Page 29 of Fierce-Zander

“Talk and ask a lot of questions. Hazard of the job.”

“Just says we are good at it,” she said. “Miles was picking on me for my obsession withSurvivor.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “I can’t see you doing that.”

“Because you think I’m too high maintenance?”

“Nope. I think you just don’t like to get dirty. Not that you can’t but choose not to.”

“You’d be right,” she said. “And if I ever did a reality show I’d never tell them what I did for a living.”

“Neither would I,” he said. “Too much judgment.”

“Right,” she said almost excitedly. “I don’t want to think it’s fear, but that is part of it.”

“Human nature,” he said. “That people fear being at a disadvantage.”

“Interesting,” she said, getting comfortable. “How is that?”

He laughed. “Are you sure we aren’t in a session?”

She flushed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m going to counter you, as it’s my nature too. Bet we could spar with each other for hours.”

“You could be right. But why don’t you answer my question, if you’re not afraid to.”

There was the touch of personality he was dying to see.

“Not afraid,” he said. “When I was a police officer I’d see there is a natural fear of someone in authority that might risk your freedom.”

“Very true,” she said. “But I’m not in a position of authority.”

“Sure, you are,” he said. “People seek you out to find out what is wrong with them.”

She let out a sigh. “Please don’t tell me you’re one of those people who thinks someone only goes into my field of study to find out what is wrong with themselves?”

“I won’t say that,” he said.

“But you think it?” she asked.

“Not really. Unless there is something you want to share.”

“Why don’t you tell me why you think I went into this field?” she said. “You said you have the best of both of your parents and followed them, but I think there is more to it.”

“Oh boy,” he said. “Youaregoing to analyze me. Guess I get to do it to you too.”

“Quid pro quo,” she said, smirking.

“You know, Doc, I like this side of you.”

“Maybe I like this side of me too.”

“We’ll get to that another time. But why I think you went into this field. I think for the obvious reason you want to help people more than you are trying to solve the riddle of something wrong with yourself.”

“That is a good part of it,” she admitted.

“But you want to save people too because something happened in your life that you felt you didn’t save someone,” he said.

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