Page 21 of Diamond in the Rough

Jake took a bite of toast. It felt overly dry, and he forced the mouthful down, scratching all the way. “He’ll be all right?”

“He’ll be all right if you’re all right. They’re sending him to a temporary prison before his trial. We have to give him time to establish himself.”

“Establish himself?”

“Prison, it’s like starting from the bottom all over again. It won’t be easy, and it’ll make it even harder if he thinks shit’s happening on the outside that he can’t control.”

Jake lost his appetite and passed the plate back to Carl. “Not hungry.”

“He’ll be okay, Jake, as long as you’re okay.”

“Got it.” He tried to smile, but it was forced. He wasn’t okay—he was as far from okay as he could possibly get.

Carl scoffed down the leftover toast and brushed his hands together. “Now come on, let’s not keep Sam waiting.”

****

“Did you hear about that Maddox Henley guy?

Rachel’s chipper voice grated on Jake’s nerves. He didn’t answer, but she went on anyway like she’d set up a punchline to a joke.

“Killed two guys.”

Jake tried to rub the stiffness from his shoulders and neck, but it was no use; his muscles were tight with stress.

Carl shrugged. “Who cares.”

“What do you mean who cares?”

“People kill people all the time.”

“He took one to the woods and shot him execution style.”

“How the hell would you know?” Jake snapped.

“That’s what they’re saying—”

“Who?”

“Rumours.”

“Well, you weren’t there.”

Carl bumped into his shoulder. “Lay off, yeah?”

Jake closed his eyes and released a slow breath. “I’m sorry, Rach, I had a sleepless night.”

Carl patted his shoulder. “And not the good kind of sleepless night, if you know what I mean.”

He winked at Rachel, and she laughed, and just like that, the tension vanished. Jake excused himself and went to find nothing in particular in the storeroom. It was his fault Maddox had been charged, and there was nothing he could do about it. A cold sweat dampened his skin, and he clawed at the collar of his shirt, desperate to undo the top button.

“Jake?”

He startled at Sam’s voice and spun around.

“Jesus, I thought you were out having a smoke.”

Sam glanced up from the cramped desk. “You still suffering from that food poisoning?”

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