Chapter 6 - No One Sleeps Alone
At lights-out, Lucie's cell door opened without warning.
"New housing assignment," an officer said. "Move back."
Valérie walked in carrying a folded blanket. Her face was swollen from the yard fight. She inspected the room, then chose the lower bunk as though the decision had already been made.
"You set this up?" Lucie demanded.
"If I could set things up, would I be sleeping beside you?"
The lock clicked shut. Neither woman spoke until the footsteps faded.
"Mercer knows you have P17," Valérie said.
"It isn't in my cell."
"Good. Because he's going to send somebody in here before morning. He wants witnesses who saw you attack me again."
"Why are you warning me?"
Valérie looked at the small scar below Lucie's wrist tattoo. "Thomas once told me that mark meant somebody would finish the work, even if he couldn't. I thought he was joking."
Lucie sat on the edge of the bed. "You told the people who killed him where to find him."
"I gave them an address. I didn't know they were going to burn the building."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I expect you to survive long enough to prove I'm lying."
Metal scraped outside the door. Valérie's expression changed. She stood and whispered, "Behind me."
The door swung open. Two women rushed through, their faces covered with torn pillowcases. One carried a sharpened toothbrush. Lucie shoved the first woman into the wall. Valérie caught the second by the shoulders, taking a cut across her forearm before pinning her against the bunk.
"Stop!" Lucie shouted. "We don't want a fight."
The attacker froze when Raines appeared. His face hardened as he saw the makeshift weapon.
"Who sent you?" he demanded.
The woman spat blood onto the floor. "You think he sends invitations?"
Raines marched them out. Valérie tore cloth from her blanket and pressed it against her arm.
May you like
Lucie knelt to help. Under Valérie's sleeve, she saw an old photograph taped to her skin: a smiling teenage boy.
"My son," Valérie said. "Mercer knows where he lives, too."
