Chapter 10 - The Price of Speaking
Rhea didn't come back from the captain's office that night. By breakfast, her name had been taken off the yard roster. Brandi watched me search the tables, then pushed a plastic spoon toward me.
“Stop looking for her,” she said. “People will notice.”
“People already notice.”
“Not like this.” She lowered her voice. “Colson told me to say she confessed to making threats. You understand? If anyone asks, I heard her.”
“Are you going to lie?”
Brandi stared at the spoon. “My sister's appointment is Friday. They promised to bring her here.”
“What if they don't?”
“Then I did something ugly for nothing.”
I didn't try to forgive her. That wasn't mine to hand out. But I asked a question nobody had asked Brandi in a long time.
“What's your sister's name?”
“Emma.”
“Then I hope Emma gets to see you. And I hope you tell the truth anyway.”
That afternoon I met Leah through the visiting glass. She looked more tired than I felt.
“I have the corridor video,” she said. “The camera shows you pushing the guard after he grabbed your phone and struck your shoulder. The prosecutor has agreed to review it.”
“What about Thomas?”
“A contractor's van registered to Harrow Medical entered Blackwater at 10:34 p.m. on June sixth. The official departure log lists only supplies. No passengers.”
“Was there a driver?”
“His name was Daniel Sykes. He quit two weeks later.”
“I think they took my father to Cedar House.”
Leah's pen stopped. “How did you hear about that place?”
“A transfer form.”
“Do not try to go there. I am asking a state inspector to preserve records right now.”
Behind the glass, an officer signaled that our time was nearly up.
Leah leaned closer. “Nina, one more thing. The package with your father's handwriting contained a second file I didn't tell you about over the phone. It's an audio recording.”
May you like
My breath caught. “Is he on it?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “And the last thing he says is your name.”
