Jonathan Kellerman - Silent Partner

“No, no, that was all… It’s not too far. What else do I have to do all day but drive, anyway?”

“Then by all means come,” I said. “I can see you tomorrow, first thing.”

“Yeah, that would be great.”

We made an appointment.

She said, “You’re a nice man. You really know how to help a person.”

That shored me up enough to make my second call.

Five minutes to twelve. Lunch break.

“Dr. Small.”

“Hi, Ada. It’s Alex. Brown-bagging it?”

“Cottage cheese and fruit,” she said. “Battle of the bulge. Listen, I’m glad you called. I tried to reach Carmen Seeber, but her line’s been disconnected and there’s no record of a new one.”

“This isn’t about her,” I said. “It’s about me.”

Her therapeutic pause.

The damned things worked. I said, “A lot’s been piling up. I thought if you thought it would be appropriate for me to come in…”

“I’m always happy to see you, Alex,” she said. “Do you have any concerns about the appropriateness of it?”

“Not at all. No, that’s not true. I guess I do. Things have changed between us. It’s hard slipping out of the colleague role, admitting helplessness.”

“You’re far from helpless, Alex. Just insightful enough to know you’re not invulnerable.”

“Insightful.” I laughed. “Far from it.”

“You called, didn’t you? Alex, I understand what you’re saying- shifting roles must seem like a step backward. But I certainly don’t see it that way.”

“I appreciate your saying that.”

“I’m saying it because it’s true. However, if you have doubts, I can refer you to someone else.”

“Start over? No, I wouldn’t want that.”

“Would you like some time to think it over?”

“No, no. I might as well dive in, before I figure out some way to build up my defenses again.”

“All right, it’s settled then. Let me check my book.” The sound of flipping pages. “How about tomorrow at six? The office will be quiet- you won’t run into anyone you’ve referred.”

“Six would be great, Ada. See you then.”

“I’m looking forward to it, Alex.”

“Me too. ’Bye.”

“Alex?”

“Yes?”

“It’s a very good thing you’re doing.”

Jonathan Kellerman is one of the world's most popular authors. He has brought his expertise as a child psychologist to numerous bestselling tales of suspense (which have been translated into two dozen languages), including thirteen previous Alex Delaware novels; The Butcher's Theater, a story of serial killing in Jerusalem; and Billy Straight, featuring Hollywood homicide detective Petra Connor. His new novel, Flesh and Blood, will be published in hardcover in fall 2001. He is also the author of numerous essays, short stories, and scientific articles, two children's books, and three volumes of psychology, including Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children. He and his wife, the novelist Faye Kellerman, have four children.