"We haven't met, no," Barnaby answered. "I've likely seen him in passing, though." There were a lot of patients, yes, but they all spent enough shifts together in the same room. Of course, it came as no surprise that Petrov was slow to trust his roommate. Some of the stories floating around here were enough to put anyone on guard, even under the best of circumstances.

As much as he didn't feel like eating, Barnaby brought a bite of waffles to his mouth. The last thing he wanted to do was draw extra attention from patients and nurses alike.

"At any rate, I'm pleased to see that you're unharmed," he added. The farther they could keep the judge away from the terrors of the institute, the better off they would be. He didn't particularly relish in the idea of having another load on their backs while he and his partner searched for an escape route.