Page 77 of Sins of the Flesh
"Anonymous."Sheriff Caldwell shrugs, his tone flat.
I stand shakily, afraid to hope."Cole?Is he...?"Sheriff Caldwell just stares his expression blank and I nod in resignation.
The processing takes another hour, paperwork, the return of my personal effects, more stern warnings.I sign where they tell me to sign, nod when they tell me to acknowledge.My body is going through the motions while my mind races ahead to the hospital.
Outside, the Kansas sun is blinding after days in fluorescent purgatory.I shield my eyes, momentarily disoriented.The world seems too bright, too loud, too fast.Cars rush by on the street, people walk past without a second glance at the disheveled Priest stumbling out of the police station.They don't know I've been accused of poisoning the man I love.They don't know my world has shattered into a million pieces.
I pat my pockets, relieved to find my phone and wallet intact.My phone is dead, of course.Three days without charging.I need to call someone, need a ride to the hospital, need to see Cole.My hands shake as I try to think who I can trust now.
Not Charlotte.God, definitely not Charlotte.The memory of her expression in the hospital waiting room makes my stomach turn.Did she have something to do with this?The thought blooms like a poisonous flower in my mind.Her warnings about staying away from Cole, her thinly veiled threats…
I shake my head.Focus, Caleb.I need to get to Cole first.There’s no time for paranoia.
I spot a convenience store across the street and make my way there on unsteady legs, ignoring the curious stares my rumpled clothes and haggard appearance attract.The bell jingles as I enter, and the teenage clerk glances up from her phone.
"Do you have a phone charger I could buy?"My voice sounds strange, rusty from disuse or perhaps from too many hours of desperate denials.
Five minutes later, with my phone plugged into a wall outlet and a bittercup of coffee warming my hands, I watch the screen flicker to life.Seven missed calls.Two text messages.The calls are from my brother and that makes me cringe.He's far too much like my Father and I'm sure he’s heard about the arrest.The two texts are from Ally and to my surprise relief rushes through me.
I choose to ignore the calls from my brother and open the texts from Ally.
Ally:
Caleb, I know you didn't do this.
I'm trying to find out what's happening.Call me when you can.
The second is from just a few hours ago:
Ally:
I heard they're releasing you today.
I'll be waiting outside the station at
2pm.If you get this, I'm in a blue Honda.
I glance at the time…1:47.My hands tremble as I gulp down the rest of the bitter coffee and unplug my phone, which has barely charged to 12%.I hurry outside, scanning the parking lot for Ally's car.
A blue Honda is idling near the corner.Relief floods through me as I spot Ally behind the wheel, her worried face breaking into a smile when she sees me.I slide into the passenger seat, the familiar scent of her vanilla perfume a strange comfort.
"Caleb."Ally's voice breaks as she reaches across to squeeze my hand."You look terrible."
I try to smile, but my lips quiver traitorously."Feel worse than I look," I manage.The gentle concern in her eyes nearly undoes me.After days of hostile stares and cold accusations, her warmth is almost unbearable.
"I need to get to the hospital," I say, my voice hoarse."Please, Ally."
She hesitates, her fingers tightening around mine."Caleb, I don't think that's a good idea right now."I look at her, my eyes pleading.
“I-I just need to know if he’s okay.”My voice chokes over the lump in my throat.
Ally's eyes soften with compassion, but her grip on my hand remains firm."Cole's stabilized," she says quietly."I checked this morning.He's still unconscious, but the doctors say the worst danger has passed."
The relief makes me dizzy.I slump back against the seat, a sound somewhere between a sob and a laugh escaping my throat."Thank God," I whisper, closing my eyes briefly.When I open them again, Ally is watching me with a mixture of concern and caution.
Ally pulls onto the road and drives towards St.Joseph’s.I’m happy to know he’s alive and out of danger but until I see for myself a part of me is having a hard time believing it.
Ally lets me out at the curb and I run, feeling the tired ache in my legs from lack of sleep but each step gets me closer to him.I burst out of the elevator at the 4th floor right as Mrs.Abbot is coming through the double doors that lead to the hospital rooms.
