Page 24 of The Guy Next Door

“So you can understand that it’s not unreasonable to believe that Mike didn’t need any help disappearing. Any number of things could have happened. And as far as Zane’s interest in his brother’s case, that’s understandable, and I’d rather not get into his story, but I do want to mention that, during that time when he was framing that professor for being involved in Mike’s disappearance, Zane wasn’t taking his medication, and I do think that contributed to his erratic behavior.”

“What does he take medication for?”

“I’d rather not disclose more than that,” she says, not blinking as she issues the boundary. “I want to tell you enough to help you understand that you need to go no-contact with Zane Grayson. I’m worried he’s trying to use you to persuade us to investigate his brother’s disappearance further. And that won’t be healthy for either of you.”

10-13s.

Medication.

Zane also has a mental-health issue. Could that be what this is all about, rather than me being in serious danger from a psychopath?

“Do you mind if I ask how he approached you?” she asks.

Fuck.

“Met him in my house when he scared the shit out of me and dragged me into my closet. And he’s been living next door to me all this time.”

Sure, that would go over well.

“He came to my parents’ place, where I’m living right now. He wanted to talk to me about the post.”

That stays within the realm of misleading, but not an outright lie. Not my fault she didn’t ask a more specific question.

“Well, let me know if telling him to leave you alone isn’t enough. There are other options.”

“Other options?”

“Like a TRO.” At my look, she explains, “A restraining order.”

A restraining order? For someone who thought he was harmless, now she’s suggesting I might need a restraining order?

She wraps up our meeting, and I return to my car. As I slide into the driver’s seat, I’m still trying to make sense of everything she told me. Her explanations sounded fairly reasonable. Much more than anything Zane told me. What if he’s using me to bolster his fixation with his missing brother? But what if he also believes I’m in danger?

I figure most people, after talking with Detective Roth, might want nothing to do with Zane Grayson, but our conversation has made me that much more interested in him.

What if he’s having a mental-health crisis?

I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to lose touch with reality.

And after what he’s been through with his brother, would that be such a terrible thing?

I don’t have the feeling he would hurt me.

And maybe I’m just that fucking gullible, but I don’t think he would be deceiving me like she suggests.

Yes, Detective Roth has given me plenty of things to consider about the night I found Zane in my house. It should be enough to scare a normal person off.

But maybe I’m not a normal person.

6

ZANE

“So you likeyour new place?” Jesse asks.

I sit at my desk, Zoom on one of my two computer monitors, chatting with my therapist.

“It’s fine. I like the area,” I say, which is true enough.