“I’m not going to tell you that.But rest assured, it’s a big enough publication that you should have cause for concern if I publish.”Emily’s mouth had gone a little dry, but she steeled herself and pressed on.She could do this.“It’s come to my attention that in addition to using your psychiatric patients as lab mice, you’ve been deliberately infecting the inmates with VD in order to treat them with the trial drug Trichlorovir.”
A long pause.“And why would I do such a thing?”Stone crossed her arms over her chest now, protective yet confrontational.
Emily smirked, just for the sheer pleasure of antagonizing her.“Because you’re getting paid to by the drug company that developed it.”
Stone was pallid, and Emily saw her throat twitch as she swallowed.“So youarethe little rat who stole my files,” she said, realization dawning on her.Her eyes flicked to the closed door beyond which Emily could only hope the infirmary matron was eavesdropping.That might come in useful later on.“White thought it was you.”
“Yes,” Emily said.“I did.”She was proud to hear her voice was steady.She hadn’t had much reason to stand up to authority before.It felt simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating.She and Stone stared each other down.
“What do you want?”the doctor finally demanded, taking a step toward Emily, whose heart fluttered, but she held her ground.
“I want you to discharge Annie Little immediately.Tomorrow, when I get out.Do that, and I’ll write about the atrocious conditions in thisplace, but leave out mention of your personal little scheme with the drug trial.The administration, the warden, and the government will be implicated, but not you.”
Stone’s lips pressed again into a thin line.She straightened.“You do realize this is blackmail.”
Emily shrugged.“Is that what you’d call it?”
“That’s what the authorities will call it.”
“Yes.And they’ll callyourbehaviour aggravated assault and corruption, I think.”
The clock on the wall ticked away the seconds, and in the silence, Emily felt the trickle of sweat down the back of her dress.
“Don’t think for a moment that you’ve won, Radcliffe.”Stone’s voice was black ice, the treacherous kind that’s difficult to spot until you’ve suddenly lost control.
“Except I have, Stone,” Emily assured her with a mirthless grin.“You don’t have power over me anymore.You don’t get to decide.The choiceyouget to make is whether you want to release Annie Little and save your career, or go down with this place when I expose the whole thing.It’s up to you.But I suggest you decide—”
She gasped as Stone rushed to her, and instinctively shot up an arm.She backed toward the door, eyes wide, and found that she was cornered.
“Ohh, not so brave as you act, eh?”Stone whispered an inch from her face.“Not so brave.Not so smart.You don’t seem to understand, Radcliffe, that these women are apestilence.”She hissed the c, drawing it out as she held Emily’s eyes with her own.Emily dodged, tried to look away, but Stone followed her gaze, bobbing her head around like a charmed snake.
“Getaway from me!”Emily finally shouted, giving her an actual shove.She didn’t care if Matron Smith heard.If she could eventually testify Emily had been threatened by Stone, so much the better.
“What iswrongwith you?”she demanded finally.Her hand was on the doorknob now, and something began to tingle.Something ominous and disturbing that reverberated inside her alongside June’s words:
She belongs in there with the Blues…
Stone simply stood there, feet from Emily, and watched her open the door.
“Just release Annie Little with me tomorrow,” Emily told her firmly, struggling now with a sudden fear she didn’t want Stone to see.She also knew she didn’t want to be alone with this woman a moment longer.
Matron Smith was indeed right outside the door, listening.She looked from Emily to the doctor and back again, eyes wide, as Emily pushed past her and out of the infirmary.
“You’re not eating much,” Emily said to Annie that evening at supper, stuffing a bit of unbuttered, stale bread into her own mouth.She was still riding the wave of adrenaline from her encounter with Stone.She didn’t know yet what would happen tomorrow when she was released, whether Annie would be with her or not.Hopefully Stone would consider it overnight and determine Annie’s release was in her own best interest.
“No, I don’t have much appetite, I’m afraid,” Annie said, grimacing.“Dr.Stone gave me some kind of medication this afternoon, and it hasn’t agreed with my stomach.”
“Well, soon enough, she won’t be able to push anything else on you,” Emily said.“Whether she responds to my demand or not, I’m getting released tomorrow.And getting you out of here will be my first priority while I write the article.I promise.You won’t have to wait much longer, Annie.”She smiled and reached out, covered Annie’s hand with her own.It was cool to the touch.“She was angry that I would dare to challenge her, of course, but she’s got to be scared, too.She might approve your release to leave at the same time as me, if we’re lucky.Then I could help you get in touch with your mother, get yourself settled just in time for Christmas next week.”
“It’s hard to even believe I’ll get to see Gregory,” Annie said, blinking fast.“He’ll be so grown up.I have so many questions to ask him, so much to talk about.”She inhaled shakily.“I’m nervous, though, about what he’llthink of me.It’s a lot to explain, and none of it casts his father in a…in a good light.”
“No, I shouldn’t think so,” Emily said darkly.She watched Annie for a moment as chatter continued around them.She couldn’t wait to eat a good meal in her parents’ quiet dining room—the next night.It wasn’t anything when compared to Annie’s eagerness to see her son, but Emily still felt it keenly.“I suspect it will take some time,” she continued.“To explain everything to him and have him understand.I’m certain he’ll be just as glad as you are that you’ve been released.”She smiled and downed the last of her tea, took another bite of bread.
Annie bobbed her head in acknowledgment, but her eyes were a little strange—out of focus, the pupils small.“I, uh, I really don’t feel well at all,” she said.
“What’s the matter?”Emily asked, ceasing chewing as she watched her friend’s face with growing alarm.She was breathing heavily through her mouth now, as though each inhale was a struggle.
“Annie?”Emily asked, louder.Annie’s face had suddenly paled to the colour of soured cream, her eyes half-closed.Her forehead and temples were sweaty, and she continued to pant.Something was wrong, very wrong.
