Page 36 of The Fall Guy

“Okay, now I’m lost.” I wave my arms and shrug my shoulders to show I’m confused.

“New evidence has come to light.”

In this place, she could be speaking about any number of things. My heart begins to pound although I’m not sure why she’s making me nervous. Is this about Rio? Do they know he’s killed people? Or am I being set-up for something?

“You’re talking in riddles, and I’m getting bored.” Being the nice guy hasn’t worked for me so far. I’m beginning to understand some of the rules in Eastward, and being friendly with the governor isn’t a good idea.

“Sit down,” she says through gritted teeth.

I think better of arguing this time and do what she says. Sitting, I flex my elbows, placing my fists on my cheeks. “Just tell me what you think you know and save us both the headache.”

“You weren’t driving the car that hit that young boy, were you?”

All the air rushes out of my lungs, and I start to feel lightheaded. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I cross my arms over my chest. Her comment totally blindsides me.

“The investigating officers missed one key detail.”

I shrug, trying to keep my cool. My whole life feels in the balance. Prison isn’t somewhere anyone would want to go, but I’ve accepted my fate. “Please, tell me more.”

“You’ve got an identical twin.” She holds up a school class photo from high school. Kai and I aren’t standing together. Yes, we look alike, but the picture isn’t brilliant. She must’ve seen more than the information she’s sharing with me.

“Oh, that.” I shrug, trying to channel my inner Rio. He wouldn’t crack under pressure.

“Yes, that.” She points between the two of us in the picture.

It’s hard not to react. My hands are shaking as I comb it over my head. “What do you want from me?”

“The truth.”

“The right brother went to jail.” Sharing a cell with Rio was my destiny, not Kai’s.

“Are you sure about that?” She looks puzzled for a moment as she tries to decipher my words.

“I thought you were going to cut to the chase.”

She lets out a deep breath. “Your brother was picked up this morning for drunk driving.”

My heart feels like it just stopped. How could he be so reckless, especially after getting a second chance? His arrest changes everything. I’m no longer willing to blindly protect him. “So, what now?”

“Now we wait. The cops need to go over the evidence. You might want to call your lawyer.”

A lawyer isn’t the only person I want to get on the phone. I’ve been doing time for an asshole who hasn’t even learned his lesson. I clench my fist hard trying to get a hold of my anger.

The governor doesn’t seem to notice my reaction as she shuffles some paperwork before picking up the phone.

As I’m leaving, a group of envelopes on the side catch my eye. Swiping them from the desk, I tuck them under my top. My pulse is back in overdrive. I know it’s wrong to take these documents but also unable to resist. Are these my letters to my family?

Instead of being taken back to my cell, I’m put into an interview room. A phone is brought so I can contact my lawyer along with a vending machine coffee.

I’m not left alone so I can’t call my mother or confirm my suspicions with the letters. Were they returned to the prison by my brother or were they never sent outside the prison building? Am I just being paranoid about my close relations, or was my communication with them somehow interfered with?

Once I’m done with the phone it’s taken away and I’m abandoned. I sigh with relief before taking a drink of my warm coffee.

I need time to think about everything that’s just happened. It’s a shame this room is more like a psych ward than somewhere to relax. There are only white walls, a couple of chairs and a table. At least in my cell, I can lie on my bed and have Rio for company.Shit, Rio.He’s not going to know what’s happened to me. Will I get a chance to talk to him again before I leave?

I run my hands over my face. Am I really getting out of here? The prospect of freedom feels unreal. Even the vending machine coffee is better than the drinks we get in the canteen. The idea of eating a takeaway pizza and a café cuppa doesn’t seem possible. I’d murder for a burger and greasy fries.

Will my old room be untouched? Brad said Sonia had been snooping around. Did she take some of my stuff to my mums? I’m not sure I can step back into my old life when so much has changed.

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