Page 46 of Psychopath

Zane released a slow breath through his nose, then leaned over the table. “One-lane road to work. A broken-down tractor. Fields behind your house to look at the sky. A crumbled church in need of restoration. The Queen’s Head pub. All pieces of a puzzle, and I’ve put them together. You live in Water Hollow.”

“Street name, house number?”

“I don’t know them, but give me a chance and I’m sure I can find out.”

“Why find out? Why work out where I live?”

Zane shrugged. “Boredom. Curiosity. Anticipation.”

“Anticipation?”

“I look forward to seeing your reaction.”

“Was my reaction what you were hoping for?”

Zane’s smile faltered, then faded completely. “Not really. You look frightened, which wasn’t my intention.”

“Then what were you hoping for?”

“You to be impressed, I suppose.”

“You like people to think you’re clever, don’t you?” Quinn accused.

Zane looked away. “I guess…”

“You are, but you’re scary too.”

“How am I scary? I can’t just turn up in your village…can I?”

“No, no, you can’t,” Quinn whispered, but his stomach churned uncomfortably.

“I didn’t mean to freak you out, Quinn. I’m not planning anything.”

“Good. I…I think you should go back to your cell.”

“Do you want me to go?” Zane asked.

Quinn hesitated. They had twenty minutes left of their session. He checked the clock and his watch to confirm it.

“Why psychology?”

Quinn glanced back at Zane after his question. “I find it interesting.”

“I did business studies at university, but I had a friend who did psychology. I sometimes went to his lectures; they were far more interesting than mine. Piaget, Freud, Skinner…” He turned his head. “Why do you find the darker aspects of psychology more interesting?”

“Who says I find it more interesting?”

Zane smiled. “You’re here. Your study involves killers.”

“I guess I want to understand why a person would kill.” He shrugged. “What drives them.”

“So you can stop them?”

“I think preventing something starts with understanding it. You need a pattern, or a marker, to be able to intervene at the right moment.”

“What if not everybody fits the same pattern?”

“I don’t expect them to.” Quinn snorted. “But maybe enough will.”

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