“Yes, but if the jury is hung or a mistrial happens, you’ll be needed again.”
The thought of more time living like this makes my head throb and my stomach gurgle.
“Excuse me.” I quickly stand, and jog to the bathroom where I close the door, hit my knees, and empty my stomach. My life is spiraling once more, and the rapid descent has me out of sorts. Today was meant to be the final step in ending the chaos. Instead, it’s more of the same. After wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I flush and move to the sink. I rinse out my mouth, splash water on my face, and pray the towels are at least semi clean as I dry off. A light rapping comes on the door.
“Sassy, you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m all right.” I brace myself against the sink.
“You want me to come in there?”
“No, I’m coming out.”
I push away from the sink and walk out to a worried Ollie.
“I’m fine.”
“Uh huh.”
I roll my eyes and move to sit on the bed, propping myself up against a pillow. “Can I rest?”
“Yes, I’ll keep monitoring you every hour.” Ollie places a kiss on my forehead. I want to ask him how he feels, but I don’t have the strength or energy, so I close my eyes and zone out.
OLLIE
I hold Quinn’s hand as we wait for the phone to ring. Today we get the verdict. We’re hoping for two counts of robbery and attempted murder. They recovered his fingerprints in the area and some of his DNA on my clothing. I’d gotten some good enough licks in to draw blood. How they could let him walk with that coupled with our eye witness accounts, I don’t know, but stranger things have happened. The phone rings and I close my eyes and picture Rolly. This is the closest to gaining justice for him as I can come. If he walks, I can’t guarantee I won’t take things into my own hands.
“Carter. Yeah? You got it? ... Yeah, I’m ready. ... Yeah. Okay. I’ll tell them.”
“They charged Santiago with attempted murder in the second degree, and two counts of aggravated robbery. They gave him twenty years for the robbery, and twenty for the attempted murder. He’s going to be locked down for a while.”
I thought I’d be happy. Instead, I’m pissed. Forty years when my boy only had four, seems like nothing. Quinn throws herself into my arms, and I hold her close as she sobs.
“It’s over. Thank God, it’s finally over.”
I rock her, absorbing her pain as the rage burns brightly in my belly. She’s coming to the end of her journey, and I’m just starting mine. I’ve moved on to a new stage, no more pleasant than the previous one. Clutching the hair she’s kept straight to change up her appearance, I bury my face in her neck.
“I want to go home, but I don’t have one. Not anymore,” she whispers.
“Your home is with me. We’ll find a new one together.” She pulls back and clutches my shirt, and I study her face. The doctor diagnosed her with a slight concussion which should have dissipated by now. It’s been three days, and she still seems off.
She opens her mouth.
“As much as I hate to break up the love fest, this is where we’ll part ways.”
“Tonight?” I ask.
“Time is money, and our local department isn’t equipped financially to handle long-term protection. Now if you feel the need to be relocated permanently, we can put in for a file.”
“No,” we chime together.
“I can respect that, but I suggest you stay armed and watch your backs,” Carter says.
“I understand,” I say with a nod of respect. He doesn’t seem so awful when I know I’ll be leaving him behind. “How does this work?”
“We’ll drop you off at a safe location of your choosing and return your phones and keys.” The only place I want to be is away from Carter and back to being free.
“Take us to the Hilton at Lincoln center,” I say.