“Mr. King, I cannot tell you anything about any of my patients. You’re not her family, you are not in any way in charge of her conservatorship status, and you’re not on her approved visitors’ list.”
My smile turns ugly. I see it in the reflection of her glasses. She cowers, but not like normal people would. She’s seen too much crazy in her line of work to let others know when she’s scared or uncomfortable, like she is now. It’s a subtle movement, the way she sinks back, keeping a safe distance away.
“You’re going to tell me what I want to hear. You’re going to let me see her. I don’t give a shit if it’s against your policy or not. Do you know how easy it would be for me to ruin you?” I ask, keeping my voice low and even. There’s no need to get angry or show too much of my hand, not when she knows I’m right.
Her mouth twitches in displeasure as she mulls over the options in her head. She must come to some conclusion, deciding to give in. Just as I knew she would. She heaves a deep sigh that seems pent-up. It probably comes with the territory of the job.
“Look, I didn’t want to do this, but Mackenzie…she’s not in any headspace to have visitors.”
I straighten, my jaw clenching at her words. “And why is that?”
“Well…” She pauses, something akin to fear glimmering in her eyes, and fidgets in her chair. “She wasn’t in her right mind when she was brought in. That’s why her parents sent her here. They have full conservatorship over her because, at this point in her life, she’s been deemed incompetent. Maybe even a hazard to others, as well as herself.”
“How so?”
She quirks a brow. “Well, for starters, she seemed to think her dead sister saved her life the night of the accident, and on top of the many conversations she’s apparently had with her, she seemed to believe you and your friends were murderers. She claims the night of the accident, your friend was the one who followed her and tried to kill her. There are obvious holes in her story, and things that don’t make sense. She’s been hallucinating, claims there is someone out to get her. She’s paranoid. It’s one of the main reasons I think it’s in her best interest that her parents keep her here.”
Talking to her dead sister? I wasn’t expecting that.
“I couldn’t care less about all of that. Take me to her.”
Dr. Aster chuckles as if what I’ve just said is amusing. She pulls her glasses down the bridge of her nose, watching me. “Believe me, Mr. King. I think you’re the last person she wants to see.”
My hands curl into fists, the only giveaway of my frustration. “And why is that?”
“We’ve had a discussion about you. You’re not exactly her favorite person at the moment.” At my silence, she sighs. “I asked her to say your name and state the emotions that come with saying your name, and do you want to know what was said?”
Fuck no.
“I’m sure you’re going to tell me anyway?”
“Pain. Betrayal. Anger. That’s how she feels when she thinks of you. Those are the emotions she associates with you, and honestly, from a doctor’s standpoint, I don’t think it’s in her best interest to see you. In fact, it may only make things worse. Especially after the incident.”
My brows dip, concern filling my body. “I wasn’t made aware of an incident.”
She fidgets in her chair, obviously uncomfortable with the news she has to deliver. “You’re not her next of kin. Of course you wouldn’t be made aware. Her parents have been updated on the situation, and even though they’ve yet to come see her, it’s…as I said, she’s not well.”
“Fucking spit it out,” I grit.
“She had an altercation with one of the patients. Accused her of fraternizing with the enemy. Whatever that was supposed to mean.” She sighs. “While the guards took her down, something happened. As they were pulling both women off each other, she slammed her head against the table, cracked her skull before hitting the ground.”
I feel the air leave my chest like someone has kicked me.
What the fuck is she saying right now?
“What exactly are you trying to tell me, Doctor?” My voice is cold, laced with venom. I lean forward slowly, the atmosphere in the space of her office filling with tension. Her eyes widen at the underlying threatening tone in