Page 73 of Psychopath

Cleo stuck her hand out, and David shook it. He stepped back, opened the door wide, and gestured at them to come inside. “Welcome to my world.”

The segregation unit was a rectangular room with ten cells. Each cell had a shower, toilet, sink and bed but nothing else. In the middle of the unit was a small square room with windows all around.

The officers’ box.

“My domain.” David sighed, gesturing to it.

It didn’t have much. A table, chair, a laptop, and a video feed that monitored people approaching the unit. There was a whiteboard with each cell number and the name of the occupant inside.

Quinn’s heart skipped a beat at Zane’s name.

“Cell eight,” David said. He unhooked a key hanging from the wall and strode out of the officers’ box.

He knocked on the door. “Hope you’re decent. I’ve got the doctor here to see you.”

“I said I didn’t need to see him!”

David sighed and unlocked the door. Zane stood facing the small window in the bare cell. He whirled around, snarl set on his face, but froze at the sight of Quinn.

“Thirty minutes,” David said. “That’s all I’m giving you.” He frowned. “Do I need to stay with you?”

Before Quinn could reply, Zane got there first.

“It’s confidential,” Zane said.

David glanced at Quinn to confirm.

It wasn’t strictly true, but Quinn found himself nodding.

“There’s an emergency button by the door,” Cleo said. “And David will be close by in the officers’ box.”

“Keep the door open,” David said. “And I’ll keep an ear out. Enjoy.”

“Thank you,” Quinn whispered.

Then he was alone in Zane’s cell.

12

They stared at each other as they listened to David’s and Cleo’s retreating footsteps. The two prison officers said their goodbyes, then the door to the segregation unit opened before sealing shut. David hummed under his breath as he opened the door to the officers’ box. It didn’t click shut behind him; he’d left it open.

“Are you okay?” Quinn asked.

There was no missing the growing bruise high on Zane’s cheekbone.

“Am I okay?” Zane asked with wide eyes. “Jesus, Quinn, you were the one being choked to death.”

Quinn avoided Zane’s eyes. “Thank you for getting him off me.”

“What the hell was he even doing in there with you?”

Quinn fidgeted with the papers he was holding. “I…I asked him to continue the study.”

Zane stiffened. “What?”

“He was an ideal participant—”

“Are you that stupid?” Zane snapped. “I told you he was dangerous.”

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