Winds Of Eternity Part 20

"What are you talking about?"

"Maggie. She was here today, Barnabas."

"Oh?"

"She was acting strange. Like it was four years ago." He told Barnabas about finding Maggie in Josette's room. "Julia hypnotized her and she and Quentin took her back to Collinwood."

"I can always trust Julia to handle the situation," he said, his tone wry.

"You better be grateful to her, Barnabas. If it wasn't for Julia, Maggie might've remembered everything again. And they'd be coming for you."

"Who's to say that that might not be preferable?"

"Com'on, Barnabas. You don't mean that."

Julia spoke from the stairs. "I think he does, Willie." His words only confirmed her suspicions, and made her sure she had made the right decision.

"Julia. I trust you took care of everything with your usual efficiency?"

"I hypnotized her and made her forget again, then Quentin and I took her out,

told her they'd been out walking and met me, that she'd never come here at all. I brought her out of it, and sent her back to Collinwood with Quentin. He's very angry with you, by the way."

"A simple 'yes' would have been sufficient, Julia."

"I called Wyndecliffe from Collinwood and made some arrangements -"

"What sort of arrangements?" he asked, his eyes narrowed.

Julia's eyes never left Barnabas' as she spoke. "Willie, I want you to put Barnabas' coffin in the station wagon."

"What for?"

"Just do it, Willie."

Now Barnabas asked the question. "Why?"

"I'm taking you to Wyndecliffe."

"Wyndecliffe?"

"I can keep a closer watch on you there - make sure you don't do something like this again - although I don't think Quentin would be likely to leave Maggie alone with you here. And I might be able to isolate a serum easier there."

"And what will you tell the family?"

"I spoke to Elizabeth. She understands that you're depressed as a result of Angelique's death and need some time away from here." His look was uncertain. "Barnabas, I'm doing this for your own good. If you don't agree to leave now, I'll simply wait until tomorrow morning when you're in your coffin."

"It seems I have no choice."

"No. You don't."

Julia had a private residence on the grounds, complete with a bas.e.m.e.nt. By the time Willie installed the coffin there, it was nearly dawn. Standing beside it after the sun had risen, Willie asked, "You want me to stay too, Julia?"

"Yes. I need you to keep people away from here - not that anyone will come anyway. Just keep the doors locked."

"Where are you gonna be?"42.

"At the hospital. I have some things to clear up before I go to the lab."

Lee Mitch.e.l.l smiled at his boss. "I was told you were back. Sudden decision?"

"A temporary one. I brought a patient up here last night. A private patient."

The white haired doctor scanned the list of new admissions. "Which one?"

"He's not on the list. He'll be staying at the house so I can monitor his progress more easily."

"Sounds mysterious."

"Not really. He lost someone important to him and is having some trouble coping. If you'll stop by the house this evening, I'll introduce you."

"Count on it. How about a cup of coffee in my office while I fill you in one what's what?"

She smiled. "Sounds good to me."

Lee turned to the pretty, dark-haired nurse. "We'll be in my office, Paula."

"Yes, Doctor. Welcome back, Dr. Hoffman." She wondered if Dr. Hoffman had noticed the look in Dr. Mitch.e.l.l's eyes when he'd seen her. Paula would give a month's pay for a look like that from the handsome, distinguished, a.s.sistant chief of staff. But it was widely known that he had long been enamored of Julia Hoffman and refused to even look at another woman.

Barnabas looked around the drawing room. "A bit - austere, isn't it?"

Julia shrugged. "I've never really taken the time and trouble to redecorate. Most of my time was spent at the hospital, and I did very little entertaining."

"I can well believe that, remembering the Dr. Hoffman who first arrived at Collinwood."

Julia smiled. "She seems like a different person to me now."

"She is. That cold, clinical doctor no longer exists."

"You don't think so?"

"I know so." He looked up at the knock on the door.

Willie came from the kitchen. "Want me to get it, Julia?"

"If you wouldn't mind."

He opened the door and smiled. "Dr. Mitch.e.l.l."