Not Dead Yet by Pegi Price Page B

fallen off the face of the earth.  Case closed.”
    “Not exactly.” Theia filled her in on the conversation she had the day before with Lu.
    “Are you nuts?” Mollie blasted.  “You can’t get involved with this!  That idiot will kill you.  He’s probably already killed his wife.”
    “But what if he hasn’t?  It’s not like the cops are knocking themselves out looking for her.”
    “Theia, promise me you’re not going to get involved with this.  It’s a formula for disaster.  Nothing good can come of it.”
    “I agree.  So, what should I do when Lu tells me he’s  called again with his demands?”
    “Maybe he won’t.  Maybe it was all a sick joke on his part.  Or maybe he knows he’s the prime suspect, so he’s gone underground. With a little luck, maybe he won’t ever call Lu again.”
    “I hope so.”
    “Promise me that if he does make contact again, you won’t do anything without talking to me first.  We’ll try to figure out a way to keep you safe.  Do you want to stay over with David and me for a few days until this thing blows over?”
    “No, I’ll be okay,” Theia responded.  “Thanks.  I really appreciate the offer.”  In truth, Theia would rather pull out her own spleen than accept help from anyone.
    “The offer stays open, in case you change your mind.  Now, who are you going to see?”
    “What do you mean?” Theia replied.
    “A shrink.  You said you’re going to see a shrink.  Who are you going to see?” Mollie asked.
    “I guess I’ll go back to the one I went to a few years ago, when I first moved here and was still working through some things.” 
    “Well, I’m glad you are going to talk to someone.  You have kept this bottled up for way too long.”
    Theia shrugged her shoulders and sighed.  “I don’t know,” she waffled.  “Maybe it was a one-time thing, the nightmare. It might not happen again, at least for a while.  I mean, the nightmares never went completely away.  Maybe I should wait and see if it happens again any time soon.  If I start having them frequently, then I will revisit the idea of seeing a shrink.  I think I’ll hold off on it for now.”
    “That’s brilliant, since everyone knows PTSD goes away on its own,” Mollie replied.
    “Post traumatic stress disorder?” Theia blurted.  “I don’t have post traumatic stress disorder!”
    “How is the weather there in the state of denial?” Mollie quipped.
    Even though Theia knew she had PTSD, it was jarring to hear someone say it.  Theia glared, then shrugged her shoulders again, reaching for the telephone. “I’m only doing this because I know you will nag me until I do.”
    “I’m only doing this because I am your friend,” Mollie said.
    The therapist was available to meet with Theia in an hour, thanks to a cancellation. 
    “I can’t do this right now,” Theia complained.  “I need time to prepare.”
    “You mean you need time to think of an excuse to cancel the appointment?” Mollie chided.  “Go before you chicken out.  You know you need to do this.”
    Theia’s nerves were so tight by the time she arrived at the therapist’s office, she thought she could shatter glass.  She always feared that if a therapist knew everything that went on inside her head, she would be involuntarily committed.  She looked all around as she walked into the office, as if she expected someone to pounce on her.
    “Hi, Theia, good to see you again,” Toni Devore smiled and offered her hand.  Although Toni reminded Theia of a cherished childhood friend, whose children Theia had  babysat, Theia wanted to bolt for the door.  Instead she sat down in a large leather club chair with as much enthusiasm as she would have for the dentist.  Toni sat in the other club chair. 
    “I just want you to know,” Theia began, “I don’t think I need to be here.  I just came so my friend would stop nagging me.  All I had was one little nightmare.  No big deal.  Nightmares