“Living in solitary can do that if one’s mind is disciplined enough. I do a thousand push-ups and sit-ups every day.” She feels his eyes absorb her figure. “You look like you work out as well.”

“I try.”

“Vazquez. Is that with an s or a z?”

“Z.”

“Puerto Rico?”

“Yes. My … my biological father grew up in Arecibo.”

“Site of the largest radio telescope in the world. But the accent sounds Guatemalan.”

“I was raised there.” He’s controlling the conversation. “I take it you’ve been to Central America?”

“I’ve been to many places.” Mick tucks his heels into a lotus position. “So you were raised in Guatemala. How did you find your way to this great land of opportunity?”

“My parents died when I was young. I was sent to live in with a cousin in Florida. Now let’s talk about you.”

“You said your biological father. You felt it important to distinguish him as such. Who’s the man you consider your true father?”

“Isadore Axler. He and his wife adopted me. I spent some time in an orphanage after I left my cousins. Iz and Edith Axler are wonderful people. They’re both marine biologists. They operate a SOSUS station on Sanibel Island.”

“SOSUS?”

“It’s a sound underwater surveillance system, a global network of undersea microphones. The Navy deployed SOSUS during the cold war to detect enemy subs. Biologists took over the system, using it to eavesdrop on marine life. It’s actually sensitive enough to listen in on pods of whales hundreds of miles away as—”

The penetrating eyes cut her off. “Why did you leave your cousin? Something traumatic must have happened for you to have ended up in an orphanage.”

He’s worse than Foletta. “Mick, I’m here to talk about you.”

“Yes, but perhaps I’ve also had a traumatic childhood. Perhaps your story could help me.”

“I doubt it. Everything turned out fine. The Axlers gave me back my childhood, and I’m—”

“But not your innocence.”

Dominique feels the blood rush from her face. “All right, now that we’ve established that you’re a quick study, let’s see if you can focus that amazing IQ of yours in on yourself.”

“You mean, so you can help me?”

“So we can help each other.”

“You haven’t read my file yet, have you?”

“Not yet, no.”

“Do you know why Director Foletta assigned you to me?”

“Why don’t you tell me?”

Mick stares at his hands, contemplating a response. “There’s a study, written by Rosenhan. Have you read it?”

“No.”

“Would you mind reading it before we meet again? I’m sure Dr. Foletta must have a copy stashed in one of those cardboard boxes he calls a filing system.”

She smiles. “If it’s important to you, then I’ll read it.”

“Thank you.” He leans forward. “I like you, Dominique. Do you know why I like you?”