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My only solace is that, apart from Charlie, every child is safe. I made sure of that. He won’t find them, not with all the resources in the world. I was thorough. The trail runs cold on every one of them.
“Meredith,” a guard calls out gruffly, pulling me out of my thoughts abruptly. “You have a visitor.”
I shuffle out of my cell, not sure I want to see whoever it is. Pocus won’t show up here again, but Abigail might. Maybe Tory. They’ll want to check on me and make sure I’m okay. It’s a sweet but laughable thought. I’m not okay in here. Nothing is okay. For the first time in my life, people care about me too.
I’m shocked when I sit down and see Graveyard seated there. I was sure he would write me off after I was arrested. After everything that happened and his career was put in jeopardy, he has every reason to hate me. I pick up the receiver and he does the same.
“Hi.”
“Hi,” he responds, a small smile playing on his lips. “Orange is a good color for you.”
I roll my eyes and flip him off. It’s the first time I’ve smiled since I got here. Seeing him has made me feel lighter in a way I didn’t expect.
“Shut up,” I say, trying to hide my smile. “What are you doing here?”
He sighs heavily, and I see he’s struggling with whatever he wants to tell me.
“I was taken off suspension.”
The news takes me by surprise. That’s not what I was expecting him to say. “That’s good news,” I say cautiously, not sure why he looks so sad about it.
“It’s good news for me,” he affirms, a frown now planted on his lips. “Unfortunately, it’s bad news for you. When the hospital got wind of your arrest, they decided the whole incident was down to you. They’ve absolved all doctors of any charges because it’s easier to sweep it under the rug. They have a responsible party now.”
“An established pattern of behavior,” I respond sadly, mimicking my lawyer’s words from earlier. “Well, that’s excellent news then. I’m glad that can be piled onto my long list of charges.”
“I wanted to talk to you about that. Look, you and I both know that this is bullshit. You don’t belong here, Meredith. Even Pocus knows it. He and Seer are at the clubhouse right now trying to get you out of here.”
This news surprises me too. Pocus said he would try, but I didn’t expect him to. I assumed he was trying to be kind, to keep me sane in a horrible situation. Unfortunately, he can’t do anything. This is on me.
“That’s good to hear, but you’re wasting your time. No offense, but what kind of power does a motorcycle gang have against the justice system?”
“Well, for one thing, we know how corrupt it is,” he says with another playful smile. “You think we haven’t had to find a way to get our friends out of jail before? And, fuck, you have no idea the takedown we initiated a few years ago. We brought down a billion-dollar corporation and exposed dozens of corrupt community leaders. Trust me, Meredith, we can fix this.”
“There’s nothing to fix. I didn’t get those kids involved with the gangs, but I did take them. I knew it was a risk, but I couldn’t sit by and watch them get hurt.”
“You aren’t a bad person, Meredith.”
I almost believe him.
“You have no idea how much Pocus wants to fight for you. You don’t know how much your work has resonated with him. He’s like Charlie, ya know? No one fought for him and Evanesce. He’ll do everything he can to get you out.”
“What about Charlie?” I ask, changing the subject.
Despite his words, I refuse to have hope. It doesn’t matter what the Ruthless Kings have done in the past. They’re no match for him. He knows how to exploit the system, too. He knows how to keep me in here for the rest of my life while he builds his army.
I look at Graveyard and notice his posture has changed. He’s visibly uncomfortable.
“Charlie was taken away yesterday,” he tells me.
My heart falls into my stomach. I want to scream. Hot tears immediately spring from my eyes. It’s no use. He’s got her now.
“Meredith, we’ll get her back,” he says softly, his hand on the glass to comfort me. “There’s no power on earth or in hell that’ll stop Pocus from finding her.”
“You have no idea,” I tell him desperately. “You have no idea what you’re up against.”
“Then tell me!” he hisses. “Tell me what we’re facing so we can be prepared. Or help me find one of these kids you allegedly kidnapped. If we can prove they’re safe, then—”
“No. I can’t do that. I can’t tell you where they are because he’ll find them. Find Charlie and stop worrying about me.”
