Page 25 of Edging Sanity

“Let’s begin by discussing why you felt the need for an unapproved stroll through the lower levels of our facility?”

“Was it really unapproved if my guards were supervising the whole time?”

“Yes,” Bronwin cried exasperated. “It was not authorized by myself or Adele.”

Delilah shrugged, a slight pout on her lips. “Even in prison I was allowed to walk around. The guards agreed it was inhumane.”

“If you believe you are suffering here, Delilah, then you need to discuss your concerns with me. I am happy to have something arranged to make you comfortable.” Bronwin’s voice had softened with sympathy, and Rowan barely held back her snort.

There was absolutely no way in hell that Delilah thought she was suffering. Whatever fucked-up plan she and Riley had concocted before she was transferred must have included Delilah’s need to get her murderous tendencies out.

“It just feels like you should have thought of that before. Do the other patients get free time?

“Everyone at this facility is provided with the means to best suit their individual needs and accommodate their own healing journeys. Let’s expand on how this difference makes you feel.”

Delilah straightened up, her lips tilting into a faint smile as if she knew she was going to get what she wanted. “It feels like I got transferred to another prison,” Delilah snapped. “If I had known that, I wouldn’t have come here. I thought you were here to help me.”

Rowan rolled her eyes. Bronwin again softened, sympathy creasing her features. “You’re right,” she said. Rowan’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I apologize that you’ve been treated more like an inmate than a patient. Would you like me to further explain the security risks and reasons as to why we can’t have you walking around freely?”

“I’m not asking to walk freely,” Delilah drawled quickly. “I’ll have Rowan with me.” She paused. Her lips pursed in thought even though Rowan knew it was just a show. Rowan’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe,” Delilah said slowly, like the idea had just come to her, “instead of going outside or wandering where other patients are, I could just see some of the premises. Like”—she shrugged, glancing at Rowan—“her office?”

“We’ll discuss it.” Bronwin agreed with a nod. A request that simple, reasonable even, Rowan knew they’d say yes.

She wanted them to say yes.

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

Adele took a swig from her water bottle before resuming the incessant pen tapping on her desk. Rowan’s hand twitched, fighting the impulse to snatch the damn thing away from her. Thankfully, she stopped before Rowan’s impulse control failed. Then she finally spoke to her impatiently waiting subjects.

“I can’t see the harm in it,” she relented. “As long as you don’t mind, Rowan?”

After her session with Delilah concluded, Bronwin almost immediately relayed Delilah’s request to Adele, demanding Rowan meet her in Adele’s office after locking Delilah back up. Bronwin’s eagerness to comply with a goddamned serial killer was mind-blowing—until she’d opened her mouth to explain.

I really think it will help get her to trust me, to open up. It’ll be good for her.

Rowan should’ve known the only thing on Bronwin’s mind was getting a peek into Delilah’s psyche. But Adele had, rightfully, requested the night to think about it—and likely to inquire about a copious number of legal issues. Now they were back in Adele’s office, first thing in the morning.

Rowan shrugged, keeping her response to Adele’s question as nonchalant as possible. “As long as she behaves, I don’t have a problem with it.”

“Good point.” Adele nodded. “She’ll have to be on good behavior if she wants rewards. She can’t continue thinking that she can keep manipulating and threatening the officers around her to get what she wants. Let’s say…” Adele paused, that incessant pen tapping starting back up while she thought. “Friday. If she’s good the whole rest of the week, then she can have her walkabout. Only unoccupied areas, of course.”

“I’ll tell her in our session!” Bronwin jumped in like a dog with a bone. She checked her watch and stood. “I’ve got another patient for a session in a couple minutes. I’ll see you in an hour,” Bronwin said to Rowan, who nodded and took Bronwin’s exit as a good reason to make her own.

“And I’ve got rounds to get to,” she added, following Bronwin to the door. Adele waved them both off, returning to her absolutely endless amounts of paperwork.

One incredibly boring hour later, Rowan was in Bronwin’s office affixing Delilah’s cuffs to the chair then listening to Bronwin deliver the news with entirely too much enthusiasm. Rowan supposed she couldn’t blame the woman, seeing as Bronwin was under the impression that this meant she’d finally crack Delilah. Get her to spill all her dark thoughts and desires. Rowan didn’t hold the same hope—she already knew Delilah’s desires.

“Good behavior,” Bronwin said, and Delilah was, for once, hanging onto her every word. “Means no more unsanctioned outings and no threatening your guards. It means that you’ll try here and put forth an effort towards your healing journey. I’d like to build trust with you, Delilah. I want you to feel safe and that it’s judgement-free here, so let’s focus on that, okay?”

“Fine.”

Bronwin smiled graciously as if she wasn’t getting everything she wanted from this deal. As if she actually believed Delilah was capable of respecting boundaries. Though, a part of Rowan did have to wonder if Delilah was willing to play nice for the next three days just to get into Rowan’s office.

“Great. Then I’d like to start today off delving a little bit deeper into the why behind your actions. I would like to continue furthering the discussion surrounding your motivations, how it feels… Let’s start with what you feel you’re gaining from your kills since you have, historically, not done so for money or power, which is quite unusual.”

“You’re wrong there,” Delilah said, her voice like honey, alluring and sweet—though there was an undertone of darkness that Rowan liked more than she should. “Have you ever killed before? Doesn’t have to be human.”