"Oh?" Now that required some serious thought. Dexter did, after all, want Max to get better, and if Landel's wasn't helping him than obviously he needed to be moved to some place that would. The problem with that, of course, was that Madame's cooperation would be required to move Max anywhere, and somehow Dexter doubted she would very open to the idea.

"You haven't been here that long..." Dexter said slowly, trying to untangle the problem in his head as he spoke. "And I doubt you've been cooperating with the staff." Even when sane, Max never cooperated with anyone if he could get away with it, and Dexter saw no reason why insanity would change that. "The doctors here are trying to help you," he reminded Max, "but you have to want to get better before you'll make any progress."

"If Mr. Stern doesn't try to press charges after his release, then no doubt his girlfriend will," Dexter said firmly, brooking no argument. "It doesn't matter whether you did it on purpose, sir; what you did to him was still very much illegal, and Madame's ability to pay off the police isn't infinite." He was getting very tired of repeating himself. "That's why it's so important that you avoid him!"