Anna O

Clara arrives, and Ben explains everything. Clara is pained over their friend’s death, then detached, which he thinks makes her a great detective. She calls the police and gets to work. Ben will give his statements at the station. Clara says the murder is straightforward with the knife. Ben admits he touched the knife by accident.

Back in 2019, Anna hangs out with Indira, but she’s jealous of Indira’s beauty and frustrated at the latest takeover emails. Anna contemplates confronting Indira, then suppresses it.

She continues her research on sleep disorders, sleep crimes, and Sally Turner. Anna finds information on resignation syndrome, and her research keeps her up most nights. She now fears sleep. Finally, Anna finds Virgina Bloom’s name as someone who worked with Sally. She thinks Bloom will be her lead.

Clara is annoyed that Ben touched the knife, but she pushes for the truth. He tries to be honest, except he says Bloom called him so late because she was worried. Clara instructs him to give his statement, then go home and rest. Ben makes sure he has his work bag with Bloom’s file. He plans to honor Bloom’s dying wish to keep the file safe.

At home, Ben checks Bloom’s folder. Bloom was like a parent to him, his mentor at work. She was always severe with confidentiality, yet she left this patient file with him. Ben reads about Patient X from Broadmoor Hospital.

In July of 1999 at Broadmoor Hospital, Bloom treated Patient X. For confidentiality, patients’ names are protected, and they’re given no gender pronouns. Bloom writes that Patient X is mature for her age, gangly but confident and intellectual. X quotes Milton, calls Bloom a mind doctor, and shares about their mother, Sally Turner. X says Sally was prone to drinking and sleepwalking. The night of the murder of their stepbrothers, they could tell their mom was sleepwalking. Though they didn’t witness the murder, they found Sally in the room with the dead boys, weapon in hand.

X mentions a friend who takes her to the library but X dodges other questions. Bloom thinks the friend may be imaginary, a coping mechanism.

In the 1999 files, X speaks of her friend but doesn’t share his/her name. X says everyone has bad thoughts and nightmares. When Bloom presses, X admits they have dreams of hurting people. X wants revenge on those who wronged them, including kids and teachers who bullied them. X was upset their stepdad had power over the family.

Bloom has their life in her hands, since she will tell the courts if X is a danger to herself and others or not. Bloom analyzes X’s vengeful tendencies and profound thoughts as part of dealing with trauma. Bloom asks if X has ever dreamed of killing someone.

In 1999, during their final session, Bloom uses rapid-fire associations. With the word “love,” X lists things, including her friend. X reveals they love each other. When they grow up, X wants to be the one in power, like Bloom. Finally, Bloom asks if X recognizes if their mom’s murders were wrong. X doesn’t answer. When Bloom questions if their mom was sleepwalking or not when she killed the stepbrothers, X replies, “Maybe.”

The narrative shifts back to Ben as he reads the notes. He returns to the Abbey and re-reads the case notes. He thinks of Anna, Sally, Medea, and Patient X, wondering how they all connect. Anna was investigating sleepwalking for Elementary magazine, but beyond that link, Ben is clueless.

Ben works with Anna. He feels closer to her since Bloom’s death, realizing Bloom wanted him to solve the mystery. He must awaken Anna to understand the truth.

Lola recalls the night at the Farm, the secluded resort where wealthy people engaged in activities. In the outdoor paintball game of Hunters and Survivors, Lola made sure Anna was against her parents. Then the teams hunted each other in the forest. Lola watched from a security camera.

A Hunter dot approached a Survivor. They stayed together for minutes, without the Hunter shooting. Another Hunter approached. The three chatted, leaving Lola confused. Finally, the rivals parted. None of them knew they were pawns in a larger game.

In 2019, Anna has read all of Professor Bloom’s books and articles. She also reads about sleepwalking perpetrators being acquitted due to having no intent for the crime. Anna discovers that Sally Turner married a man she thought was a businessperson but was a drug dealer. The stepsons were drug couriers, and they bullied Sally and her child verbally and physically. The night she killed the stepsons, Sally claimed sleepwalking and self-defense, since she thought they were attacking her. The other side says Sally calculated the attack.

Anna finds Ben’s books next. She enjoys his teachings on sleep disorders and sleep crimes. She repeatedly listens to Ben’s podcast appearances.

At the sleep clinic, Ben uses more sensory awareness with Anna. He adds a vase of her favorite flowers for scent, headphones for music, and holds her hand. Ben tickles her face with a feather for more touch. He also pretends they’re having normal conversations as if Anna is awake. For his theory to work, she must be treated as awake, so he talks to her.

Clara brings Kitty to stay with Ben while she’s at a conference. He’s trying too hard to be normal, and she feels his stress. She stays for a cup of tea. She remembers the good, happy times they had, before the Anna O case. She wonders if they would have stayed together if not for that fateful night.

While Kitty is distracted by the TV, Ben and Clara discuss the case. Bloom was killed with 10 stab wounds, the same way Anna killed Douglas and Indira. Clara changes the subject, teasing him about his police statement. She says he’ll be fine as long as he doesn’t abscond to the Caribbean. Ben was offered a position teaching at the University of the Cayman Islands, a dream life he thought his family would love, but one he gave up.

Clara asks if he’s woken Anna yet, and he describes his methods. He also wants to solve the mystery, but Clara insists doing his job is enough. Clara believes waking Anna will take the risk off their family, too.

Ben converses with Anna as if she can respond. He continues the other sensory stimulation exercises.

He searches the Medea copy again. Anna circled only the word “Marathon” in an important passage. Ben struggles to unravel her notes. The more he works with her, the more he feels connected to Anna. He reminds himself that Anna is a killer. Ben leaves to meet Anna’s father.

In March 2019, Anna’s insomnia and anxiety heighten. She wakes up outside her flat, in her nightgown with no shoes on. She’s been sleepwalking. Anna hurries inside, fearful it could have been worse. She thinks she’s like a werewolf or zombie.

With her sleep research, she fears her episodes are worsening. Anna feels trapped with an uncontrollable mind: “I am scared about who I become at night and what I might do. I am scared by the dark thoughts that sleep inside me” (190).

Ben meets Richard Ogilvy at his mansion. Richard appears upbeat, with a personality to win others over. He likes percentages, but Ben can’t give him accurate chances of Anna waking up. Still, Richard seems to accept his methods. When Ben asks about Douglas and Indira, Richard gets uncomfortable; he says Doug was nice but he didn’t exchange more than a few words with Indira.

Ben shows him a recent video of Anna reacting to the sensory stimulation with a flicker of her eyes and hands. Ben questions what led to Anna losing hope, and Richard agrees to help.

After the interview with Richard, Ben thinks about fathers, daughters, and partners. Richard cheated on Emily many times, so Ben thinks of when he found Clara’s texts about her affair. The number was listed as “HOSPITAL,” though Clara never told him the man’s identity.

Ben writes notes about the interview. Richard didn’t know about Anna’s sleepwalking until Emily told him, he didn’t think Elementary was a good idea, he knew Anna went to Broadmoor Hospital for research, and he couldn’t think of any triggers from the Farm that would create her parasomnia. Ben puzzles through the evidence. Someone calls Ben to hurry to Anna’s room.

An orderly explains to Ben that Anna opened her eyes for a few minutes. Ben is thrilled. He asks about the trigger; the orderly turned the game on. Anna and her father used to watch soccer games together.

Ben looks at Anna, whose eyes are closed, and wonders if he is setting her up to go to prison by waking her up.

Anna, Douglas, and friends celebrate Indira’s birthday. When Anna hugs Indira, she realizes she hates her. Even when drinking, they can’t be honest. She wishes Indira and Douglas would tell her about the merger, rather than hide.

Anna dives into Sally’s case. She finds articles, forums, and more. She checks her Twitter responses for help. Someone named @PatientX has replied.

Lola stalks Ben. Reading his work and listening to his videos are different from knowing him personally. She watches Ben talk with another Abbey employee. Lola plans to post another blog so the guilty parties will pay.

Ben is excited by the progress. Anna is on the cusp of waking up. He gives her more stimulation and commands, such as moving her head to the left. Harriet comes in to assist. Ben repeats that Anna is safe at the Abbey Sleep Clinic and praises her when she completes his commands. She can move her head and hands. Ben asks her to picture her childhood home, a happy memory, and they move her to get brain scans. By the chapter’s end, Anna has opened her eyes and is staring at Ben.

In April 2019, Anna thinks Patient X is her source. She explains her article and writing goal via email. Besides the murder’s truth, Anna wants to know if Sally Turner died by suicide in her cell at Broadmoor or if someone killed her.

Patient X replies that they were at Broadmoor in 1999 and overheard people talking about a psych trial called MEDEA, which they used on Sally. Anna has her inside source.

At the end of April, Anna wakes up to another sleepwalking episode. She’s standing over Douglas’s bed with a knife in her hand. She’s horrified.

At the sleep clinic, Ben calls Emily to tell her the good news. She hurries to the Abbey and finds Anna awake. Emily is overcome by emotion. She holds Anna’s hand and welcomes her back.

Emily thanks Ben for his hard work. They’re all in disbelief. She asks about the trial, but Ben can’t answer, since they’re only concerned with Anna’s health. Ben and Harriet leave them. Anna is stable but doesn’t speak.

Emily remembers the terror of the murders, reading Anna’s message and thinking it was a joke. Richard and Emily were united then, finding Anna and the bodies. She wanted to protect Anna, but they called the police.

Emily wakes up from sleeping at Anna’s side. Ben discusses housekeeping items, such as how they can’t delay too long in letting the Department of Justice know about Anna’s recovery. She can tell Ben cares about Anna. Ben wants to wait until Anna is conscious for a while.

Ben warns her about other cases in which patients had amnesia, waking up thinking it was the moment before the resignation syndrome. Thus, Anna may think it’s 2019 and Douglas and Indira are still alive.

After 12 hours of Anna going in and out of consciousness, Ben and Harriet conduct the tests. He asks her to open her eyes, speak to him, and do other small tasks. They rate her reactions. Ben doesn’t want to hand Anna over to the justice system until she’s ready. He asks Anna to say her full name.

Ben calls Donnelly to update him. Ben insists that Anna may be suffering from post-traumatic amnesia, so she can’t be tried. Donnelly warns him that they’ve monitored Anna’s fans, and many of them are “nutjobs” who might not stay online. Some think they’re drugging Anna to keep her asleep. Donnelly needs to handle the legal side, so he encourages Ben to hurry. Donnelly reminds him there is another killer on the loose (whoever killed Bloom), so Ben and his family are in danger.

In 2019, Anna processes her episode with the knife above Douglas. She’s distraught that she could have killed him, questioning if she’s capable of murder. Every night forward, Anna bars her room with furniture so she can’t escape.

She researches Medea’s myth, a woman who killed her own sons. The code name Medea makes sense for Sally.

On a visit home, Anna talks with her mom. Emily can tell Anna isn’t sleeping well. Emily shows her the flyer for the Farm as a de-stressing getaway. Anna agrees to go.

Ben and Harriet visit the Farm to understand Anna’s past and the murders in 2019. The Farm went downhill after the murders, so they can walk the grounds. They start in the forest. Ben feels lingering eeriness.

Ben and Harriet recreate the night of Anna’s alleged murders. They hike the forest, and Ben states the crime doesn’t make sense. He believes something happened in the woods to provoke Anna to kill—especially because she had no history of mental health issues and wouldn’t suddenly turn monstrous.

They move to the cabins. They reenact the scene, with Ben playing Anna. Harriet is less squeamish than he expected, but he assumes this is because she’s a nurse. Harriet plays Anna’s parents. Ben fakes the murders above the beds, then sends Harriet a text. By the end, Ben believes Anna killed her friends, but whether she is culpable is a different story. She definitely could have harmed her friends while asleep.

Along with his family, Ben attends Bloom’s funeral. They go to the park afterward. He tells Clara about the Farm. He doesn’t think Anna could have walked back to her cabin after the murder without help. Clara thinks that means Anna was awake and guilty. Ben has a hunch she’s wrong.

Kitty asks about the “bad” sleeping lady, which surprises Ben. Clara explains Anna’s name is all over in the media. Clara wants Ben to be done with this patient quickly.

In June 2019, Patient X and Anna correspond more. X advises that she won’t find anything in the public domain. X wants her to go to the hospital ward as an approved visitor, but Anna doesn’t know how to get in. X pushes her: “Someone is behind all of this, Anna. Wake up. Sally Turner has a child. Find the suspect, find the story. It’s hunting time” (260).

Anna enters Broadmoor Hospital with a letter from her mother. Emily’s political standing lets her in. Anna finds notes from Bloom about the “special project,” which must be MEDEA. The timeline fits when Sally was there. After Anna tells Patient X about her findings, X agrees to meet in person.

After several sessions at the sleep clinic, Ben helps Anna through some post-traumatic amnesia. They work to remember her life before. Today, he asks about her dreams. Anna describes a forest, wearing red and blue clothes, and feeling the devil breathing through her. Then, she describes holding a knife, blood, and running to a town called Marathon. Her dream is always the same. Anna says Ben looks familiar, but he assures her they’ve never met prior.

In a private meeting, Donnelly says he can trust Clara as a fellow law enforcement employee. Through Donnelly’s secret monitoring of Ben’s sessions, he knows Anna has a repeated dream describing the devil breathing through her. Clara knows that is related to a date rape drug called scopolamine. The drug disables short-term memory and is untraceable within hours. It can also put people into a hypnotic state.

Donnelly tracked the @Suspect8 account. The account leads to Lola Ridgeway. He thinks Lola is a cover name for Harriet, since she’s been Anna’s consistent nurse. Clara is surprised.

In mid-June 2019, Anna goes to meet X in Hyde Park. X texts that Anna has a tail. Anna sees the man X describes, who was apparently following her. X tells her to find one of Bloom’s earliest articles about the MEDEA method. Anna asks how X knows all this, but they respond to ditch her phone and come without a tail next time.

While Ben is working with Anna at the sleep clinic, he hears sirens. The police escort him out of the building.

Ben, Anna, and Harriet become sensations for the press. He worries about the age of suspicion, cancellation, and erasure, if his job is secure, and how Kitty and Clara will be affected. The police interrogate him, but he responds with “No comment,” even though he’s innocent. They ask Ben if he was affiliated with Harriet AKA Lola Ridgeway in facilitating the contract as a health officer at the Farm, if he worked with Harriet at Broadmoor Hospital, why Anna claimed to have met him before, if he used the drug scopolamine on Anna, etc.

At the end of June 2019, Anna searches for clues. She can’t find evidence of MEDEA online because it’s too confidential. She wonders who Sally’s child could be, and if her child killed her at Broadmoor or helped Sally die by suicide.

Anna writes her first draft about Sally’s case, which she’ll publish in Elementary. She is getting closer to the truth. She opens a message from Patient X.

After the interrogation, Ben is in his cell. He thinks Harriet caused chaos and that she framed him. He calls Clara and insists they’ve gotten it all wrong. Clara supports him. He speaks with Kitty and cries. The phone line cuts while talking to Kitty.

Lola is Harriet the nurse by day, a sleuth by night, and @Suspect8 online. In her jail cell, she cuts her wrists with nail clippers. As she bleeds to death, she remembers her last confessional blog. Her final thoughts are about dying by suicide as “they agreed” (297).

In 2019, Douglas and Indira tell Anna about the sell-out. They’ve cut her out of Elementary, giving her some of the sale but no job. Anna relied on friendship over business. She feels worse than betrayed since Elementary was her idea.

In jail, Ben wonders if Harriet was also Patient X. Did Harriet drug Anna, then kill Douglas and Indira and blame it on Anna? Why would she target Anna? He keeps questioning, but he can’t come up with answers to these mysteries.

Ben is led outside, where Clara is waiting. She’s rescued him.

Clara shows Ben the last blog from Harriet/Lola. Harriet confessed, though she left some things unanswered. She cleared Ben’s name. Harriet seems to admit she murdered Bloom and asks for justice to continue. Clara explains that since Harriet is the main culprit and has tainted the case, Anna will go free.

In 2019, Anna reels from the Elementary betrayal and the low sale amount. She wonders how Indira and Doug connected with the big media company. Anna reviews their text messages. Indira mentioned RO, which she thought meant rollover or responsible officer. However, she realizes RO stood for Richard Ogilvy. She suspects her father has a romantic relationship with Indira.