Chapter 19 - Every Name in the Notebook
Mina Cross turned up four days later at a hospital in another state. She'd escaped during an earlier transport and been living under her aunt's name because she believed Varrick could still find her. The investigators reached her through a legal aid group, not through threats or a public search.
She surrendered her ledger and gave a recorded interview with counsel present. It showed payments for supposed medical beds, wages never paid to women who worked at locked facilities, and transfers approved by Bell, Fitch, Shore, and executives at Varrick's firms.
The investigation took months. Varrick was charged with crimes tied to the unlawful confinement and forced labor scheme; Fitch and Shore faced charges connected to their roles; Bell was charged over records and cover-up conduct. Each could contest the charges in court, outside Redhaven.
Brandi admitted signing the false statement about me under threats to her sister. Her testimony didn't excuse the way she'd tormented me. It did explain how the officials had used the women against one another.
Morgane gave a long interview about managing the transfer lines. She admitted she'd used fear to control other inmates. Simone's name broke her voice. Later she apologized to Gloria in front of a counselor and accepted that forgiveness might never come.
As for me, my sentence didn't disappear when the warehouse was opened. I'd entered that office unlawfully, and someone had been hurt. My lawyer sought relief but never promised I'd walk free for exposing another crime.
At a hearing reviewing my disciplinary charges, a judge ordered the false assault report set aside and directed investigators to preserve the footage records. My lawful sentence remained a separate question.
Nine months later I received a photograph through approved mail: Leah standing in a garden, face turned toward the sun. On the back she'd written, WE GOT THE NAMES BACK.
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A second envelope arrived the same day. It was from the state parole board.
My release hearing had been moved forward.
