“I knew if you wanted to talk, you would,” Zach said.
“The mystery man called to taunt me. He said it didn’t look like consent in the films.”
“Damn, don’t go there,” Zach counseled.
“He threatened both Gwen and me. Tech confirmed the callers are all different men,” Troy angered.
“Right now, this must be about Troy, the man, not the operator. I know you’re alone. What are you thinking?” Zach worried.
“What's there to say? My biggest fear has come true.” Troy's voice caught in his throat.
“Troy. It's Saoirse. Talk to me, sweetheart.”
“I need a plan,” Troy said. “I don’t want to go there. I want to work it.”
“You can’t this time, sweetheart. It’s not another case—it’s you. You’re going to put one foot in front of the other. And you are going to take control of your own message. Zach and I will be there tomorrow morning. In the meantime, you need to be around people who love you,” Saoirse said.
“I feel nothing. They’ll want me to talk about my feelings,” he sniffed.
“They knew before this. There's nothing to tell. They are there to support you, even in silence,” Saoirse advised.
“There’s nothing to support,” he sighed.“My walls are sky high.”
“Do you remember that night you came into my hospital room?”
“How could I not?” he sighed.
“You yelled at me as my supervisor. And then you talked me through as I fell apart. You gave me strength and the ability to say ‘I love you’ to Zach. You told me you understood how broken and desolate I felt. And you kept coming back. You refused to let me fall off that cliff.
“And when Zach had no idea what to do, you helped him see things he didn't want to see. Troy, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. Every night when I say my bedtime prayers, you're included. You do that for people. Those films showed a horrible attack, but younevergave in. And you got out alive. Youarealive. That’s a major victory. Now it’s up to you to decide what to do with that win.”
Troy blew out an enormous breath. His chest had an elephant sitting on it, and his stomach was rolling. “I guess I'll see you tomorrow.”
“Damn straight you will,” Zach said. “Listen to me carefully. I want you to get your ass up from wherever you're sitting, open the door and find somebody.”
“Alright, I'll see you tomorrow,” Troy said.
“No. I'm going to stay on the phone with you until I hear you talking with someone, and I hear their voice respond.”
“Did I ever tell you you’re a pain in the ass, Wentworth?”
“I am, and I'm waiting.” Zach’s voice took on a domineering edge.
Troy stood and typed in the code to release the lockdown. As the door opened, he almost fell over Martin and Kip sitting on the floor. Julian was standing with his arms crossed over his chest. Mac Novak sat in a chair scanning him.
“Tell Zach I'm talking to you.” He handed the phone to Martin.
“Ice? He's standing right in front of me. Thank you. Yes, we'll see you tomorrow,”Martin said, pointing for Troy to return to his office. Mac Novak pushed past Martin and closed the door in his and the other executives’ faces.
Troy laughed.
“Do you find this amusing?” Mac asked.
“No. You triggered a good memory. It involved Julian and Russ Sommerfeld under similar circumstances. But today, nothing is funny about anything.I guess you’re here to assess my psychological status.”
“Do I need to?” Mac asked.
“No. If you’re asking if I'm going to harm myself, the answer is no. If you’re asking if I’m confused, angry and a whole bunch more emotions I can't even name, then the answer is yes.” Troy stood, walked over to his refrigerator, and pulled out two bottles of water, tossing one to the doctor.