by B. L. Mooney
We kept to his bedroom, except for meals and when he wanted to work out. It was exhausting watching him work out, so I usually read during that time. He told me I was welcome to join him during the workouts, but I told him that he worked me out enough in other ways.
As much as I enjoyed my time with Joseph, I was starting to go a little stir crazy not being able to leave the house. I thought my mother was sick of me calling her, too. It wasn’t like me to have nothing to do.
Aaron was bringing Elizabeth over to give me someone new to talk to. I thought he and Phil knew my time being cooped up was coming to an end. It’d been days since Austin had tried anything with anyone. I wasn’t sure what that meant other than he could outwait me. It killed me that he seemed to have more patience than I did.
“I brought wine.” Elizabeth walked through the front door with Aaron on her heels. “I figured since we’re out of the office, we can have something stronger than coffee to talk over.”
She’d become a good friend, and I looked forward to our talks. I wanted to hear the update on her and Aaron, and I couldn’t wait to give her the update on Joseph and me. I showed her to the kitchen to grab a couple of wine glasses.
“So, how are you and Aaron?”
She shrugged. “He’s a little busy right now, but he still comes over for a few minutes when he can.”
“I’m sorry if this is putting a wedge between you two.”
“No, it isn’t. Not your case, anyway. This is how it’s going to be with any case he’s on. I guess I need to decide if I want to deal with that. On one hand, he’s a really great guy. I could see myself with him, and we’d have cute babies.
“On the other hand, he’s gone a lot and won’t see those babies very much. He comes around to make them, but we don’t really talk much anymore.” She plopped down on the stool in front of the counter. “It’s so hard to decide what to do.”
I grabbed the bottle of wine and opened it. It was clear she brought the wine because she needed it. “I can see that. Maybe cases aren’t normally like this, though. Sure, he’ll be called away occasionally, but I don’t think every case he touches turns into a full-time protection detail.”
“He said that, too. I guess I just need to wait it out and see what happens once this case is solved.” She smiled. “So, what’s going on with you and Joseph?”
I smiled. “Things are going really well. I may hate the situation I’m in, but I’m grateful to be in it with Joseph. I may never have learned what I have about him or ever had a chance with him if I wasn’t in this situation. If I get Joseph at the end, then this all will have been worth it.”
“Even when I smell as bad as I do after I work out?” Joseph came up behind me and wrapped his sweaty body around mine. He bit my neck and let me go. “I’m taking a shower. I was going to ask if you wanted to join me, but you can wash my back later.”
He kissed me and walked away. Elizabeth let her jaw fall open when he walked up without a shirt. His legs were pretty sexy in his shorts, too. I smiled when she continued to look out the doorway after Joseph left.
“Didn’t expect that body, did you?”
She closed her mouth and blushed that she got caught. “Uh, not really. He is one fine piece of ass. I know because I watched it walk away.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. It would frustrate me when women looked at the men I was dating and size them up, but I was confident that Joseph only wanted to be with me, so it didn’t matter. Elizabeth could look all she wanted to. He was falling into bed with me every night.
“Wait, did he kiss you? In front of me?” She clapped her hands. “I’m so happy for you.” She hugged me.
“Thanks. I’m pretty damn happy, too.”
She looked down and turned to face the counter. “I’ve been sent in to get you to talk.”
“Talk about what? I don’t understand.”
“Phil thinks I can get you to say more to me as a friend than you’ll say to him.” She faced me again. “I will listen to whatever stories you want to say about the guy you’re hiding from, but I don’t want to trick you.”
I placed my hand on her upper arm and squeezed. “Thank you for telling me that.” I turned and leaned on the counter. “That Phil is such a piece of work. There’s really nothing else to tell. He has my notes the courts subpoenaed for his trial. I’m not sure what else I can tell him.”
“The courts actually took your notes for evidence? I didn’t think that was an easy thing to do. I thought information you discussed with your doctor was privileged.”
“It is, for the most part. It can be done under extenuating circumstances, but this wasn’t the prosecutor’s request. It was the defense’s.”
“You fought releasing your notes when he wanted it released? Why?”
“Let’s take this conversation to somewhere more comfortable.”
I got up and grabbed the two wine glasses while she brought the bottle. We each took a glass of wine and sat on the sofa. I curled my legs under me while she crossed hers and leaned on the arm of the sofa.
“He thought I had information that could help his case. I remember his face when he found out I wouldn’t help him, no matter what he had concocted in that mind of his.”
The judge looked at me and softened his expression. “Dr. Perkins, I understand your hesitation in telling the jury what you discussed with the defendant during your therapy sessions. However, you are required to do so.” He motioned back to the defense. “Please answer his question.”
“I’ll repeat it.” The defense attorney walked up to the middle of the room again and stood between Austin and me. He kept doing that as if blocking him from my view would make me feel more inclined to talk about him. It didn’t matter. I still knew he was there.
“Dr. Perkins, Mr. Harris had come to you for help. Would you agree with that?”
“That’s what he said.”
“And you agreed to help him?”
“I agreed when I thought it was about relationships. I had no knowledge of the things he would actually discuss.”
“Would you have turned him away?”
“I would’ve recommended another psychologist.”
“So, you wouldn’t have put him out on the street with no help.”
“No. I would’ve been up front with him and told him it was something I wasn’t comfortable assisting him with. I would’ve provided other names of psychologists whom I thought would’ve been able to handle it.” I shrugged. “If he chose not to seek someone else out, that would’ve been on him.”
“I see. You keep using the terms ‘assist’ and ‘handled.’ Do you think Mr. Harris is capable of getting help for his condition?”
I looked to the judge. It wasn’t a question I thought I could answer, but I was encouraged from behind the bench to continue. I looked back to the defense attorney.
“I was unable to determine any kind of condition to help him.”
“Everyone has something they can better about themselves. Wouldn’t you agree with that?”
“Of course.”
“You couldn’t find anything wrong with Mr. Harris to help him better himself?”
“Now you’re just twisting my words, and ‘wrong’ isn’t one I use. Nothing is wrong with anyone. We have experiences that shape our lives as we grow. We may develop unhealthy habits to survive those things. There are many things you can turn into a coping mechanism, such as smoking, overeating, drugs, and alcohol, to name a few of the more negative things people turn to.
“Those things I can help people overcome. However, I wouldn’t consider killing people for sport to be something you can turn into a positive energy.”
“What about those who have a mental disorder? Can you help the insane become sane?”
“You can try to lessen the severity of the complication that prevents them from leading a normal life.”
“I see.” He placed his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “So, you aren’t trained en
ough to help the insane.”
I shook my head. “That isn’t what I said at all. If anyone actually wants help and seeks to accept it from someone, their chances of receiving and applying that help increase greatly.”
“Yes, that’s what you told Mr. Harris as he was in your office trying to get the help you stopped giving him. Is that not true? Aren’t you admitting, under oath, that you did not help Mr. Harris, even though he came to you for help?”
“He came to me for an audience. He didn’t come to me for help.”
“Did he miss an appointment?”
“No.”
“Did he not increase the appointments to two sessions a week at the end?”
“Yes, he did.”
“And you still think he didn’t want help?” He directed his question to the jurors. He was making it my fault that Austin hadn’t received the help he needed. I had to admit, I was feeling guilty by the time he finished.
He walked over to where the jury sat and leaned on the divider. “A man came to you for help, you took his money and his time, and sat there with nothing to say.” He turned back to me. “Much like you’re doing today. How do you still have a practice?”
The prosecution stood. “Objection. This isn’t about Dr. Perkins’ actions, but the defendant’s.”
The defense waved his hand. “I’m done with this witness.”
The prosecution headed over to the jury without looking at me. It was his turn to ask questions, but apparently he didn’t need much from me.
“Dr. Perkins, when did you learn of the defendant’s actions?”
“It was several months into the therapy before I realized what he was truly meaning when he discussed his past relationships.”
“If you’re comfortable, would you mind telling us what it was that clued you in?”
“There were several things. His body language was a big factor.”
“How so?” He turned to look at me, but stayed by the jury.
“It was excited, almost animated. Most people are depressed going through past relationships. He was not depressed.”
“How could you tell?”
“Most of the time he had an erection the further he got into his discussion. He was excited to relive the moment.”
“You were his doctor for several months. Would you consider him insane?”
“No.”
The entire defense table stood when Austin stood and started yelling at me. I knew that was what he was hoping for. He didn’t care what the expert witnesses had testified to. He thought his doctor could prove them wrong. I wouldn’t.
“You bitch! You’re lying. You told me even the insane could be helped!”
The defense attorney quieted Austin and had him sitting before the court officers had made their way over to him. “Your Honor, I’d like to request a brief recess to calm my client.”
The district attorney turned to the judge and added his plea. “I only have one more question for the witness.”
“Make it brief. I think a break is in order.”
At that moment, the DA had made his way over to me. He made eye contact and tried to get me to keep contact with him. “Mr. Harris seems to think you would’ve thought him to be insane. Did you tell him that?”
“I did tell Austin that the insane could be helped, but I didn’t tell him that I thought he was insane.”
“Why would he think that? What did you tell him?”
“I told him pretty much the same thing that I’ve said here. Anyone can be helped who wants to accept that help, even the insane.”
“What else did you say to him?”
“I told him nothing could help evil.”
I wondered how long Elizabeth was going to stay. There was no doubt Lindsey needed the companionship. When I saw the open bottle of wine on the counter, I knew it wasn’t going to be a quick visit.
I lost track of time while I was exercising. I had hoped to shower before Elizabeth had come over. The way she looked at me when I came upstairs was flattering, but it made me uncomfortable. She may have been becoming a personal friend to Lindsey, but I hadn’t made that connection with her yet.
I decided to go down and make a more appropriate appearance with all my clothes on. I didn’t want to interrupt girl talk, so I tried to hear what they were saying before I walked downstairs.
“I can see where you’d find him fascinating. I’m sure things could get a little scary at times.”
Lindsey’s humorless laugh caused me to narrow my eyes. “There were some times where I wanted to get up and leave. I just couldn’t take it anymore, but I had to. If I wanted to get to the bottom of what he was about, I had to sit and listen.”
“His upbringing must have been pretty bad, right? I mean, for him to be so cold and distant with people.”
I’d heard enough. If she was going to talk to people about the things I’d talked to her about, then she’d heard the last from me about my pretty bad upbringing. I walked down the stairs and sat in the chair across from Lindsey. I tried to soften my face, but I couldn’t. I just glared at her.
She didn’t notice at first, but when she turned her head and smiled at me, her smile disappeared and was replaced by narrowed eyes. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s just fine.” I motioned to them. “Continue with your talk.”
Elizabeth looked back and forth between the two of us, unsure of what was going on. “Maybe I should go.”
“No.” I didn’t stop looking at Lindsey. “Please, continue your conversation. Don’t let me stop you. I’m finding it enthralling.”
“Okay.” Elizabeth sat back while Lindsey gave me her own glare. She knew what I was thinking. “So, what’s your take on nature versus nurture, Joseph?”
I looked at Elizabeth. “I believe in both. Sometimes you are just who you are based on genetics.”
Lindsey sat up. “Yes, but there are two parents who provide that genetic makeup for the child. Just because you have one asshole of a father doesn’t mean you’ll turn out like him. You could turn out to be like your mother who’s sweet and kind. However, sometimes the asshole trait will peek through when there’s nothing to be an asshole about.”
Elizabeth looked between us again. “What’s going on here?”
“It’s just a constant debate as of late between us. However, there’s no reason to talk about it anymore because we don’t know what kind of parents Austin Harris had. Austin Harris never spoke to me about his parents or what kind of people they were.”
I closed my eyes. They were talking about Austin and his upbringing. I was a fool to think they were talking about me. Lindsey stood and walked to the kitchen.
“I’m getting another bottle of wine.”
I stood and followed her. “I need a wine glass. We’ll be right back.”
Lindsey was standing in the kitchen, facing the door with her arms crossed when I entered. “What the fuck was that about, Joseph? You come downstairs in a foul mood, give me the death glare for no good reason, and spew this shit that you are who you are based on genetics?”
“I’m sorry. I thought—”
“I know exactly what you thought.” She uncrossed her arms and poked my chest. “And if you think I would talk to anyone about the things you talk to me about, then you don’t know me very well.”
I tried to wrap my arms around her, but she shoved me away. “Lindsey.”
“No, Joseph.” She grabbed a bottle and opened it. “I need to calm down from this. I would never betray you like that. Have a little more faith in me.”
She took the bottle and walked out. I hung my head and leaned on the counter. She was right to be angry. I just proved I didn’t trust her. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do to get her back, but I had to do something. I couldn’t lose her.
My phone rang in my pocket, and I looked to the ceiling. The only people who called me those days were people from the answering service with clients who had an emergency. When you weren’t available to your mo
st needy clients, they’d find a way to make you available.
I answered the phone. “Dr. Hatcher.”
“You’ve got my girl in there, and you better take good care of her.”
I pulled the phone away to look at the caller ID, but it was listed as Unknown. “Who is this?”
“You’re a smart man. I’m sure you can figure it out. Now, what are you doing to my girl? Are you treating her right? You know what I do to people who upset me, don’t you? I’d be happy to explain it to you if you don’t.”
As he talked, I walked over to the front door and ignored Lindsey and Elizabeth’s quizzical looks at my fast pace. I looked for Phil or Aaron, but couldn’t find either of them. I shut the door and walked back to the kitchen.
“You’ve got nothing to say?”
I shrugged. “Would it matter?”
He laughed. “Of course, it doesn’t matter. I’ve already made my mind up, doc. You know, I’ve never killed a man before, but I look forward to the experience. Anyone who fucks with my girl will have me to answer to. Have a wonderful day.”
I looked at the phone again while Call Ended flashed on the screen. I’d never spoken to Austin before, but I knew that wouldn’t be our last conversation. I had to find Phil.
Once Phil, Aaron, and Elizabeth left, it was just Lindsey and I. There were still a couple of police officers somewhere in the house, but they’d been good about staying out of sight. Their jobs were to be alert for anything that may come our way—not what Lindsey and I were doing.
We had ordered takeout since it was getting so late, and she was cleaning up the table. She wouldn’t look at me after our fight earlier. I tried to get her to talk to me.
“Did you have a good day with Elizabeth?”
“It was fine.”
Fine. The last time she used that word she was sick with the flu. I knew it meant she wasn’t fine. Not at all. “Lindsey, I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions earlier.”