Page 162 of Hunting Pretty

Dr. Vale paused, a faint smile twitching at his thin lips. “I wouldn’t say it’s tempting. Ethical boundaries are important, Ava. My role is to help my patients face their truth, not erase it.”

Liar!

I sat back in my chair, holding the glass in my lap, my fingers growing cold from the icy water as I gripped the glass and fought back the urge to throw it at his head. “Of course, that’s your professionalobligation.”

There was the slightest pinch to his mouth. “It’s what I did for Liath. What I’m doing for you.”

“It’s just that I’m curious… about those little pills. The ones Liath took, the ones you prescribed. They weren’t antidepressants, were they?”

I set aside my glass and forced a smile, as if we were just having a casual conversation rather than me accusing him of drugging my friend.

Dr. Vale frowned. “I’m not at liberty to discuss that. Patient confidentiality, you understand.”

I tapped my chin as if something had just occurred to me. “I’ve seen pills like those before. They looked a lot like mine… except, funny thing, mine were for psychosis. But I’m not psychotic, am I?”

Dr. Vale’s shoulders tightened and his voice grew a hard edge. “I prescribed what I thought was best for both you and Liath. The goal was to stabilize you, to help you both cope with your overwhelming emotions and thoughts.”

I let out a light laugh, as though something absurd justoccurred to me. But my insides were so tense I had to fight to keep my breathing even.

“What if…” I said, “hypothetically… those pills weren’t for stabilizing emotions at all? What if they were for something else? Like, say… suppressing memories? A quick little cocktail to keep our memories buried? That’s another way to keep usstable. Right?”

His eyes narrowed. “I think you’re letting your imagination get the best of you, Ava. You’ve always had a vivid one. It’s why you needed the medication in the first place, to keep grounded.”

I leaned in closer, my voice dropping, almost conspiratorial. “Oh, but you see, I’ve been doing some research. Turns out, it’s not all that hard to get these pills tested. I know Liath stopped taking her pills. She must have started to remember things… things about… you?”

A flicker of something crossed his face—anger, maybe—but Dr. Vale kept his tone steady. “I don’t appreciate what you’re implying, Ava. I’ve always acted in my patients’ best interests. Liath included.”

I faked a laugh. “I’m just asking questions, Doctor. Just like a good little journalism student. But here’s the thing… what if Liath told someone? What if she left a little… evidence of what she remembered?”

Dr. Vale, with his hands in the pockets of his tweed pants, tilted his head sympathetically to the side. But the light from the floor lamp next to his chair created horrific shadows across his face.

“Ava, I understand that losing Liath must be… mentally destabilizing. If you’re feeling uncertain about your treatment, wecan discuss that. But these baseless accusations won’t help anyone.”

“You’re wrong about one thing,” I said between gritted teeth. “My accusationsaren’tbaseless. Thank you for this enlightening conversation.”

I stood up, but my handbag fumbled from my grasp and fell to the floor.

My phone fell out of my bag, its screen facing up. With my recording still going. And Dr. Vale’s gaze now fixed on it.

Shit.

Dr. Vale leaped to his feet, his eyes blazing on me. “You’re recording me?”

I glanced past him to the door. To my escape.

I cursed that it was behind Dr. Vale. I would have to pass right by him to get away.

I snatched up my phone and my bag and crossed toward the door with quick, determined steps, but Dr. Vale stood in my way.

“Get out of my way.”

I tried to slip past him, but Dr. Vale sidestepped, blocking my path.

“Oh, Ava,” he said, clicking his tongue. “Why wouldn’t you just let mehelpyou?”

The sympathetic smile on Dr. Vale’s face turned sinister.

“You bastard,” I hissed, unable to hold it back. “You drugged Liath. You druggedme.”

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