Page 347 of Rage

“I’m so sorry, my dear. We cannot touch the glass,” I cradled Alania as she sobbed in my arms.

“Please, Doctor, please. You have to help her, please…” She sobbed relentlessly into my shoulder as Tara watched, her own eyes became glassy with tears.

“Alaina, I love you,” Tara confessed. “I don’t feel a damn thing except the love I have for you. It’s always been there since we met, I just…I didn’t know what it was. I love you, baby girl. Please know that,” Tara sniffled, burying her face in her hands.

“Tara, I love you too. So much. I got sober for you. My life is for you.”

Pressing a button on my phone that I had rigged this morning to disable the audio on the surveillance cameras, I released Alaina from my arms.

“Tara, you listen to me, my dear. They cannot hear us, but it will only last thirty seconds. I know you have an eidetic memory, so listen closely. Tomorrow at noon, you are being brought to a physician’s office for a physical. Once you are there, you are to locate the handcuff key I will leave in the doctor’s drawer in their office; top right. You will be handcuffed to a wheelchair, so you will need to figure that out.”

Tara stared at me, studying my every word, imprinting it to her memory.

“Once you exit the rear of the building, there will be a white Ford Focus with an Alabama license plate; the keys will be in the ignition and ready. There is an address written on a card that will be in the center console with an envelope of cash. You will go to this location, tell no one, and meet me there. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Doctor.” Tara said with purpose.

“Is everything okay here, Doctor? We lost the signal on the cameras for a moment.” The warden came running in just as we finished our conversation. Alaina was in a stunned silence, and I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“Everything is fine, warden. Tara here does not feel the need to cooperate with me today, so I will take my leave. I will not press her if she is not ready. Good day, Tara.”

Guiding Alaina out of the hall with me, the heavy metal door locked behind us, leaving Tara in her cell alone.

“I apologize, Doctor, it’s been the same with us regarding Miss Wilde,” the warden shrugged, opening the front door of his facility for Alaina and I.

“It’s quite alright, it takes time to build trust. I will return soon, very soon.”

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