Chapters (24)
“When Dr. Maroni came into your room, a female neuropsychologist and a female nurse were already there with you. You continued to say that something wasn’t your fault.”
“Were you there?”
“I wasn’t.”
“I see. Because you act as if you were.”
“I’ve read your chart.”
“My chart. I suppose you fantasize about selling it to the highest bidder.”
“Dr. Maroni asked you questions while the nurse checked your vitals, and it became necessary to sedate you by intramuscular injection.”
“Five milligrams Haldol, two milligrams Ativan, one milligram Cogentin. The infamous five-two- one chemical restraint used on violent inmates in forensic units. Imagine. My being treated like a violent prisoner. I remember nothing after that.”
“Can you tell me what wasn’t your fault, Dr. Self? Did it have to do with the e-mail?”
“What Dr. Maroni did wasn’t my fault.”
“So your distress had nothing to do with the e-mail that you said was your reason for coming to McLean?”
“This is a conspiracy. All of you are in on it. That’s why your comrade Pete Marino contacted me, isn’t it? Or maybe he wants out. He wants me to rescue him. Just like I did in Florida. What are you people doing to him?”
“There’s no conspiracy.”
“Do I see the investigator peeking out?”
“You’ve been here for ten days. And told no one the nature of this e-mail.”
“Because it’s really about the person who has sent me a number of e-mails. To say ‘an e-mail’ is misleading. It’s about a person.”
“Who?”
“A person Dr. Maroni could have helped. A very disturbed individual. No matter what he’s done or hasn’t done, he needs help. And if something happens to me, or to someone else, it’s Dr. Maroni’s fault. Not mine.”
“What might be your fault?”
“I just said nothing would be.”
“And there’s no e-mail you can show me that might help us understand who this person is and perhaps protect you from him?” he says.
“It’s interesting, but I’d forgotten you work here. I was reminded when I saw the ad for your research study posted in admissions. Then, of course, Marino said something when he e-mailed me. And that’s not the e-mail. So don’t get excited. He’s so bored and sexually frustrated working for Kay.”
“I’d like to talk to you about any e-mails you’ve received. Or sent.”
“Envy. That’s how it starts.” She looks at him. “Kay envies me because her own existence is so small. So desperately envious she had to lie about me in court.”
“And you’re referring to…?”