Page 1 of Psychopath

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Quinn released a slow breath, but it had little effect on his rampant heart. He studied his palms, grimaced at the sparkling sweat, then wiped them aggressively on his thighs. The clock ticked ominously above the door, but when Quinn glanced down at the watch circling his wrist, he sighed.

Both devices were ticking the time away, but his watch was slower, out of rhythm. He adjusted the dial just to give his trembling hands something to do, then stared at his reflection in the small clock face. His blue eyes had a fearful quality to them, and his bottom lip had plumped from his obsessive nipping.

He tore his gaze away and lined up his papers for the twentieth time. “Get a grip.”

Nervous perspiration prickled his skin, and he yanked at the collar of his shirt, hoping to waft cooler air down his body.

It didn’t work.

Instead, his aftershave seeped towards his nose, and he sneezed.

“Bless you.”

His heart squeezed hard in his chest, and he shot a startled look at the door.

The infamous Zane Black stood in the doorway of the office, with his head cocked and a slight smile on his lips. Zane was thirty years old, seven years Quinn’s senior. He was bigger, and wider, than the mug shots in Quinn’s folder. His black hair glistened, and his eyes were dark.

The notes said he had brown eyes, but Quinn couldn’t see any hint of colour, only black.

They stared at each other for a few seconds.

Then Quinn’s brain functioned, and he stood up and offered his remoistened hand. Zane stepped into the room, and their hands connected in a firm shake.

“I’m Doctor Quinn. Take a seat.”

Quinn let go.

Zane looked down at his hand and swiped his thumb over his palm. “You’re nervous.”

Quinn licked his lips, thought about denying Zane’s observation, but nodded instead.

“Yeah, I am. You’re Zane Black. I would be stupid not to be nervous.”

Zane frowned, glancing over his shoulder towards the corridor. “You’ve met others like me.”

“No two criminals are alike.”

“Serial killers.”

“Well, technically you’re not a serial killer.”

Zane raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“You’re a double murderer. Serial killers tend to kill several victims over a period. You…you killed your victims on the same night.”

As if that made him any better.

“Huh… Maybe they just haven’t found the other bodies yet.”

A tightness gripped Quinn’s throat, and he swallowed hard.

Zane rolled his eyes. “It was a joke.”

“Not a particularly funny one.”

“Why be so wary of me? There’s worse killers in here, most of them you’ve spoken to.”

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