Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain Read Free Book Online Page B

said.
               
                “Is that a good sign?” Archie asked.
               
                He followed her across the hall to one of the individual counseling rooms. He met with Rosenberg every day for twenty-five minutes. Why twenty-five and not an even thirty, he didn’t know. But he guessed it had something to do with insurance.
               
                “How’s Debbie?” she asked.
               
                Archie sat down in one of the two brown Naugahyde chairs that faced each other in the room. A light rain slapped against the window. “Probably a little tense,” he said.
               
                Rosenberg sat in the opposite chair and set her coffee cup on the armrest. “What’s happened?”
               
                Archie didn’t know how much Henry had made public. “I just think it must be exhausting. Living out there, knowing that Gretchen could show up at any time.”
               
                “Does she like Vancouver?” Rosenberg asked.
               
                “Being in a different state makes her feel safer,” Archie said. The truth was they didn’t talk much. She brought the kids by once a week to visit him, but she didn’t stay. She’d started seeing an alternative-energy entrepreneur, whatever the hell that was. They’d drop the kids off and go get a bite to eat downtown. “I try not to make it complicated for her.”
               
                Rosenberg tilted her head and looked hard at Archie. “It’s important to you that she feel safe,” she said.
               
                Archie leaned his head on the back of his chair and looked up at the ceiling. There was a sprinkler overhead. Just in case he burst into flame. “Yes.”
               
                They were quiet for a moment.
               
                Archie could hear someone shouting in the next room.
               
                “Do you feel safe?” Rosenberg asked.
               
                Archie lifted his head back up and wagged his finger at her. “I think I know where you’re going with this,” he said.
               
                Rosenberg sat forward, resting her elbows on her thighs. “You’re off the painkillers. Your health has stabilized. You need to check yourself out of here. They have an excellent outpatient program. You’ll get a lot of support.”
               
                Archie shook his head. Even if he wanted out, he had nowhere to go. “My liver enzymes are still high,” he said.
               
                “Frankly, with the amount of Vicodin you took I’m amazed you’re not on the transplant list,” Rosenberg said. “If you want me to let you stay, you need to make an effort. You need to practice functioning outside this hospital. You’re Level Four. Go for a walk.”
               
                The rain was picking up. Archie looked out the window. The ground was too dry. It would flood. “She’s out there,” he said. He could feel her. It was a stupid thing to think. People couldn’t feel each other’s presence. He wasn’t psychic. He didn’t believe in auras, or souls, or cosmic connections. But still he knew—as much as he knew anything—that Gretchen was never very far from him.
               
                Rosenberg put her hand on his and looked him in the eye. “There will always be serial killers,” she said. “There will always be bears in the woods.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “Bad things happen. People die.”
               
                Archie couldn’t concentrate. The shouting from across the hall was getting louder. A