Page 80 of Deja New
“Let mego!” he screamed. “Drop it, all of you, drop it and let me go!Don’t.” He shook off the first CO and Angela was sorry to see it was Maller.Oh, hell, he might not have gotten in trouble for letting us in before, but now...
“You nosy bitch.”Is he talking to me? He’s never said anything so awful. Yes, he sure is. My uncle has qualified my efforts to help him as the actions of a nosy bitch. A lot of firsts this month.
“Please,” was all she could manage. Could that thin, thready voice be hers? And pleasewhat? Please stop? Please be nice? Please go back in time and don’t kill your brother?
She didn’t know.
“If you don’t stop.” He cut himself off, making a visible effort to get control. But the rest of it came out through his teeth. “I will fucking stab somebody and get sent to solitary, do you understand?”
“Dad!” From Archer, who had been so shocked his vocal cords had temporarily locked. Which was shocked indeed.Jacky won’t believe it when I tell him. Also I will never tell any of this to anyone.“You ungrateful piece of shit!”
Dennis had no eyes for his son, only for her. “Are you listening, Angela? Because younever have.I will kill someone to stay in solitary if you don’t back off. Then it won’t matter who pulls what strings. It won’t matter how much more of your life you’ve pissed away, you won’t be able to see—Funnnkkk!” That last was muffled, as three COs had piled on and Dennis was now howling into the floor.
It was quiet. No, it wasn’t. The COs were talking to each other; the horrified other family were backed in the corner, whispering; and Archer was saying something—of course. Oh, and Jason’s lips were moving. And his face was pointed at her. So he was probably talking to her. Might be time to tune back in.
“—all right?”
“Fine. I’m fine.” Nothing but the truth. She’d been shouted at before. By experts.
“I take it back,” Archer managed. “Thatwas the worst part of the trip. But the lovey-dovey stuff was right up there. So, y’know, just to keep that in perspective.”
Angela made a sound that was probably a laugh, if crows could laugh. That’s what Archer was going for and she wanted to oblige and also, what was wrong with her legs? They were slacking off, that’s what. They were trying to take a break, butno time for that. She had stuff to do. Right? Research? Or something? Maybe she’d sit down. Yes. Oh, that was much better. She could use a break. And she wasn’t the only one. They should all sit down. Right?
“Angela?”
“I’m just fine. How are you?”
“Easy,” Jason was saying to her temple. She could feel his arms around her and it should have been wonderful. “I’ve got you. It’s all right. Let’s get you off your feet.”
“I’m not off my feet?” That was problematic.“Yes, let’s get me off them. Leah? You okay?”
Cool fingers were on her wrist. “I’m fine, Angela.”
“Why are you doing that?”
“I’m worried you might faint.”
“Youmight faint.” Lame. Best she could do. Plus it was a lie. Leah would never keel over because someone yelled at her. She’d fought off a murderer, and exposed lots of others. Clients who didn’t like what she told them sometimes tried to attack her. So this was nothing by comparison. Nothing.
The more she thought about it, the more the differences between them were glaring. Leah Nazir wouldn’t be a trembling wreck if someone yelled at her in a Visitation Room. She wouldn’t feel like a wonderful picnic lunch was going to put in an abrupt reappearance. She—
“Oh, hell,” Angela managed, somehow making it to the garbage can in time.
