Page 12 of Death Row
A text message pings on my phone. My blood boils—it must beNoel, telling me he’s going to be late again. Except, as it turns out, the message is from Kinsey:
Feel like grabbing dinner out tonight? I’m so sick of home cooking.
I don’t feel like having a fun night out. I am so furious, it feels like I might explode. Noelsworehe would never cheat on me. He promised on his life. He knows it’s something I’m sensitive about, and the fact that he would betray me this way feels unforgivable.
Whoever this other woman is, he is clearly infatuated with her. He loves her more than he’s ever loved me—after all, he’s never boughtmea necklace that costs four figures. He’s probably figuring out a way to try to leave me.
I ignore Kinsey’s text message and wander into the kitchen. Even though I have zero appetite, I may as well throw something together for dinner. It won’t do me any good to starve to death.
I fill a pot with water and put it on the stove. I turn the dial on, but the flame doesn’t catch right away. Our stove is a piece of shit and really needs to be replaced, but that’s the last thing I want to think about. After all, if Noel and I get divorced, we will have to sell the house. No point in buying new appliances right now.
I wait for the burner to ignite. The odor of gas hits my nostrils, which twitch in response. This seems to happen too much with this stove, but Noel is never bothered by it because he can’t smell the gas.
The stench of gas in the kitchen grows stronger. Natural gas is actually odorless, and the smell is added in order to alert people that there’s a gas leak. If I came into my kitchenand smelled gas the way I do now, I would know not to use the oven and possibly to call the fire department.
Noel wouldn’t know, though.
If I left some food on the stove for him to heat up, he would do it even if the gas odor was stifling. He would have no idea that igniting the stove would result in an explosion that would seriously injure him.
It might even kill him.
Of course, if such a thing were to happen, I couldn’t be here. If there were an explosion, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere nearby. And of course, I would need an alibi.
Yes, Officer, I was with my friend Kinsey all evening. It was such a terrible tragedy. If only I had been home, I would have smelled the gas. I could have stopped it.
Noel deserves this. I loved him with my entire heart and soul, and what did he do? He betrayed me in the worst possible way.
I take out my phone and type a message to Kinsey:
Let’s go out!
Chapter 12
Present Day
Ihave been moved to an area adjacent to the execution chamber, which is referred to as the death watch area. It’s not any nicer. Much like my previous dwelling, my room is about the size of a parking spot. The mattress is slightly more comfortable, although not much.
We are making preparations for the event. Kinsey brought in an outfit for me to wear so I don’t have to die in my prison clothes. Instead, I will die in black slacks and a blue cotton blouse—so much better.
I will also get to decide what I want for my final meal. It’s not as exciting as all that, though. I have been informed that there is a price limit of forty dollars, so it’s not like I can get an omakase experience for my final meal.
And then, of course, I will have my visit with Father Decker.
Ever since I laid eyes on that chaplain, my dreams about Noel have been growing darker. The two of us had so many happy times together, but at the end ... No, the end wasn’t so good. I did things that I regret.
Terrible things.
But if he’s alive ... If, somehow, that gas explosion did not kill him, and he’s still here and breathing ...
It’s possible. I never saw his dead body. He could be alive.
I want it so badly it hurts.
On the day before my execution, Rhea fetches me from my cell in death watch. We go through the same rigmarole of shackling my arms and legs, then patting me down. I barely even notice it. All I can think about is Noel.
I’m going to see him.
“You’re shaking,” Rhea notes as she leads me to the visiting area.
