Mind Games

William Deverell

Description

'Arthur Ellis award winning William Deverell s 2003 bestseller In Mind Games, William Deverell returns to the intriguing territory of the law and lawyers and of human psychology and motivation, and he does so in familiar Deverell sureroundings: the streets, courtrooms, and waters of Vancouver. Dr. Tim Dare is a forensic psychiatrist whose life is in a mess: his wife has just left him to find herself; his mother is being sued for libel by a small-town mayor over a mystery novel; he s been made the monitor of a man just out of psychiatric hospital, a man he considers a psychopathic murderer; he s being hauled before a disciplinary committee for misplacing a file; one of his patients is transferring feelings to him rather too romantically; and now someone s threatening to kill him. He can t even get into an elevator without falling apart. No wonder he thinks he needs to see a shrink himself. Under the guidance of fellow psychiatrist Dr. Allison Epstei

Informations

• Publié par: Ecw Press
• Date de parution: 14 juin 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781773059464
• Langue: English

Extrait

Mind Games An Arthur Beauchamp Novel
William Deverell





Contents Praise for William Deverell Also by William Deverell Dedication Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen About the Author Copyright


Praise for William Deverell
Needles
“Deverell has a narrative style so lean that scenes and characters seem to explode on the page. He makes the evil of his plot breathtaking and his surprises like shattering glass.” — Philadelphia Bulletin
High Crimes
“Deverell’s lean mean style gives off sparks. A thriller of the first rank.” — Publishers Weekly
Mecca
“Here is another world-class thriller, fresh, bright, and topical.” — Globe and Mail
The Dance of Shiva
“The most gripping courtroom drama since Anatomy of a Murder .” — Globe and Mail
Platinum Blues
“A fast, credible, and very funny novel.” — The Sunday Times
Mindfield
“Deverell has a fine eye for evil and a remarkable sense of place.” — Globe and Mail
Kill All the Lawyers
“An indiscreet and entertaining mystery that will add to the author’s reputation as one of Canada’s finest mystery writers.” — The Gazette
Street Legal: The Betrayal
“Deverell injects more electricity into his novels than anyone currently writing in Canada — perhaps anywhere . . . The dialogue crackles, the characters live and breathe, and the pacing positively propels.” — London Free Press
Trial of Passion
“A ripsnortingly good thriller.” — Regina Leader-Post
Slander
“ Slander is simply excellent: a story that just yanks you along.” — Globe and Mail
The Laughing Falcon
“The Laughing Falcon is, simply, a wonderful book.” — Sara Dowse, Vancouver Sun
Mind Games
“Deverell is firing on all cylinders.” — Winnipeg Free Press
April Fool
“A master storyteller with a wonderful sense of humour . . . one hell of a ride.” — Quill & Quire
Whipped
“[A] smart, funny, and cleverly plotted series.” — Toronto Star
Kill All the Judges
“Compelling. . . . For all its seemingly lighthearted humour, this is a work of great depth and complexity.” — Globe and Mail
Snow Job
“Fine writing and tongue-in-cheek delivery with acid shots at our political circus, and so close to reality that it seems even funnier.” — Hamilton Spectator
I’ll See You in My Dreams
“[Beauchamp is] endearingly complex, fallible, and fascinating.” — Publishers Weekly
Sing a Worried Song
“[Deverell] may be the most convincing of all writers of courtroom stories, way up there just beyond the lofty plateau occupied by such classic courtroom dramatists as Scott Turow and John Lescroart.” — Toronto Star
Stung
“William Deverell returns with another Arthur Beauchamp legal thriller: Timely! Nail-biting courtroom finish!” — Margaret Atwood


Also by William Deverell
Fiction Needles High Crimes Mecca The Dance of Shiva Platinum Blues Mindfield Kill All the Lawyers Street Legal: The Betrayal Trial of Passion Slander The Laughing Falcon Mind Games April Fool Whipped Kill All the Judges Snow Job I’ll See You in My Dreams Sing a Worried Song Stung
Non-Fiction A Life on Trial


Dedication
To the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association


Chapter One
Dr. Allison Epstein
Psychiatrist
Clinical Notes
Date of Interview: Monday, July 21, 2003.
Subject: Timothy Jason Dare. Age 35; date of birth June 7, 1968;
height 6’1”; weight 171 lb.
The patient is physically healthy, athletic in fact — he arrived on a bicycle and climbed five flights of stairs. He presented as rumpled in appearance but reasonably clean-shaven; unruly auburn hair falling below his shoulders; straight, attenuated nose; penetrating, deep-set green eyes, and a generally gaunt and haggard expression.
At the beginning he was pleasant, even engaging, though somewhat combative. 1 But as the session progressed he grew increasingly anxious, reciting several troubling stressors, the combined impact of which led him to my door. Later, I observed that occasionally instead of responding to a question, he wandered off into a world of his own.
Central to the patient’s emotional deterioration is the recent failure of a relationship with Sally Pascoe, 34, a visual artist. The patient grew up with her in the same Vancouver neighbourhood, and they’ve lived together for the last twelve years. Other major stressors include “stalking” by an alleged psychopathic murderer and “getting kicked in the scrotum” by the professional association of which we are both members, the psychiatric division of the College of Physicians.
He is clearly suffering a stress disorder. This condition has been exacerbated by the sporadic occurrence of claustrophobic dread, an episode of which I witnessed as I accompanied him to the elevator. He hesitated there, then took the stairs.
Selections from the transcript follow, with my notations.
I’m told you’re a good old-fashioned Freudian.
Does that seem démodé , Dr. Dare? I try to use an array of tools.
He did some spectacular work with wealthy Viennese women suffering hysterical — or perhaps I should use the current newspeak, histrionic personality disorders, but . . . Never mind. Evelyn Mendel says you have an exceptional talent. McGill?
Yes, I just left a practice in Montreal.
What brought you to Vancouver?
My husband was offered a position.
You don’t wear a ring.
That’s right.
You kept your name?
So did he. Richard Spencer.
Assertive, independent, yet prepared to accommodate the aspirations of her goal-oriented partner.
I was warned about this .
Yes, that’s fairly put, I suppose . . . what do you prefer . . . Timothy? Tim?
What do you prefer?
Whatever you’re comfortable with.
How about you? Allison? Allie?
I’m Allis to my friends. Which is what I hope we’ll be after we stop sparring like newly met children in a schoolyard.
He took that the right way — he is capable of laughter.
I’m Tim to my friends. You’ll like Vancouver when it stops raining. Do you have kids?
I’m afraid not.
You’re working at it.
Very quick to pick up nuances. His reputation in that regard was well demonstrated here.
What does he do? Your husband.
Richard is a partner in a media consulting firm, Spencer, Lang, and Associates. They do some polling, public relations. But let me ask — why me? I know Dr. Mendel gave you my name, but what kind of therapist were you looking for?
She said you did dreams. Mine are trying to tell I me something. She also said you were smart and attractive.
Attractive?
I’m just repeating. Does that make me sexist?
Probably.
He laughed once more, genuinely. In his favour he doesn’t seem one to put on a false face.
I’ve been in the business only four years . . .
That’s good. Fresh approach. I’ve been seeking someone who doesn’t know me. Someone new in town. Not set in her ways.
Or maybe someone who doesn’t feel offended by your published critiques of what you call the psychiatry industry?
That was unprofessional of me, but I had allowed him to get under my skin.
I’m impressed — you’ve done some homework. You a strong feminist?
Tim, might I be allowed to ask some of the questions? We only have an hour today . . .
I was just wondering about your Freudianness. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t support the industry that specializes in debunking him, he remains the master, but those Viennese women were victims of an age when gender oppression was the norm. He failed to factor that in . . . Sorry, I suppose I’m procrastinating.
His cross-examination of me, and his brief rambles, seemed an indicator not merely of discomfort but of a slightly manic state. He finally took to the couch, though I continued to sense resistance as he kept his arms folded.
I’ve always thought this configuration too distancing. I prefer to see my patients. You read as much by watching as listening, even if it’s only the play of silence on a face. I grant that your methodology is more orthodox — the mere presence of the therapist distracts the patient from the free flow of imagery.
You through?
Sorry.
After he finally allowed me to take some of his history, another tussle followed when I attempted to explore the nature of his current concerns.
Jesus, this is hard. Okay, crisis number one: my partner for life — or so I assumed — broke up with me ten days ago. I’m having a hell of a problem coping.
What’s number two?
A psychopathic killer is stalking me.
Uh . . . Well, that’s a big item.
Yeah, and another secretary quit on me, and my office is chaos, and I’ve been threatened with being purged from the medical ranks. But the biggest item is getting kicked out of Sally’s life like a bad habit.
Okay, sure, but . . . sometimes dramatic but less relevant material clogs the circuits. I’d like to assess the seriousness of this stalking threat.
I s