The Cure by Douglas E. Richards Read Free Book Online

emphatically, but with an amused twinkle in her eye. “I really like this guy,” she added. “But he does fit the characteristics of psychopaths you told me about. He’s bright, handsome, smooth, totally at ease in social situations, articulate…”
    “Sounds like a real monster,” said Erin wryly.
    “I’m serious,” complained Lisa. “Didn’t you say these people are great at manipulating you to like them?”
    “Look, just because psychopaths fit a certain profile doesn’t mean that normal people can’t fit that profile also. In fact, far more normal people have these qualities than psychopaths. They just have a soul as well.” She raised her eyebrows. “Which is always a nice feature.” The corners of her mouth turned up into an amused smile. “But sometimes a pickle is just a pickle.”
    “As opposed to a psychopath?” said Lisa.
    “Right.”
    Lisa considered. “Okay. But he still could be one, couldn’t he?” She looked intently at Erin. “You’re always so busy on the weekend with your ninety-hour-a-week work schedule, but this coming weekend you’ve got to meet him. I don’t care if I have to take him to your lab and pull you away from the computer. I mean, if anyone would know if he was a decent guy or a monster in hiding, you would.”
    The waitress appeared with their food, set it down in front of them, and left.
    “Hey, even the experts can be fooled,” said Erin. “Fairly easily. I mean, I’d have a far better chance than you would of figuring it out, but I wouldn’t be infallible. Did you Google this guy?”
    “ Of course, ” snapped Lisa, as if her roommate had just called her an idiot. “No bodies chopped up and found in his refrigerator—at least as far as I can tell.” She leaned forward. “I can’t even imagine working with these monsters year after year. If I’ve become paranoid, I can only imagine what this has done to you. I mean, how can you trust anyone ? Is that why you don’t have a guy?”
    Erin had just torn a large bite from her gyro and motioned for her friend to give her a few seconds to finish chewing and swallowing. She did, set her gyro back down on the plate, and said, “Okay, I’ll admit trust isn’t my strong suit. But I’ve been in relationships before. Really.”
    “When was the last time you were in one?” challenged Lisa, taking a sip from the Coke she had ordered.
    “Two years ago.”
    “So … what? You’ve been doing one-night stands since then?”
    Erin rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah, one-night stands are ideal if you aren’t the trusting type. Nothing like going home with a total stranger.” She shook her head. “I’m not a one-night stand kind of girl.”
    Lisa’s eyes widened as she hurriedly swallowed the bite she had just taken. “ So you haven’t been laid in two years? Are you kidding me? No wonder you seem a little stressed out most of the time. I’m amazed you don’t explode . Just spontaneously erupt into a ball of repressed sexuality. We have to find you a guy.”
    “Two years isn’t that long,” said Erin.
    Lisa just ignored her. “We have to find you a guy,” she repeated.
    “Uh … thanks,” said Erin. “I know you mean well. But I can take care of that myself when the time is right. Let’s get back to Derrick.”
    “Wow, that was the least subtle attempt to change the subject I’ve ever seen. I’m not giving up on this. You’re a workaholic, we’ve established that. And I like you far too much not to want to help you. I can’t even imagine how depressing it must be to work with murderers and rapists in prison all the time. I’m taking it upon myself to counteract the gloom of that place. Just think of me as the self-appointed ray of sunshine in your life.”
    “And you’re doing a great job,” said Erin. “In fact, I just might start calling you Ray .” She paused. “So now can we change the subject?”
    “Okay,” said Lisa. “But I’m making this my mission. I’m warning