Page 35 of Vicious Hearts

I never considered what would happen if Ifailedto kill her. It’s never happened, so why would I bother planning for it? It’s a bit like asking whether I have the appropriate weapons in my house for a zombie invasion or something equally implausible.

Unfortunately, lack of foresight on my part means that Living Roxanne has new urgency and motivation—things I intended to snuff out at the wick and bury with her body. Judging by her behavior, she isn’t taking the threat from me seriously enough.

And what’s with the wildcard? The big handsome Russian who I’ve fucking dealt withbeforeis now Roxanne’s fuck-buddy. It won’t be easy to make the little bitch disappear, not with that pretty-boy Cossack sniffing around her precious little pussy. I’ve clocked his weakness, though—he adores her. Quite possibly loves her. It seems he’s willing to make stupid decisions because of it, so we’ll see what transpires. I’d bet he’d be less keen on putting his cock in her if she was cold.

Still, other people’s over-reactions are always a rich seam to mine, and risky though it is, it’s worth my while to see how far idiots can be pushed before they do something moronic. The Russian isn’t smart enough to learn when to take a hit.

Roxanne needs to leave Farraday alone for his sake. The sad bastard knows damn well what will happen to his wife and baby if he opens his trap. But Roxanne’s dogged insistence on fighting his corner would get a result in the end, if only to shut her up. I don’t want him to struggle in a new environment with different carers. He needs to stay in Kirby hospital, where the mad cunt belongs.

I’mnot mad. I’m perfectly alright. My Momma says so, although she gets the look in her eye that I’ve seen many a time. Frightened little faces, looking at me the way Momma does when she tells me it’s not my fault. That I’m fine, really. It’ssocietythat made me this way. And Papa. As he would say, when you’re wealthy and connected, you can do whatever you like.

I’m okay. I’m self-interested and tend to see the worst in everything, but deep down, I’m a good person.

I’m sure Roxanne would be a better person deep down too. All I need to do is put her there.

12

Roxy

"Hello, Roxy. Thank you for coming."

I never saw Simon Farraday so composed. He's clean, his blue jumpsuit devoid of the usual stains, and his hair is nearly combed. The stitches in his face look sore, but he’s healing. A medication cup sits on the table before him, the pills still inside.

"How are you doing, Simon?" I ask.

“Other than my face being split like a baguette, I’m actually on good form,” he says. “It’s not as bad as the press made out. My fault, anyway. I got cheeky with a guy I thought was my friend, but there you go. This place isfullof crazies.”

I smile. “You win some, you lose some. You look well, all things considered."

He leans closer to me over the table, so the guard in the corner behind me can't hear him.

"Iamwell,” he says. “You wanna know why?”

I raise my eyebrow. “Go on.”

“Whenever I can, I’m dodging my medication. I've been flushing it instead."

“Why?”

“My key worker was on sick leave last week,” he says. “He pre-filled my prescription, but there was a mix-up, and I missed two doses. You know something?” He drops his voice to a whisper. “I never felt better. So now I dodge it whenever I can.”

I try not to react, but I don't understand. How can he be this calm if he'snottaking his pills?

"It’s really not good that you’re not complying with the program,” I say. “Even if you do seem very…normal."

"I know." He sits back in his chair and smiles benignly. “But I won’t be asking for anything to be changed. The rules are different for me.”

"Simon, I know for certain you're not The Dollmaker. This is the first time I've seen you like this. What happened to you? How did you get mixed up in this?"

"You mean, why did I confess to something I didn't do?” He sighs. “I got in financial trouble, and I couldn’t tell Lois. I promised her I wouldn’t get in a mess again. We were about to lose the house. Someone offered to bail me out, but the price was too steep. I tried to back out, but it was too late. Lois still got the money, though.”

“Who, Simon? Who did this to you?”

“I can't tell you. My family's lives depend on it.” Farraday looks suddenly pained. “Now that I can think straight, Ineedyou to back off. No appeal, no trying to get me out of here. The scrutiny is dangerous."

"You didn't kill anyone. Why are you willing to take the rap?"

"When I was psychotic, I don't remember feeling anything but fear, but you would always talk to me. You looked after Lois too, and I appreciate that. But I don't think my tormentor anticipated your tenacity in drawing attention to my case. He likes me the way I am, in my little cage. I can keep my head down and see out my days in the knowledge that I'm keeping up my end of the bargain."

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