Page 9 of In Death, Love Survives
“I knew. A couple of others. It was need to know.”
“And I didn’t need to know? I needed to know about Wolfe in advance, just like any other new prisoner who needs psychiatric care.”
Ryan opens a door, and I step through it first as we finish our journey.
“I get it… I do. I simply couldn’t tell you.”
I let out a loud sigh.
“I understand, but it’s just frustrating that Crawley did this. He’s so secretive sometimes, and it’s frustrating.”
Ryan strokes the upper part of my arm.
“The asshole frustrates me all the time too.” He smirks as he pulls away.
“On the upside, you don’t want a patient who is extra interesting for once?”
“Every patient is interesting,” I counter.
“It’stheWolfe Walker.”
“He’s a prisoner,” I stress.
Ryan raises his hands playfully in defeat.
“I get it.”
“Thank you.” I shyly smile.
“You aren’t mad at me?”
“Mad? No, of course not.”
“Good. I’d hate that. You and I are a team here.”
Some team.
“I’ll bring you his file later today.”
“Thank you, but next time, I would appreciate the heads-up.”
Ryan pauses in front of my office as I swing the door open.
“You know I couldn’t.”
My shoulders sink as I briefly shut my eyes.
“I need time to evaluate patients. I have a process.”
Ryan grips my shoulders tightly, and my eyes pop open.
“You’re the best at what you do. Far too good to be here at Roper State. You will be able to evaluate him with as much time as you need. That is in my control, not Crawley’s.”
My watch alarm rings, indicating it’s time for me to start the evaluations of the thirteen prisoners with known mental health histories.
“I hope so.”
As I settleinto my dedicated chair, the first prisoner comes into the patient room I typically use. He’s an older, weathered-looking man with a tired look on his face.
