Chapter 53

“I wasn’t sure I’d packed it, but I found just what I needed,” she said.

“You found what?” he said.

“A bottle of Valium.”

“Valium!” Carlton said. “That’s a tranquilizer, isn’t it?”

“One of the oldest,” she said. “I’m going to give each of you, that is, you and Eric, a small dose. You’re both pretty wound up at the moment, and the drug will relax you just enough to make hypnotism a lot easier.”

“I’m game,” Eric said.

“Me, too,” Carlton said.

Lydia took a small pill bottle from the pocket of her slacks, opened it, and handed each of them a pill. “Take these, and by the time we’ve all washed our hands and brushed our teeth, you’ll be a bit more relaxed than you are at the moment.”

Eric and Carlton swallowed the pills, and chased them with large swigs of water from the glasses at their places. After that, everyone went to their respective rooms to take care of any post-luncheon needs. Then Carlton led them downstairs to the northeast corner of the first floor.