Pudge wasn't listening. His mind was preoccupied. "Jeez, and he ate bugs and stuff too. Man! I don't know if I can eat bugs."
The officers exchanged glances as Pudge shook his head in despair.
"I think that's enough. I'd like to question him now."
Rachel glanced at the man who had spoken: Dr. Smythe, a psychiatrist from her hospital. He had been called into the police station to assess Pudge's mental state. He'd asked to first be allowed to simply observe Pudge while he was being questioned. He claimed that subjects tended to respond differently to mental health professionals than to lay persons, even police. Now, it appeared he wanted to ask some questions himself.
Captain Rogers--Carstairs' and Treebech's superior--nodded and stood. "Certainly, Doctor. Come with me."
Rachel watched them leave the viewing room. A moment later the door of the interrogation room opened and Dr. Smythe and Captain Rogers entered. The police captain gestured Carstairs and Treebech to his side, held a brief whispered consultation and then left the room. The moment he was gone, Dr. Smythe introduced himself and took possession of the chair Treebech had vacated. He smiled at Pudge and asked, "Norman, do you understand the difference between fantasy and reality?"
Rachel smiled slightly at the question. It was the same one Etienne had asked at the house. Her gaze darted to the viewing room door as it opened to admit Captain Rogers but quickly shifted back to Pudge, who was staring at the doctor as if he were an alien. "Huh?"
"Do you understand the difference between fantasy and reality?" Dr. Smythe repeated patiently.
"Sure." Pudge scowled. "I'm not crazy, you know."
"No, of course you aren't," Dr. Smythe said soothingly. "Could you explain the difference between fantasy and reality for me?"
"Sure. Fantasy is... well it's like that wizards and warriors game. Magic and stuff. It's not real."
"Ah. Huh." Dr Smythe pursed his lips and nodded his head. "And could you give me an example of reality?"
"Blood Lust," Pudge said firmly.
"Blood Lust?" Dr. Smythe asked in confusion.
"That's the game Mr. Argeneau created," Carstairs explained. "Vampires and stuff."
"Ah." Dr. Smythe glanced back at Pudge. "And that would be reality?"
"Oh, yeah," Pudge assured him. "Magic, well, that's a bunch of nonsense--but there really are vampires. Chicks dig them, and they're super strong and super fast and live forever."
"And which is most important?" Dr. Smythe asked.
Pudge didn't have to think long. "Living forever... and the chicks," he decided.
"Women and immortality are most important, you say?" Dr. Smythe nodded, then added, "It seems to me you mentioned at some point that your mother died recently--didn't she, Norman?"
"Yeah." He nodded, then his attention drifted from the doctor and followed the table as if trailing something. Rachel gave a start when he suddenly raised his arm and slammed it down on the tabletop, apparently squashing a bug. She wasn't the only one to jump. The doctor and police officers did too.
"Excuse me a moment." Dr. Smythe stood and left the room. Rachel wasn't terribly surprised when he stepped back into the viewing room. He didn't say anything at first, but simply stood beside the captain to view Pudge through the window. They all watched in silence as Pudge picked up the bug he had squashed and examined it with seeming fascination. Rachel grimaced with distaste when he suddenly popped the squashed creature into his mouth and chewed experimentally. After a moment, he shrugged mildly and muttered, "Not bad. A bit nutty."
"We have a very confused young man here," Dr. Smythe said. "I've already talked to his brother, and he claims Norman has become obsessive and strange of late. He thinks he should be locked up for his own safety. I'll need to do extensive testing, of course, but Norman has already proven himself a threat not only to himself but to the public at large; specifically anyone he decides is a threat."
The psychiatrist's gaze slid meaningfully to herself and Etienne before he continued. "That's enough to commit him for seventy-two hours of testing."
"Thank you for coming, Doctor," the captain said. "We'll have to process the paperwork, but I think you can expect to have Mr. Renberger in your custody rather quickly."
"I'll have a bed ready when he is," Dr. Smythe assured him solemnly. They shook hands, then the gentleman left them alone. The captain glanced toward the viewing room and shook his head as Pudge slammed his hand on the table again, then picked up whatever he had killed to examine.
"Nutty as a fruitcake," the cop muttered as Pudge popped the bug into his mouth and chewed. Pushing one hand across the top of his balding scalp, the captain shook his head, then sighed and moved to the door when a soft knock sounded. He spoke briefly with someone Rachel couldn't see, then turned back to them.
"Your statements are ready to sign. If you'd like to follow Officer Janscom, she'll take you to do that."
"Fine. Thank you." Etienne took Rachel's arm and urged her toward the door. She went silently, aware that the rest of the Argeneau clan were following.
Signing the papers was a relatively quick ordeal, at least for Rachel. She had been separated from the Argeneaus and led to a different room from Etienne and his family to sign papers in front of a witness. Rachel felt a bit lost when she finished and stepped out into the hall to find it empty. The Argeneaus had stuck protectively close to her since retrieving her from Pudge's house. She felt a bit disconcerted to suddenly be alone.