"This is Ashley Patterson."

The second attendant said, "Good morning, Miss Patterson." They made everything seem so normal. But nothing is normal anymore, Ashley thought. The world is upside down.

"This way. Miss Patterson." He walked her to another door and opened it. Ashley stepped inside. Instead of a cell, she was looking at a pleasant, medium-size room with pastel blue walls, a small couch and a comfortable-looking bed.

"This is where you'll be staying. They'll be bringing your things in a few minutes."

Ashley watched the guard leave and close the door behind him. This is where you'll be staying.

She began to feel claustrophobic. What if I don't want to stay? What if I want to get out of here?

She walked over to the door. It was locked. Ashley sat down on the couch, trying to organize her thoughts. She tried to concentrate on the positive. We're going to try to cure you.

We're going to try to cure you.

We're going to cure you.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Dr. Gilbert Keller was in charge of Ashley's therapy. His specialty was treating multiple personality disorder, and while he had had failures, his success rate was high. In cases like this, there were no easy answers. His first job was to get the patient to trust him, to feel comfortable with him, and then to bring out the alters, one by one, so that in the end they could communicate with one another and understand why they existed, and finally, why there was no more need for them. That was the moment of blending, when the personality states came together as a single entity.

We're a long way from that. Dr. Keller thought.

The following morning, Dr. Keller had Ashley brought to his office.

"Good morning, Ashley."

"Good morning. Dr. Keller."

"I want you to call me Gilbert. We're going to be friends. How do you feel?"

She looked at him and said, "They tell me I've killed five people. How should I feel?"

"Do you remember killing any of them?"

"No."

"I read the transcript of your trial, Ashley. You didn't kill them. One of your alters did. We're going to get acquainted with your alters, and in time, with your help we'll make them disappear."

"I—I hope you can—"

"I can. I'm here to help you, and that's what I'm going to do. The alters were created in your mind to save you from an unbearable pain. We have to find out what caused that pain. I need to find out when those alters were born and why."

"How—how do you do that?"

"We'll talk. Things will come to you. From time to time, we'll use hypnotism or Sodium Amytal. You've been hypnotized before, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"No one's going to pressure you. We're going to take our time." He added reassuringly, "And when we're through, you're going to be well."

They talked for almost an hour. At the end of that time, Ashley felt much more relaxed. Back in her room, she thought, I really think he can do it. And she said a little prayer.

Dr. Keller had a meeting with Otto Lewison. "We talked this morning," Dr. Keller said. "The good news is that Ashley admits she has a problem, and she's willing to be helped."

"That's a beginning. Keep me informed."

"I will, Otto."

Dr. Keller was looking forward to the challenge ahead of him. There was something very special about Ashley Patterson. He was determined to help her.

They talked every day, and a week after Ashley arrived, Dr. Keller said, "I want you to be comfortable and relaxed. I'm going to hypnotize you." He moved toward her.

"No! Wait!"

He looked at her, surprised. "What's the matter?"

A dozen terrible thoughts flashed through Ashley's head. He was going to bring out her alters. She was terrified of the idea. "Please," she said. "I—I don't want to meet them."

"You won't," Dr. Keller assured her. "Not yet."

She swallowed. "All right."

"Are you ready?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"Good. Here we go."

It took fifteen minutes to hypnotize her. When she was under, Gilbert Keller glanced at a piece of paper on his desk. Toni Prescott and Alette Peters. It was time for switching, the process of changing from one dominating personality state to another.

He looked at Ashley, asleep in her chair, then leaned forward. "Good morning, Tonni. Can you hear me?"

He watched Ashley's face transform, taken over by an entirely different personality. There was a sudden vivacity in her face. She began to sing:

"Half a pound of tupenny rice,

Half a pound of treacle,

Mix it up and make it nice,

Pop! goes the weasel..."

"That was very nice, Toni. I'm Gilbert Keller."

"I know who you are," Toni said.

"I'm glad to meet you. Did anyone ever tell you that you have a beautiful singing voice?"

"Sod off."

"I mean it. Did you ever take singing lessons? I'll bet you did."

"No, I didn't. As a matter of fact, I wanted to, but my"—For God's sakes, will you stop that terrible noise! Whoever told you you could sing?—"never mind."

"Toni, I want to help you."

"No, you don't, Dockie baby. You want to lay me."

"Why do you think that, Toni?"

"That's all you bloody men ever want to do. Ta."

"Toni...? Toni...?"

Silence.

Gilbert Keller looked at Ashley's face again. It was serene. Dr. Keller leaned forward.

"Alette?" There was no change in Ashley's expression. "Alette...?"

Nothing.

"I want to speak to you, Alette."

Ashley began to stir uneasily.

"Come out, Alette."

Ashley took a deep breath, and then there was a sudden explosion of words spoken in Italian.

"C'i qualcuno che parla Italuaw?"

"Alette—"

"Non so dove mi trovo"

"Alette, listen to me. You're safe. I want you to relax."

"Mi sento stanca.... I'm tired."

"You've been through a terrible time, but all that is behind you. Your future is going to be very peaceful. Do you know where you are?"

His voice was white.

"Si. It's some kind of place for people who are pazzo." That's why you're here, Doctor. You're the crazy one.

"It's a place where you're going to be cored. Alette, when you close your eyes and visualize this place, what comes to your mind?"

"Hogarth. He painted insane asylums and scenes that are terrifying." You're too ignorant ever to have heard of him.

"I don't want you to think of this place as terrifying. Tell me about yourself, Alette. What do you like to do? What would you like to do while you're here?"

"I like to paint."

"We'll have to get you some paints."

"No!"

"Why?"

"I don't want to."

"What do you call that, child? It looks like an ugly blob to me."

Leave me alone.

"Alette?" Gilbert Keller watched Ashley's face change again.

Alette was gone. Dr. Keller awakened Ashley.

She opened her eyes and blinked. "Have you started?"

"We've finished."

"How did I do?"

"Toni and Alette talked to me. We've made a good beginning, Ashley."

The letter from David Singer read:

Dear Ashley,

Just a note to let you know that I'm thinking about you and hoping that you're making good progress. As a matter of fact, I think about you often. I feel as though we've gone through the wars together. It was a tough fight, but we won. And I have good news. I've been assured that the murder charges against you in Bedford and Quebec will be dropped. If there is anything I can do for you, let me know.

Warmest wishes,

David

The following morning, Dr. Keller was talking to Toni while Ashley was under hypnosis.

"What is it now, Dockie?"

"I just want to have a little chat with you. I'd like to help you."

"I don't need your bloody help. I'm doing fine."

"Well, I need your help, Toni. I want to ask you a question. What do you think of Ashley?"