Bleed for Me Read Free

y-y-you’re married.’
    He noticed my wedding ring.
    ‘I’m separated. Maybe she’s available.’
    Again, I lean forward, putting my cheek next to his.
    ‘I’l take her to dinner and then I’l take her home. I bet she’s a dynamite fuck, what do you think? The prim and proper ones, al cool and distant, they go off like chainsaws. Maybe you want to fantasise about that.’
    Liam has forgotten to breathe again. His brain is sizzling in an angry-frantic way, screaming like a guitar solo.
    ‘Does that upset you, Liam? Why? Let’s face it, she’s not real y your type. She’s pretty. She’s educated. She’s successful. What would she want with a sad, sadistic fuck like you?’
    Liam’s eyes jitter back and forth like a shot of adrenalin has punched straight into his brain. He launches himself out of his seat, taking me with him across the room. The world is flying backwards for a moment and his thumbs are in my eye-sockets and his hands squeezing my skul . I can barely hear a thing above my own heartbeat until the sound of heavy boots on the linoleum.
    Liam is dragged off me, panting, ranting. Hospital guards have secured his arms, lifting him bodily, but he’s stil lashing out at me and screaming, tel ing me what he’s going to do.
    The tribunal members have been evacuated or sought refuge in another room. I can stil hear Liam being wrestled down a distant corridor, kicking at the wal s and doors. Victoria Naparstek has gone with him, trying to calm him down.
    My eyes are streaming and through closed lids I can see a kaleidoscope of coloured stars merging and exploding. Dragging myself to a chair, I pul out a handkerchief to wipe my cheeks. After a few minutes I can see clearly again.
    Dusting off my jacket, I pick up my battered briefcase and make my way through the security stations and locked doors until I reach the parking area where my old Volvo estate looks embarrassingly drab. I’m about to unlock the door when Victoria Naparstek appears, moving unsteadily in high heels over the uneven tarmac.

    ‘What the hel was that? It was total y unprofessional. How dare you talk about what I wear to bed! How dare you talk about my underwear!’
    ‘I’m sorry if I offended you.’
    ‘You’re sorry! I could have you charged with misconduct. I should report you to the British Psychological Society.’
    Her brown irises are on fire and her nostrils pinched.
    ‘I’m sorry if you feel that way. I simply wanted to see how Liam would react.’
    ‘No, you wanted to prove me wrong. Do you have something against Liam or against me?’
    ‘I don’t even know you.’
    ‘So it’s Liam you don’t like?’
    The accusation clatters around my head and my left leg spasms. I feel as though it’s going to betray me and I’l do something embarrassing like kick her in the shins.
    ‘I don’t like or dislike Liam. I just wanted to make sure he’d changed.’
    ‘So you tricked him. You belittled him. You bul ied him.’ She narrows her eyes. ‘I’ve heard people talk about you, Professor O’Loughlin. They always use hushed tones. I had even hoped I might learn something from you today. Instead you bul ied my patient, insulted me and revealed yourself to be an arrogant, condescending, misogynistic prick.’
    Not even her Scottish lilt can make this sound gay or carefree. Up close she is indeed a beautiful woman. I can see why a man might fixate upon her and ponder what she wears in bed and what sounds she makes in the throes of passion.
    ‘He’s devastated. Distraught. You’ve set back his rehabilitation by months.’
    ‘I make no apologies for that. Liam Baker has learned to mimic helpfulness and co-operation, to pretend to be better. He’s not ready to be released.’
    ‘With al due respect, Professor . . .’
    Whenever anyone begins a sentence like this I brace myself for what’s coming.
    ‘. . . I’ve spent the past eighteen months working with Liam. You saw him half a dozen times before he was sentenced. I