One Good Deed by Andrew Grey

Author:Andrew Grey
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

PETER LEFT the office of Dr. Middlebach, still surprised the highly placed academic would work with him directly. It had taken Peter nearly a full day to actually make the call. He’d been pleased at how personable and easy Franz was to talk with. He’d almost immediately requested that they use first names as well as spent the first part of their time together asking questions that Peter was certain were designed to make him comfortable and get him to open up.

Peter had been reluctant at first to tell Franz what had happened when he was a child, but eventually he realized he had to open up, so he told Franz the same story he’d told Luka. A few times he’d seen Franz show surprise, but he never detected any judgment. Once he’d finished telling Dr. Middlebach the story of his father’s death, Peter continued. The floodgates seemed to have opened, and he explained how he’d always felt about his family.

“I’m puzzled,” Franz began once Peter had finished. “Usually people feel guilty or ashamed of things but don’t know why, or they hide it. And once the source of the guilt and shame is out in the open, it loses some of its power. Yours, however, has been reinforced over decades. There was never any way for you to escape it, and it became ingrained as part of who you are and part of your personality.”

“Is there any way you can help?” Peter asked.

“I think so. I’d like to meet again if you’re agreeable,” Franz said.

Peter had nodded and shifted his gaze to the floor. “I need to know how much this is going to cost.”

“Nothing,” Franz said. “I’d only like your permission to use my findings in my research. I will not use your actual name to protect your privacy.”

Peter had initially been reluctant, but if his situation could help someone else…. He had eventually agreed, and he and Franz set up a series of appointments for the coming weeks. He felt better. He didn’t know why, other than talking to someone who hadn’t judged him once he’d heard what Peter had done. He took a deep breath and released it, walking taller and feeling just a little bit lighter.

Over the next week, he saw Franz twice more. Their sessions focused somewhat on Peter shooting his father, but they also began to range further afield, with Peter talking in depth about his family and, of course, about Luka.

“You smile when you speak of him,” Franz observed. “Did you know you do that each time?”

“Is that bad?” Peter asked seriously.

“Quite the opposite,” Franz said. “But I’d like to explore why you would think it’s bad… or could be bad.” He reached for a notepad. “Why would someone making you happy be bad? You obviously care for him.”

Peter sighed. “I killed one of the people in the world who loved me most. I guess I’ve never thought I deserved to have someone in my life like Luka.” He paused for a few seconds.

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