CHAPTER TEN; A MORNING FOR FATHERS.

I get to my office and find John, Jade's father waiting for me. It has been a while since we've seen each other. Jade and I usually hang out at my place or somewhere else as long as it's not their home. I like John just fine, it's Rackel, his second wife we both have a problem with. "It's been a while little one," he says as he comes closer and hugs me. "I'm not that little any more," I say lightly. We both sit on the clients' couch.  "So how have you been?" he asks. "I've been good. Work's good," he laughs and pats the back of my hand. "Is that all your life is? What about a social life? Are you seeing anyone?" I smile and shake my head. "But you've done really well for yourself. Your parents would be so proud if they were still around," he says. We stay silent after that. I think of them. It doesn't hurt when I think of them nowadays. "I like to think they still are," I say quietly.

We catch up. He tells me how work is going. He has expanded the company to five different countries. He tells me of how much he regrets that I didn't grow up with them after the sudden death of my parents. My parents had left my nanny as my legal guardian and there was nothing that could be done about it. I always thought they just wanted me to grow up in a house I was used to but am not so sure anymore. "So, Jade told me something shocking last night. I tried going to work this morning but found myself here, " I shift uncomfortably and hope he doesn't notice. I already know what he wants to ask. "It's about Laura," he says and watches my face for a reaction. The conversation I had with Kerrick keeps replaying on my mind especially the last part. "I may have been wrong but there's a possibility she is still alive," he nods his head slowly as if waiting for me to go on. 

When it's clear that I am not going to continue,he speaks up, "have you seen her?" No matter how hard I think about it, there's no way I can lie to him since I told Jade everything. "Yes," I say trying to hold eye contact, hoping he won't ask me where I saw her. "Okay, so where did you see her?" "At Greenbeach nursing home," I say praying to my angels that Kerrick's assumptions are wrong. "You mean she's been this close all this while?" He asks but I don't answer. A number of emotions crosses his face but none stay on long enough for me to interprate. That is the thing about John, he always knows what to say, how to say it and even how to act and when. The only reaction you get from him is the one which he wants you to see. He never does anything by mistake. Even the reaction of his dead wife being alive seems calculated. 

There's a knock on the door. It's open slightly for me to see Christine. "Your ten o'clock is here," she says before closing the door behind her. John stands and I do the same. "Okay, let me let you work," he hugs me but doesn't let go. "You should come for dinner sometime or Sunday brunch," he says before letting go. "Try, to have a life too. Try dating maybe not as much as my Jade but you should see someone," he says. "I see my patients," I regret it the moment I say it but he doesn't think much of it. "That's work. Anyway let me go try and see my old girl." Just before he walks out, I say to him, "she lost all her memories. She doesn't remember anyone or anything." He stands holding the door but doesn't look back at me. "You'd be surprised at the lengths people would go for survival, little one." 

With that he walks away and a man I have never seen before walks in. I immediately assume he is a new patient and walk across my desk to my chair. He sits at the couch and patiently wait as I remove my notebook from the drawer. "So, Sir how is your morning?" he nods but doesn't answer. "I am doctor Vienna Kilmartin, how may I help you this day?" I ask and he bends forward slightly. "You have no idea who I am. Do you?" he asks. I look at him but there's nothing familiar about him. "No Sir," I answer but he maintains our eye contact like he doesn't believe me. After a while he slides back to the couch and seem to relax. I have dealt with patients with inflated egos. He does not make an attempt to identify himself which is odd since patients with inflated sense of self make sure you know them and become violent if you don't.

"What's your name?" I ask trying to make him talk about himself. "My name's Anthony," he says slowly as if scared if he says it quickly I might miss it. "So Anthony what brings you in today?" I ask after writing his name and brief decription of his general condition. "I just have a few questions," he says. "Sure, proceed." "What is your recommended treatment for a psychopath?" he asks. It's not the first time I have had a self diagnosed patient who is curious of his prognosis. "First I talk to the patient and make sure that is the correct diagnosis," I say. He doesn't seem too content with that answer. "What about after you are sure of the diagnosis?" "There are many classes of psychopathy and sociopathy. The treatment depends on whether the patient is a threat to other people," he nods. "And how do you ascertain that?" he asks. "I'd be giving you our trade secrets if I told you that, but mostly through conversations, listening and observing intently." He keeps quiet and watches me for a while before standing and heading over to my desk. He holds out his hand which I shake. "I can see now why my son likes you," he says smiling for the first time. "If I may ask who is your son?" "Avan Ray."