Chanhee was running late. He hesitated at the edge of the road, glancing to the left to check for oncoming cars. Despite the fact he was only twenty feet away from a pedestrian crossing, he chose to dodge his way across the road and onto the footpath on the other side. He hurried on, crossing his arms protectively in front of his torso as an icy gust of wind engulfed him.
Court had run unusually late today much to Chanhee's annoyance. He had specifically made plans for this afternoon and now they were thrown into disarray. He shivered again as another gust of wind swept past him and whipped a piece of litter into his face. He brushed the chocolate wrapper aside and heaved a sigh of relief as he spotted the familiar siren that graced the Starbucks logo. He stepped inside the store and scanned the room as the store's heating began to defrost him.
Dr. Markman had only been waiting for Chanhee for just over five minutes. She had been running late herself and had only just managed to settle down into a booth in the overcrowded coffee shop. She swept her hair up into a messy ponytail and jumped slightly as someone brushed against her table, startling her. She shot a wary look at the young man as he continued carelessly on his way and as she did she could've sworn she'd seen the exact same man just ten minutes ago at the bank. She frowned slightly as she realised that the young man who had just bumped her table was indeed the same young man who had been lined up behind her as she deposited a cheque into her account. In fact, he was the same young man who had been seated at the table next to her at the seafood restaurant she had eaten at yesterday with her husband.
Markman suddenly wondered if this silent young man with the shaved head and the strong, foreign features was following her. She watched him for a moment as he sat alone at another table in the crowded coffee shop before sitting back and laughing to herself as she realised how paranoid she had obviously become. She needed a vacation. Markman knew she needed to get away from everything before her paranoia got any worse.
The feeling had started just over a year ago, the very moment one of her former patients handed her a piece of paper about half the size of a playing card. It was only a very mild feeling but sometimes Markman would shiver for no reason as though someone with dishonourable intentions was watching her.
"Hey, Doc," Chanhee greeted Markman energetically and sat down opposite her in the booth. "Sorry I'm late."
Markman waved the apology aside, not wishing to mention she had not been waiting long herself due to the fact she had purposely taken a different, longer route into the city this afternoon purely because she had thought the older man with the shaved head in the car behind her was following her and she needed to lose him amongst the traffic.
"How are you, Chanhee?" Markman asked, a high level of concern apparent in her voice.
Chanhee shrugged and nodded. "Good," he said.
Dr. Markman nodded herself. "That's good," she said encouragingly. "I haven't seen you in a while."
Chanhee felt guilty at what was meant to be an offhand comment. There was a very good reason why Markman had not seen him in a while. He had been purposely avoiding her at every given opportunity since the funeral. He had been discharged from Bluestone on the same day and since then he had used every single possible excuse available to avoid having to tell explain to her why he was doing what he was doing.
"How's court going?" Markman continued her questioning, unaware of Chanhee's guilt over her previous comment.
Chanhee swallowed uncomfortably. "Okay," he said indifferently, not willing to admit how petrified he was of his upcoming need to testify. The only thing that comforted him was the fact that he was going to put two very bad men in jail. "Doc, I don't mean to be rude but I've gotta be somewhere at two," he said awkwardly and glanced at his watch. It wasn't a lie. He did genuinely need to be somewhere at two. However, he had planned the thing at two as a way to escape his coffee appointment with his former therapist. "Why did you want to see me?"
