After Anna(101)

He was escorted to breakfast late and hustled down the hall to the cafeteria. By then, the prison was no longer on lockdown, because lockdown at mealtimes was a logistical nightmare, since inmates had to be fed in their cells, requiring extra manpower that strained personnel and budget.

Noah entered the cafeteria and joined the back of the line, grabbing a tray, plastic cutlery, and a napkin, glancing behind him, reflexively. The cafeteria was a long rectangle with stainless steel tables and the same grimy cinder-block walls. COs were stationed along the wall, entrance, and exit, and Noah guessed they had extra guards because of the murder, but it didn’t reassure him.

The line shifted forward, and so did Noah, moving his tray along and eyeing the powdered eggs, gloppy chipped beef, and white bread. He lifted his plate and accepted the food, and out of the corner of his eye, he could see inmates beginning to notice him, their heads turning to check him out. Noah was willing to bet they knew more about the murder than he did. Only during his interrogation did he find out the name of the inmate who had been killed. Jeremy Black.

Noah reached the end of the line, taking a carton of milk. He turned to the tables, which were beginning to empty, the inmates looking back at him as they left, their expressions hard. He spotted an empty table on the left, so he walked over, sat down with his tray, and dug into his eggs, which were lukewarm and oversalted.

Noah started on his chipped beef, and a brawny inmate sat down across from him with his tray. The man’s head was shaved and tattooed with tribal markings, and he had narrow-set brown eyes and a lower lip that jutted forward from an underbite.

‘Hey,’ the inmate said quietly.

‘Hi.’ Noah gulped down another forkful of chipped beef. The guards were looking over, their heads turning.

‘Name’s John Drover.’

‘Noah Alderman.’ Noah could see the guards coming over, but he didn’t understand why.

‘I know. You let my homie die.’





Chapter Seventy


Maggie, After

‘You’re so smart, Kath.’ Maggie rallied, steering the rental car toward the gate. The snowfall seemed heavier, the flakes flying into their headlights in the darkness.

‘I’m an educator, baby.’ Kathy cackled, thumbing through her phone, the screen illuminating her features from below.

‘That was fun!’ Caleb giggled in the backseat.

‘What’s your idea?’ Maggie asked Kathy, driving through the gate.

‘Keep going, and I’ll fill you in. We need them to see us leave, in case they’re watching. Pull over anywhere when you get into town.’

‘Okay. I’m going to call Ellen.’ Maggie reached for her phone, pressed the number, and the call was answered. ‘Ellen?’

‘Yes, Maggie, hello.’ Ellen sounded more distant than she had earlier in the day.

‘Ellen, hi, we just came from the meeting, and I was surprised you weren’t there.’ Maggie drove ahead, and traffic had lessened as they passed the lovely homes. Nobody was outside snowblowing or shoveling in the frigid night.

‘Frankly, they asked me not to be. I probably shouldn’t be taking this call.’

‘I thought so.’ Maggie felt herself get angry all over again. ‘What’s their problem? You’re just trying to help. I appreciated how concerned you were when we spoke. Don’t they care?’

‘Yes, but unfortunately, legalities intervened. I think they’re realizing that they’ve been somewhat lax about security at the school. Our remote location lulls us into complacency. They’re very concerned about liability.’

‘I’m not going to sue anybody. I just want to find my daughter.’

‘I understand that, but their response is an institutional one. The board and the lawyers are advising them now.’

‘But I’m worried about Anna. Aren’t they?’

‘I really can’t say more. I should go. I wanted you to know that I care about Anna, and they’re going to do the best they can. I’ll make sure they do.’

‘Just let me ask you this, Anna’s friend Jamie Covington went missing from school too. Did you treat Jamie?’

‘I can’t answer that.’

‘Does that mean you did? It must.’

‘I’ve been asked not to speak with you directly. Roger wants the information to flow through him.’

‘Can you just text me Jamie’s parents’ contact information? I won’t say where it came from.’

‘No, I can’t do that.’

‘But I think Jamie was helped to run away by people named PG and Connie. Do you know them? I’m thinking they might know where Anna is. I keep thinking they’re connected because –’

‘Please, I shouldn’t stay on the line. Take care, Maggie. Good-bye.’ Ellen hung up.

‘Damn.’ Maggie ended the call and entered the town of Congreve, which was hunkering down for the storm. The shops had closed, switching their lights off.

‘Pull over here. It won’t be long before we go back.’

‘We’re going back?’ Maggie parked in front of a boutique with darkened windows. Snow hit the windshield, and the wipers flapped madly.

‘You’re darn tootin’.’ Kathy nodded, eyeing the phone. ‘We’re going to snoop around.’