Buried (Detective Ellie MacIntosh) by Kate Watterson Page A

into had paneled walls, two oak bookcases, and a few too many plants, so there was the hint of damp soil in the air.
    “I am not sure I want to do this.” Ellie remained standing, wondering if she’d made the right decision in coming.
    “Fine. Just fine.” Dr. Lukens sank down into the leather chair behind her immaculate polished desk. “Now you really have me curious. I’m all ears. What is on your uneasy mind?”
    “ My uneasy mind?” Ellie went ahead and sat down too.
    “People without problems rarely visit me, at least not at the office. Last-minute uncertainty is not an uncommon reaction, but you made the appointment for a reason. Tell me what it is you want to discuss. Ever since my secretary said you called, I have been tossing the possibilities back and forth. Is this about the Northwoods Killer, or the Burner? Either way, if you are struggling, we can talk about it and work it through. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a viable condition, Detective MacIntosh.”
    Ellie regarded the woman across from her with a level look. “I want to believe that you are a good enough clinician that you know that is not why I am here.”
    “True enough. You can kill without remorse.”
    Put so frankly, that was a bit shocking. Ellie said carefully, “If the person places me in that position where there is little choice, yes. I think you know that very well.”
    “Is that why you chose me as your therapist?”
    “I am not sure I even need a therapist.”
    Maybe the tension indicated this wasn’t the best idea she’d ever had.
    Georgia Lukens entwined her hands and rested them on the desktop. “Look, Detective, let’s begin again. Obviously something is bothering you or coming to me would not have occurred to you in the first place. Let’s discuss it. Anything you say is confidential, so you can speak freely. I think I do know why you chose me. We have a rather unique bond we may have not intended to forge, but it exists.”
    When she’d made the appointment, Ellie had wondered if it wasn’t worth it to talk to someone to try and figure out if her issues with committing to a relationship were really related to her job, or to something else. She tended to blame her hesitation on the dark side of mankind she saw all too often, but then again, maybe it was her .
    But now her focus was skewed to another problem that needed her attention, and maybe her relationship with Bryce could wait a bit. Perhaps that was the issue. There was always something else.
    “I’m having a problem dealing with someone I love very much.”
    “Okay. That happens to all of us. What are we talking about specifically?”
    “I don’t know the facts. I have a few of them, but the background story, no. I do not want to stir up a hornet’s nest if it isn’t necessary, but I also am hanging out in the breeze.”
    “This is someone you don’t feel comfortable talking to, or you think they won’t be comfortable talking to you?” Dr. Lukens gazed at her inquiringly.
    That was an interesting question, but maybe accurate. Slowly, Ellie confirmed, “Both, at least in the context of a certain problem. In truth, I’m not comfortable giving you exact names, so I am not going to, but I’ll relay the gist of it, and maybe you can help me sort out how I feel about dealing with it.”
    “I wouldn’t dream of doing otherwise. Outline the problem and we’ll go from there.”
    She hesitated, then sighed. “I’m working another case. One that is really involved, but this dilemma is personal and entirely different. Look, recently I think someone I am very close to lied to me about something important.”
    “The very attractive Dr. Grantham?”
    It was startling that this woman knew Bryce’s name, but then again, they did not have the most low profile relationship in the great state of Wisconsin. “How do you know that he and I—”
    “After the Burner case it was mentioned in a newspaper article by some very clever investigative reporter that