Page 69 of Little Twisted Things

“May I ask when you first met Sydney?” Dr. Bondi said.

“I met her when I went to live at the cottage. She would stay with Elias and me for a while. Elias turned one of the guestrooms into an art room for her when she came and stayed with us. She loved it.” I smiled. “She would sit up there for hours and paint.”

“And where did Sydney go when she’d leave the cottage?”

“I don’t know. She would tell us it was time for her to go and that she’d visit again soon. She was like a daughter to me.”

Dr. Isabella Bondi

I was sitting behind my desk when my receptionist opened the door.

“Dr. Bondi, Detective Walker is here to see you.”

“Send her in.”

I stood as Detective Walker stepped into my office.

“Detective Walker, I’m Dr. Isabella Bondi.” I extended my hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Bondi.”

“Please, have a seat.” I gestured. “What brings you by?”

“I was wondering how Katherine is doing.”

“She’s fine.” I opened Katherine’s file. “You’re the detective who got the judge to send Katherine here.”

“I am.” She nodded. “I know about the alters.”

“Excuse me?” I cocked my head.

“That’s why I’m here. I need to tell you something that happened the day she showed up at the precinct and turned herself in.”

“Go on,” I said.

“I spoke to The Librarian. She fronted during my interview with Katherine.”

“What did she say?”

“She’s the protector of memories. She keeps records of everything that has happened and is happening. She told me there are others. And then she told me about Dahlia, and how they tried to stop her.”

“Detective Walker. Most people would be freaked out by something like this. But you seem calm about it and understanding.”

“That’s because I had a friend with multiple personality disorder back in school. I was friends with one of her alters and never realized it until she got sent away to a place like this.”

“There’s something I would like to show you. Follow me.” I stood from the chair.

I led her to Katherine’s room.

“George, is Katherine in her room?”

“No. She’s back in the day room,” he said.

I inserted the key and unlocked the door. The detective and I stepped inside. I walked over and picked up the painting of the cottage that sat against the wall.

“That’s beautiful,” Detective Walker said. “Did Katherine paint that?”

“No. An alter named Sydney did. She also painted this one.” I pointed to the newest painting on the easel.