Read Online The New Patient (Dr. Epstein's Couch: Criminal Minds Series) by Ann Black - Free Book Online

doesn’t take long to locate what I need. At the checkout a plump middle-aged woman, wearing a name badge bearing the name “Pam”, serves me with a bright smile. “How are you today?” she says as she starts scanning my items. She’s not really expecting an answer.
    “I’m well. Is there a public toilet around here somewhere?” I ask, piling plastic bags back into my trolley.
    “The nicer ones are in the pub over there,” she points to a brick and tile pub at the entrance of the car park. “That’ll be $112.95 thanks.”
    Handing her my credit card I wonder if I should let Bob know what I’m doing, when I spot him at a vending machine outside. I walk past him deliberately, “Just going to the pub for the facilities. Back in a minute.”
    “Okay, you go ahead and I’ll keep an eye out.”
    I buy my bread and stash my groceries. Bob’s looking at me near his car as I walk across to the pub.
    My eyes adjust slowly as I enter the dimly lit front bar. The usual bar flies are onto their ten o’clock beer and an older man nods hello as I pass the poker machines, following the signs down a darker hall to the tiled toilets.
    Having used the facilities, I squirt some of the pink detergent into my hands and give them a good scrub under the running water, when I hear someone enter the room behind me. My heart starts to hammer and glancing up into the mirror, I see a dark haired woman standing behind me. But she takes her sunglasses off and Kyle’s cold blue eyes connect with mine.
    “Hello John,” he smiles.
    Turning to face him, I casually put my hands into my pockets and feel my camping knife. “Hello Kyle, how can I help you?” I say, wiggling the knife up my watchband and sliding my hand further into my sleeve.
    He points a gun at my head and smiles, “First we’re going to visit the ATM and then we’re going for a little walk out the back. You give me any trouble and I’ll shoot the two cleaning ladies having their fag and cuppa in the lounge, and then I’ll shoot you. Got it?” he says, knocking me hard in the forehead with the barrel. “Take your hands out of your pockets,” he orders.
    Obeying, I carefully hold my cuff to ensure it doesn’t ride up as I lift my hand. Kyle frisks my pockets and pulls out my wallet. He begins to search one-handed for credit cards and stuffs the few hundred dollars cash into his jeans.
    I need to buy some time. Where the fuck is Bob? “You look good as a chic, Kyle. Learn how to take it in prison, did you? Enjoy being the bitch?”
    His eyes narrow slightly and just as I’d hoped, he’s distracted enough for the gun to lower slightly.
    Acting fast, I grab the hand with the gun and kick him hard in the knee since I can’t reach his balls and follow up with a vicious punch directly on top of his lowered head. He’s strong and spins me round, punching me hard in the face and stomach with his free hand. I’m winded but manage to grab his other hand and kick him again in the leg, as he head-butts me in the face.
    Pain roars through my head. I feel dizzy and suddenly weak, which gives him the advantage. My knife drops to the floor and I feel myself sinking, when the door bursts open and I make out Bob yelling, “Put the fucking gun down Kyle!” Kyle spins me in front of him and I feel his arm rebound as the gun goes off.
    My ears are ringing and I realise that Bob’s gone down. Somewhere inside me there’s an old fault line that finally cracks open. Adrenaline kicks in, shielding me from much of the pain in my head, which allows me to focus again.
    I see a brief look of surprise on Kyle’s face as I grab the hand with the gun and pull it wide, using my other hand I chop down hard on his elbow. There’s a loud crack and Kyle wails. Working fast, I punch hard into his face, and kick his knee-cap, making him fall to the hard tiled floor.
    Grabbing the gun, I sit on top of him and hold it to his head. Kyle’s face is bloodied and he’s semi-conscious, “Feels