Page 21 of Psychopath

“I’m not allowed nail varnish remover in case I drink it, put it in someone else’s drink, or make an explosive from it.”

“You can do that?”

“Oh yeah.” Noah smiled. “The nail varnish is contraband too.”

Quinn frowned. “Every time I’ve seen you, you’ve been wearing a different shade.”

“I have a talent for getting what I want, and if the prison officers can’t find it, where’s the proof I have it?”

“Literally on the tips of your fingers.”

Noah shrugged. “I woke up like this.”

Quinn smirked. “I’m going to ask you about your…school life.”

Noah gazed up, and a fondness registered on his features. He sighed with contentment. “Some of the best days of my life.”

That…that caught Quinn off guard.

“Why?”

“Most kids hated going to school, but I loved it. It got me away from my mum and dad. I didn’t have many friends, but it didn’t matter. Mr Hawk believed in me.”

“Mr Hawk?”

“My chemistry teacher.”

“You’ve always been interested in chemistry?”

Noah nodded to the ceiling. “He used to let me help set up experiments. I liked the anticipation of seeing chemicals react. The acids and the alkaline. Mr Hawk knew my parents didn’t have time for me, and he let me stay after school in the lab.”

“It made you feel good?”

“The only bit of happiness I had in my life was those few hours after school. Mr Hawk would talk to me like an equal. His parents never had time for him, and he knew how cruel they could be. He understood.”

“Mr Hawk… He didn’t”—Quinn shuffled in his seat and kept his tone neutral—“act inappropriately towards you?”

“That’s exactly what my dad thought. He didn’t understand why someone would just be nice to me without getting something in return.”

Quinn dropped his gaze to the table. “I’m sorry. I know there was an allegation, that’s all.”

“Does it tell you that in the file?”

“It does.”

“I started staying late every day. The teachers warned Mr Hawk not to get too close, but he didn’t care. We weren’t doing anything wrong. If anything, he was keeping me away from harm. My dad found out I’d been staying at the school with him and lost it. He drove to the school and attacked Mr Hawk, put him in hospital. He shouted he was a pedo and told all the other parents he was dangerous.”

“What happened after?”

“Mr Hawk moved away. I was no longer allowed to stay after school, and the other kids pointed and laughed at me for being pedo prey. They…they gave me a hard time. School wasn’t the sanctuary it once was, and I…I hated my dad for that.”

“I’m sorry.”

Noah snorted. “You don’t need to be sorry. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Did you ever try to find Mr Hawk?”

“No, he wouldn’t have wanted to see me. I’m the kid he tried to help but who messed up his life. I’m the kid whose dad put him in hospital. I’m the kid who lost him his job.”

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