Chapter 10 - THE REAL PATIENT
He was waiting for me in the lobby.
Tall. Thin. Gray hair. A smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Hello, Daniel."
I stopped. My hand tightened on the door frame.
"Dr. Vale."
"You remember me now. Good."
"What do you want?"
He tilted his head. Like a bird studying prey.
"You were never treating Ethan, Daniel. You know that, don't you?"
I didn't answer.
"You were treating yourself. Ethan was never your patient. He was your key. The thing that would unlock what you'd hidden."
"You're lying."
"Am I?" He reached into his pocket. Pulled out a small recorder. Pressed play.
A voice filled the room. My voice.
"If I forget this, remind me. If I forget this, remind me. If I forget this..."
The recording stopped.
"You made that tape eight years ago," Vale said. "You knew you'd forget. You wanted to remember."
He stepped closer.
"But you didn't count on one thing."
"What?"
May you like
He smiled. The same cold smile.
"You didn't count on Ethan."
