Page 80 of Psychopath

“Quinn.”

“What are we doing today?”

Quinn looked down at the forms on his desk. “I need to make sure you’re suitable for the MRI scanners.”

“Can’t you just look at our medical files?”

“I need your consent for that.”

Quinn slipped the first form through the hatch for Zane, along with his pencil.

It didn’t take long for Zane to complete everything. Quinn took the forms back through the hatch and slipped them into his folder. He braced himself, flicking his eyes at the camera. Zane was grinning at him, and Quinn had an inkling of what was on his mind, but he caught Quinn off guard when he asked, “Are you going to do anything nice for your birthday?”

Quinn dropped his folder. “What?”

“Twenty-four, am I right?”

“How could you… I’ve never…”

Zane held up his thumb and closed one of his eyes. He held it out in front of himself, staring at Quinn like he was measuring something.

“What?” Quinn asked.

“It was the number of eyelashes and the space between your eyebrows that told—”

“Bullshit.”

Zane laughed, dropping his thumb. “You got me. It was Noah.”

“Noah,” Quinn said softly.

Upon learning they were the same age, Noah had wanted to know whether he was older or younger than Quinn. He’d told Noah his birthday.

“May 13,” Zane said. “Which is Saturday.”

“It is.”

“What are your plans?”

Quinn shook his head. “I’ll be typing up the next lot of notes.”

“Oh, come on, you have to do something.”

“I’ll probably go to the allotment.” Quinn shrugged. “See how the beans are growing.”

“You are too cute.”

“If this glass wasn’t between us, I’d ball up a sheet of paper and throw it at you.”

Zane displayed his teeth in a grin. “Now that sounds inappropriate.”

Quinn shook his head.

“You’ve got a cake, right?”

“No, I’ve not got a cake.”

Zane gaped. “No cake on your birthday?”

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