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"Didn’t the police have criedy was announced on the news, the reporter said the place was going to be closed for a feeeks," Dr Blount said

"Yes, they’ve closed the house But the police--or the directors or so the house"

"I see That’s why you ith an agent A federal agent"

"Yes"

"Ah!" Dr Blount said

"Ah?"

"Do you have soation? It doesn’t sound as if you approve"

"I don’t approve"

"Why not?"

"I don’t want anyone e House--with people running around and filht in the headlights And going ‘What’s that? Did you hear that?’ whenever a floorboard creaks Please! Have you seen those shows? I think one of the educational channels used to do the lights to h the building screarity of the house!"

"FBI agents filhts?" He see?"

"No, no, it’s just that I’ve read up on these particular agents They’re called in when there’s so unusual Unusual to the with history here Sacred ground Old Philadelphia is the site of soree But fil to do that?"

"I know they’re bringing in equip the day, too I know that everything about this governency is kept as quiet as possible, but information leaks out and other units of the FBI consider them ‘special’"

Dr Blount smiled "Maybe you believe you know all this but it’s not quite what’s going on And maybe you resent these people soyou don’t want to see--like Julian Mitchell"

"Is that what you think? That it’s stress over Julian’s death and the fact that I don’t really trust these people?"

"Is that what you think?" he asked

"I don’t knohat I think! That’s why I’m here"

"There’s an old joke that a patient talks and a psychiatrist listens and asks over and over again if that’s what he or she thinks But the human mind is complex, and in the absence of actual ive you a medication--a mild one--that’ll help you sleep until this is over You probably need to co in your life"

"A friend died," she said softly

He nodded "That’s hard enough to accept You know the stages of grief, I’, depression and, finally, acceptance We all go through these feelings You found the young man and you were horrified and perhaps tried to deny that what you saw could be true You’re angry he’s dead, and that roup co --he’s not really dead if you can see him And we’re all depressed e hear about the loss of so, someone who shouldn’t have died I think, once you accept what’s happened, you’ll begin to heal But no one can really rush the stages of grief We all go through the Julian in hing "Honestly, I want you to tellhim in my own mind"

"If you believe that, will it help you?"

"Io it alone? Or would like a sleeppills unless I have to"

"So you don’t want a prescription?"

"No, I definitely want one!"

Allison wasn’t sure what she felt when she left Dr Blount’s office; she knew he’d rearranged his schedule to see her, and she was grateful, but their visit hadn’t really helped her

She wished he’d just said, "Don’t be ridiculous Ghosts don’t exist It’s all in your head"

And now, of course, the probleo ho