I ignored Michael and turned to focus on the middleâaged man. When I laid eyes on him, my heart clenched. He seemed so, so familiarâ¦
Who was he?
I tried my damnedest to recall who he was, but nothing came to me. When he saw me, he approached me with a smile. I was instinctively repulsed by him and wanted to get up to leave.
He looked at me appraisingly, seemingly seeing right through me. âItâs nice to meet you, Ms.
Larson. My nameâs Peter Jones, and Iâm a psychiatrist.â
I was taken aback. A psychiatrist?
âIâm Wendell Carlsonâs classmate from elementary school. We grew up together, and weâre the best of friends.â He seemed to be saying these things for my benefit. He was telling me that he and my father werenât just acquaintances.
I stared at him in shock. Wendell Carlson was Stephanie Carlsonâs father.
âStephanie was sick as a child, and I was the one who was in charge of treating her,â
Peter continued with a smile. Despite being a middleâaged man, there was something about him that made him stand out.
Michael stood beside him, looking like he was closely watching my every move. It pissed me off.
Their appraising gazes made me feel like they were watching a lab rat in a cage.
âIs it any of my business whose friend or doctor you are?â I frowned.
Peter smiled. âSorry, Iâve overstepped my boundaries.â
Michael explained, âMy mother sought Dr. Jones out and asked him to treat me.â
I sneered. âWhat, have you really lost your mind? If you have, you should go to an asylum.â
Peter didnât say anything as he watched us. He was smiling gently, but there was something about it that made my skin crawl.
âStephanyâ¦â Michael had learned his lesson. He didnât call me âStephieâ today. âIâm sorry for the trouble Iâve caused you. I mistook you for Stephanie Carlson because of my own issues.â
I wasnât used to him suddenly being such a gentleman. I huffed and looked away; I didnât know what he was trying to do.
âIâm really sorry,â Michael apologized again before leaving with Peter.
Heâd acted so out of character that I couldnât help feeling that something was wrong. My sixth sense told me that something was amiss.
After they turned the corner, I followed them secretly. Then, I heard Michael ask Peter, âDid you manage to catch anything?â
âYour guess might be correct,â Peter answered.
âThen⦠what should I do?â
âStephanie had a strong selfâconsciousness. After being aggravated, she would choose to seal certain memories that she didnât want to recall as a way of protecting herself. With some mental cues, we canâ¦â
I couldnât hear the rest of the sentence. I frowned. I knew that Peter wasnât up to anything good.
âMrs. Lincoln,â Ewan suddenly said from behind me. âThe carâs here.â
He made me jump. I turned to look at him. âDid you see the guy with Michael Ford?
His name is Peter Jones, and he says that heâs a psychiatrist.â
He nodded calmly. âI know him. Heâs the best psychiatrist in Huma, and heâs considered the voice of authority in the industry. Mr. Lincoln Senior had once hired him to treat Mr. Lincoln.â
âIt didnât work?â I subconsciously asked.
âHe said that Mr. Lincoln is fine,â Ewan said. âLguess thatâs what all voices of authority are capable of.â
I took a deep breath, âYeah. What sort of authority is he?â
âHe said that Mr. Lincolnâs fine and that Ms. Stephanie Carlson, who was fine, was sick. Thatâs ridiculous, isnât it? I heard that he first started working in the asylum that Mr. Lincoln was in.â
I glanced at him, feeling like he was insinuating something. He seemed to be deliberately saying these things to me.
Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!
Claim âHe said that Mr. Lincolnâs fine and that Ms. Stephanie Carlson, who was fine, was sick. Thatâs ridiculous, isnât it? I heard that he first started working in the asylum that Mr. Lincoln was in.â
I glanced at him, feeling like he was insinuating something. He seemed to be deliberately saying these things to me.