Identity Crisis Box Set by Scott Kelly

Author:Scott Kelly [Kelly, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: teen-fiction, mystery, literary fiction, thriller
Published: 2015-11-18T00:00:00+00:00

18. High hopes

Now

I look Mr. Aschen in the eye. “Can’t you see? David trusted me. He gave me the power to decide what would happen. How could he have been using me, if I had control?”

“Those are only words, Jacob. He only told you something to make you feel important. He’s a manipulator. How did this end? Did you get to decide Eureka’s fate? You have to look past the words. You have to look at the numbers, at the math. The math doesn’t lie.”

I lean back in my chair. If I try, I can reach the opposite end of the room with my foot. I don’t want to answer this part.

Mr. Aschen sighs and folds the manila envelope closed. “Do you mind if I ask you a somewhat petty question, Jacob?”

I cross my arms. “That’s all we’re doing here, right?”

“Why did you stop coming to counseling sessions with me?”

“You don’t need counseling when you’ve got Eureka,” I tell him.

“Did David tell you that?”

Well, not directly. I don’t answer this, either.

Mr. Aschen puts the black and silver pen into his shirt pocket and folds his hands, all graying dignity. “I only ask because I stopped doing volunteer work when you stopped coming to our sessions. I was a bit disappointed to learn David was a suitable replacement for me. Well, not suitable, obviously.”

“Not David. Jesus, Mr. Aschen, I keep trying to get this across to you. It’s not all about David. It’s Eureka. The idea might have come from anywhere. You just keep bringing up David because you think I’ll say I secretly hated him, that I killed him. I didn’t.”

Mr. Aschen only raises an eyebrow and grins again, like a poker player who’s confident in his hand. “You found me out. But, really—I miss our sessions. This may be bad of me to say, but I never managed to connect with the others in your gang.” The aging psychologist emphasizes the word. “You’ve always been my favorite. I think you have the most potential, even more than David.” He speaks into his folded fingers.

“Now you’re the one who’s manipulating. Isn’t it bad form to pick favorites?”

“They aren’t my clients anymore,” Mr. Aschen informs me. “Society failed you, Jacob. You and your friends have been mistreated. But, out of the whole sad mess of Broadway Trailer Park, you’re the one I thought I had the most hope of reaching. Unfortunately, David took the opportunity from me. You can’t see it, Jacob, but you’re infatuated with him. He’s the only male role model you’ve ever had, and you’ve come to think of him as your father figure.”

Denial springs eternal. “Let me just tell you what happened next, all right?”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.