Page 6 of Edging Sanity

“Is it true?”

“Well, yes. But is there⁠—”

“So it would be true then,” Delilah interrupted, “that she would know where the blind spots are in patient rooms?”

Bronwin’s frown grew, her brows creasing as she looked between Rowan and Delilah. After mulling over the question, and apparently failing to see the harm in answering, Bronwin said, “I suppose she would, yes. Is this something that is important to you?” Bronwin knew for a fact that Rowan knew everything about the security camera system as she’d once had Rowan walk her through it.

“Does she ever watch the cameras?” Delilah asked, sidestepping Bronwin’s question completely.

Bronwin opened her mouth then thought better and closed it again, darting a quick, concerned glance at Rowan. “Let’s steer this conversation back to you, shall we? I’d like to know how you’re adjusting to being here.”

Delilah’s knuckles whitened as she gripped the arms of the chair, perched on the edge like she was debating the benefit and practicality of lunging for Bronwin’s throat.

“When does she check the cameras? Or is that job too low for her?”

Bronwin folded her hands on her desk and looked at Delilah with more patience than Rowan would have been able to muster. “Delilah, I really must insist⁠—”

“I’ll answer your question if you answer mine,” Delilah snapped. An irritating reminder of the unspoken deal they’d hesitantly entered the day prior. Not that Bronwin wanted to give Delilah any information.

“I can’t answer anything that might compromise facility security,” Bronwin finally said. “Why don’t you tell me why you’re so intent on learning Rowan's schedule?”

“I don’t want to escape,” Delilah drawled. She relaxed and her expression switched from burning hatred to innocence, a smile gracing her features as she widened her eyes enough to exaggerate the act even further. “If that’s what you’re worried about. I like it here,” she said. An olive branch, and again, not an answer to Bronwin’s question. But it seemed to satisfy the therapist enough. Either that, or she saw it for the bullshit it was and recognized that Delilah wasn’t going to give her anything more.

“Rowan?” Bronwin asked tiredly. Rowan gritted her teeth, wondering if she could refuse Bronwin or, if in this room, Bronwin held the authority over her.

“Yes?”

“Do you check the cameras?”

“Sometimes,” Rowan gritted out. It was a lie but Delilah didn’t need to know that. Rowan checked the cameras religiously, a part of her daily routine. The same time every day except on weekends.

“When?” Delilah asked, her all-too-innocent smile still painted on her lips.

“Delilah, if I may interrupt,” Bronwin interjected, barely withholding the annoyance that Rowan knew she must be feeling. Even her body looked relaxed, leaning back slightly in her chair, jotting something down in her notebook while she spoke. If Rowan didn’t know her better, if she didn’t know to look for that minor eye twitch that signaled annoyance, then she would have thought everything was perfectly fine.

“Can you tell me a little more about why you want this information? You must understand how it looks from a security perspective.”

Delilah clenched her fists. “I’m just getting to know my guard.”

“Getting to know your guard is not exactly encouraged in your position. Do you have any concerns that we need to be aware of? Our job, believe it or not, is to make your time comfortable and to help facilitate your healing journey.”

Delilah looked almost like she wanted to laugh at that. “And what do I need healing from?” she asked.

“Well, we might explore your past, your childhood. There may be certain experiences and life choices that have led you here, which can help me better understand the best way to provide support. You determine the pacing, but ultimately all I’m doing here is trying to provide a safe environment for you. One that is free of judgement.”

“I would feel a lot more comfortable and supported if I knew when I was being watched,” Delilah said, her innocent smile and tone back in an instant.

Bronwin pursed her lips and looked at Rowan for a long minute before she nodded. “In the morning,” Rowan answered, begrudgingly.

“How often?” Delilah countered. Rowan raised an eyebrow and looked at Bronwin, who waved a hand as if to say please just answer the question so we can move on.

Rowan sighed. “Every morning from nine to ten.”

Delilah’s smile turned vicious now, a predator relishing her success at cornering her prey. Rowan swallowed, heat swirling inside her at the thought of being Delilah’s prey. Of being at her mercy. What would she do? Would she listen to anything Rowan said?

“Now that I think about it,” Delilah said, turning back to Bronwin. “There is some healing I’d like to do.”

Bronwin looked like a fucking dog with a bone. Excitement flashed in her eyes as she sat up straighter, her pen poised against a fresh sheet of her notebook. “Please, go on whenever you’re ready.”