Even so, he had to plot his course with care. Any hint of his own true ignorance of the patient and the case would immediately arouse suspicion. The trick would be to twist that ignorance to his own advantage.
He waved a hand. “Hers is a unique presentation, at least in my experience. I was delighted to see your paper, because not only is this an interesting case, but I think it could be an important one. Perhaps even a benchmark. Although I myself have no interest in publication — my interests lie elsewhere.”
Felder simply nodded his understanding, yet Esterhazy saw a brief glimmer of relief in the psychiatrist’s eyes. It was important Felder realize his guest was no threat to his ambitions.
“How many times have you spoken with Constance?” Esterhazy asked.
“I’ve had four consultations so far.”
“And has she manifested amnesia yet?”
Felder frowned. “No. Not at all.”
“It was the part of her treatment that I found most challenging. I would complete a session with her, feeling that I had made progress in addressing some of her more dangerous delusions. But when I returned for the next session, I found that she retained absolutely no memory of the previous visit. Indeed, she claimed not to remember me at all.”
Felder tented his fingers. “How odd. In my experience, her memory has been excellent.”
“Interesting. The amnesia is both dissociative and lacunar.”
Felder began taking notes.
“What I find most interesting is that there are strong indications that this may be a rare case of dissociative fugue.”
“Which might explain, for example, the ocean voyage?” Felder was still writing.
“Exactly — as well as the inexplicable outburst of violence. Which is why, Dr. Felder, I termed this case unique. I think we have a chance— youhave a chance — to substantially advance medical knowledge here.”
Felder scribbled faster.
Esterhazy shifted in his chair. “I often wondered if her, ah, unusual personal relationships might have been a factor in her disorder.”
“You mean, her guardian? This fellow Pendergast?”
“Well…” Esterhazy seemed to hesitate. “It is true that guardianis the term Pendergast uses. However — speaking as one doctor to another, you understand — the relationship has been a great deal more intimate than that term would suggest. Which may explain why Pendergast — or so I understand — declined to show up at her competency hearing.”
Dr. Felder stopped scribbling and looked up. Esterhazy nodded, slowly and significantly.
“That is very interesting,” Felder said. “She denies it quite specifically.”
“Naturally,” Esterhazy replied in a low voice.
“You know—” Felder stopped a moment, as if considering something. “If there was some severe emotional trauma, sexual coercion or even abuse, it might not only explain that fugue state, but her strange ideas about her past.”
“Strange ideas about the past?” Esterhazy said. “That must be a new development.”
“Constance has been insisting to me that — well, not to put too fine a point to it, Dr. Poole — that she is roughly one hundred and forty years old.”
It was all Esterhazy could do to keep a straight face. “Indeed?” he managed.
Felder nodded. “She maintains she was born in the 1870s. That she grew up on Water Street, just blocks from where we are now. That both her parents died when she was young and she lived for years and years in a mansion owned by a man named Leng.”
Esterhazy quickly followed up this line. “That could be the other side of the coin of her dissociative amnesia and fugue state.”
“The thing of it is, her knowledge of the past — at least the period in which she maintains she grew up — is remarkably vivid. And accurate.”
What utter rubbish. “Constance is an unusually intelligent — if troubled — person.”
Felder looked thoughtfully at his notes for a moment. Then he glanced at Esterhazy. “Doctor, could I ask you a favor?”
“Of course.”
“Would you consider consulting with me on the case?”
“I would be delighted.”
“I would welcome a second opinion. Your past experience with the patient and your observations would no doubt prove invaluable.”
Esterhazy felt a shiver of joy. “I’m only in New York a week or two, up at Columbia — but I would be happy to lend what assistance I can.”
For the first time, Dr. Felder smiled.
“Given the lacunar amnesia I mentioned,” Esterhazy said, “it would be better to introduce me to her as if we have not met before. Then we can observe her response. It will be interesting to see if the amnesia has persisted through her fugue state.”
“Interesting indeed.”
“I understand she’s currently in residence at Mount Mercy?”
“That is correct.”
“And I assume you can arrange to get me the necessary consulting status there?”
“I believe so. Of course, I’ll need your CV, institutional affiliation, the usual paperwork…” And here Felder’s voice trailed off in embarrassment.
“Certainly! As it happens, I believe I have all the necessary paperwork here. I brought it along for the staff at Columbia.” Opening his briefcase, he extracted a folder containing a beautifully forged set of accreditations and documents, compliments of the Covenant. There was indeed a real Dr. Poole in case Felder did a brief check, but given his trusting nature he didn’t seem the type to make calls. “And here’s a short breakdown — a brief summary — of my own work with Constance.” He extracted a second folder, whose contents were designed more to whet Felder’s curiosity than to provide any real information.
“Thank you.” Felder opened the first folder, scanned through it quickly, then closed it and handed it back. As Esterhazy had hoped, this step had been merely a formality. “I should be able to give you an update by tomorrow.”
“Here’s my cell number.” And Esterhazy passed a card across the table.
Felder slipped it into his jacket pocket. “I can’t tell you how pleased I am, Dr. Poole, to have gained your assistance in this matter.”
“Believe me, Doctor, the pleasure is all mine.” And — rising — Esterhazy shook hands warmly with Felder, smiled into the earnest face, and showed himself out.
CHAPTER 42
Penumbra Plantation, St. Charles Parish
WELCOME HOME, MR. PENDERGAST,” SAID MAURICE, as if Pendergast had only been away a few minutes instead of two months, when he opened the front door. “Will you be wanting supper, sir?”
Pendergast entered the house, Maurice shutting the door against the chill fog of the winter air. “No, thank you. But a glass of amontillado in the second-floor parlor would be lovely, if you don’t mind.”
“The fire is laid.”
“Marvelous.” Pendergast climbed the stairs to the parlor, where a small fire blazed on the hearth, banishing the habitual dampness of the house. He took a seat in a wing chair beside it, and a moment later Maurice came in carrying a silver tray, with a small glass of sherry balanced on it.
“Thank you, Maurice.”
As the white-haired servant turned to leave, Pendergast said, “I know you’ve been worried about me.”
Maurice paused but did not respond.
“When I first discovered the circumstances of my wife’s death,” Pendergast continued, “I was not myself. I imagine you must have been alarmed.”
“I was concerned,” said Maurice.
“Thank you. I know you were. But I’m my own man once again, and there’s no need to monitor my comings or goings or mention them to my brother-in-law…” He paused. “You were in contact with Judson about my situation, I assume?”