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Will took a step back.

“What’s yer business?” he said. “No one comes up here.”

Valerie put her hands up. “Easy, let’s stay calm. Are you Patrick Ives?”

“That’s certain, aye.”

“Lower the weapon, will you please, Mr. Ives?” Valerie said.

“Not before you tell me yer business,” he said, peering down the barrel of his gun

toward them.

Charlie and Will looked at Valerie.

She was thinking it over. If she told him out right that he was a suspect in a murder hunt, he could get twitchy with the trigger of his shotgun. More than that, if he was guilty, he might decide to just start shooting regardless.

Lying about their business might also jeopardize any arrest for misconduct, and so Valerie picked a less difficult path. Technically, she didn’t need to lie.

“This is Doctor Will Cooper, a famous psychiatric therapist,” she said, her hands still up, nodding toward Will. “He’s been up to your place of work, Elmwood Psychiatric Retreat. And he has some questions for you.”

Yes, she didn’t technically lie. All of that was true.

Will cleared his throat. “Yes. I am wondering if you could help me with something regarding the retreat. An insider’s perspective, so to speak.”

“How do I know you’re who you say you are? ID’s can be faked, ya know?” Patrick said.

Valerie thought his grip was tightening on the shotgun.

“You tell us, Patrick,” Valerie said, trying to stay calm. “How can we persuade you?”

“Who’s the main doc up there at Elmwood?”

Valerie couldn’t believe it. They were being quizzed. “Doctor Whitmore,” she answered.

“Well,” Patrick Ives seemed unimpressed. “Ya could have found that out easily enough.”

“Doctor Whitmore and I are colleagues,” Will said, stretching the truth. “He spoke very highly of you. Honestly, I want to know...”

Valerie could feel Will searching for a way under Patrick’s defenses.

“I want to know how you think we could improve security up at Elmwood?” he finally asked. “No one knows better than the guards.”

For a moment, Valerie thought it hadn’t worked, but then Patrick smiled, and his face lit up. “Finally! Someone wants to listen. I’ve got a lot of ideas.”

He lowered his gun.

Valerie put her hands down and tried not to look too relieved. She gave Charlie a nod, and as soon as Patrick stepped away from the gun on the stairs, the agent pulled out his handgun.

“Hey! What’s this!” Patrick yelled.

Valerie took her gun out. “FBI! Down on the ground. Now!”

Patrick said nothing at first. He looked like he was mulling over grabbing his gun.

“Don’t even think about it,” Valerie said. “I will put you down in a heartbeat.”

He stared at her, locking eyes. It was enough to show him Valerie meant business.