Page 27 of The System

“I think Kieran’s perfectly capable of seeing through anything I’d try to throw at her,” Carina added. “And I have no intention of talking about the case. I am done working for the day.”

“Lawyers are never done working,” he argued.

“Well, this one is… for today,” she replied. “Kieran, ready to go?”

“Sure. Diego, text me to tell me how it went. I know you can’t tell me specifics, but just how she was or if she needs anything. There’s a commissary here, right? I should put money in it for her. Can I do that?”

“You can,” he said. “But let me talk to her first. I’ll call you later.”

“Text is fine,” Kieran replied.

“You can add to her account online, if you want, but you can do it here, too. There’s a desk. It’s on the way out, if you want me to walk you by,” Carina suggested.

“Yeah, that would be great.”

“I’ll call you later,” Diego stated.

“Okay,” Kieran said, sounding like she’d just given in.

While Kieran was turning in her visitor’s badge, Carina waited for her by the door that led to another hallway. Then, Kieran joined her, and they walked down and turned left without saying a word.

“How much do I put in her account?” Kieran asked when they approached the desk.

“As much or as little as you want, but maybe start with fifty dollars. That’ll get her through the week and set up in her cell, at least. You don’t want her to have too much. People will find out, and if they want, they’ll try to get it from her, so fifty to a hundred is pretty good.”

Kieran nodded, handed her card to the woman behind the counter, told her Marin’s name, and asked her to put one hundred dollars on her commissary account. Carina smiled because Kieran hadn’t looked like their first meeting had gone well when she’d emerged from the visitor’s room, but she was still giving Marin money. That said something about the woman. Once Kieran had her card back and in her wallet, they walked down another hall to the outer door and into the parking lot.

“So, I can take you home, if you want, but I was also serious about that drink, if you’re interested.”

“Shit. You were going to get a drink, and I’m getting in your way. Let me just order a shared-ride car so you can go. Will they pick me up from the jail, you think?” Kieran pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket.

“I’m sure they would, but I also don’t mind dropping you off first. Or, you can join me. I promise that I won’t ask about the case. And if you want to talk about what just happened in there, it’ll be totally off-the-record.”

“You’re not a reporter.”

“Okay. I’ll rephrase, counselor,” she teased. “Nothing you say tonight will be used against you or your sister in a court of law. Better?”

“You don’t even know me. Why are you being so nice to me?”

“I don’t know,” Carina replied honestly and shrugged a shoulder in the process. “I suppose it’s because I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now. I also saw your face when you left that room, so I’m guessing it didn’t go how you’d hoped it would. I thought you might need someone to talk to. No offense to Diego, but I didn’t think you wanted that person to be him.”

Kieran shook her head then and said, “No, I don’t. Where’d you park?”

“Am I taking you home?” Carina checked.

“No, I could really use a drink.”

Carina nodded with a smile and pointed toward her car. They walked in silence again, and the drive wasn’t long. In about only ten minutes, they arrived at Jessa’s bar. When they walked inside, she didn’t sit at her usual booth, which was part of her ritual with Jessa. Carina wasn’t here for sex tonight, just a drink, and they served her favorite wine. She sat down, and Kieran moved into the booth across from her. Carina nodded at the bartender she recognized, and the bartender held up two fingers. Carina shook her head and held up one finger. Then, she pointed to Kieran to indicate that she didn’t know what she wanted to order.

“What can I get for you?” the bartender asked as she approached.

“Oh, I don’t know. A beer?” Kieran said.

“Any particular kind?” the bartender asked.

“You don’t want something stronger?”

“I have a low tolerance for alcohol.”

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