Page 30 of Good Half Gone

“No.”

He studies me before nodding.

“We have five permanent patients who live in solitary year-round. Occasionally, when a patient is a danger to themselves, they’ll be moved here for a time, but it’s normally just those five.”

I can list them by heart, have each of their names typed in the notes app on my phone, along with a link to any articles published about them. Unlike the other patients in HOTI, the ones in D hall are not here for rehabilitation. They are here for containment.

Marshal Day Monterey.

Ellis Conrad Jr.

Dalton Barellis.

Jude Fields.

Arthur Barton.

I swallow the lump in my throat. No one has to warn me how dangerous they are. One of them killed my sister.

I’d looked up all five, done my research, but there is only one I am interested in.

“Will I get the chance to sit in on their treatment?”

“Getting ahead of yourself there, new girl…”

“Sure.” I shrug. “It’s what I’m here for after all, isn’t it? To study treatment.”

“Dr. Grayson will decide what part of treatment you’ll be part of.”

I shrug again. Crede looks like he wants to say something but doesn’t.

It’s a good thing too, because the hairs on the back of my neck are doing the cancan. It is taking major self-control to act normal.

He is behind one of those doors.

“How big are their rooms?”

“Eleven by eleven. Their rooms open to a small outdoor area.”

“A garden?”

He laughs. “I wouldn’t say that…”

Good, I didn’t want him to have a garden—or anything of beauty, for that matter. The more grave his days, the better.

At the end of the hallway is a set of double doors with frosted glass windows.

“That’s Doc’s office…”

Dr. Leo Grayson himself. I find it interesting that he keeps his office back here. It is quiet, and a little damp.

As Crede leads me back out the security door, I turn for one last look. There’s a whip of movement. I think, at least…

Has a door opened and closed?

No. No way. I’m being paranoid.

We are about to visit the residential wing: A. Home to the patients of Shoal Island. But before we can get there, someone dies.

---