“Joanna Webber.”
He goes quiet and a tapping sound like keystrokes fills the line.
As I wait for his response, I start wondering if I’m way overthinking this.
“Like I said, maybe I’m just being super paranoid, and she’s just being an ignorant good-old girl out here in the country.”
The keystrokes stop.
“Don’t do that. You know these people better than anyone,” Charlie says as though he knows my history. “I’m going to look into this. I want you and Ant to continue as planned. Put up the fence but leave part of the job undone due to some…I dunno,materials issue.Something that’ll force you to go back to finish it tonight. I’ll make it right with Jason and Justin.”
“Got it.”
“Listen, man. Keep your eyes open, and if there’s any hint of trouble, get the fuck out of there.”
I turn to Ant. “What do you think?”
“Whatever it takes.”
“Thanks, Nacho. Best-case scenario is you’re a little paranoid. But I like where your head is at.”
Ant and I exchange a glance as I hang up. Guess I’m in it now.
18
BRAM
I’d managed to avoid my brother this morning, sneaking in after he started his day, but as I enter my office, I know it won’t last long. I’m not surprised when a few minutes later, he comes walking in, closes the door, and sits in front of me.
“Levy.”
“Make it make sense, Bram. You’re the one who emphasized patient ethics when I decided to follow you into therapy.”
I appreciate that he doesn’t try to ask me whether or not it’s happened. He’s not trying to see if I’m going to lie to him. He just wants to understand.
“Do you remember Wayne Doggett?”
“Of course I do. That was awful what happened.”
“I found out about his suicide five minutes before I was scheduled to see a new client. I should’ve cancelled, but this new client had killed another prisoner in self-defense. Prior to that, he was on the list of guys to be released early for good behavior. Warden wanted to know if he was still a good candidate for release.”
“And that was Nacho?”
I nod. “He didn’t even know he’d killed the guy who attacked. He was so upset when I told him, and there was something about that. He wasn’t trying to kill the guy, only disable him. He was a fighter, but not without a conscience, you know? I just thought…maybe I can save this one.”
Levy’s brow wrinkles in confusion. “Save him how? With sex?”
I take a deep breath and examine my thumbnail.
“No. Sex is only a recent addition. But there was a dynamic between us in our sessions.”
The confusion in his expression intensifies. “Explain.”
“He was angry, he was upset, but when I gave him commands, he would calm down. When I would fuss over him and ensure he was taking care of his physical needs, he…blossomed right in front of me.”
“Commands? Like BDSM commands? What kind of commands were you giving him?”
“Simple things. To drink enough water, to get enough sleep, to sit up straight.”
