Plain Jane Read Free Page B

chair. “I have this patient I can’t seem to get a handle on. There’s something . . .” She shook her head. “I have this awful feeling the guy is setting me up for something. I learned early on in my career to pay attention to my gut feelings. I suppose the case is a classic textbook one. At least on the surface.”
    â€œWhat’s his problem? Is he a psycho?”
    â€œI don’t know. I should know, but I don’t. He’s saying all the right things. I’m saying all the right things. It’s not going anywhere,” she said, putting her hands on the table. “I’ve seen him three times so far, and I’m still at square one. I suspect one of his problems is that he’s very controlling.” She took a sip of her wine. “Frankly, I think he might do better with a male psychiatrist. I was wondering if you would consider sitting in on one of his sessions. Maybe you can get a feel for what he’s all about. That is, of course, if he’s agreeable.”
    â€œSure. Just let me know when and where. What’s his main problem aside from all the standard stuff?”
    â€œHe said his wife was raped and that he’s having a hard time dealing with it. He’s lost his sex drive, claims he can’t bring himself to touch her. He’s even having trouble being civil to her. I understand that he is angry, but his anger is directed at his wife for refusing to go to the police. I have this feeling that he’s lying. I think he didn’t want her to report it. He said she quit her job and hides out in the house all day.”
    â€œChildren? Other family? Pets?”
    â€œNot that he’s mentioned, but I don’t know whether or not to believe him. He has this smirk on his face all the time. Last week I wanted to pop him.” She laughed to cover her frustration, then leaned forward. “He listens to my radio show. The other day he rattled off some of the problems people had called in with and told me he didn’t agree with my advice. Said I was too flip, too giddy. That was the word he used: giddy. I am not giddy,” she said between her teeth. “I do try to be upbeat, but I’d hardly call that being giddy. If I have even the faintest inkling a caller has a really serious problem, I always suggest they get help. Sometimes I have them stay on the line and talk to them after the show.”
    â€œYou don’t have to defend yourself to me, Jane. I know your reputation, and I’ve heard your show. You said you thought he was setting you up for something. Can you be more specific?”
    She took a deep breath then let it out. “I wish I could but it’s really just a feeling, Mike.” She thought a moment. “Last week, during his session, it occurred to me that everything he was saying was . . . rehearsed. Almost like he’s reading from a script. He’s got some kind of mental list, and he gets upset when my questions take him away from what he thinks I should be asking. When I tested my theory, he got hostile with me and told me to stick to the subject.” She sat back, crossed her arms.
    â€œWhat’s he say when you ask him about his wife?” Mike queried. His facial expression told Jane he was concerned.
    â€œNot much . . . You know, I have to wonder if he isn’t lying to me, if he really even has a wife. I’ve called his house, and no one ever answers the phone. If his wife quit her job and is ‘hiding out’ at home, where is she and why doesn’t she answer the phone? When I asked him if she’d ever had counseling, he got in my face and said he was my patient not his wife and that he would take care of her. I—” She started to tell him that she’d gone to his house but decided against it at the last second.
    â€œMaybe he’s the one who raped her when she said no and he said yes. You get them from time to time, the pigheaded, know-it-all