Page 111 of Psychopath

Quinn nodded and let his eyes slide shut. “Just Zane and Virgil to go.”

Cleo squeezed his hand. “Then it’s all over.”

Quinn didn’t know how he felt about that.

19

The heat was more intense the next day. Cleo checked her phone as they waited for Simon and Clint to bring Zane and Virgil outside.

“The hottest July 3 since records began.” She pocketed her phone, then flashed Quinn a glance. “At least the hospital has got aircon.”

“The hospital, yes, but the van…”

Cleo hummed. “We’ll get Clint to park it in the shade.”

Quinn nodded absent-mindedly, his gaze fixed to the front gate. He wiped his sweaty palms on his thighs and mopped his brow with the hem of his shirt. Cleo gripped her blouse and flapped it to get a current down her body, but it didn’t cool her down much if her flushed cheeks were anything to go by.

As soon as Quinn saw Zane coming towards him, his stomach flipped. Zane wore a white vest, and his cuffed hands made his biceps protrude. He smiled at Quinn as he approached, squinting slightly as the sun shone on his face. There was no denying he was handsome, strikingly so with his dark hair and eyes.

“Today’s the day.”

“It is,” Quinn agreed. His gut tied itself in a knot.

“And what a beautiful day it is.” Zane grinned, then winked. “I still think I’ll be right.”

“About what?”

“Me having the sexiest brain.”

Quinn snorted softly, eyes meeting Zane’s.

“In you get,” Simon said, directing Zane up the two steps to get in the van. Zane sighed but went, and thirty seconds later, Simon reappeared and marched behind Clint as they went to get Virgil.

Virgil didn’t greet any of them and got into the van without protest or comment. Simon and Clint got in the driver’s cabin, and Cleo gave Quinn an encouraging push towards the back. She dropped her bag as soon as they were inside, pulled out a bottle of water and glugged down the whole lot.

Quinn widened his eyes.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ve got another, and we can buy some at the hospital.”

The drive, like the day before, was silent. Quinn found himself glancing at Zane’s door, wondering what he was thinking as they drove down the road.

Just as Cleo had said, Clint parked the van in the shade, meaning a longer walk across the car park to get inside. Zane went first, with Cleo and Simon on either side of him, while Clint stayed with the van and Virgil.

The police escorts followed behind closely, one walking backwards as he surveyed the area and hissed into a radio receiver.

Zane paused in the hospital reception. His nose twitched.

“What is it?” Quinn asked.

“I hate the smell of these places.”

“What? Cleanliness?”

“No.” Zane lowered his head. “The smell. It reminds me of when my father was in hospital.” He shook his head. “When he…”

“Sorry,” Quinn said softly. “I know exactly what you mean.”

“You’ve got nothing to apologise for.”

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