Angel Kiss - Laura Jane Cassidy [17]
‘No, we haven’t,’ I said, sitting down on the chair opposite. ‘I’m Jacki King. My mum made the appointment. We’ve just moved here … Well, just moved to Avarna.’
‘Oh, where in Avarna? I live near there,’ she said, typing on her computer.
‘Up by the mines. Alf Meehan’s old house.’ People still referred to it as Alf’s. We’d probably have to be there a while before anybody called it the Kings’ house.
‘Ah yes. I heard that had been sold. Right, Jacki, what can I do for you?’
‘Well, I’ve been having these headaches. My mum is worried because, as she told your receptionist, my dad died of a brain tumour.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that, Jacki,’ she said. ‘I can understand why your mum might be worried, but it’s probably nothing serious. Can you describe the headaches for me?’
I thought about how to explain them. ‘Well, it’s like an elastic band has been strapped round my head, and someone keeps pulling it tighter and tighter.’ My headache had actually eased by now, but I’d never forget the pain.
‘That’s quite specific. OK, we’ll check you for allergies. Something you’re eating could be triggering them.’
Allergies. I liked the sound of that. It was a nice, logical explanation.
‘Is there anything else?’ asked Dr Cahill. I figured I might as well tell her about the other stuff. There was probably a simple explanation for that too.
‘Well … I keep having this nightmare …’ I began feeling slightly self-conscious. ‘I have the same one every night …’ I described the dream to her. When I’d finished she didn’t say anything for a few moments. I was certain I saw a tinge of fear in her eyes. It made me very uneasy.
‘Anything else?’ she said.
‘Well, I sort of had … like a panic attack or something … in the garden last night.’ I told her about that too.
‘The men from your dream … do you know them?’ she asked, still staring at me intently.
‘No. I’ve never seen either of them in my life.’
‘Could you describe the men to me again?’ she said.
I did. I described the man in the car with the frightening stare and the drunken man stumbling up the lane.
Dr Cahill typed something into her computer then turned back to me. ‘Jacki, have you ever met Alf Meehan?’ she asked.
‘No.’ It was a strange question. Immediately I thought of the threatening note I’d opened that was addressed to him and felt a chill. ‘Why?’
‘Because the drunk man you describe sounds exactly like him.’ She stared at me again for a few moments then opened one of the drawers of the desk and took out a business card. ‘There’s someone else I’d like you to consult, Jacki. I think I know someone who might be able to help you.’
She handed me the card. It was cream with simple black and gold lettering. Printed on it was a mobile number, an Avarna address, and the words Ger Rapple, Healer.
A healer? It wasn’t what I was expecting at all. ‘What about the … the allergies?’
‘I’d like to rule something else out first,’ she said. ‘I believe this may be outside my area.’
‘What do you mean?’ I was getting worried now. I didn’t understand what was going on.
Dr Cahill lowered her voice. ‘I think we may be dealing with something … something supernatural.’
I laughed. ‘Um, OK.’ I waited for the punch line, but she just continued to stare at me with an intense expression. ‘What? Are you serious?’
‘Trust me,’ she said, standing up. ‘Go and see Mr Rapple. I think he may be able to help.’ She ushered me to the door. ‘But do come and see me again if the symptoms persist.’ She closed the door and I walked out of the clinic and into the street in a daze, forgetting Colin was with me.
‘Jacki!’ he called, rushing out after me. ‘Are you OK? What did she say?’ He looked concerned.
‘She thinks it might be an allergy,’ I said, avoiding eye contact with him. ‘I have to get tests done.’
‘Oh, right. Well at least you have an explanation now.’
‘Yes … kind of.’
I don’t know why I didn’t tell Colin what the doctor had actually said. I guess I was still in shock. I’d gone to the doctor thinking she could help me, and all she’d done was give me the phone number of a healer. I didn