abrightboy | (Reply)

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"That's a good question. I only..." His phone buzzed and he pulled it from his pocket, expecting it to maybe be Gil or Ainsley or Dani or his mother... the caller ID said Claremont Psychiatric. He took a deep breath, then got up from his stool at the counter.

"Excuse me," he told Raylan politely, then stepped away towards the bedroom, though it wasn't like there were walls to prevent his conversation from being overheard.

"What?" was all he said when he picked up the call. It didn't fit with Malcolm's typically polite demeanour and might give Raylan a clue. After a moment listening, he replied "I can't talk right now. I'm busy." Another pause. "No, I'm not on a date," he said with exasperation. "I'm working." A sigh. "I don't need your help. I've got it." Pause. "No." Pause. "I don't know." Pause. "I have to go." Pause. "I have to go." And he hung up, turning and walking back towards the kitchen. "Sorry about that," he told Raylan, sliding the phone back into his pocket. He got back on his stool and picked up his spoon to poke at his soup with one hand as he reached for a file with the other.