints, but we'll need to get yours tomorrow so we can eliminate them from out profile. Your sister is here a lot?"
"Yes."
"We'll get hers too, then."
Kat nodded silently, and went to pack.
***
"You IDIOT!" Mr Mori raged.
Michael jumped out of his skin, and guiltily stuffed Kat's underwear behind his back.
"What?"
"Don't "what" me, you know exactly what you did! The police are there, they have the results of your little jerk-off session, and now the twins are going to be living together again, I ought to flay you alive!"
"What did you expect me to do then, you never tell me your plans, and I'm never allowed to do anything," Michael replied sulkily.
"You are here to obey, not question!" Mr Mori rejoined. "Tell me everything."
Sulkily, Michael obeyed.
"You saw his energy too?" Mr Mori paused to consider that. "She must have formed a mind-link with him... Of course, Leo. Well, well, well. Someone else to kill. You will have to set up a base closer to the old home in the Valley."
"I like it here," Michael began, but stopped at the look in Mr Mori's eyes.
"You Will Go And Set Up Base By The Old House."
Michael shuddered as the words burned themselves into his skull.
"Yes, master," he whispered.
"Good," Mr Mori suddenly seemed more cheerful. "You'll have to kill someone of course, but you're no stranger to that, are you, Michael?"
"How??"
"I know many things," Mr Mori said smoothly. "Now. I have managed to arrange for you to have a session with Doctor Bradshaw in the morning, so you'll need to get a lot done tonight."
"I'll kill him," Michael whispered.
"Oh, yes, you will," Mr Mori replied. "But not just yet. Get to know him, breathe his scent, know his weakness. Then we will strike."
"I will kill them all."
"That's the spirit. Now. Go and set up base."
Mr Mori vanished in a sheet of flame, and Michael gently fondled Kat's underwear.
For the first time, he wondered if getting involved with Mr Mori was such a good idea.
Then the compulsion kicked in, and Michael began packing his things.
After he finished packing his things and had placed them in his car he went upstairs to check he hadn't left anything behind. He also thought about how he was going to kill the old tenants of what would be his new abode. He peered into the room and did a quick sweep and noticed several weapons on the bed. He went over and looked at them. A gun with a silencer, A kitchen knife, a sword, and a few other knives. He disregarded the gun, to simple he thought. He picked up a knife and tested the blade, a sliver of his blood ran down the blade. Perfect he thought. He turned and left the room as the other weapons disappeared. Michael drove straight to the house that Jade lived. He wished he was allowed to kill her now but he could hear Mr Mori telling him to be patient. He looked at the two houses next door and decided they wouldn't be a good idea. Knowing Jade she was probably friends with the neighbours. He looked at the otherside of the street and picked an old slate building. He pulled up in the driveway and closed the garage behind him. He then picked the lock to the door that went from the garage to the house and slipped inside.
***
Friday morning Kat awoke and panicked breifly til she recognised her surroundings. She started to calm down until she remembered why she was at Jade's house. Unable to go back to sleep she got up, careful not to wake Marc. She slipped downstairs and saw Jade sitting on the couch feeding Jessica, James playing with various toys on the floor.
"Kat?" Jade asked without moving. Kat moved into Jade's view and sat accross her. Jade nodded hello and then shifted Jessica so she was feeding of her other breast. They sat in silence for a few minutes.
"You okay?"
"I don't know. Just seems bad timing."
"I know. Your welcome to stay here for as long as you need."
"I know, thank you."
"Are you going to work today?"
"No. Marc has a few clients today but after that we are going to go to the security company and install alarms." Jade shuddered as she pulled Jessica away and then burped her.
"Do you want to hold her?"
Kat nodded and Jade handed over Jessica who gurgled a little filling the silence.
***
Kat awoke again that morning on the couch. She was covered with a blanket. She sat up and Jade and the kids were gone. She heard voices coming from the kitchen and headed that way. Jade handed her a cup of coffee which she sipped thankfully.
"Where's Darryl and Marc."
"Gone to work already, it's after lunch."
"Your kidding?"
"Nope. By the way Darryl is taking the afternoon off and will help Marc getting the alarm system so you didn't have to go."
"Thanks."
"No problems."
"Go have a shower and I will drop the kids off at Mom and Dad's and then we will go out."
"Okay"
Kat took a long shower allowing the water to run down her body and ease some of the tension. She sat down and leaned against the wall with her eyes closed. She sighed. After about half an hour of just sitting there Kat finally felt a little better. She finished her shower, dried herself off and got changed before heading back downstairs again. She found Jade in the lounge playing with her cats.
"I got them from your place." Jade smiled warmly at Kat.
"Do you remember when they were just kittens?" Kat asked.
"Was such a long time ago. Incidently how is Jasmine?"
"Good actually. I just got another letter from her, she loves her new home and she's met someone."
"That's great. Things have really changed haven't they?"
"Yes. Come on you promised to take me out."
Jade laughed and grabbed her purse and keys.
***
Michael watched Jade and Kat leave and paced thoughtfully.
"I wonder if I should follow them, what do you think?" He paused "Go inside and have a look around you think, hmm good idea. Jade brought those damn cats over, the one Mr Mori doesn't like, do you think he would like it if I killed them? No? Hmm what about if I brought them to him and let him kill them, do you think he will like that? Yes that is a much better idea."
He turned and faced the women he was talking to and tilted his head.
"You look so sad today, maybe if your lucky I will buy you something today, after all your very special to me."
Michael reached out and pulled the long butchers knife from the chest of the old women and wiped the blood on her dress. Swinging it in thought he planned how he would get the two cats for Mr Mori.
***
Jade and Kat sat down at a booth and chatted til the waitress came over and took their order. Kat ordered a ceaser salad and a white chocolate mocha. Jade ordered the same.
"I thought you didn't like coffee."
"I don't, am craving foods though."
"Typical, you didn't crave foods through both pregnancies until after the children were born."
"Your point?"
"Nothing," Kat grinned.
"Good. Anyway I have a bit of a surprise for you and I won't take no for an answer."
"Oh?" Kat raised her eyebrows.
"I have moved your hens night forward to Saturday night. I know your free because I checked your diary."
"I could have had something on with Marc."
"No. I know the little picture you use for that. Anyway it's all arranged with your friends, the accomodations booked and paid for and Darryl's already spoken to Marc about it."
"Your sneaky Jade."
"I know."
They moved back as the waitress brought their coffee's and salads. They ate in silence for awhile.
"I had a bad dream last night," Jade said suddenly breaking the silence.
"What was it?"
"I kept dreaming I was falling."
"That's normal."
"Maybe, I have had it for a week now and always the same. I am on my way to see you when I pass all these sick people holding roses. They scare me so I start running and just as I near you I trip and fall, like I am falling from a great height and then I land in water. When I get up I am standing in my house and water is flooding everywhere."
"That's fairly vivid."
"What does it mean?"
"Probably nothing it's just a dream after all." Jade shrugged.
"Your probably right."
Kat mused it over in her head, she knew the symbols from Jades dream weren't exactly good omens. She shrugged it off and agreed she would deal with it later.
"Anyway where are we going?"
"I booked the Cabin at Lake Tarlo."
"Oh very nice."
"Glad you approve. We leave early tomorrow morning."
***
Michael returned to the house with the two cats. After he closed the door he set them down and went to the kitchen to run his hands under water cleaning several scratches.
"Damn those cats." He walked back into the lounge wiping his hands.
"What are you laughing at? You think it's so funny that I have scratches. Well you could of told me to get a cat carrier or something. Yes you could have. Fine! I won't give you anything after all. I'm going out now so look after the cats or there will be hell to pay!"
Michael slammed the door and jumped into his car and drove. He needed to cool off. He drove past Kat's house but there were police about so he kept going. He needed a breakthrough. He was sure he would make Mr Mori happy with the cats and the kill but he wanted to do something more. He just had too.
***
Michael got out of his car and looked up at the building. Not entirely sure why he did, he entered the building, and looked at the two ladies behind the counter.
"Mitchell Sanders?" one of them queried, and Michael nodded. "Dr Bradshaw will be with you in one minute."
"Thanks."
As Michael leaned against the wall, he saw Kat leaning against the wall at the corner. After a startled moment, he recognised the faint haze which told him it was only her energy pattern.
"Mitchell Sanders?"
Michael stood up, and came face-to-face with Marc for the first time. For a moment, Michael examined him, wondering what it was that Kat saw in him, that wasn't in Michael himself.
"Come this way, please."
Michael followed Marc into his office, noticing the closed door with Kat's name on it. Maybe the office would be worth a visit, that may be the something more which would placate Mr Mori.
Marc was talking as Michael seated himself opposite Marc's chair behind the desk, and Michael's body answered, without any input from himself. His foot touched the desk, and Michael recognised Kat's back and hair, seated on the desk in front of him, facing Marc.
After about half an hour, Michael interrupted.
"Who made that?"
Marc looked, and noticed a poem Kat had written out for him in calligraphy and illuminated lettering.
"My wife," he said after a second.
"You're married then?"
"Tomorrow week," Marc replied cautiously, sightly surprised by the sudden enthusiasm for conversation.
"Lot of work in that."
"Yes, there is."
"She must love you."
"She does."
Something flickered in Michael's face, making Marc feel uneasy, but it was gone within an instant, and Michael stood up.
"Well, I believe my time is up," Michael said, offering his hand. "It was... interesting." Michael glanced again at the poem.
Marc shook Michael's hand, then showed him out of the office. Then, frowning, returned to his desk, and sat staring at the poem.
***
The Invitation
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."
It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.
© Oriah Mountain Dreamer, from the book The Invitation
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