Beside her is my daughter, holding Tessa’s hand as she smiles softly at me.
God, the two women I never wanted to see me like this.
Tessa looks tired and scared, and it kills me that I can’t go to her to comfort her. I walk past her, our eyes staying connected. Does she believe that I didn’t have anything to do with this? Does she know I would’ve never put her in that danger? Those big blue eyes stare back into mine and I see the trust, hope, and resolve glimmering in hers. She knows.
Now, I have to stand here, my back to her, and pray the judge sees all of this is a huge mistake.
The clerk calls the case to order, and the prosecutor reads the charges. With each one named, my dwindling hope becomes zero.
The judge then looks at my stand-in lawyer. “Would you like to proceed with arraignment today?”
“No, we request the court to delay so he can meet with his lawyer tomorrow.”
The gavel bangs. “Arraignment is set for tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.”
I hear Tessa’s quiet sob and turn to face her. “It’s okay. It’ll be okay.”
She shakes her head, tears in her eyes. “I’ll get you out soon.”
I want to tell her she won’t, not with the way things are looking. Instead, I force my lips into a smile and then nod.
The Marshal grabs my elbow. “Let’s go.”
As I’m taken away, back to my cell, I chance one last look at Tessa and find her with a hand resting over the heart that I’m breaking.
Last night was by far the worst.
Not that I’ve slept at all since being in jail, but last night all I could see was Tessa’s face when I closed my eyes.
So I stopped trying. It’s hard enough being in here, not knowing what the fuck is going on, but to see her tears, to know that I’m the reason she has dark circles under her eyes, I fucking hate it.
A police officer comes to my door. “Thorn. Your lawyer and the prosecutor are here.”
I sit up, confused as to why the prosecutor is here too.
He unlocks the cell door. “Turn around. I need to cuff you and bring you to the interview room.”
I do as he says, going through the motions I never thought I’d know in my life. I allow him to lead me into the room where Agent Halsey grilled me for what felt like an eternity. When I get inside, the officer uncuffs me and the prosecutor is sitting on one side and the man I’m assuming is my lawyer are sitting on the other.
The man stands. “Killian, I’m Anthony DeCarolis, I received a call about an hour ago from the prosecutor to meet here. There have been some developments in your case.”
“I see,” I say, walking over to sit beside him.
“Mr. Thorn, the FBI has brought forth some information regarding your involvement after two arrests were made this morning. We are going to be dropping all the charges against you,” the prosecutor explains.
I blink in confusion. “All of them?”
This makes no sense. How are they suddenly coming to this conclusion?
“Yes, the details that have come to light fully exonerate you, and we have a written confession that explains exactly how the operation was being run.”
“What exactly is this operation?” I ask.
She places her hands on the table. “How well do you know Travis Brown?”
“I would’ve said very well a few months ago, but right now I’m not sure I know him at all.”
In fact, it feels like I don’t know anyone anymore. The only people I trust right now are the Disc Jocks, Tessa, and Meredith. I would’ve added Nathaniel to that, but they planted a seed of doubt at the end of their interrogation, although including his photo might have just been a mind game.
