Page 103 of Psychopath

“He’s not safe now. If he’s not with me, then he’s not safe, and when I get out of here, he won’t be escaping me again, and anyone who tries to stand in the way of him and me, I’ll take their head clean off too. My only regret is getting caught. The violence, the blood…the startling clarity of seeing a head in a separate place to its body…” He grinned. “I love it.”

“More than Luca?”

Quinn’s words wiped the smile from Virgil’s face.

“No. Not more than Luca.”

Quinn was grateful for the barrier between them.

Cleo knocked a tuneful beat on Virgil’s door.

“Time’s up,” she said, but her warm smile didn’t take any of the chill out of the atmosphere. Quinn tried to keep his movements slow, controlled, as he tidied away his notes. He didn’t want Virgil or Cleo to know how badly he wanted out of the room.

“Thank you, for talking to me today,” Quinn said, trying and failing to meet Virgil’s eyes.

“You’re welcome, Doctor Quinn.”

Virgil got up, tucked his chair beneath the table, then followed Cleo out of the room.

“You look…” Zane paused, studying Quinn through the glass. “Exhausted.”

“It’s been a long week.” Quinn gestured for Zane to take his seat.

“And you left the best until last.” Zane sat down. “I’m serious, though. You need a holiday.”

Quinn snorted. “There’s far too much to do to even consider getting away.”

“It’s not healthy.”

“What isn’t?”

“Surrounding yourself with killers.”

“I only see one of you each day.”

“But when you go home, you write it all up and send it off to your boss. Murder must be on your mind all the time.”

“Mars keeps me sane.”

“Mars, your violent cat?”

“He’s misunderstood,” Quinn argued, then opened his folder on the table.

“Read any new books?”

Quinn shook his head.

“What about your allotment? How’s that going?”

“I…” Quinn blinked. “I haven’t been there in a while.”

Zane cocked his head. “And what about the final episode of Cops and Shops?”

“Still haven’t seen it.” He flashed a smile. “So no spoilers.”

He expected a returning smile, but Zane frowned at him.

Before Zane could ask something else, Quinn jumped in, “You’ve probably heard from the others this week’s session is about the crime that got you sent here.”

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