Despite herself, Kim was entranced by Alex and couldn’t help doubting everything that had driven her to arrange this meeting. Her performance outshone Paltrow, Berry and Streep combined. And still there was something missing. And Kim was now surer than ever.
‘Didn’t you have any family to support you?’
Alex shook her head and collected herself. ‘My parents had passed away and I think I already mentioned that my sister died when I was nine years old.’
If she hadn’t been aware of the facts, Kim would have believed every word. But she knew the truth – and that made Alex’s performance all the more horrific.
‘That’s awful, I’m so sorry. Were you close to …’
‘Sarah. Her name was Sarah. She was younger and followed me everywhere. One day I told her to get lost. She went to the pond and fell in. My mother was, umm let’s say, forgetful and wasn’t watching her. It’s quite profound losing a sibling at a young age, especially when there is a part of you that feels that you should have been able to save them.’
Kim clenched her jaw and tried to ignore the light-headedness that threatened her. She had to get out of this room before she lost the ability to breathe.
‘But you wouldn’t understand that, with your normal childhood.’
Kim was saved by the sound of the buzzer. Annoyance flashed across Alex’s face as Kim propelled herself to a standing position.
‘I really must …’
‘I’m sorry, Kim. My ten thirty must be early.’
‘Thank you for your time, Doctor. I guess I’ll look up some of those techniques you mentioned.’
‘Please feel free to come and see me again. I’ve quite enjoyed our little chat.’
Kim nodded her thanks and followed the doctor to the door. She glanced briefly at the woman as they passed but her focus was on reaching the safety of her Golf before she collapsed.
Kim managed to get herself into the vehicle successfully but putting the key into the ignition proved one challenge too far and the keys fell into the foot well.
There was no question that although Kim might have requested the meeting, it was most definitely Alex’s agenda they had followed.
Kim banged her hand on the steering wheel. Damn it, that was not the meeting she’d planned.
The doctor had lied again about the family that didn’t exist and fabricated a whole history about a dead sibling. Kim felt sick to her stomach.
Kim had known that Alex would be a formidable adversary. Her intelligence and lack of emotional response already afforded her the edge. Even so, Kim had been prepared to enter into battle with the tools they held here and now. A fair fight would be fought in the present.
If Kim was even half right about Alex’s manipulations, the knowledge she had gained of her past presented a whole different ball game.
Alex had clearly found her history for a reason. She had to wonder what it might cost her to discover why.
FORTY-SEVEN
Alex asked her next appointment to wait for a few minutes in the small foyer while she collected herself. She was both irritated and jubilant. Jessica Ross could not have timed her early arrival any worse if she’d tried.
The call from Kim yesterday had been a surprise and had come just as she’d been wondering how to engineer their next meeting. Alex had arisen extra early to prepare, with nervous excitement akin to first-date nerves. The fact that Kim had made contact with her without any kind of intervention had further convinced Alex of the affinity that existed between them.
She had known that each meeting with Kim would give her more ammunition and today she had learned a lot. An idea was beginning to form of just how the detective inspector might fit into her plans.
Alex was thrilled at Kim’s denial of her horrific childhood and the clarity of the pain those events had caused. It was clear that she had not sought help for the demons that haunted her, and however well Kim thought she hid her emotions behind the rigid exterior, she could not hide from someone who had spent their life studying people and their emotions.
Because Kim had not dealt with the pain of her childhood, the detective’s grip on sanity was tenuous at best. If dealt with, the memories would still bring feelings of pain and loss but not the threat of being engulfed. Alex couldn’t help but wonder how far she could push Kim until she fell into the abyss of her fragile psyche. The only thing keeping her safe was the distance she had tried to put between herself and those hurtful memories.
Ultimately, Alex knew her dealings with the detective were going to be fruitful and educational at best, but at the very worst, entertaining.
Her boredom threshold craved more challenge. Someone like Kim challenged her. There was so much conflict there that it emanated like a beacon. Kim had issues that even she wasn’t aware of, and that excited Alex. Kim was a new toy that she could play with for a very long time.
She forced her thoughts away from Kim, took a
deep breath and affixed her glasses. Irritation was not a good trait to show to her patients. Not for what she charged an hour.
‘Mrs Ross, if you’d like to come in,’ she said, warmly, opening the connecting door. The female shuffled in without really looking at her.
Some of her court-ordered patients started off this way. Not particularly happy to be seeing a psychiatrist but with little choice in the matter.
She quickly appraised the female. She still had a slight bulge where the baby had once rested and although her child was now seven months old, Jessica Ross had not yet bothered to shift the surplus weight. Her hair was unstyled and straggled down past her shoulders. She moved with the gait of a homeless person, devoid of hope. She wore no make-up and her haggard complexion aged her twenty-five-year-old looks by ten years.
This wasn’t a case that held any significant interest for Alex. It would pay for the new laptop computer she wanted and possibly a service on her car if she could stretch it out a bit.
She immediately sat. This patient didn’t warrant a coffee. Colombia Gold was expensive.
‘So, Jessica, you’ve been court-ordered into therapy following a violent incident that happened with your baby?’
Although Alex’s voice was soft, her words bit and the woman visibly winced. Alex was satisfied she’d caused a little pain. Thanks for interrupting my meeting, bitch.
Alex placed the notepad on the table and sat back. It wouldn’t hurt to start stretching this case from the very beginning.
‘I can see that you’re feeling quite stressed and uncomfortable, so let’s not rush it. Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself?’
Jessica’s shoulders relaxed slightly with the relief of not having to get into it straight away.
Alex prompted. ‘Just tell me about growing up, family, that kind of thing.’
Jessica nodded, already grateful.
God, people were pathetic, Alex thought, tuning out. Transparency was so lacking in stimulation.
‘… holidays were normally in Blackpool. I remember one time at the beach …’
Alex tuned out as a slow smile spread across Jessica’s face. Jesus, she was reliving a fond memory. Alex nodded occasionally, urging her to continue whilst thinking about the disappointments she had suffered so far.
Ruth was by far the biggest disappointment to her – not least because of the time that had been invested. She had not been an opportune candidate like Barry, who also had not performed as Alex would have liked, although at least he had been useful in arranging an unexpected meeting between herself and Kim.
Shane had been a promising candidate initially, but his instability had been further evidenced in her home. She shuddered at the memory. Not the fear she had initially felt when he’d startled her, but that she hadn’t seen it coming. Shane would serve as a reminder that loose ends needed to be tied up.