“Appreciate it.” I move down the hall taking light steps until I find room two hundred. Officer Castille is leaned back in his chair, head resting against the wall snoring. I enter the room careful not to draw attention to myself. Unlike Alexa, Lynn is awake and watching Tv. Bitch is handcuffed to the bed.
“What do you want?” She hisses like the snake she is.
“Got some papers for you to sign.” I pull the documents out of my back pocket, smoothing my fingers over the folds.
“Why would I do that? What papers?” Her eyes narrow on me.
“I’ll make it worth your while. Five-hundred grand and get you out of that bed and someplace where nobody knows you. New identity. The works.”
“What do you want?”
“First tell me why you had Nickel killed.”
“He knew too much. Knew the name of my baby’s father and was gonna tell East. I had to shut him up.”
“Ruthie help you set that up? The guy who ran was her nephew. She hook you up with that methhead?”
“Ask her. She wanted Alexa gone. Knows all about your lovechild.”
I nod. I knew it. Fucking hell. I’ll deal with her when I get home.
“Anything else? You’re blocking my view of the world news.”
“Want you to sign these adoption papers.”
“Why would I agree to that?”
“Because orange wouldn’t suit you.”
“And what happens to my kid?”
“Pam and Link will take him. I got it all right here. All you gotta do is sign.” I pull out my burner phone and open up the banking application. “See the balance.” I wave it in front of her face. Dollar signs dance in her eyes.
“Fine. Whatever. The kid is no use to me anyway. You have a pen?”
“Yup.” I grab the one next to her bedside. “Sign here, here, and here.” I point to each page with the tip of the ink pen and show her where to sign her rights away at. “You can’t ever come back or try to contact Pam or Link to ask about the kid.”
“I said okay.” She scribbles her name in cursive scroll.
“Thanks.”
“So, when am I getting out of here?”
“Now.” I smirk and pull the syringe out of the inner pocket of my black leather cut.
“What are you doing?” Panic moves over her features but before she can scream, I put a hand to her mouth and pin her down.
“No one can hear you and if they did you think anyone would care? You went after my world and now I’m going to end yours.” I inject the drug known on the streets as Cloud Nine into her neck. Just enough will give the illusion you’re floating, but too much will stop the heart. Her fingernails cut into my arm and her legs thrash wildly.
I press harder on her mouth, covering her nostrils, cutting off her air.
Lynn stops struggling.
“See you in Hell, you stupid cunt.” I cap the needle and stick it my back pocket and pick up the papers. Judge Crane owes me favor. I leave the room and go to the stairwell where Pipe’s Old Lady is waiting with the newborn baby boy. Wrapped in a white blanket with pink and blue stripes, he has a powder blue cap on his head, and a binky plugged in his mouth.
**
I shut off Link’s cage and look in the review mirror at the baby sleeping in the black and grey car seat. Kid has no idea how lucky he is. Pam and Link are damn fine people. Going to take good care of him and raise him right.