Chapter 11

"Dr Sparrow may I have a moment of your time." Sister Mary Eunice called out from the door of the day room. Eva looked up, she had been knelt in front of Pepper, trying to make sense of her disappearance.

"I'll be back in a minute pepper." Eva said getting back up onto her feet. Pepper nodded frantically and began twiddling her fingers in a ritualistic manner. Eva followed the sister out into the the entrance area of the asylum.

"Can I help you sister?"

Mary Eunice leaned in close and whispered "Get him out of here."

"Excuse me?"

"Get. Him. Out." She hissed. 'She means Thredson' Eva thought. Mary Eunice smiled and turned to see to other patients. Eva took off quickly on her feet heading straight for the staircase. One by one she climbed them taking for what she thought was forever, and only narrowly avoiding tripping. She weaved through the corridors and rows of cells until she saw the store room door. Panting, she checked no one was around. She was alone.

She could hear muffled sobs coming from behind the door. When Eva looked behind the mattresses she found Oliver, tears flowing from his bloodshot eyes.

"Oliver what's wrong?" She asked falling to her knees and removing his gag.

"She's going to kill it, she's going to kill it." he sobbed.

"Who? Who is going to kill it?"

"Lana!" He exclaimed. "She is going to kill our child."

Eva felt a twinge in her heart. "You got her pregnant…"

"Yes, and now she is going to abort the baby. She used a coat hanger. Please you need to get me out of here. I need to save the child. I could still save it" he began to sob again.

Eva zoned out for a moment as she processed Lana's pregnancy. 'I forgot he raped her. Poor girl, held down, forced against her will and now left impregnated by a monster. I look at him and think how could he? How could he do that to her, to all those women? He doesn't look the type. But none of them look the type. More importantly what is stopping him from giving me the same fate. He needs help, he needs someone to fight for him. Lana will be given all the help and support she needs. But who will help Oliver? He never asked to be this way, he probably never wanted to be this way. Society did this to him, and it's my duty to undo it.'

"Evangeline, there is more." He said after composing himself. "Lana audio recorded me confessing to the murders. Her and Kit took the tape and ran off with it. They said they would go to the police. Eva you have to help me please."

Eva thought for a moment. "Ok don't worry I have a plan. I'll be back i promise." She said gently stroking his cheek. Then she was gone.

Eva began asking around to see who had seen Kit or Lana during the past few hours. In the hope of finding the tape. There was no way they could have gotten it to the police so quickly, more likely they had hidden it somewhere in the facility. She asked a couple of the nuns, thoroughly searched their rooms and a couple more of the store rooms. On her way to the kitchens she ran into Jim, one of the security guards.

"Jim, i don't suppose you have seen Kit Walker or Lana Winters today have you?"

"Mr Walker no ma'am, but Miss Winters, yeah i seen her." He replied in a thick southern accent.

"When and where?"

"Up by the steamin room, she actin all suspicious en all. Wandered what she be doin up there like that. But she didn't cause no trouble. Did see 'er bend down now, but then she left without a word. Strange if you ask me, but tis is one strange place my lady."

"Thank you Jim, I shall look into it right away."

"Tis ain't the place for a sweet girl like you." He said as she walked away.

"Oh don't worry Jim, I'm not as innocent as I look."

The smell of carbolic soap hovered in the humid air of the steaming room. Moisture clung to Eva's skin and clothes. The baths were still warm as she leaned over them. Peering over the side she could see no sign of a tape. The tape was behind none of the four baths. She looked under them, one, two, three. There is was. Her hand felt the unfamiliar cold metal case. She grabbed hold of the circular tin and pulled. In her hands was Thredson's confession. His one way ticket to the electric chair.