Read Online The Missing Year by Belinda Frisch - Free Book Online

“This is the community room where everyone hangs out.”
    Unlike at the hospital, Lakeside’s patients wore their own clothes instead of scrubs or pajamas.
    Elijah Moss, easily recognized from his file photo, sat playing checkers with one of the staff. Elijah was pink as a newborn mouse, the skin on his neck and face flaking onto his polo shirt.
    The staff member, a man whose nametag read “Eddie,” stood.
    “Dr. Reeves, meet Eddie Gill, one of our patient care assistants,” Mark said. “Eddie, this is Dr. Ross Reeves.”
    Eddie Gill appeared to be young-forties, his skin fair, hair red, and a smattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose. He wore dark-rimmed, hipster glasses and spoke with a hint of a Long Island accent. “Dr. Oliver mentioned a new psychiatrist joining us. Welcome.”
    “Thanks,” Ross said.
    A pale girl with dyed black hair who had been reading a book in the chair furthest from the group regarded Ross with quiet suspicion. The strangulation scar peeking out from the collar of her shirt was unmistakable Sophie Park.
    A disheveled man who could only be Joshua Hammond sat parked in front of a television broadcasting a sit-com Ross didn’t recognize.
    “Newspapers and news are prohibited and television channels are controlled by staff,” Mark said. “Visitors are discouraged, other than for family therapy sessions. The patients respond better without outside stress being brought in.”
    “Bugs. Bugggss. Bugggsss.” Joshua scratched inside his ear, mumbling something under his breath.
    “Joshua, are you all right?” Eddie shifted his focus from the double-jump on the checker board to the agitated man who was quickly becoming the center of attention.
    “The bugs are in my ear,” Joshua said, his finger knuckle-deep.
    A buxom redhead wearing a low-cut v-neck and a flirty grin set her magazine down on the couch next to her. “Are you sure it’s a bug? What if it’s an implant left by the aliens?”
    “Kendra, that’s enough,” Mark said.
    Kendra snickered and rolled her eyes.
    “Let me have a look.” Eddie placated Joshua by shining a light in his ear. “There’s nothing,” he said, though even at a distance Ross could see Joshua’s ear was bright red. “I’ll have Dr. Oliver check again after group, okay?”
    Joshua nodded and went back to watching his program.
    “He’s easily satisfied,” Mark said.
    Ross grimaced. “Not for nothing, but his ear really does look swollen.”
    “He’s at it constantly. Everything he can get his hands on goes in there. Dr. Oliver really will look at it and if Joshua’s put something in there again, he’ll get it out. Come on. There’s someone you’re supposed to meet.” Mark waved for Ross to follow him.
    A tragically thin, mid-thirties woman with tangled black hair and a distant gaze stared out the window from a wooden rocking chair in the corner. A crocheted blanket—frayed from age and use—spilled over her bony knees and half-covered her weathered hands, her fingers working their way through the tiny holes between the stitching.
    Mark set his hand on the back of the rocking chair, steadying the back and forth motion.
    “Lila,” he said. “There’s someone here to see you.” Lila didn’t even flinch. “Dr. Reeves, meet Lila Wheeler.”
    Ross angled for a better look at the emaciated woman whose sad eyes and willowy limbs reminded him too much of Sarah.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
     
    Ross stood outside Guy’s office, waiting to be invited in. Guy seemed preoccupied, his eyes moving back and forth across a piece of paper.
    Ross cleared his throat and said, “Can we talk?”
    Guy smoothed his hand over what was left of his gray hair. “Come in and close the door behind you.”
    Ross took a seat, feeling a bit unsettled.
    “Are you all right?” Guy said.
    “I’m sure I will be.”
    Guy forced a smile. “I’m sorry for how things went yesterday. I should have told you—”
    “That you set me up? Yes. You should