Page 50 of Exposé

Chains jingled, and the scent of Jim's Old Spice filled my senses, tickling my nose.

Oh shit.

My eyes twitched close, my body doubled over as I moved behind her desk, and I threw my hand over my nose and mouth before I let out the world's quietest sneeze.

"What was that?"

"Sounded like someone sneezing down the hallway."

"Eh, maybe. Swear it came from your office."

Becca gave a tense laugh, and I frowned, curling in under her desk, waiting for the next sneeze to give up my location like a bullhorn.

"If there's someone in there, they're good at holding their pee. I haven't left all morning, and I don't know anyone who doesn't pee after coffee."

"How do you know they drink coffee?"

"Jim, come on. Who comes to the prison in the morningwithouta large cup of coffee in hand? No one. It's almost a job requirement."

"That's true.” He laughed. “I'm on my second cup already."

"Can I have some?" Kane asked, causing a smile to form on my lips, my heart buzzing as my second sneeze dissipated.

"No," they said in unison.

"You know caffeine isn't good for your AFiB, Mr. Rogers."

"It's not like I have much to live for,Mrs. Becca. And stop calling me that."

"Next time, I'll be sure I don't."

Chains rattled as he walked, my mind's eye picturing him frowning the whole way out.

"That was a close call."

I poked my head over the desk, spotting Becca's silhouette in the doorway. "I'm never speaking to you again."

"To me? Aren't I the one who should say that to you? You nearly got caught. You couldn't wait to sneeze into my lounger pillow?"

"His cologne was strong." I pulled myself up from the floor and walked towards the rugged couch. "And I don't think he had that on before."

She giggled. "I don't think he did either."

I collapsed onto the couch and rubbed my temples. "He's paranoid. Do you think I can take him seriously?"

She shrugged. "That's not my department. I just administer the drugs."

"Is he in solitary because someone tried to kill him?"

Becca plopped onto the couch beside me and nodded as she hugged the pillow to her chest. "Yeah, it was a mess. There was blood everywhere."

I frowned. "How long ago? He didn't have a scratch on him."

"Last week. And he's highly trained in Judo, Jujitsu, or something like that." She twisted in her seat and brought her knee up, resting the side of her leg on the couch. "He took the knife from the inmate, stabbed him in the neck and abdomen, then pinned him to the ground and broke his arm while the guy bled all over him."

I stared at her, aghast. "That man…took out a killer?"

"Yeah." She nodded, eyebrows raised. "I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it for myself."

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