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Hold on. My POisn’tTeam Pierce? Does Fortune know it screwed up by throwing me a bone for once?
“So you’re not friends? Yesterday it seemed like…” I let my statement linger, and sure enough his scowl answers for him.
“Friends? With those assholes? His father’s a jerk too. It’s not surprising the son turned out the same. But that’s why I’m here. Randall Harrison is also a damn good attorney and well-connected. If that family wants you back at SCI Burlington, they will get you back.”
A wave of nausea washes through me as his words sink in.
I can’t go back. I can’t I can’t I can’t.
“But if you know all this, can’t you help him?” Isabel asks.
The fear on her face crushes me when I look up. I want to pull her into my arms and tell her it will be okay. That yes, we live in an impartial world like she thinks. Justicedoesdepend on truth. The good guys win in the end and happy endings exist. But I can’t lie to her anymore. I’ve done enough of that for a lifetime.
Brian shakes his head, looking frustrated. “Not really. There are some things at my discretion. Technical violations—failed drug tests, curfew, fine payments, shit like that. But a lot is out of my hands.” He turns back to me. “If they can get you charged with something—anything—you’re done. I can’t help you.”
“Fuck.”
I rest my head on my fists as I sort through what he’s saying. My thoughts are spinning with doomsday scenarios. There are probably plenty of people with authority in this town who would like to see me back in prison. It shouldn’t be hard for the Harrisons to convince their friends to make my life hell.
“But they have to convict him, right? They still need evidence,” Kim says, clearly upset.
Brian shakes his head. “To have his parole officially revoked, yes. But they can lock him up until his hearings. All the Harrisons have to do is give law enforcement enough to charge him.”
“How is that fair?” Kim cries.
“Not saying it is.”
He sighs, and I read the apology all over his face. “I’m just gonna lay it out. If you have any connections, any favors to call in, now is the time to do it. It sucks, but this is what it is. I am so sick and tired of watching those privileged assholes from The Hills get off with nothing, while my caseload is jammed with residents of the Cedar Lake Apartments who get their asses handed to them. You’re getting fucked. There’s no way to sugarcoat it.”
“This isn’t right,” Isabel says, her hazel eyes wide with worry and indignation.
“No, it’s not, but I’ve seen it so many times.”
“Thanks for the heads up,” I say, rubbing my eyes and straightening.
“I’m sorry, man. I wish there was more I could do. The best I’ve got is to find some cash and get yourself a good lawyer. Money will be your ticket out of this. If the state gets you on the hook for another felony, not only will you go back, you’ll probably get even more time.”
“We have to call Dad,” Kim says, once Brian leaves.
“There’s no point. He’s not going to help me,” I say, scrubbing my hands over my face. “He’d probably helpthem.”
“We can at least try! He’s a lawyer too. I bet he knows just as many people as Randall Harrison. He’ll be able to help—”
“He doesn’t even consider me family anymore,” I say, meeting her gaze. “He’s not gonna help, Kim.”
Her expression shatters as she backs down. I see the tears in her eyes, but I don’t know what to do about it. She feels guilty, I get it. I feel fucking broken.
“So we tell him,” she whispers.
“What?” I ask, my heart stopping.
“We tell him the truth. That it was me.”
I shake my head, annoyed she’d even suggest it. “We already talked about this. We can’t do that. We can’t tell anyone.”
“He’s notanyone. It’s our father.”
“Who hates me!”
