Chapter 5
Riddick tightened his grip on her hand. "What did you say?" he said harshly.
"I know Mr. Bryce things must seem out of sorts to you right now. My name is Samantha but please call me Sam" she stammered. She looked at her hand that he was still gripping tightly and swallowed hard. Then she dared to look up to his eyes. They were hard and narrowed in on her. She gasped as the silver reflected a million different colors. Chameleon eyes she thought to herself as she remembered the file.
"Things don't seem out of sorts Miss Jones" he spoke lowly "They actually seem perfect" he finished and jerked her into the apartment. "I always said shrinks were right next to lawyers and mercs on my list. Sneaking and conniving the whole lot of them and will drive a knife through your back if you're dumb enough to turn it on them" he said slamming her into the wall. She gasped again as he came face to face with her. "Strange feeling of dejavu doc?" he asked.
She just looked at him. "Well at least it calms my curious brain about one thing" he said letting go of her. "After you walked off at the gym today I was trying to figure out how a person could be so lustfully aggressive one minute and cold and indifferent the next..... now I know" he said looking back at her still standing against the wall.
"You must not have been able to help yourself for a minute, tsk tsk tsk doc that's a no no. You said it yourself that you don't have a weakness" he said snidely.
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" she said finally finding her voice again.
"You let me get under your skin and for a few fleeting moments the raw hunger was visible, but you snapped back into mode and shoved everything under the surface again when your brain finally got through to you. Who you were attacking so lustfully" he commented.
"I'm so glad you've been able to process it all and label it Mr. Bryce" she said walking towards the chair on the opposite side of him.
"Its too bad doc, something tells me you might have been a pleasurable ride" he said smiling.
"What makes you think you would have ever gotten the chance to know?" she said.
He looked at her hard for a moment and inside she felt her ground start to waver."That's what lets me know I would have found out" he said sitting back against the chair again.
She almost shivered, it was like an animal when they circle their pray the way he could concentrate on her. It was so unnerving!
"Look Mr. Bryce I am very sorry about today. I promise to you that I had no ulterior motives when I went to the gym today. I actually go to that gym everyday but have never seen you there. I didn't even know what you looked like. It didn't registered for a few seconds who you were, but I recognized your voice. I didn't want my first impression with you to be me slamming into a punching bag so I simply kept the communication minimal and you left. As for everything else I'm very sorry but I would rather not go into it. Trust is the most important thing between a person and their psychologist, I know I've probably almost shattered any hope of that, but I am extending it to you" she said.
He snickered and looked back at her "Trust, trust you with what? You're suppose to sit here and go through the low down of questions and pose situations and such then read between the lines of my bullshitting babble and find what lies underneath then analyze it and then tell the courts in your professional opinion what you think right? So what do I need to trust you for?" he said.
"Because sometimes some people need to trust someone even if its a total stranger and let them help" she said.
"Lady I don't need help, this isn't a therapy session. The only reason we met is because you're evaluating me and the only reason I even let this evaluation exist is because if I refused they promised they'd take Jack away from me" he said starting to shout.
"Look, Mr Bryce..." she started.
"Damn it woman I told you once before, call me Gabe" he said.
"Fine Gabe, you've apparently been through psyche evaluations before, you know the process. I don't do a standardized evaluation. I run things a bit differently" she said.
"What do you mean?" he asked starting to calm down.
"I talk to you" she said simply.
He just kinda looked at her his facial expression telling her she'd need to elaborate. "I talk to you and you talk to me, that's what I do" she said.
"And this works, they let you just sit and talk to me about whatever it is I want to talk about?" he said.
"Yep they let me do that" she said.
"Whose dick did you suck to get things so easy?" he said.
She narrowed her eyes "No ones, they had to suck mine to get me to work for them" she stated.
"Fine doc, so what do we talk about?" he said putting his hands behind his head.
"Whatever you want, seeing as I know you don't trust me you can have the floor. Ask me anything you want and I'll answering honestly but there are rules to this" she said.
"Ah here it comes" he said leaning forward.
"For every question I answer I get to ask you one in return" she said.
"And if you don't answer my question?" he said leaning forward.
"Then I don't get to ask one" she said sitting back.
He saw then how it worked. She built trust because she let her patients talk first using this one simple rule. They could ask her anything, but she could only ask them a question if she answered theirs.
"So doc tell me what happens when I don't answer a question?" he said.
"I leave" she said.
"Well then you go right ahead because I don't plan to answer" he said.
"Fine Mr...I mean Gabe" she stood up and gathered her brief case. "But I'll just let you know I don't defer my clients.....if they refuse to participate I turn in my report to the judge as incomplete" she said and he turned and looked at her. "And if you really have as much staked in this as you said I don't think you'd want me to do that" she said letting her eyes meet his.
"Fine, sit down" he said.
She sat back down.
"So I've got the floor..." he said.
"Yep".
"How long do we do this?" he asked?
"Till you say stop" she replied.
"Fine Doc, the guy at the gym what was it about?" he said.
She looked at him for a moment knowing that he was trying to corner her. Asking me something I didn't want to tell him before, she thought.
"He and I had different opinions about one of my cases" she said simply.
"Which case?" he asked. "Not so fast Gabe its my turn. I answered, now I get to ask one" she reminded him. He sat back in the chair
"Shoot" he asked.
"Why do you hate psychologists?" she asked.
"It's a bullshit job that probably could do some good, its just that no-gooders are the only ones who do it" he said. "My turn, again which case did you two have different opinions on?" he asked.
"I'm not at liberty to discuss my clients" she stated.
He was in front her before she could even jerk back. His eyes locked with hers "Which case?" was all he said.
"This one" she replied.
"Your turn" he said returning to his chair.
She caught her breath before speaking "This game can stop anytime Gabe, its kind of an ice breaker. We could just sit here and talk" she said.
"Without the rules how do I know you'll answer?" he said.
"Trust me" she said.
"I don't trust anyone" he said.
"Fine" she said.
He studied her for a second. "I'll go out on a limb here doc, I don't trust you but we can drop the game and talk but its over when I say".
"Fine" she said relaxing a bit.
"What did you two disagree about on my case?" he asked her.
"He thought I should defer it and pass it on to another person".
"Why"?
"Because in his opinion he didn't think it was good for me" she said looking down at the floor. Riddick remembered hearing something about the man saying that he knew her...then the conversation was muffled and he heard the man saying something about a guy getting to her.
"What?" she said.
"What do you mean what?" he asked,
"You're quiet and you've got a look on your face" she said peering at him.
"You married?" he said.
"No I'm not" she answered him.
"Why not?" he said.
"Because I guess I'm not the marrying type. What about you, where's Jack mom?" she asked him.
"I wouldn't know" he said looking at her.
"And why is that?" she questioned.
"Look you already know she's isn't mine biologically or else we wouldn't be having this little get together, so drop it with the investigating questions" he said. "I didn't kidnap her or force her away from a family" he said.
"I never thought you did" she answered.
"Oh ya and why's that?" he said.
She just looked at him. Something about her response and gaze made him uncomfortable, why didn't she assume that he hadn't kidnapped her? He knew he looked the perfect type to have taken her by force or to be using a child for blackmail.
"You gonna answer me Doc?" he said.
"First of all don't call me Doc. My name is Samantha and as I said you can call me Sam" she said.
"Fine Sam, are you going to answer me?" he said.
"Why did I not assume you were a kidnapper or somehow using the girl for something?" she said.
"Yes" he said a bit annoyed.
"Because you couldn't love someone you're using" she said simply.
He stared at her a bit dumbfounded. "Gabe it's clear you love the child, at the gym you were so patient with her while training her. When she got impatient you reassured her. I saw you offer more to that child then and there than my father ever offered me. You couldn't be using her or have kidnapped her" she said softly.
"How do you know for sure?" he said.
"Because no one acts that well" she said looking at him.
He hated the look. One of pure innocence and admiration. He deserved neither. And the fact that the fucking psychologist was making him like her angered him more.
"You don't think I know what you're doing Sam, you're gilding the lily. Make me see that you're supportive of me and want to help me and trust me, then boom the knife slices" he said.
"You've got a lot of mistrust aimed at me, I know you think I deceived you before but I didn't" she said.
"Damn it. I know you didn't ok, but I know your type and the games you play and I'm not a puppet" he said.
"I can leave" she said.
"What, and have you tell them I made you go" he said.
"It's whatever you want" she said.
"Damn it, I want this to be over, I want to not worry about losing Jack. You said it yourself, I love her isn't that enough? If you see it then why can't you tell them that and have it done with?" he said.
"Because its not in my hands ok, I'm just a device in this" she said. He looked at her again.
"Why did that guy Browning think you couldn't handle this case?" he said.
She breathed deeply trying to decide what to say. Oh fuck it she thought, when have you ever done the easy thing before.
"Because he thought I'd get attached to it and throw myself into it, that I'd let it eat away at me until I was....until I felt bad" she said changing her ending.
He noticed her change of approach and tucked that away for later. "What do you mean get attached? Its a psyche evaluation not a person who's come to you for help" he said.
She just kind of looked at him for a minute. "If you're as perceptive as you seem Gabe I think you know its more than that" she said quietly.
He knew what she meant. Courts and governments didn't waste their time and precious dollars on this type of case. Unless they thought there was more to it.
Riddicks fears rose and so did the nausea. He dove for the waste basket in the corner and emptied his dinner.
She was by his side in an instant. "Gabe..." she said and he looked up at her. Her big jade eyes were wide and full of want and help.
"Leave" he said.
"No" she said shaking her head.
"I thought the deal was we talked until I said leave" he said again.
"No I am not going" she said.
He got up and walked off into the bedroom. He pulled his shirt off and through it at the pile accumulating on the floor. He reached for another shirt and when he did he caught a reflection in the mirror. For a split second he thought it was Carolyn. "Damn it" he said shaking his head.
"Who was it?" he heard someone said and he whipped around. Sam was standing in the doorway.
"Heard of privacy?" he said picking his shirt back up again.
"Who was it?" she said again.
"What are you talking about?" he said.
"Who did you see?" she said.
"I don't know what you're talking about" he said starting to pull his shirt on. Before he even got it over his head something was on him and knocking him to the floor.
"What the fuck" he said looking up. Her jade green eyes were shooting at him.
"Listen to me there is something going on and I don't know what the fuck it is, but I'm in it now. I also know there's something going on with you. Now whether or not it has to do with this case I'm not sure. But one thing for sure is that you need my help probably more than you know. Now damn it talk to me" she said her face still next to his.
His hands slide up her back almost reflexively.
"Talk to me" she said again.
His hands slid around underneath her shirt gliding over her ribs.
"Talk to me" she said again.
He noticed her body shaking and so was his. He didn't know why but he knew she was an inch away from losing her control. He leaned up and kissed her mouth and they both lost it. His kiss was tendered but she quickly changed that. She ran her mouth down his throat, her teeth searing his skin as he gasped. His hands were white hot across her body. She came back up to his mouth and what he saw almost scared him. Her eyes were wild like a predator. She looked like she could have eaten him alive.
"Dad" they both heard and froze.
"Jack we're back here but we'll be out in a minute" he said.
"Fine, I was just going to tell you I'm going out" she said.
"Wait" he said getting back up. He stood and looked at Sam. "I'll be back in a second" he said and walked off.
After he left the room she could have screamed. How does he do that she thought.She got up and wondered around the room. Sparsely decorated. She noticed a picture laying on the dresser top and a piece of paper.
"Ever heard of not snooping?" a voice said and she jumped.
"I'm sorry I just saw the picture and picked it up" she said setting it back down.
"Fine" he said coming towards her. He put his arms around her waist.
"Wanna talk about this?" she said holding up the piece of paper.
He tore it from her.
"It was her wasn't it?" she said.
"You thought it was her when you caught my reflection in the mirror" she said.
"Sam I really don't want to talk about it" he said pulling his shirt on.
"Who is she, she looks familiar" Sam said.
"Her name is Carolyn Fry and seeing as she passed away I don't think you know her" he said.
"Fry, Fry........Carolyn Fry..." she said and Riddick looked up. He heard and now he saw the realization on her face.
"Pilot right? She was the one who some years back her ship crashed or something on a planet and then the ship nor anyone from the crash was heard from. After a couple years they were all announced deceased" she said.
How in the hell?, he thought. It wasn't like the wreck was common knowledge unless you were a merc, because they all mourned the death of Riddick their biggest pay check, or if you were a law official investigating. Otherwise news like that didn't pass from planet to planet. He jumped at her and pinned her to the bed.
"You a cop?" he said.
"No I'm psychologist. Now what the fucks wrong with you?" she said.
"How do you know about that crash?" he said.
"Because I read the files on it" she said.
His eyes narrowed at her.
"Look I'm a criminal psychologist and I worked for the Galaxy Bureau for a few years and that crash happened during my time there. I read the files about it" she said.
Criminal Psychologist he thought wryly, great this keeps getting better.
"Wait, Samantha Jones..." he said.
"Yes I told you my name already" she said feeling the weight lift off him.
"Samantha Jones as in the one who got thrown from the Bureau after the Smithson case but for unknown reasons?" he said.
This time her eyes narrowed at him. "What the fuck do you know about it?" she said.
"I know that suddenly the most promising criminal psychologist the Bureau had seen was thrown off the case and dismissed quietly from the staff but she didn't go so quietly" he said. He cocked an eyebrow, "What did you do?" he said.
"I believed my client" she stated.
"So why did you get fired?" he asked.
"I think I'm going to leave" she said getting up.
"That's rich, a shrink who wants people to trust her but when she's got her own trash thrown in her face she can't take the heat so leaves the kitchen" he said and she turned around glaring at him.
"Most promising my ass, at least the jerks stick to their guns" he said dryly.
She leaped at him and he found himself down once again and she had her hands around his neck in an amazing deadlock. Her eyes weren't wild this time but held a haunting look. One he'd imagined people had seen on his face moments before they saw the black of death.
"You know nothing about me" she said then got up and left. He laid there motionless and heard the door close. He set up to find Jack staring at him.
"Well" she said and then walked off.
He laid in bed that night perplexed until he couldn't take it anymore. Finally he took a risk and called an old contact.
"Ya Marcus send me over anything you can on a Samantha Jones, ... ya the criminal psychologist. What do you mean I could just look her up on the net?" he said.
"Gabe her fucking name is plastered everywhere, she's like every criminals dream and the governments nightmare" he said.
"Why's that?" he asked.
"Everyone fucking convict wants her on their case. Man, I can't believe you don't know this shit" he said.
"Humor me, I don't keep up with prisons much" he said sarcastically.
"She's known as 'The compassionate one'. She's gotten countless people's sentences lessened. Hell she's the one who got Marley out of the Slam" he said.
"What?!" Riddick said.
"Ya man, her tests and proof stood up to them all and got him outta there. They didn't fucking like her much and that's when shit started getting out about the girl herself" he said.
"What about her?" Riddick said gripping the phone.
"Seems they made her undergo psychiatric evaluation herself and found some interesting results. Seems this pretty little thing has potential to be a psychopath or serial killers" he said almost laughing.
"Hows that?" Riddick said not believing him.
"Because man they sent her to that college ran every fucking test possible her results show she has no fear whatsoever, a lack of morals. I hear her test results put Ol man Witter to shame" he said.
"Thanks" Riddick said hanging up. He'd heard of her before just never her name. Why the hell did she have his case then?, he thought. She's lying to me and I fucking bought it, he realized angrily. They know who I am and are playing with me.
He made the distance quickly to where she said her private practice was somehow knowing she was there.
Sam spun around hearing the door open.
"Tell me what you're up to, now" he said. She just stared at him. He looked over her shoulder at a computer screen and saw a picture of Carolyn next to files and reports.
"I thought it was interesting you knowing so much about Carolyn and the wreck yourself seeing as you're a civilian so I did my own homework" she said sitting down at the computer. I figure either you had family or friends on that craft and I intended to find out. So I researched every body on it but found no connection to you" she said looking at him.
"I know because there isn't one" he said.
"So I thought she musta been a girlfriend so I researched Carolyn as much as possible and found out you couldn't have been with her" she said.
"How's that did you know her doc? I don't think a file is going to show a list of past lovers" he said.
"Maybe not but its amazing what you'll find on old psychology files" she said and his ears perked.
"Seems Carolyn was having issues herself before she boarded that craft. She was beaten and raped horribly as a younger girl and never really overcame the fear and hate for males. She hadn't had a relationship in over five years with a male, says the file. She could feel sexual attraction and even have intercourse but never felt love and felt constant guilt after sex. Seems she felt as though she failed herself by giving herself freely to a man" Sam finished. She turned around and looked Gabe. He was shaking from anger.
"So unless you were the raper I don't think you were her lover" she said.
He leaped for her. "Don't ever talk about her so regardlessly again" he said.
"My further research led me to another idea which I'm pretty sure is real" she choked.
"What's that Sam?" he said.
"That its very Nice to meet me you, Richard B. Riddick" she said and he jumped back.