Page 63 of Pretty Cruel Love

Not today.

28

DR. WEISS

Day Ten

I’m seconds away from committing a double homicide.

It would be quick, painless, and unlike most murderers, I’d clean up my tracks.

Robin and Sheldon are in my bedroom, talking over me like I’m background noise. They’ve yet to realize that they’re not saying anything new.

Please shut the hell up.

“There was plenty of other DNA at the crime scene,” Robin says, like she hasn’t already said it fifteen times.

“We’ve always known that,” Sheldon replies, not helping his case. “But the labs didn’t bother testing it all. The narrative was too neat. All fingers pointed to Sadie.”

“Who do they point to now?”

“I don’t know. But between that and the… potential rape…”

“Potential rape?” My voice cuts through the room like a blade. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” Robin glances at me with a shrug, like she’s deciding whether it’s worth pretending to care. “I’m notcondoning murder, but if I were her lawyer? I would’ve used that. Want to join us?”

“No.” I can’t stand to be near either of them. “Can you two please give me my suite for the next two hours? I’d like to shower without an audience.”

They roll their eyes in unison, grab their coffees, and head to the conference room down the hall.

They’re still too close for me to feel peace, still not far away enough for me to feel comfortable going to Sadie.

I strip and step into the shower, turning the dial all the way to cold. The icy water slaps against my skin, a temporary cleanse.

I shut my eyes.

The door creaks open.

Jesus Christ. “I said I wanted two hours?—”

“Why haven’t you asked about me?” Sadie’s voice.

I turn the water off and snap my eyes open. She’s standing in the doorway, eyes burning with something between hurt and defiance.

“Go back to your side of the cabin,” I say, grabbing a towel.

“Not until you answer me.” Her voice is low, trembling. “You haven’t asked me anything about how I felt during the truth sessions—nothing about the awful and nearly exposing questions from Robin.”

“You honestly think I knew she was going to ask those?”

“You haven’t held arealsession with me since she and Sheldon showed up here either.” She adds another grievance. “You won’t even look at me.”

“You’re exaggerating, Sadie. We’ve had our daily sessions.”

“They’ve been five-minute scripts.” She steps closer. “You’re just checking a box. Making me write meaningless ‘then’ pages. You’re not reallyhere.”

“Miss Pretty?—”

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