Page 8 of Pretty Cruel Love

“She’s maintained her innocence since day one, Warden,” I say. “She’s never changed her story.”

“Okay, and? So has every other inmate who’s waiting for their appeals to run out.” He scoffs. “If I were you, I’d trust the jury’s judgment and use your woo-woo science on someone else. Besides, the moment you run the first test, you’ll see that she’s crazy as hell and you’ll be begging me to lock her back up.”

“With all due respect?—”

“Someone get me the status of the gates on the east side!” he yells into his walkie-talkie before I can say another word. Then he motions for me to follow him through another exit door.

Tactical guards run past us in a steady formation, their black helmets gleaming under the prison’s barbed-wire towers. Sirens continue to wail in the air.

Tucking Sadie’s painting under my arm, I follow him across the courtyard of ugly gray buildings.

“The receptionist has all of Sadie’s files and her pre-lock-up possessions for you,” he says once we reach the reception center. “Every disciplinary infraction, therapist note, even scans of every letter she’s ever sent or received. Good luck with her and her case, Dr. Weiss. I’m rooting for you.”

“Do you honestly mean that?”

“Fuck no.” He laughs. “I’m looking forward to reading about Sadie being your program’s first failure two weeks from now. It was nice to finally meet you in person, though.”

I don’t tell him the same.

I smile. Barely.

Not that he notices, though. He turns away, yelling into his walkie-talkie before disappearing through a door markedArmory Protection Zone.

Grateful he’s gone, I hand over my visitor’s badge at the desk and sign off on a few forms. I wait for the secretary to hand over the box of Sadie’s files and valuables, but she grabs my wrist.

“Mental insanity doesn’t give someone a license to commit murder.” She tightens her grip. “Don’t you know that?”

“No, this is the first I’m hearing about it…” The cold look in her eyes reflects the warden’s. “So, murder is a crime now?Groundbreaking.”

She rolls her eyes, and I attempt to pull my hand away, but she refuses to let go.

“I want it on the record that I tried to tell you to change your mind about helping her.” She’s glaring at me. “I also want you to admit that you’re only doing it because she’s attractive.”

“I’ve helped tons of other attractive women in my lifetime, Miss—” I strain to read her name tag. “Miss Brenda.”

“You ever been tempted to fuck any of them?”

“No, never.”

“Well, every guard in this prison—male and even some of the females—has talked about fucking her at some point or another.”

“Sounds like something you need to mention to Human Resources.”

“I’m just letting you know that I can see right through you.” She narrows her eyes. “I bet you’ll think about having sex with her at least once when she’s in your cabin, huh?”

It already crossed my mind and we’re not even there yet…

I use my free hand to pull a business card from my pocket, then place it onto her desk.

“I offer private therapy sessions at my institute for people like you,” I say. “You strike me as someone who might bestruggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder, so I’ll give you a discount whenever you make an appointment.”

“Fuck you, Dr. Weiss.”

“I would, but you’re not my type.” I smile, and she finally releases my hand. “Can I have Sadie’s files now, please?”

“Fine.” She moves from her chair and unlocks a skinny door. Taking her time and glaring at me like she’s trying to win a stare-off, she pulls out five boxes. Then she slides them toward me.

“Thank you very much, Miss Brenda.” I pick them up and move toward the security exit.

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