I follow Alex downstairs and watch him get into a cab. As soon as the car disappears, I return to the apartment and break down.
Chapter 30
Jeffrey looks better than he did last time I saw him. The swelling on his eye has gone down, but it has been replaced by an angry scar above his brow. From the looks of it, it will never completely disappear.
Neither of us looks great. I’d been crying for hours up until I had to leave the apartment. When I looked in the mirror on my way out, my eyes had a haunted look to them.
Neither of us wants to start the conversation, unsure where to begin. I watch the clock ticking away, reminding me that I better take advantage of the time before it’s gone. I doubt he’ll give me another chance to see him.
Finally, he coughs, breaking the silence between us.
“How are you doing?” he asks.
I don’t have time to wonder whether he means it.
“I’m not sure, Jeffrey. It’s been hard.”
“Yeah, you can say that again. I guess you came here because of Jenna, am I right? I already told you that you can’t have her. She’s better off with her grandmother.”
“I know and I respect your decision.” I tighten my hand around the handset. “You were right. You are her father, and you have the right to choose who cares for your daughter.”
He rubs his beard, which has become quite bushy, as he studies my face. “So, if you’re not here because of Jenna, why then? I’m pretty sure it’s not because you care about me and my situation.”
“I do care. You’re Jenna’s father, and you were my best friend’s husband.”
He laughs. “Come on, I did some pretty terrible things. I don’t expect your sympathy.” He sweeps a hand across his forehead to wipe away the sheen of sweat that has collected there.
“Did you really do it though?”
“What do you mean?” He leans forward, coming closer to the glass.
“Did you commit those crimes?” I ask again, my voice low, my eyes looking for the truth hidden in his expression.
“I’m here, ain’t I?”
“I’m very much aware of that, Jeffrey.” I glance at the other prisoners and their visitors. Then I look back at him. “But should you be? Many people are arrested every day for crimes they did not commit. They spend years in prison only for it to be discovered years later that they had nothing to do with what happened.”
“Like Alex, you mean?” His face tightens.
I nod and say nothing.
“Why are you here, Viola?” He takes his time saying the words, measuring each one.
“I’m here because I want the truth. I just have this uncomfortable feeling that you are lying to me and everyone else.”
He raises an eyebrow. “About?”
“About killing that girl, Jeffrey. Raping and killing Brittney McLaren. If you didn’t do it, you have to tell the truth.”
He laughs. “The truth is overrated. People will always believe what they want to believe.”
I bring a hand to my aching chest and suck air into my lungs.
The last time I came to see him, I believed he did it, but now I’m not so sure. And every time I ask the most important question, he won’t look me in the eye.
My gut tells me he’s hiding something.
I don’t want to believe that Alex has anything to do with what happened to Brittney, but the ribbon is haunting me. Especially since he saw it and said nothing. He offered no explanation.
