Near-majority age, super-bright Derrick Wells is brought into Chesea hospital by his mother, having scribbled his naked body full of the latest of his compulsive manuscripts, ignoring what makes him tick. Tests show he has a brain condition likely to end his sanity if not his life, but he refuses surgery, fearing his creativity and hence artistic personality may be fatally affected. Hooten convinces Judge Beverly Natheson, informally in line for Supreme Court, to be surgically examined by Tyler, only to diagnose her with syphilis, and have a fit of rage when that gets out.*
—KGF Vissers