Following him down the hall, it feels like I’m walking toward the gallows. There’s something in the air that tells me his showing up here like this means I’m not going to like what he’s going to tell me.
We enter a small room with a loveseat, two chairs, and a small table. We each take a seat.
“How’s she doing?”
I shake my head. “I haven’t gotten an update in a few hours. Last I heard, she was in her second emergency surgery of the morning.”
“Fuck,” he spits out, rubbing his hand across his lips.
“What the fuck is going on, Franklin? One of the last things she said to me was that it was Reese. Why the fuck is he out of jail?”
“There have been some…developments.”
When he doesn’t elaborate further, frustration builds. “And those would be?”
“The conviction was thrown out. Jury misconduct.”
I run my hand over my hair. “Goddamnit.”
“Yeah, but it gets worse. Reese was let out due to an administrative error.”
“What?” I roar, jumping out of my seat.
Franklin holds up his hand to calm me. “Sit down. I’m not done.”
When I do as he says, albeit reluctantly, he continues. “We believe his friend, David, who confronted Maggie outside the courtroom, may have contributed to jury misconduct, but we can’t prove it. But it seems that Reese also had some help from inside the marshal’s office.”
I already know who he’s talking about before he even says it. It’s not a question when I provide, “Jenson.” Surprise registers in his features, and I explain, “His behavior makes a lot more sense. Pushing me and Maggie apart so she was an easier target alone, the disregard he had for her concerns, especially when it came to David calling her.”
Franklin rears back. “I’m sorry. Did you just say David contacted Maggie? Prior to the day at the courthouse?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure Jenson told Maggie he talked to you, and you weren’t concerned either.”
Before I even finish my sentence, Franklin is shaking his head adamantly. “Absolutely not. That’s something I wouldnevernot be concerned about.”
I roll my head around my tense shoulders. This whole situation is so much worse than I thought.
Franklin sits back, processing everything before saying, “I would bet my left nut I know exactly who gave David Maggie’s number. And who’s responsible for the administrative error.”
I grind my teeth. “Tell me you’ve arrested Jenson and Reese.”
He winces. “Not exactly.” Looking extremely uncomfortable, he clears his throat. “Jenson and Reese are both MIA. We have no idea where either of them is.”
Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose. I thought I felt helpless and out of control before, but now my nervous system is on fire, trying to regulate what’s happening inside my body.
My phone vibrates against my thigh. I shift in my seat to pull it out of my pocket.
Jack: You need to get back here now.
Swallowing hard, I stand. “I have to go. Keep me posted.”
Franklin nods. “You do the same. I hope Maggie pulls through.”
Dread threatens to suffocate me. The thought of the alternative is still too real.
“She’s stable.”
Sounds of relief and excitement fill the waiting room until the doctor holds up her hand.
