A/N: For anyone interested, Jessica can be hypnotized per the MSW novel, Brandy and Bullets by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain. In fact, I find the ending of that book to be one of the most suspenseful of any of the MSW novels. KarlieQ has a great story called "The Wonder of the Mind" about hypnosis as well.

Chapter 3

An hour and a half later, Jessica had successfully managed to introduce the comedian and two of the musical performers, as well as reminding people to get up between numbers and continue to bid on the silent auction items. The most popular item thus far was a five-day, four-night trip for two to the Caribbean, that Phyllis Grant was donating from her travel agency. It was the most expensive item that had been donated and it certainly had people talking about it in excitement.

When Jessica was still seated at the table for dinner, the bidding for the vacation had already reached two thousand dollars. Phyllis had admitted to the occupants of their table that the trip was a perk of having her travel agency that she had not personally paid for, but she was giving away something that she usually used for herself each year as a way to scout out locations to recommend to others. Everyone at their table had assured her that was still a significant donation and one that was sure to garner a good bit of money for the community center.

Jessica had considered bidding on the vacation herself. After all, she rarely had to pay for her own travel as the majority of it was business related. It would help the community center and she could afford to boost the dollar amount raised. It was a quandary though. She could easily raise the bid to over three thousand or even more in one fell swoop, but that would quickly price most people in Cabot Cove out of being able to bid any more, thus, taking some of the fun out of the evening. If she went that high that quick, or even bid at all, it could discourage anyone else from trying to outbid her, as most people understood that Jessica had more money than anyone else in town. No, it would be too flashy if she bid on it. If she wanted to go to the Caribbean, she would simply book a trip through Phyllis.

Instead, in an attempt to create a bit of competition, Jessica asked Eve to bring a few of the silent auction items to the stage in between performers. The musicians had finished and even though there would be more dancing with the band late into the night, there was a break for people to make one more round of the silent auction to write in final bids, as well as get drinks before the hypnotist appeared.

Eve brought up three different clipboards on items that were getting the most bids and handed them to Jessica. She glanced over them and nodded to Eve, before stepping forward and turning the microphone back on.

"Ladies and gentlemen, before we have our final performer tonight, we are going to do the final bidding live on the three most popular auction items of the night. I know this may be defeating the purpose of the silent auction, but as we can all agree that we want to raise the most money we can tonight for our community center, I thought it might be fun to do a few of these on stage. Now, I know some of you are getting fresh drinks at the bar and making your final bids on the other items now and you can continue to do that, but once the final performer comes on stage tonight in approximately ten minutes, the silent auction will close. So, do what you can to open your wallets and purses and give as much as possible to the community center and our lovely town of Cabot Cove tonight."

The audience gave a round of applause, even as Mort called out, "Mrs. F, is one of those clipboards you have in your hand for the Caribbean trip?"

"Yes, Mort, it is and I am saving that one for last. Now, everyone, the first item here is for the case of wine from our local winery. The last bid is for $250. Will anyone give me $275?"

Jessica was no auctioneer and knew she was out of her element, but she did love Cabot Cove and she knew that creating a bit of competition at the end of the evening when people were relaxed could help raise the bidding higher. She would never want to exploit those who could not afford it, but there were a number of people in the room who would likely feel this was a special occasion that they could dip into their savings for.

Besides, she was still fighting nerves for no good reason at this point. She could not shake them, so she tried to keep busy and that meant keeping her mind occupied.

By the time she finished, the case of wine went for three hundred and seventy-five dollars and a pastry and cup of coffee every day from Sassi's Bakery for the next year went for four hundred twenty-five dollars.

"Now, I know that this item is what has everyone the most excited. This is the Caribbean vacation that Phyllis Grant has so graciously donated. The current bid is for $2,400. Phyllis says this is valued at almost $5,000. I know this is a lot of money for many in our community, but it does sound like a lovely holiday. Would anyone like to raise the bid to $2,500?"

Jessica's head spun as the bidding continued in a flurry, Mort trying one more time to gain the vacation for Maureen, before he had to bow out at three thousand. She should not have been surprised when Dennis had the highest bid at thirty-eight hundred dollars, but she smiled widely at him nonetheless. He winked at her in reply, causing her to give her head the slightest shake as she wrote down his final winning bid. She had no idea how he lived as high as he did, but he was on his own and seemed to always come out on top.

Handing the clipboards off to Eve, Jessica once again faced the audience to convey her thanks, as she said, "On behalf of our town council, I would like to thank our fearless leader, Eve Simpson, all of our many volunteers, and those who donated to the silent auction. You all made this evening possible. Once all the numbers are tallied later tonight, there will be an announcement as to the money raised for our community center." A round of applause took over for a moment, with Eve poking her head out from the side of the stage to receive praise. Smiling, Jessica knew she deserved it.

"Now, while the band plans on staying around until late in the evening for those who want to dance the night away, it's time for me to announce our last performer tonight. She is a hypnotist, who has made a variety of television and film appearances. She promises that she won't embarrass us too much. Please welcome, "The Hip Hypnotist," Ms. Pat Collins."

The crowd welcomed the blonde woman with cat eye glasses as she sauntered out on stage, surveying the audience.

Jessica's heart began to pound and suddenly, she knew. This was what she had been nervous about in the build up to tonight. Somehow her mind understood that these next few minutes would cause her distress. She could only guess why, even as she tried to ease back to the sidelines and appear as unremarkable as her red dress would allow. Which was not at all. She wanted to escape and return home, but it was pointless to daydream. She was trapped.

Pat Collins said hello to the audience and immediately asked for volunteers. A handful of citizens raised their hands and she readily called on them to join her on stage. But when only a few volunteered, "The Hip Hypnotist" began recruiting people. Mort and Dennis were the first two men she called on, and then the woman turned to Jessica, standing behind the stage curtain as she had during every performance, now wishing she could disappear.

"Mrs. Fletcher, is it? Would you please join us?"

Jessica tried to decline, but it was no use. Too many were calling her name, including Mort and Dennis who were already on stage. It would be too awkward to refuse. The best she could hope for is that this woman would not be successful at hypnotizing her.

Jessica stood between Mort and Dennis and looked down into the audience at Seth. He was staring at her. She could not tell what he was thinking, but he appeared uncomfortable. Perhaps he knew how much she hated this and felt sorry for her. She did not know and she could not consider it further, before she fell under the woman's spell.

S/J

Seth did feel uncomfortable, as though he should be protecting Jessica in some way, but for the life of him, he could not come up with a way to do so. She was on stage at the mercy of this damned hypnotist and she, along with everyone else alongside her, had fallen under the woman's charm.

He supposed it had started harmlessly enough. First, Ms. Collins made them think they were hearing the funniest story ever and they were all on stage laughing uproariously. The hypnotist had them acting foolish next by pretending to be washing machines and coffee pots. If Mort wasn't careful, he was going to throw his back out with his wiggling and he would be in his clinic next week. But then, there was a shift in the revelry.

The hypnotist appeared to zero in on Jessica and Dennis, perhaps understanding that they knew each other, and asking Dennis if he was hypnotized. He kept saying no, but was stiff and seemed confused. Focusing on them, she said that she would help loosen them up. Seth was not sure if they were simply good subjects or if the woman understood that Jessica was well-known and people would be intrigued with how she would behave. Why she included Dennis, Seth was not sure, but there had been enough gossip surrounding him this evening, especially by the women in the audience, wondering if he was single or perhaps attached to Jessica. It was possible that the woman had heard the murmurings from those in the crowd, although he had not seen her until she came out on stage. Seth had tried to pretend that he didn't hear the rumors all evening or that they bothered him in any way. However, he had believed Dennis after talking to him that he was no real threat.

Seth watched the happenings with eagle eyes, as this Ms. Collins began getting all of the subjects to dance like chorus girls, telling them to do their "bumps and grinds." The band began to play seductive music to encourage them, and Jessica was front and center, with her legs showing and her hips moving. Initially, she tried to dance with Dennis, as Ms. Collins egged her on as the crowd grew excited, watching as she shimmied down the side of his body. However, more often than not, Jessica was dancing on her own and if he didn't know better, she was enjoying being the star of the show.

His breathing began to catch. He wanted to see Jessica dance like this. In fact, the way his body was beginning to react, he never wanted her to stop. He was a jealous man though and he did not appreciate the catcalls that some of the men in the audience were letting loose. He may want to see her this way, but only for his eyes and no one else.

Seth's mind was screaming, telling him that Jessica would be mortified to see herself right now and Seth's heart began to race as he tried to think of a way to intervene. She was beginning to dance like she was in burlesque and the music had become one of those striptease numbers. Jessica was hamming it up for the crowd, as she raised her skirt inch by inch, showing her legs. The hypnotist didn't make her stop until she reached just above her knees. He was never so glad to hear the woman say, "Stop," and Jessica stopped, waiting for the next command. He desperately wanted to end this madness. But there was nothing he could do. Was there?

The hypnotist began walking around the stage, releasing the participants from her spell, allowing them to go back into the audience. Focusing now on Dennis, Pat Collins said, "Now, sleep." Dennis' head slumped forward. "When I count to three, you are going to wake up and you won't remember anything that happened on stage. One, two, three." Dennis woke up, smiling, as he peered around at the happenings on, even as Jessica was standing next to him, frozen. "Now, go back to your seat. Everyone, give him a round of applause for being a good sport."

Once again, the woman turned her focus to Jessica, asking, "Are you married?" Jessica looked confused for a moment, apparently unsure how to answer. Seth felt his heart clench. Perhaps if the woman had asked if Jessica had been married, she would have answered, but clearly, she was not sure how to respond, and her brow furrowed, showing how uncomfortable she was even under the woman's influence. The hypnotist considered her a moment before asking, "Well, how about this, are you in love?" Jessica smiled, before nodding yes.

The audience tittered in excitement. Finally, they were going to find out something that the elusive Jessica Fletcher would never confess to in public.

The hypnotist beamed, saying, "Alright, sleep." When Jessica's eyes closed and her head tilted forward, the woman continued, "When I count to three, you are going to go find the man you love and you are going to give him the biggest kiss you can. You are going to put all your love into this kiss and show him how much he means to you as though it is the last kiss you can give him. One, two, three."

Jessica's head popped back up and her eyes opened. They were still glassy though, as she began to move across the stage and down the steps into the audience. People were whispering as they tried to crane their heads to see what would happen. Seth could hear people's speculations become louder. Would she kiss this mystery man she had attended the fundraiser with or would it be Doc Hazlitt?

Oh, please God, let it be him, even as he wished nothing would happen for both their sakes, because he was terrified that she would regret everything once she woke and knew what happened, even if he was the lucky man she chose.

Tottering on her heels a bit woodenly, as she was under the influence of this woman, she continued straight to their table. All eyes were on them and the voices had gone utterly silent in the room, even as the band continued to play music, albeit lowering their volume as though they were a dial on the radio. The collective people watched, holding their breath as Jessica came within touching distance of Dennis Stanton first, but she never once looked at him, before making her way the remaining few feet to none other than Seth Hazlitt.

Seth had no time to prepare, before Jessica's arms wrapped around his neck and her lips pressed against his. She may not have been in her right mind or maybe she was subconsciously, but this was no chaste kiss. It was heated and passionate and it did feel like the last kiss he might ever experience in his life and for one blinding moment, he lost himself in her arms, in her lips, in her mouth, melting against her, her body now flush against his own. He forgot himself and his surroundings as her tongue slipped into his mouth, searching for his soul as he held tightly to her. He heard her moan and he thought that if a man could die from desire and lust, he would be a goner. Hearing gasps in the crowd along with clapping and whistles, he forced himself out of his own trance. He grasped her hands, not wanting to let her go back on stage to Ms. Collins, even as he heard that woman calling for her return.

Seth needed to shield her somehow, even as he desired more than anything else to know if what had happened meant what he thought it did. He did not know a lot about hypnosis, but what he did know was that a subject typically would not do something that they did not already want to do. Did this mean that Jessica Fletcher was really in love with him and wanted to kiss him? Christ, he hoped so.

Jessica was walking back on stage, but he could not let this continue, even as he knew everyone was watching their every move and she did need to be woken up by this woman before she would be free.

He heard Ideal Molloy ask those at the next table, "Did Jessica just kiss Dr. Hazlitt?" At the same time, Loretta Spiegel said, "I knew it. I just knew it. It was Doc all along."

Helplessly, he looked around, never feeling more uncertain than he did at this moment. Thankfully, Dennis seemed to know what to do, as he sprang into action and ran ahead of Jessica to speak to the woman on stage.

Ms. Collins appeared to argue at first, but then as Dennis continued to speak in her ear, her face softened a bit and she nodded her head. Dennis squeezed Jessica's arm as he walked past her, back to their table. Leaning over Jessica's seat, Dennis whispered to Seth, "She is going to release her, old chap. Take her clutch and go up there and get her out of here as quickly as you can. I'll meet you outside."

Seth heard the hypnotist talk to Jessica again, telling her that when she woke up, she would remember nothing that happened, and as he walked to the stage, he saw Jessica's head lift in confusion, even as the audience erupted in loud applause. Seth's chest constricted as her face flushed from embarrassment, realizing that no one else was on stage with her and she had been the focus of whatever had happened.

"Mrs. Fletcher, you were a wonderful candidate. Give another round of applause for Mrs. Fletcher, everyone!" Lowering the microphone, the woman appeared a bit discomfited, as she whispered, "I do hope you will forgive me. I didn't mean to make things difficult for you."

Jessica stared at the woman. What the hell happened?

She spied Seth out of the corner of her eye, now standing at the edge of the stage behind the curtain, waving her towards him.

When she walked within his reach, he grabbed her arm, but she stopped him, asking where they were going.

"Home, Jess."

"But I have to finish. Eve will want me to make an announcement about how much money we raised," she said, turning back towards the stage, even as people were still clapping and whistling. What was going on?

"Eve can handle it. Or someone else. But we are going home. Now," he said, as he continued to shuffle her along the hallway to the outside exit.

Heading out into the parking lot, Jessica held her tongue. She realized that something terrible had happened or Seth would never be hauling her away from the event before it had ended. He had to know that it was sure to only induce more gossip leaving this way.

"Seth, what happened?"

"Later, Jess."

"Tell me now!" She was panicky. She had to know.

Seth stopped in his tracks, "No, woman!" He softened his voice, seeing her eyes widen at the fear and absolute terror in her eyes. "You have to trust me, Jess." Jessica started to say something more, but then thought better of it. Maybe it really was too awful to say here.

Arriving at Seth's car, he was about to open the passenger door for her, only to have Dennis appear before them. "Dear heart, wait until you are home and trust this man to take care of you. I'm going back to the Hill House, so I will say goodbye now. I'm off early in the morning back to Boston. It was lovely to see you. Until we meet again." Leaning towards her, he placed a kiss on her cheek, shook Seth's hand, before he walked across the parking lot to his car. He was gone, before they both could even say goodbye.

Seth was not sure what Dennis had said to the hypnotist on stage, but he vowed to never again judge him harshly, knowing that he had helped rescue Jessica tonight.