“I’m always right.” There’s a hint of humor in his tone, which makes me giggle through the sadness.
His handsome, battered face offers little comfort, but I force myself to keep looking at it. No matter how much it hurts to see him like this, I need to remember what I did to him. I must remember this is what happens if I’m around past the trial.
“I guess we’d better win that fucking trial,” I say with determination.
“I guess we’d better, yes.”
“Did you get any news during your week in the SHU?”
“I was allowed phone calls to my lawyers, so they updated me.”
“They knew you were in isolation?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t they tell us?”
“Because I asked them not to. I didn’t want you or Kev to know because I had a feeling you’d try to do something about it.” He looks around the booth, a slight smirk dancing on his busted lips. “I guess I was right.”
“You can thank me later. What did your lawyer say? What’s new?”
Lex tucks the phone between his shoulder and ear, and with both hands, he signs the word “Recording,” while pointing at the phone’s holder on the partition. Shit, of course these discussions are recorded… And whatever we say can probably be used against him in court.
“Call Goldberg. He’ll let you know,” Lex says.
Fuck, that can’t be good. “Anything we can do to help?”
“Not really. At this point, all that’s left to do is sit and wait. The prosecution is still building their case, my lawyers, too, and that’s about it.”
Disheartened, I look down at the counter between us. Shit, it really is out of our hands. I feel as helpless as he probably does, wishing there was something, anything I could do to get him out of here.
Because we can’t lower our voices to speak of incriminating matters like we used to in the communal room, I decide to change the subject.
“I’ve had new ideas for the trip we’re taking when you get out.”
This is all we have left for now. The dream of a future. Invented adventures we might never experience together.
“Really?” he asks, his mood already lighter.
During the little time we have left, we plan the perfect vacation together, agreeing on a few new terms, setting more rules, and making requests. We get lost in the fantasy, so absorbed by it I can almost hear the slow waves rolling in, the wind in the coconut trees…
But while the bad things have no end in sight, the good ones are too short-lived. A guard comes to take Lex away while another one arrives to escort me out.
My heart weighs a ton as I walk back to the Mercedes. As soon as I’m in the cold, confined space, I pull out the flip phone I’ve been carrying around and call Goldberg’s firm. It’s Saturday, but with the rates Lex is paying them, I sure hope they’re available 24/7. I give my name to the receptionist and wait for Goldberg to take the call, distractedly listening to the classical piece that runs.
It has looped twice by the time Lex’s lawyer picks up. “Miss Walker, my apologies. I was with a client.”
“It’s alright, thank you for taking my call.”
“Of course. Anything I can do for you?”
“Yes, I just saw Alexander, and he told me to call you so you’d update me on what’s been happening.”
“You saw Mr. Coleman?” he hesitantly wonders.
“Oh, yeah. I got him out of isolation. Commissary and phone privileges should be reinstated, too.”
“Good job, Miss Walker. I’m sorry we couldn’t let you know about the situation.”
