Zoe paced in the waiting area, looking at the text message that had summoned her here. Harry sat beside the couch, watching her. ‘I thought we’d finished all our sessions,’ Zoe said as soon as Alicia Kennedy opened the door.
‘Hi Zoe, come on in,’ Alicia said, as calmly as ever.
Zoe moved towards the door, Harry joining her.
Alicia walked around her desk and sat down. Zoe remained on her feet. ‘I thought I was cleared for full duties,’ she said.
‘You are. I wanted to see how things have gone in your first week back.’
‘The boss called you.’
‘I rang him to check in. He said there’d been some issues. So, I thought I’d catch up with you. That’s all.’
‘Well, I’m fine. There was a disagreement, that’s all. They happen.’
‘Take me through it,’ said Alicia.
‘We have charged someone with murder and there’s another avenue I wanted to check out. To be one hundred per cent sure that we’ve got it right. Rob and my partner disagree with me. That’s it.’
‘What makes you so sure that these three men are the same person?’ asked Alicia.
Zoe shot Alicia a furious glare, incensed that Rob had told the psychologist the details of their conversation. These particulars should have been kept confidential, even within Homicide. She saw Alicia flush in response to her glare.
‘Instinct,’ said Zoe, ‘honed by years of experience. But I’m not going to start discussing cases with people outside the squad. It’s not ethical.’ Zoe could feel her heart beating hard, and the air felt thicker. She could sense a panic attack coming on. Not here, not now.
Harry leaned in against her leg, his head against her thigh. Zoe looked down at him and placed a hand on his head.
‘How’ve you been sleeping?’ asked Alicia.
‘Fine,’ said Zoe. ‘Sorry, Alicia, but I’ve got work to do. Come on, Harry.’
Harry jumped to his feet and followed Zoe to the door.