Page 64 of Twist Me

“Before I knew her…why, cop?”

“Because…” I sighed. “I need to know the patients she was assigned to the day she died. It may help narrow down her killer.”

He raised a brow at that. “Your paperwork shows you thatI’mher killer.”

“And I know that’s not true, Pharaoh.” I looked him in the eye. “You loved her and your daughter, Xenia. It’s why you called the police when you found her dead, to save your daughter from seeing her and being involved. You called the police to turnyourself in for a crime you didn’t commit and hid your toddler at your neighbor’s, telling them to call your sister.”

He grabbed me by the throat and slammed me into the bookshelf. Novels and tomes began falling and crashing onto the floor. I knew eyes were on us without even glancing up.

“You think you know me? Do you think you can cast judgment on everyone here? That you can scribble in your notepads and play Nancy fucking Drew and be a hero? Well, think again.

“The world doesn’t give a shit that innocent men are convicted for crimes as long as they are told someone was punished so that others won’t be. I knew my daughter was going to grow up to be hated and abused like we were until Taliah’s family adopted us—hell, even then, we were hated and kicked around when we didn’t turn out to be the shiny toys they’d asked for. No one wanted fucked up triplets. How could they want an accused murderer’s child? I wasn’t going to let my Xeny end up in that broken fucking system growing old without knowing love, even if I couldn’t be the one to give it to her.”

Tears fell from his eyes, and a piece of my heart broke as they did. Pharaoh sacrificed himself so that his daughter would be free.

“I knew my brother was an innocent man, unlike you. And I’d been trying to get us both out ever since, but then Judas magically ended up here, too, so I stayed. Besides, we’re better off together.”

“You‘re innocent! You could have a life with Xen—” He cut off my air supply, lifting me off the ground and growling.

“Don’t say my daughter’s name again. Your justice system will only get her killed. Leave her alone. And my brothers.”

With that, he let go of me, and I dropped to the floor.

Emmy ran toward me, helping me up from the book-littered ground. “Oh, what a brute. I’m so sorry, Zelle. I didn‘t know he‘d go all hulk man on your ass!”

I shook my head. “No, I deserved it. I got my answers. Because you left me, you’re going to distract the admin so I can sneak in to get the files on Ariah Morgan. There’s something more. I just know it.”

“Ugh, fine.” She groaned and crossed her arms. “But only because I’m bored, and I love to annoy people.”

The admin officewas stuffy and cold. It smelled of old paper and mothballs. The nasally-sounding receptionist behind the desk was going to be loads of fun for Emmy as I squeezed behind a panel near the far end of the wall. The security still wasn’t operational. Apparently, one of the patients here did one hell of a hacking job on their computer systems.

Scooting through the old dusty filing cabinets, I skimmed my fingers down to six years ago until I reached the letter M.

“Malder, Mead, Mills, Mortiker, Morgan…Aha!”

I knew I’d been too loud once Emmy gave me a stern look, so I covered my mouth and smiled. Hiding behind the cabinet, I opened up the old coffee-stained yellow folder.

Uh, there were a couple of folders from seven years ago, too.

Patient Notes For Doctor Ariah Morgan, September 18th, 2017.

‘Patient 432 is more antsy than usual. He is exhibiting signs of anxiety, which does not fit his profile. He spoke today of a past of secrets. Said he couldn’t risk saying anything for the sake of my safety.’

Patient Notes For Doctor Ariah Morgan, October 3rd, 2017.

‘We spoke of his niece turning one in a few weeks. He said he was so happy for his brother and hoped to find someone worth it someday. I shared his joy and tried again to coax the information of this secret past, to which he said, ‘Just be careful, Ariah. I have a bad feeling because some ghosts never die. I am unsure what this ghost could mean, but I have scheduled to discuss this further.’

Patient Notes For Doctor Ariah Morgan, August 24th, 2018.

‘I have seen significant progress in Masters over this past year, and it was my recommendation that he could be rehabilitated back into society and may not be deemed as criminally insane. More information and sessions are required. My past analysis still begs the question: Did he commit the accused crime of murder in the first degree, or was he covering up something bigger?’

Patient Notes For Doctor Ariah Morgan, September 6th, 2018.

‘In my personal opinion, I am worried something or someone was after my patient, and I intend to protect him.’

Patient Notes For Doctor Ariah Morgan, September 23rd, 2018.

‘My Final Evaluation of patient 432. Goliath Masters is being framed and isnotcriminally insane. He should be released immediately from Hospital Twelve and be given protective custody from one known as The Reaper.’

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