The New Patient (Dr. Epstein's Couch: Criminal Minds Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

early.”
    She looks confused, but decides not to press for answers, “Of course. Can I order your lunch?”
    “No, I’ve got work to do. just make sure you buzz me when you’re leaving and I’ll lock up behind you.” I say as I take a wad of mail out of my in-tray.
    Closing the door softly behind me, I walk to the couch, dump the mail on the seat and stare at the space where Kyle had been sitting. Seeing his obnoxious grin, I lean in and punch the thick leather in a quick succession of lefts and rights, loading my blows with the full force of my rage—just like I’d done through my boarding school days.
    Except punching leather didn’t give quite the same satisfaction as connecting to the flesh and bone of my tormentors. I stop when I feel the pain in my knuckles.
    I hear Phyllis buzz and walk out to lock up behind her.
    She glances at me as she walks past, “Night, John. I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t forget to eat, will you?” she says.
    I smile. People like Phyllis allow me to believe in the better side of humanity. “Don’t worry about me Phyllis. You have a good afternoon and put this place out of your mind.”
    She nods and smiles. “Maybe you should take your own good advise?”
    After she leaves I lock up and look at the patrol vehicle sitting across the road. Poor bastard. Sitting outside a building for eight hours had to be the most boring way to make a living.
    But I am grateful for the additional security, and to Bob for agitating the “boss” for the man-hours. After today I expect Kyle will feel the pinch of my tactics. If we don’t send him back to prison soon, there will be more deaths.
     

     
    6:15pm
    I notice the time as I pull away from Ivan’s drive. Making my way down the darkened street, I check my mirrors and confirm that there is still no sign of being followed. I use the voice recognition on my phone to pull up Bob’s mobile and say “Voice Call” into my hands free.
    “Eeer, what’s up Doc?” Bob answers in his Bugs Bunny voice. It’s a joke that only slightly amused me the first time I heard it three years ago. While he stopped calling me the “Psycho” rather than the “Psychiatrist,” about eighteen months into our association, he is especially proud that he thought of a “Looney Tunes” character that also regularly uses the salutation of “Doc”. Judging by the way he is chuckling to himself, I’m not going to see the end of this stroke of genius for some time yet.
    Sighing inwardly I press on. “Bob, got a minute?” I ask, driving through leafy suburbs toward home.
    He drops the Bugs voice. I suspect it’s beyond his talents to continue the verbal intonation past the Bugs Bunny basics. “Sure, Doc. Did our mate turn up for his appointment today?” I can hear his voice harden.
    “Yeah. Listen, did you know he was in Wyama with Monica Riordan?”
    “No.” He answers with cross-examination succinctness.
    My antennae are up. I suspect he did know, but didn’t tell me. “Yes, well. It seems he’s also kept in touch with the family and he’ll be at the funeral.”
    “Fucking piece of shit! We’ll have him. We’ll have him. Cocky bastard,” he splutters.
    So he didn’t know the full extent of the association, but he had known about a relationship between Monica and Kyle. “Cut the shit, Bob. How long have you known that Monica knew Kyle?” I’m a bit surprised at the coldness I can hear in my own voice.
    “Take it down a notch, Doc. We found out about Wyama when we checked out her psychiatric history. That’s it. But I didn’t know Kyle knew the family until I questioned Monica’s parents after she’d died. They recognised a photo of Kyle,”I can hear him take a drink before continuing. “The family have agreed to play it cool and let us know if Kyle makes contact.”
    “You could have told me about it the night she died.” I’m pissed off and disappointed in Bob, but as much as I know he’s a prick, I need him.
    “You were