"Right," Rick said, softly, and closed the door as she hurried back to her office. He went over and knelt next to the body. "Sorry, doc," he said, quietly, "but you never asked me if the voices ever hurt anyone." He shook his head. "I tried to steer you away from talking about them, but you just had to keep pressing me, didn't you? Actually, you're the third doctor I've had in five years, and every one of them kept on at me about the voices, until they were forced to protect themselves."

Rick stood up and looked at his watch. "Damn, I've got to get back and write my review for the next issue." As he moved toward the door, he added, "I'd wait around for the cops and all, but what could I tell them?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Later dude," he said, then opened the door and walked away, followed as always by those barely audible, soft-like whispers.

The End