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The decor had been designed to soothe and pacify, especially over in the area marked "cashier" I moved to the inforrade teacher sat in a pink-striped pinafore with an expectant look on her face

"Hi," said I "Can you tell ht into the eo"

"Well, now letread "Roberta Choat, Volunteer" It sounded like one of a series of novels for young girls that was now sorely out of date Roberta ood-conduct medals pinned to her bib

"Here it is That’s Katherine Wenner She’s on Three South You just walk down this corridor and around these elevators to the bank on the far side Third floor, and you’ll be turning to your left But now, that’s a locked psychiatric ward and I don’t know that you’ll be able to see her Visiting hours are over, you know Are you family?"

"I’m her sister," I said easily

"Well now, dear, why don’t you repeat that to the charge nurse up on the floor and maybe she’ll believe you," Roberta Choat said just as easily

"I hope so," I said It was actually Derek I wanted to see

I moved down the corridor, as instructed, and rounded the elevators to the bank on the far side Sure enough, there was a sign that read SOUTH WING, which I found-reassuring I punched the "up" button and the doors opened instantly Ame as if I were the kind of person he’d read about in a rape-prevention pamphlet He punched "2" and then stayed close to the control panel until he reached his floor and exited

The south wing looked better than most of the hotels where I’ve stayed Of course, it was also more expensive and offered many personal services that didn’t interest hts were all on and the carpet was a blaze of burnt orange, the walls hung with Van Gogh reproductions; a curious choice for the psycho ward, if you ask e just outside a set of double doors that had s PLEASE RING FOR ADMITTANCE with a buzzer underneath

He was sraphic open on his lap He glanced at me blankly when I sat down next to hihtly "Oh Sorry I didn’t recognize you when you caht her up and they’re getting her settled I’ll have a chance to see her in a bit" His glance strayed toward the elevators "Glen didn’t come doith you by any chance, did she?"

I shooka mixture of relief and momentary hope fade out of his face

"Don’t tell her you caught arette," he said, sheepishly "She o hoht It’s just with Kitty so sick and then all this stuff-" He broke off with a shrug