They Killed Me in the Lab, So I Woke Up Early novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: The Cardigan

Ruth was waiting in the downstairs hall on Monday morning with her coat on.

She held out a brass key on a loop of red string.

"What's this?" Maren asked.

"My late husband's fishing cabin at Netarts. It's been empty two winters." Ruth dropped the key into Maren's palm and closed her fingers over it. "Don't tell me why. Just keep it where you can reach it."

"Ruth, I'm only going to work."

"Honey, I worked nights for thirty years. I know what a woman looks like when she's got somewhere to be and doesn't want to go."

Maren stared at her.

Ruth patted her cheek. "The stove sticks. Kick it on the left."

Maren put the key in the inner pocket of her coat and went out into the rain.

At the Institute the receptionist gave her a badge and a pastry and a smile.

She did the second session with Jonah in the Quiet Room, pressure and tone and reaction time.

He wore gloves the whole time. He kept the room between them.

He ended exactly on the hour and did not look at her once when she left.

Hester's office was at the end of the third floor, with a long window, a drooping fern and a shelf of framed photos.

"Come in, come in. I have your consent form."

Maren sat in the chair across from the desk.

The form was two pages. It said outpatient only, three sessions a week, four thousand dollars, and no residential phase without a separate signature.

She read every line, slowly, twice.

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