The Tower

"Actually, there are several matters we'd like to speak with you about," Travers said.

The doctor was silent.

"First of all, if you're one of the prison psychologists, why are you here treating kids?" Jade asked.

"Because you cannot study criminals without starting with children," Dr. Yung replied. He chuckled. "I have a private practice, Mr. Marlow. Since I spend most of my time with the prisoners, I like to treat children on the side. More optimistic." He twirled the point of a letter opener against his thumb. "Now if the details of my practice are sufficiently clarified, perhaps we could get down to business?"

"Uh… gentlemen? Maybe I could offer a different approach," Travers said. She caught Dr. Yung's eye and nodded. "Jennifer Travers."

Crossing her legs delicately, she leaned back in her chair. "Why don't we forgo the pissing contest and remember we're dealing with a serious matter here. We need your help, Doctor, before more people are killed."

Jade and Dr. Yung looked at each other sheepishly.

"Now, how familiar are you with Atlasia?" Travers asked.

"Very. I'd say he was my reason for going into psychology."

"Excuse me, Doctor?"

He laughed. "I'm sure you weren't expecting that response at all. My father treated him when he was a child. Dr. Pan Yung."

Jade nodded in recognition. "Of course. The only psychologist who got anything from him as a kid. That was your father?"

"Yes. They had excellent rapport. I was in high school when my father was treating him. Of course, I shouldn't have known that, but the case was highly publicized. I found out watching the eight o'clock news. I saw reporters forcing their way into his office."

"Can we interview your father?" Travers asked.

"He passed away," Dr. Yung and Jade said at the same time. Jade shook his head regretfully.

"I'm sorry," Travers said. The doctor nodded gracefully.

"So why was Allander the reason you went into psychology?" Jade asked.

"Well, I must confess I exaggerated slightly for dramatic purposes. But it was worth it to see the looks on your faces." He chuckled kindly. "It was during this period that I became interested in my father's work. He studied the effects of trauma on children, but I was interested in studying those who perpetrated the acts themselves. As you can see, my practice ended up being a mix of these two goals."

"Were you surprised to see Allander when he got transferred to Maingate?"

"Well, he was already there when I arrived, but I wasn't surprised." He stopped for a moment and thought. "It was a strange coincidence, but I wasn't surprised. Many of the abused become abusers. I just try to break the cycle."

"So you think that Allander's experience as a child led him to be a criminal?" Travers asked.

The doctor laughed. "I only wish it were that simple. A lot of children have endured much worse and put their lives back together." He paused, then caught himself. "Well, not worse, perhaps, but for a longer period of time. Some children are molested for months, years."

"You think Atlasia's experience is one of the worst you've ever seen?" Travers asked.

Dr. Yung rubbed his hand across his forehead. "I don't know how, exactly, I should rank them, Agent Travers. Is forced oral sex worse than a prolonged whipping?"

Travers's eyebrows raised and her mouth tightened.

"I'm sorry," Dr. Yung said. "That wasn't fair."

Travers nodded and indicated he should continue.

"My father's files were confidential; they were destroyed after he passed away. However, I do know that Allander was a very precocious youngster at the time of the incident. He remembered everything. It was a horrific molestation-the extent of what he was put through we can only imagine. We do know there was forced oral and anal penetration. Some of the… objects found in the room where he was kept…" The doctor's voice trailed off for a moment as he recalled the crime-scene photos. "Well, let's just say that what purpose they served is well beyond the reach of my imagination. When I first saw Atlasia about six years ago, he dismissed those events as insignificant."

"Insignificant?" Jade asked.

"What a psychologist does, Mr. Marlow," Dr. Yung said, tilting back in his chair and pressing his hands together, "is listen to the spaces between the words. Allander is bright enough to hold together on the surface, but he's in turmoil. I fear he never put those problems to rest."

"Evi-fuckin'-dently," Jade said.

Dr. Yung continued, ignoring Jade's interruption. "You see, people develop by grappling with their unconscious, their darker half. The shadow. It consists of all their deepest desires and fears. We're all made of good and evil, of both parts. The yin and yang." He gestured to the poster on the wall behind Jade and Travers. "Most people are a blend of both sides. But some, some people allow one side to take over."

"What do you mean 'take over'?" Travers asked.

"They are devoured," the doctor said darkly, "by their shadow."

"So Allander has a problem differentiating reality from his fantasies?" Travers asked.