“Oh. Well, that will be nice.”
We walk for a while longer in silence. Once we’re far enough away from the parking lot, the gentle buzz of people dies down, and it’s just Shae and me and the towering evergreens that dot the manicured landscape. The path is littered with wild flowers and moss and beds of clover, and for a moment, I think it wouldn’t be half bad to live here. It would be peaceful, to say the least, strikes and protestors aside.
“I heard a few of the patients talking about an old kiln over here somewhere,” Shae interrupts the quiet. “It was used to store coal to feed the boiler and incinerators for the hospital. Now they just use it to make pottery and fire tiles to replace the crumbling ceiling. Art projects.” She huffs with disapproval. “You say there isn’t asbestos in this place, but have you seen the ceiling? It’s falling apart. They’re practically using slave labor to keep this place together.”
I don’t respond to her. Shae and I wander along the small, worn path as I consider how cogent she’s been on this topic. Five minutes ago, she was practically catatonic, and now she’s a whirl of opinions and concerns. People in her condition often swing from depressed to manic in a moment, but it’s just not something I’ve seen from Shae before.
“I came back this morning to talk to you about something, Shae.” A few more steps take place in silence. “I’ve been searching for a qualified therapist to take over your case, and I think I’ve found someone. They have experience working with clients who have been through—” I want to say the criminaljustice system, but instead, I offer “—whatyou’vebeen through.”
Shae doesn’t respond, but her steps slow a beat. We continue on until we come across a group of beehives that are buzzing with life. Shae pauses in front of the bees, watching them carefully. The silence is near deafening.
“Shae? Did you hear me?”
She doesn’t respond. A prickle of fear runs up my spine. She seems disassociated, and nothing I can say will bring her back from wherever she is right now.
“Mia?” I utter, hoping to get her attention. A honeybee flies between us, breaking through the silence with its incessant buzz. It seems to be just enough to catch Shae’s attention and hold it. She watches the bee for long moments before blinking and refocusing her dark eyes on mine.
Her stare turns accusatory. “You’re leaving me?”
Chapter Forty-Two
Kelly Fraser, LLP
“I’m not leaving you. I’m searching for an alternative even better suited to help you during this time of your life.” I pause. “I think you’ll be in great hands.”
“That sounds like bullshit.”
“Shae—”
“Don’t call me that.” Shae walks off ahead of me on the trail. I rush to follow her as it curves around a broad evergreen. She’s out of my sight, and I think for a moment this all might have been a mistake.
“Sorry. Mia! I’m sorry!” I call, speeding my steps until I’m breathing hard.
“You know what they’re saying, don’t you?” Shae halts, then turns to square off with me.
“Excuse me?” I stutter. Her eyes are dark and swirling with an emotion I can’t quite place.
“Even if the judge says I’m guilty of taking people’s money—I’m not because theygaveit to me. I earned those donations because I entertained them. I gave them a little shot of dopamine in their newsfeed every day, and they gave me money in exchange. A tip, if you will. Some might call it performanceart.” She flips her wrist with a flourish. “They’re all on my side, you know.”
“Whois on your side?” My voice quivers.
“The internet. Who else, silly?”
“The internet?” I repeat, because surely I’m mishearing her. The way she’s bouncing between topics makes me dizzy.
“The true crime forums, webzines, even some of the major news outlets are reporting on the#TeamMiahashtag that’s trending on social media.”
My mind blurs with questions. “But…what about the murder?”
“What murder?” Her gaze locks with mine. Something cold simmers in her irises.
“Jesika—the Riverwalk—there’s security footage of the altercation between you.”
“There was no altercation. She slipped and fell. You saw it on the video just like I watched it happen in person. I tried to save her life after she fell. You can see it on the footage. Any assumptions about anything else that led up to that point are just that—assumptions. You know what they say about assumptions, don’t you, Kelly?” I shudder at the sound of my name on her lips. “Prosecutors spun a false narrative about a fight between us to try to convict me. Thankfully, it didn’t work.”
“Didn’t it? You’re here, aren’t you?” I counter without thinking.
Shae’s eyes flare with anger. She doesn’t like being one-upped or outsmarted. It’s the reason she can’t get over Bishop flipping on her and why she could never get over her husband leaving her for another woman. Shae must be in complete control of her universe, and when she’s not, she spirals into dangerous territory.
