It had not been the controlled appointment that Eve had planned, but at least it was over. Eve was ready to get back in her car and get the hell away from this room and the revelations that been made in it over the past hour. Her mind was blank and Eve knew what that meant, it was the quiet before the storm. Her brain was merely doing its preliminary processing before the rush of true realisation would wash over her. It was simply a matter of time, and Eve would rather be in the safety of her own space when reality hit. These days 'her own space' was more or less limited to her office and her car. It would have to do. She had a court appointment in a couple of hours time too, so time to feel overwhelmed was limited.

She leaned back in her chair and tried to keep her expression neutral as she watched Oksana stand from the seat opposite and cast Eve a final look before exiting through the door that Bill held open for her.

"Dr Polastri, have you got to shoot straight off?" Bill asked quietly, hovering in the doorway.

Eve looked up at him and felt a trickle of panic that she hoped didn't show in her face.

"Not right away. What's up?" She asked, her voice a higher pitch than usual. And why did she ask that? Bill wasn't about to say anything at all in front of Oksana, who Eve knew was just out of sight, but definitely listening.

"Just… Just sit tight there while I take Astankova back and then maybe we can grab a coffee? It's terrible coffee but I'll throw in a KitKat?" He suggested with a smile.

"Sold." Eve agreed, nodding faintly though feeling like she would far rather slip out of here before Bill returns. She had nothing to feel guilty about, and yet…

"Great. Back in a tick." Bill said, pulling the door shut behind him and leaving Eve alone in the room.

"Why do you need to speak to Dr Polastri?" Oksana demanded as soon as Bill followed her into the corridor.

"None of your business." He replied.

"But it's about me. So it is my business." Oksana shot back.

"Not everything revolves around Oksana Astankova." Bill pointed out tiredly.

"She is my psychologist, so it must be about me." Oksana countered pointedly.

"Wrong." Bill said simply. "She's my friend. Maybe I just want a catch up." He added.

"Do you?" She prompted

"Yes. As it happens." Bill replied.

"Oh." Oksana let out. "Well, you can talk about me. Dr Polastri might want to."

"How generous of you. And why would she want to do that?" Bill intoned curiously.

"She likes me." Oksana shrugged.

"Who doesn't?" Bill asked dryly. And it was a rhetorical question, but Oksana had no time for those.

"Only fools." She said with a smile.

"Then I know a fair few fools." Bill muttered.

"What was that?" Oksana demanded.

"Nothing." Bill answered, with his best impression of Oksana's own trademark shrug. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Can I have a KitKat?" Oksana asked optimistically.

"No." Came the firm response.

Eve could feel her heartbeat. It was quicker than it needed to be, she decided. Bill probably didn't have anything important to say. She hadn't crossed any lines. They were overdue a friendly catch-up, that was all. Eve repeated that assurance to herself several times, and still her heart maintained its heightened tempo. Eve pulled off her glasses and tucked them into her bag. She flipped absent-mindedly through her notebook and considered jotting down a few notes from the previous hour.

But what would she write? That she had basically had an argument with her client? That she had called her names while her client pointed out that Eve probably had some kind of senseless crush on her. No. It would certainly not be a good idea to have that in writing anywhere. Eve also thanked her lack of sleep and emotional confusion for having forgotten to record her session with Oksana. No record at all of this particular day was fine by Eve.

Oksana. Who now knew her name. Who suspected Eve was jealous of her sexual conquests. Who didn't like the idea of Eve and Bill together. Eve did have to fend off a laugh at that one. The idea of herself and Bill having any kind of romantic relationship was frankly ludicrous. Plus, Oksana knew Eve was married. And shit. Eve knew she was married. She had been with the same man for a decade. They had a child together. She was… bored. But that was life. And sure, Niko had been particularly difficult about her job lately. Maybe that was why Eve was feeling this way about Oksana. Maybe Oksana was the distraction. Maybe Eve had confused professional interest – because Oksana was undeniably a fascinating character, and highly engaging – with something less appropriate.

No. Even Eve knew that was a cop out. If the tables were turned, if someone that Eve was working with had behaved in the same way that Eve had today then she would know exactly what emotions had caused it. And they didn't stem from the engaged concern of a certified psychologist.

Jesus Christ. Eve had months left of working with Oksana. How the fuck was she supposed to handle that? Thank-God their meetings were in the monitored environment of this bland room with its shit plastic plant, its nearby prison guards and its camera on the… Eve glanced around the ceiling of the room. There was no camera. Well. That was neither here nor there. The possibility of being surveyed was not the relevant issue. Eve was not going to fall victim to Oksana's wiles like that nurse. Eve was a woman with a meaningful career and a mostly happy home life. She was not about to throw that away on an impetuous infatuation with someone who, for all Eve knew, was only messing with her anyway. Oksana, lest Eve forget, is a fan of games after all.

The door swung open once more and Eve jumped as Bill strolled back in.

"Well," he sighed with a smile, "That's that. Coffee?"

"That'd be great." Eve breathed, standing from her seat and looping her bag over her shoulder before following Bill out into the corridor. He headed off in a direction that Eve wasn't familiar with, so she caught up and walked by his side.

"We'll have to get it from the canteen, I'm afraid. It's still crap coffee but it's marginally better than the sludge from the vending machine." He explained. Eve nodded.

"How's Keiko?" Eve asked as Bill nodded to a guard who let them through a door and into a wider corridor.

"She's good. She's away at the moment. Taken the baby to her mother's for some family gathering or another. I had to work, thankfully, because a baby on a plane? Yikes." He finished and gave Eve a knowing look.

"Oh God. Don't remind me. We took Leo to visit Niko's family when he was a few months old. Absolute hell." Eve laughed in agreement.

"Kids." Bill murmured, "They're lucky we love them, right?"

Eve nodded.

Bill pushed a door open and led the pair of them into a large room with long metal tables accompanied by metal benches, all screwed down to the floor. There were a few prisoners milling about, some were seated at the end of a table chatting animatedly and playing some kind of word game. Eve thought, not for the first time, how boring life in prison must be. She wondered how Oksana coped with it. She couldn't quite picture the other woman with friends here.

There were a few more prisoners queuing at the canteen counter with trays, and Bill joined the end of the queue with Eve by his side.

"It's a large prison, so they eat in shifts. Means it's almost always mealtime for somebody." Bill explained before Eve could ask why people seemed to be already having lunch.

Eve just nodded.

"And how is young Leo?" Bill asked, returning to their previous conversation. "Still giving you absolute hell? Or does it get easier? Please tell me it gets easier." He finished and put his hands together in a begging position.

Eve laughed.

"He's good. It gets easier, I promise. Although, I guess you should ask Niko really. I don't do much of the day-to-day, you know, parenting stuff." Eve trailed off.

"Well, we're the lucky ones." Bill replied with a wink. "You really never thought of giving it all up when you had him?" he asked, shuffling forward in the queue.

"Jesus, no." Eve replied immediately. "I'd go mad." She added.

Bill chuckled.

"Can't have a mad psychologist." He tutted.

They finally reached the counter and were faced by a prisoner waiting to serve them. She was slight with dark her and a neat, pointed, face.

"Ah, Nadia," Bill said with a smile. "Not working in the library today?" He asked conversationally.

"Later. I swapped my shift for this afternoon." She answered quietly and cast a measured look at Eve who smiled pleasantly in response.

"Very good." Bill nodded, "Two coffees please."

Nadia bowed her head slightly and turned her back on Bill and Eve to prepare their drinks. Eve was aware of the guard standing behind the counter as well, keeping an eye on proceedings. A moment later Nadia turned back around and placed two coffee cups, the flimsy cardboard variety, in front of Bill.

"Thank-you, Nadia." He said, still smiling warmly at her, and picked up the coffees.

"Is Oksana back from her appointment?" Nadia rushed out just before Bill turned to leave.

Eve felt her eyes lock onto this other woman immediately. Bill paused for a moment, as though trying to decide whether to answer or not.

"She is, yes. She's back in her cell, so I would imagine she is reading. I daresay you'll see her later." Bill assured the inmate.

"Thank-you, Mr Pargrave." Nadia let out, sounding almost relieved. "I am meeting her in the library later."

"Well. That's nice." Bill said, as though he wasn't quite sure why Nadia had told him that. Though Nadia herself seemed quite excited about the prospect.

Eve was still considering the woman before her. A friend of Oksana's perhaps? She seemed rather meek and a bit too eager. That would surely be irritating to Oksana. So, what? Another conquest? Was this woman Oksana's type? Did Oksana have a type?

"Ready, Dr Polastri?" Bill asked, snapping Eve from her thoughts and looking at her in confusion.

"Oh. Uh, sure." Eve replied and trailed after Bill once more.

Coffees in hand, they reached Bill's office where he pulled out a chair for Eve before rounding his desk and dropping into his own desk chair. He wheeled it forward slightly, pulled open a drawer and rustled around for a moment before producing two KitKats.

"Don't tell Keiko." He same with a grin as he passed a KitKat to Eve.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Eve promised.

Bill unwrapped his KitKat and took a large bite.

"So, Eve," he started, his voice mildly muffled by chocolate. "Is everything alright?"

Eve looked startled.

"Of course. Everything's fine. Should it… not be?" She asked, confused. Her heartbeat was upping its tempo again.

"That's good, that's good. I just wondered, you know, because last night on the phone, you seemed a bit… abrupt?" He suggested.

A cold flood of anxiety seeped down Eve's spine. God, she basically hung up on Bill the night before and she hadn't even given it a second thought. How had she got this far without realising her behaviour surrounding all things Oksana was out of whack?

"Oh!" Eve gasped with a smile, "No. Bill! I'm so sorry, I was in the car and then Leo came home. He was looking upset so I ended the call quickly. God, that was rude. I'm so sorry!" She rushed.

Eve was thinking on her feet. That sounded believable, right?

Bill held up his hands as though in surrender.

"No need to apologise," he said calmly, "I get it. Kids have the worst timing. I'm glad it was nothing else though." He added, his voice was warm but his eyes remained carefully on Eve.

"He lost at table tennis," Eve said with a roll of her eyes. "You would have thought someone ran over the cat."

Bill laughed.

"And how are you getting on with Astankova?" He asked, taking a generous gulp of coffee. Eve followed suit, and fought the urge to grimace when she tasted it.

"Jesus. And this is the better coffee?" She asked.

"Afraid so." Bill replied, "I'd say you get used to it, but… you don't."

"Not surprised." Eve muttered. She was avoiding the question, and she knew it. Bill probably knew it too.

"So?" he prompted, "Astankova?"

Eve took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. She could get through this. Bill didn't need to see how weird she was currently feeling about the whole situation.

"Well, she's certainly unique." Eve replied slowly.

"That's being very diplomatic, Dr Polastri. I'd say she's a little shit, who thrives on making our lives more difficult than they need to be." Bill said with a smirk.

Eve laughed, she couldn't help it.

"That too." She agreed. "She's got an attitude alright, but she's also… amusing. You know? She can be very funny." Eve said with a smile.

"I would agree with that." Bill nodded. "Sometimes it's easy to forget she chopped off her stepfather's knob and chucked it in a frying pan while he bled to death on the kitchen floor."

Eve choked on her second misguided mouthful of coffee.

"Yes." She croaked. "She, uh. She did do that."

Because fuck. Yeah. That was Oksana's crime. Spelled out in plain English. That was what Oksana had done.

"Although maybe 'chopped off' isn't quite right," Bill continued, "She used a bread knife, so it was probably more of a repeated slicing motion. Sort of carving."

"I guess that would be accurate." Eve replied hollowly, feeling bile rise in her throat at that particular image.

"She said at the time she had no intention of actually cooking his penis. So I imagine the frying pan was merely symbolic." Bill added nonchalantly, "She did season it though. There's that sense of humour again." He finished with a shake of his head.

Eve no longer wanted her KitKat. She had read the police report, she knew all this. Why was Bill telling her again? Was she meant to laugh? Surely not. She didn't feel like laughing. Eve took another swig of vile coffee.

"She's complex, for sure." She tried.

"Don't let her pull you in, Eve." Bill said, his tone changing as he leaned forward across the table. "She can be charismatic and charming and I'm sure she's a psychologist's wet dream."

Eve pulled a face at that analogy.

"But she's here for a reason. You only have to assess her readiness to leave." Bill added earnestly.

Was he kidding? Did he think Eve was an idiot? Was Eve an idiot?

"And that is exactly what I am doing." Eve replied coldly. "I was going to ask you a few questions about her record while she's been here, in fact," Eve said with raised eyebrows.

It was a lie. She had thought of asking no such thing. Though she definitely should have done.

"But maybe you can just give me her prison file to read instead?" She asked firmly.

Bill sighed.

"Eve. I am not questioning you, I'm just warning you. Especially after the nurse…"

Eve barked out a laugh.

"I am not going to fall into bed with Oksana Astankova!" She let out, "Come on Bill, you're joking right? I am married. I have a child. You know me…"

Bill considered Eve for a moment and then deflated like a leftover party balloon.

"God. You're right. I'm sorry Eve. I know you would never… I think I am just on high alert after Astankova's latest exploit. And I know you're fond of her." He said apologetically.

"She's my client, Bill." Eve said resolutely, but raising her voice involuntarily. "I am just here to do my job."

And Eve hoped to God Bill wasn't about to raise the fact that Eve had rushed to Oksana's bedside in the hospital bay. Eve was running out of steam when it came to covering up her unusual actions.

"Of course. Of course." Bill replied hurriedly, "I am sorry, that was completely unprofessional of me. I know you're the best at this. I have every faith in you."

"Thank-you." Eve responded calmly. Though she felt like the biggest hypocrite alive.

"I'll get her file emailed over to you this evening." Bill promised.

"That would be great." Eve replied with a small smile. She didn't want things to be uncomfortable between herself and Bill. "And out of interest, what do you think?" She asked curiously.

"About?" Bill prompted.

"Oksana. Do you think she would do something like that again?" Eve asked.

Bill considered the question.

"I would worry if she ended up back with her father and his… associates." Bill said slowly.

Eve must have looked confused because he continued.

"He is the head of one of the most violent crime syndicates in Russia. A gang, basically." Bill explained. "Dismembering an enemy would be nothing out of the ordinary for Anton Astankova, though I imagine he has people to do that for him."

Eve mulled that new information over.

"He is in prison though, right?" Eve asked.

Bill laughed.

"For now, yes. But the Astankovas have a certain sway when it comes to how things work over there. Apparently the other members scattered somewhat after Anton's arrest, but still, he's unlikely to serve his full sentence." He mused.

"And he will want Oksana back?" Eve asked.

Bill eyed Eve pertinently and Eve realised her mistake. She had called her 'Oksana' again.

"They were close. We have all her post translated and monitored. But so far, he hasn't reached out." Bill explained and Eve hummed.

"Maybe they're not so close now?" She suggested.

"It seems not. But who knows." Bill sighed, "Perhaps she'll tell you."

"Doubt it," Eve snorted, "She is hardly the most forthcoming. She's more into asking me personal questions than answering any of mine." She lamented.

"Ah, that's our Astankova. Has she asked you if we've slept together yet?" Bill enquired, his eyes sparkling with mirth.

"Yes! Oh my God." Eve let out, shaking her head in disbelief. "Jesus, can you imagine?"

"I'd rather not actually. No offence, Eve." Bill laughed.

"None taken. Trust me." Eve assured him, chuckling softly.

"We're good?" Bill checked, after they had both regained composure.

"We're good," Eve agreed. "But this coffee is really not." She added with a disdainful look into the murky depths of her coffee cup.

"Don't drink it then," Bill laughed.

"I won't," Eve rebuked, "I have to go anyway if I am going to be back in town in time to… No. Fuck! It's nearly 12?"

"Yes…" Bill drew out the word.

"Shit!" Eve hissed standing up abruptly. "I'm going to be so late. I have to be in court this afternoon." She rambled, spinning around and grabbing her bag. "Sorry Bill, I have to run."

"Sounds like it," Bill breathed, standing up as well. "Court, huh? You didn't let the wrong one out, did you?" He joked.

Eve rolled her eyes.

"Not my case, I'm just consulting." She clarified. "See you next week!" Eve threw over her shoulder, "Thanks for the awful coffee."

"Anytime." Bill called after her.

Eve stumbled out of Bill's office, pulling the door closed behind her. She turned abruptly into the hallway beyond and almost immediately collided with someone else.

"Oof! Sorry." Eve expelled, putting a hand out against the other person's shoulder to steady them both.

"No, my fault," came the timid response.

Eve got a look at the person she had bumped into.

"Nadia." She said blankly.

"Yes." The other woman nodded.

"Right. Uh. Sorry about that." Eve said again.

"Don't worry, Dr Polastri." Nadia said softly.

Eve nodded and carried on her hurried way down the corridor, casting one questioning look over her shoulder as she went.