“Zander, put the knife down,” Vince said, lowering the tone and volume of his voice. “You need to put the knife down. Isn’t your arm getting tired?”

Zahn looked uncertain. His fingers flexed on the handle of the knife.

“Aren’t you tired, Zander?” Vince asked. “You’ve had a rough day.”

He let the quiet hang, imagining his words trying to find a way into Zahn’s brain and, once there, struggling to be routed and processed.

“I’m very tired, Vince,” he said in his small, soft voice. The look in his wide eyes was still glassy and far away. He seemed to be staring into another dimension. “I’m very tired. Terribly tired.”

“So let’s put the knife down,” Vince said, moving slowly down to the foot of the bed. “You don’t need that thing. Put it down and we’ll sit down and you can rest.”

“I’m so very sorry,” Zahn said.

“It’s okay. Everything’s okay. No harm, no foul, right?”

He took a slow step toward Zahn, keeping one arm stretched out in front of him, just in case.

“No,” Zander murmured.

“Did you come here to see Marissa?” Vince asked quietly.

“Marissa. Marissa is gone.”

“You miss her, don’t you,” Vince said. “She was a very special person, wasn’t she? She accepted you for exactly who you are, didn’t she?”

“Marissa,” Zahn murmured. “Marissa is gone.”

“I’m sorry for that, Zander. She was special to you and now she’s gone. That’s a scary place to be, isn’t it? She left you alone, and you don’t feel safe. But you’re safe with us. So why don’t you put the knife down?”

“I’m sorry,” Zahn said, his hand flexing on the handle of the knife. “I’m so sorry.”

“What are you sorry for, Zander?”

“I’m so sorry. Very sorry. Terribly sorry.”

“Why are you sorry, Zander?” Vince asked. “Did you do something wrong? Did you do a bad thing, Zander?”

He began to rock slightly with his upper body, a sign of agitation.

“Very bad,” he said. “I’m very bad. Terribly bad. Bad, bad.”

“I don’t think so, Zander,” Vince said. “Why don’t you put the knife down and we’ll talk about it. Your arm must be very tired by now.”

Zahn rocked a little harder.

“So tired,” he said. “Very tired. I’m sorry.”

“Did you hurt Marissa, Zander? Is that why you’re sorry? Did you hurt Marissa?”

“Marissa, Marissa. Mommy, mommy. I’m so sorry.”

“Did you hurt Marissa, Zander?”

“Very tired. Terribly tired. Have to go now.”

With that Zander Zahn brought the knife down and plunged it into his own stomach.

Chapter 74

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