Heritage Oaks Hospital was the kind of place that no one wanted to end up at, despite their good food, comfortable beds and friendly staff. They catered to only one clientele, the insane; and in a way that fit Patrick Jane perfectly. He hadn't talked since the call to the police yet it had been one week. The few psychiatrists who had tried to treat him found heavy resistance and so they had resolved that for now Jane just needed time. He was distant, and moved like the dead. He wandered from room to room without purpose. To someone who believed, they might say that his body was alive but that his soul had left him.
The cafeteria was large and bright, with smiling women in white wearing hairnets. The bench seats were filled with people, all with problems of one type or another. Patrick was put into the line and moved with its flow until he reached the server.
"What will it be today sweetie?" a brunette asked, but Patrick just stared, his eyes wandering slightly.
"Bit shy are you?" she inquired, suddenly a larger man with a balding head smiled and said,
"He don't talk."
"Never?" she asked, with concern in her voice.
The man shook his head, "Nope, never. He just floats around." the man stepped in front of Jane and picked up his tray full of food. The server smiled, with pity, and put on Patrick's tray a serving of mashed potato and steak strips as well as the appropriate cutlery. Jane picked up the tray and floated over to an empty bench. He absently shovelled the food into his mouth until the bell sounded to return to his room. Yet just before he slipped the knife into his palm and stood, allowing himself to be led back to his room.