It was almost enough to make me feel emotion.

Another dream. Another long-distance call on my phantom party line. No wonder i had steadfastly refused to have dreams for most of my life. So stupid; such pointless, obvious symbols. Totally uncontrollable anxiety soup, hateful, blatant nonsense.

Or was he saying, "Hi! Wanna play?" And I did. Of course I did.

I had become a perfect fake human, saying the stupid and pointless things that humans say to each other all day long.

Killing makes me feel good.

And then more quiet, silence so deep it almost drowned out the roar of the night music that pounded away in my secret self.

Detective, I don't know where the boyfriend is, really," I said. And it was true, considering tide, current, and the habits of marine scavengers. -Dexter