Page 191 of Brainwashed

I feel bad for Callahan. He’s in over his head, and clearly, he doesn’t see these things asinevitablelike I do.

Trevel can be upset with me all he wants, and truthfully, his feelings toward me are only going to deteriorate with what I have planned.I’m just hoping my guy can find him before the police do.

“Callahan, look.” I sit forward. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. You just go home and relax. Be with Felicia and the kids. Take some time off. This whole thing will work itself out.”

He lifts his face to gawk at me. “You’re awfully confident for someone whose serial killer patient is on the loose and angry.”

My face remains casually unaffected.He’s not the only murderous lunatic I know personally…

Callahan and I chat for a few more minutes, most of which are spent with me trying to calm him down. He begrudgingly agrees to put in for a vacation and leaves my office, after which I place a call to Yari with the information of the Lead Detective on Trevel’s case. I don’t believe the cops will find him before my guy does, but just in case… Manuel Blanco might have to wave around that card he uses so often to get what he wants. Not to mention I’m sure they’ll be telling the public that Trevel is dead as soon as I turn him over to The Ivory.

Speaking of, I place one more call to my private investigator, who catches me up on some promising leads he has, and I feel good. I’m comforted by what’s happening. The chaos around me feels…nice.

And with that in mind, I call my parents.After all, I have some time to kill.

“Lemuel, where have you been??” My mother actually sounds concerned, which is shocking. “Your father and I have been worried. Your assistant said you were traveling for work, but had no other details…”

“Yes, Mother, I was doing a job in a remote location,” I tell her. “Cell service was limited.”

“What kind of job requires a psychiatrist to travel to a remote location?” she asks, and though it’s not outright, I can almost hear the scoff. As if it’s purely ridiculous that anyone would want to hire me for anything.

“It’s irrelevant,” I mutter through gritted teeth. “Look, I’m back in the city, but only for a few days. I’d like to come see you…”To say goodbye.

“Oh, alright,” she says, seemingly caught off guard. “Well, how about tonight? I’ll cook and invite your grandfather.”

“Sounds like a plan.” I almost smile.

It’s the first time I’ve ever been excited to see my parents, and of course it will be the last.

I intend on making it count.

Later that evening, I arrive at my parents’ house.

The familiar twinge of nervous unease weaves its way through my stomach, but to my surprise, it’s nowhere near as stifling as it usually is. This time, I’m ready for their disapproval. Hell, I’m even welcoming it.

I’ve never been concerned with making them happy, or proud, since they never worried about doing it for me. But in this instance, I think I’d like to see just how much I can ruin their moods.

At the front door, I knock. And after a few seconds, it opens, revealing my father’s face.

“Son! Great to see you.” He welcomes me inside and I pause for a moment, bemused.

Son?That’s a first.

“Hey, Dad.” I walk through the foyer with him, and as usual, we go to the bar first for a drink.

He knows I don’t drink much. In fact, neither does he, nor Mom. But it’s a sort of tradition for us. Have a couple of drinks with dinner. I think it’s the only way we can tolerate one another.

“Hey, there he is.” The familiar rumble of my grandfather catches my ear, and I turn to find him sidling over, using a cane.

“Gramp… what happened?” I ask, giving him one of those half-hug, half-handshake things.

“Ah, nothing.” He waves me off. “I’m just getting old, in case you couldn’t tell.” He grins, and I force a small smile for him.

I wish it had been different, Gramp… I wish you hadn’t done what you did. We could have been close.

“Wine?” my father asks.

“Maybe something a little stronger,” I answer, and he looks surprised.