Page 89 of Psychopath

“Spoilsport.”

“Yep.” Quinn hugged his folder to his chest. “Thank you for your time.”

“I’m always happy to give it to you, Quinn.”

“Zane…”

“That wasn’t dirty in the slightest.” He winked. “Oh, and Quinn…”

“What is it?”

“Get your locks changed.”

Quinn got to his feet and spoke into the mic with a smile, “Arsehole.”

Zane’s eyes sparkled as he grinned back. “You love it.”

Quinn got the locks changed on Saturday.

He spent Sunday cursing himself over his closeness to Zane and reminding himself of the traits of a psychopath. The problem was, Zane didn’t feel like a psychopath.

Harris unsettled him in a way that was hard to explain. There was something missing in his eyes, like his mind worked on a different level and he viewed Quinn as something mildly interesting and nothing more.

Virgil was scoring just as high on the tests as Harris, if not slightly more. He had an energy around him that was hard to put into words, but Quinn could sense it. He was well-mannered, always answered and didn’t linger when the sessions ended early, but there was something unhinged, something that put Quinn on high alert despite the officer in the room.

On the other end of the scale was Noah. He was underscoring. The poisoner who killed six people and injured several more was not the cocky, proud of his crime young man Quinn had been led to believe he was.

He showed empathy in his tests and cared what people thought of him, particularly Quinn, and he was loyal towards his ex-teacher. He’d asked if Quinn could find him and check he was okay. Quinn said he couldn’t, but Noah didn’t kick off like he expected. He hung his head and nodded. He, from all Quinn’s research, wasn’t a psychopath.

But Zane was scoring high enough to be one, just, but…

His results on the last test, Quinn’s own invention, confused Quinn. Harris was able to read the words without the backgrounds distracting him. Virgil took longer when the images were violent, particularly with blood and gore. Richard got distracted by facial expressions behind the words, both Noah and Tony were in the normal range of reaction…and then there was Zane.

His results varied on the test with no obvious reason why. One word with a bloody background he read instantly, then later on, the exact same card and word, he took his time.

It was the only test Zane had given confusing results.

Quinn glanced up from his notes. Mars sat on the coffee table, watching him.

“Wishful thinking, huh?”

Mars blinked.

Quinn risked reaching out and stroking him and was rewarded by Mars leaning into the touch.. “You’ve forgiven me for letting Damon grab you?” He smiled, “Looks like birthday wishes do come true.”

Cleo stopped Quinn at the reception. “I was supposed to call you.”

“Why? What’s happened?”

“Zane—”

“Is he okay?”

Cleo chuckled. “He’s fine but an idiot.”

“An idiot?”

“Yep. He was caught smoking weed in his cell this morning.” She shook her head. “Literally, spliff in hand. He tried to flush it, but we’d already seen him.”

---