Page 108 of Psychopath

She was tall. Her brown hair was fixed into a bun at the back of her head, but a few wispy strands had escaped.

“Quinn.”

“It’s only natural the patients are curious about him,” she mumbled, glancing in the direction the red-headed man had disappeared.

“It’s understandable.”

“What’s he in prison for?”

“Erm—armed robbery—”

“I killed four women whom I deemed unworthy.”

Quinn closed his eyes in an extended blink. If there was ever a time for Harris to be his studious self, it had been that moment, but of course, he relished in her reaction, smiling wider than Quinn had ever seen.

“Don’t worry, you’re a nurse, you contribute to society. I have no desire to see you die.”

“Behave,” Quinn growled through his teeth.

“Follow me,” Gemma said, leading them down a darkened corridor.

Quinn went after her, and Harris followed, sandwiched between Cleo and Simon. They found themselves in a blindingly white room. A man in blue scrubs glanced down at his clipboard, then up at Quinn.

“Ah, you’ve brought your first guinea pig.”

Nurses waited behind him, fidgeting as they looked at Harris.

“Participant,” Quinn corrected.

“Well, I’m Doctor Harp, and the MRI scanner is prepped and ready to go, but I do ask that all metal is removed, belts, buttons, loose change, keys, phones—”

“Harris doesn’t have any.”

“Handcuffs.”

Quinn cocked his jaw. “Right.”

“We’ve some non-metal restraints. We can strap him to the board, make sure he can’t move.”

“Strap him? You can’t be serious.”

“He’s a dangerous criminal. We need to ensure the safety of our other patients and our staff.”

“He doesn’t need strapping down.”

The doctor smiled grimly. “It’s a precaution.”

“I’ve got two prison staff and police officers with me and your security.”

“Still, we’d all feel safer if he was immobile.”

“Quinn,” Harris whispered. “It’s fine. I understand their worry.”

The doctor kept his distance and gestured to the bed by the scanner. “If you could just lie down. We’ll secure your legs, thighs, and middle, then remove the cuffs.”

Harris nodded and climbed onto the bed. As soon as he was down, the nurses swooped in and began securing him with black strips. Quinn shook his head while he watched their eagerness to immobilise Harris.

“Officers,” Doctor Hart said. “Remove any metal items you have on your person, whether that be change, a belt buckle, mobile phone—”

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