Page 62 of Suspicious

“I really appreciate that…truly.”Sitting back, I smile and raise my voice. “If you’re happy to go ahead, I will sign you up, then come back again to sign you up to the app,” I state.

Haven rolls her eyes, turning to Valerie. “You really think this will help me, Val?” she asks.

Valerie places her hand on Haven’s shoulder. “Yeah, Tammy-Lynn. If anyone needs this, you do.”

Haven snorts out a laugh and throws her handcuffed hands in the air. “All right, coach. Put me in. But if you turn me into some latte-sipping hippy who sages her house when I get out of here, so help me, God!”

Chuckling, I tilt my head. “Not that kind of app, Tammy-Lynn. But if we can help calm your mind while working on your inner health, too, then that can only be a good thing, right?”

Haven shrugs. “Yeah… maybe. Can I go back to my cell? Ihave a sudden urge to craft a shiv,” she calls out, a slight smirk on her face as she stands abruptly, and the guard rushes over to grab her aggressively.

“Keep your head down in there, Tammy-Lynn,” I state as she is escorted back toward the exit.

She bursts out laughing, her body bucking and fighting against the guard. “Not my style, sunshine,” she yells as the buzzer sounds, the door opens, and he shoves her through.

Valerie chuckles under her breath, turning back to face me. “She’s going to do just fine in here. You can go back and tell Alpha that he has absolutelynothingto worry about. And now that they have switched out my usual cellmate and put her in with me, I can keep my eye on her all the time. Wewillfigure this out, Bea. I promise.”

“Thanks, Val. And again, I am so, so sorry about the breach with—”

“Shh, don’t say anymore. And I know you’re sorry, honey. But whatever this is, it’s bigger than you. Haven and I will try to figure it out, and in the meantime, you and Loki keep digging into the technical side of things. No matter who gets to the evidence first, wewillget there. Itrulybelieve that.”

Exhaling a heavy breath, I bite on my bottom lip. “I sure hope so, Val. Or all the work I have put into this app will be for nothing. Let alone the trouble I am going to be in when news of the breach breaks.”

“Head back to the clubhouse. That’s all you can do for now. Try to take it easy if you can.”

Weakly smiling, I nod. “Thank you again for helping me with this. You really didn’t have to put yourself on the line like this.”

She chuckles. “Hey, I’m in here for the rest of my life. I need a little bit of excitement. Plus, you may not realize this, Bea, but your appactuallyworks, especially for women in a place like this...” my heart races faster hearing that, and my smilebrightens my face while she continues, “… it’s helped me more than you couldeverknow. The fact they have daily sessions with a teacher to walk us through how to use it. That we can go into this one safe place in the prison for an hour a day just to take time out of this fucking hellhole, and go through the programs on the app… it’s life-changing.” I wish I could reach across the table and hug her. But I know I can’t. Nevertheless, her kind words are making my eyes glisten. “The work you have put into this, Bea, the fact you have made it possible for inmates to have a sanctuary to go so they can have time to work on themselves mentally and physically… well, I don’t want to be pulling out the Mother Teresa card, but, if the nun habit fits?”

I let out a small laugh as she continues, “You need to give yourself more credit for what you have accomplished here with these women. So, yeah… I don’t want whoever is doing this to ruin something that issofucking good forsomany people. You’ve created a great thing, Bea. You should be proud of yourself.”

My bottom lip begins to tremble as I fight back my tears. I knew the app was good. I knew it had the potential to do good.Real goodfor people who need it. I just had no proof it was working.

Until now.

And it feels extremely fucking good.

“I wish I could hug you right now. You have made my absolute day.”

Valerie smiles wide. “I’m giving you the praise you deserve, Bea. Now I better get back out there and stop whatever chaos Haven has inevitably gotten herself into.”

Snorting, I stand at the same time as Valerie. “I’ll see you again soon. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call.” I turn to leave, but she stops me.

“Bea?”

I spin back to face her. “Yeah?”

“Can you say hi to Noah… sorry, Montana, for me? Tell him I’m always thinking of him.”

“Of course. He’ll be pissed I got to come and see you.”

She forces a slight smile. “Is he doing okay?”

“I haven’t been at the clubhouse for a long time, but from what I have seen, he’s happy.Really happy.He has his Old Lady, Rhyan, and he’s doing well as a newly patched member. Everyone loves him, Val. He’s found his home.”

Valerie closes her eyes, the biggest smile crossing her face. “Thank God,” she whispers. Her eyes slowly open again, and they’re full to the brim with tears. “I’ll see you next time you come in. Stay safe, Bea.” She turns and walks to the exit, where the guard waits for her.

I find myself feeling sad for this woman. She has to spend the rest of her life in this god-awful place, all because she protected her young son from a man who was going to kill them both.

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