Page 76 of In Death, Love Survives

He’s looking out my office window, sitting across from me, lost in whatever thought he’s having.

“So what?” I ask, frustrated.

“Calmly.”

“I wouldn’t say he’s calm.”

Ryan looks over at me curiously.

“What would you call it then?”

“Open.”

“Open,” he says as he draws it out.

“Yes. He trusts me as his therapist. Or he’s starting to, at least.”

Ryan hums as he taps his fingers against his mouth and looks back out the window. Storms are about to roll through, and ordinarily, I would try to leave early to get back to my apartment before they do.

Only today, I’m still hoping to see Wolfe, and that means I’ll have to wait until the timing is right. I won’t be able to meet withhim one-on-one again today, but I need to at least try to give him a reassuring glance so he knows I’m really fine.

Ryan is digging; that much is true. He knows something is afoot but isn’t sure what.

Yesterday, Ryan approached me when I came into work, asking about my sessions with Wolfe. He apparently had done some digging in my files and noticed most of our sessions weren’t recorded and that my notes in the file were scarce.

I explained that my approach with Wolfe was to take it easy since he was so new to opening up. Ryan was skeptical but accepted my answer.

He also asked when my next session with Wolfe would be, and I knew from the way he asked that he was going to be listening and watching despite it being against protocol.

That’s why I had to hold the session in the usual medical room and why I couldn’t actually talk to Wolfe outside of formalities. Of course, Wolfe caught on right away.

After that interaction with Ryan, I know more than ever that Roper State is corrupt, and I have to do anything I can to help Wolfe leave before it’s too late.

“How open?” he asks.

“Not overly. Just open to talking about positives.”

Ryan hums again and faces me.

“You’ll tell me if there is anything to note?”

“Of course. Just like I would with any other patient.”

Ryan stares at me, trying to decipher the lie. He won’t be able to. I’ve put Ryan on my list of people who I can no longer trust here.

“Good.”

He grins widely, only it makes me feel ill to witness.

“I do have something really exciting to talk to you about,” he says.

“What’s that?”

“In a few months, I’ll be transferring to Bower State.”

My eyes widen in astonishment.

“Wow. That is exciting.”