“I’m sorry. I have spoken to a colleague of mine who accepts your insurance, and he would be happy to take you on as a patient. I’ve got his number right here.”

“So that’s it. You’re dumping me.”

“I’m not ‘dumping’ you—I’m referring you to a colleague. If you’re able to pay for my sessions in the future—”

“Yeah, I’ll bet. My money is good enough for you, but I’m not.”

“That’s not true at all. I just can’t—”

“I should go to the papers about this. I can just see the news story. Big fancy Harvard-educated psychiatrist cuts off a patient in need because he doesn’t have enough money.”

“I don’t think the newspapers would be interested in a story like that. But do what you must.”

“This is all an excuse, isn’t it? You don’t actually care about me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re probably thrilled about this. You were just waiting for an opportunity to dump me as a patient.”

“That’s not true.”

“Bullshit. You were pretending to care about me this whole time. You never cared though.”

“I care about you. But I can’t provide my services for free.”

“You’re a real piece of work, Doc. I can’t believe you. And after I came here with a gift for you.”

“You can have the wine back if you want it.”

“I don’t. Keep it.”

“As I said, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? You don’t know what sorry is. You’re going to be really sorry you kicked me out of here.”

“…”

“You hear me, Doc?”

“I’m going to have to ask you to leave now.”

“Fine. I’ll leave. Now that I know what you’re really like, I wouldn’t keep coming to you if you begged me. And I bet anything, someday you will beg me.”

Chapter 14

TRICIA

Present Day

As the tape ends with a click, I push away a queasy feeling in my stomach.

The man on the tape, EJ, was threatening Dr. Hale. Her voice stayed calm through the whole thing, but she had to have been a little shaken. She was just good at hiding it.

Would the police have looked for EJ after Dr. Hale disappeared? Maybe not. It’s not clear whether she kept a list of her patients. And the newspapers didn’t list other suspects besides her boyfriend.

Also, there was something creepy about his voice. I can’t put my finger on it. Something creepy and also familiar.