Chapter 6
Captain Davey Biggins spent word out to the hunting parties about the two escaped mental patients from the Western British Columbia Sanitarium. The hunters wasted no time in doubling their efforts in locating them, but the day went on without any progress.
Angel was allowed to go home when the hunting parties came back to Mystic Rock Harbor. She located her husband and daughter out on the patio/pool, along with Nicholai and Minnie.
"Angel, what happened? I saw people go out in boats and were gone until a while ago," Mok asked and Angel sat down on a cushioned seat and told him everything. She allowed him to look over the documents Dr. Perrot brought on Faustin St-Pierre and Martin Savage.
"So, these two have a passion for water, that makes some sense that this killer or killers like to attack while out on the surf," Mok said to Angel and she nods, "So, the hunting parties thought they could find them while out on the water? Shouldn't they also look on dry land? Maybe they set-up shelter where they can have easy access to the ocean," he added.
Angel scratched her head, she hadn't thought of that. "What if they are living out on a boat?" she asked and Mok placed his hand on his chin.
"I better call Biggins," Angel said and was about to go inside, when she noticed a car coming into the driveway.
"Detective Lyons-Swagger?" Dr. Perrot asked when he stepped out.
"Dr. Perrot, is there something I can help you with?" Angel said.
"Well, I don't know if you can help me. I tried getting a room in a hotel, but all the ones in town are full. I asked Captain Biggins and he said you can help out in providing a room, if it's not too much to ask," the psychologist said and Mok came down.
"We have plenty of rooms," the retired rock star replied and held out his hand, "I'm Mok Swagger."
"Dr. Absolon Perrot, head psychologist at the Western British Columbia Sanitarium," the doctor and they shook hands.
"I'll have my employees take your things. Come, I would like to talk with you," Mok replied and showed him up to the patio. Angel joined them under the shade of the patio umbrella and Zip brought out cold drinks.
Mok showed the documents to Dr. Perrot. "Angel has told me what you told her this morning. This is just a theory, but did St-Pierre and Savage ever speak to each other before the escape?" he asked.
"Yes, I had observed them and Savage approached St-Pierre the day after St-Pierre arrived at the hospital. Faustin did not talk the first few times Martin spoke to him. One time, I suspected Faustin got frustrated with Martin and attacked him with his bare hands," Dr. Perrot answered and continues, "However, Martin kept on visiting him. I thought it was unusual as both were anti-social."
"Yet you didn't suspect what they were planning?" Angel asked.
"As I said, Faustin lived at the hospital for four years and Martin lived there for about six," the psychologist answered.
"How did St-Pierre react when he was told that he was banned from the scuba diving trips?" Mok asked another question.
"Like a child who lost a turn with a toy, but Faustin, with his ADHD, let it all out in my office and I had to call assistance to take him to solitary confinement," Dr. Perrot answered.
"If you don't mind me asking, but why did Faustin attack the tourist?" Angel asked, again.
Dr. Perrot tried to remember and answers, "From what the teacher in charge of the trip told me, Faustin said that the tourist was in his way. I suspect that the tourist was either swimming ahead of Faustin and was too slow or was obstructing his view of something."
Angel scratched her head, deep in her thoughts, there was a lot going on inside this young man's head. She looked over Faustin's documents, again.
"Are some mental disorders genetic? Like ADHD?" she asked.
"Actually, the causes of mental disorders vary among people, but there are a lot of illnesses that we don't know where they originate. Sometimes the disorders, like ADHD and bipolar, are likely the result of something in the home environment. For example, both parents argue in front of their children and they are verbally abusive to one another. Now, the children feel the hostile feeling in the air and the anxiety sets in and so does the guilt if the argument is about them," Dr. Perrot explained.
Angel looked at her husband; he was a victim of domestic violence and he was almost killed at the hands of his alcoholic father.
She leans into Mok's ear and whispers, "Do you mind if I tell him about your father?"
"You can, but keep me out of it," he replied.
"Dr. Perrot, can a child inherit his/her parent's abusive tactics, such as beating?" Angel asked, keeping Mok out of the picture.
"Of course, children are vulnerable to witnessing or listening something, such as domestic violence in the home. Now, there are some children who see this violence as a common thing and usually copy the parent and hurt the people around them. However, there are some cases where the child will develop depression and/or anxiety disorders, but have not part-taken in any sort of violence, and it tends to lead to suicide," Dr. Perrot answered.
"What do you know about alcohol?" Angel asked.
"Heck, I can't remember the exact number of patients I have who have alcoholic parents. Alcohol is not an anti-depressant, but it does give you a...how should I say this? A detachment from reality. People who abuse alcohol have no sense of what they are doing, right or wrong," the doctor answered and adds, "I have read a study that the abuse of alcohol is behind many cases of domestic violence. I also read that children who live with an alcoholic parent tend to have great levels of depression and feel socially isolated."
Angel took one quick look at Mok, he seemed to have been listening the whole time.
"One more question: would children find solace in a hobby? Like planting?" Angel asked.
"Oh yes, children usually tend to start hobbies in order to get away from the broken household. The hospital provides whatever the patients' previous hobbies were or what they desire to part-take," Dr. Perrot answered. "Now, if you don't mind I would like to take a short nap, it's been a long drive for me," he added and Zip showed him the way inside.
Angel and Mok look at each other, she could tell that he was somewhat relived to hear what the psychologist said. Angel took his hand into hers.
"You are not like them," she said, "You got the best help and look where you are now."
"I know, but sometimes when I go to sleep at night, I keep asking myself, would I end up like my father?" Mok informed her.
"No, you are nothing like your father," Angel replied and he nods.
"Mommy, daddy!" Emmy exclaimed when she got out of the pool. Her eyes were bloodshot and her fingers were pudgy.
"Emmy, how long were you in there?" Angel asked her daughter, but the little girl shrugged.
"Come here you little mermaid," Mok said and dried Emmy off with a towel. "Now Emmy, we have a new guest in the house, can you promise us to be a good little lady?"
Emmy nods her head and Angel places her onto her lap. "What were you talking about to the stranger?" Emmy asked.
"Grown-up stuff, you would not understand, but Emmy," Mok said to his daughter, "There are dangerous people in this world, some don't know the evil they have done because they are..." he trailed off to think of a good word.
"They are sick," Angel filled in, "Not like having a fever, but kind of like having a painful headache that will not go away."
"Can't they take medicine for their headaches?" Emmy asked in a curious tone.
"They do, sometimes it works and other times it doesn't," Angel answered and Cindy arrived to take the girl.
"C'mon, let's get you washed up for dinner," she said and both she and Emmy went inside.
"I don't know if she understood what we said," Angel said to her husband.
"She's three, so she would not remember much of the conversation," Mok replied and adds, "Although I am sure she would want to study psychology."
"And get a job at a mental hospital? I don't think so," Angel said, although she knew that psychology would be good for Emmy to understand mental health. Angel looked out towards the ocean and wondered if St-Pierre and Savage would be found before the deadline.