The Weight of Innocence

thing

re I am or what happened. Just pain everywhere, l

bright. White and sterile. It stabbed into my

I was in a

e. The heat. Thinking I was going to die. And someone pulled

ranger risk hi

om came into focus. White walls. Machines bee

s al

mix of relief and terror. Relief because breathing still felt good even when it

oor o

nitely not a doctor. Cheap s

I am Detective Morris.

ck, set on fire, and le

k some questions ab

always had questions, espe

?" I asked.

talk, the better chance we hav

ears to catch him for what he really did and ins

you want

start with how you ended up in

lly. It

ting I had gotten into Vincent's car. That I had trusted him for on

ressed. "Who took you

was unconscious

uld read it in his eyes. St

mies? Anyone who mig

I even st

to kill you. That is not

I do n

tired of me. "What

kept my face neutr

tory. He testifie

s five y

n him since y

lie that slid

ys you missed your check in yesterday

s visit. Not to help me. To remind m

," I said. "I just n

it slowly. "Ms. Ubud, you viol

tried to

operation. Tell me what happ

. "I do not reme

protectin

otecting

He stared for a long moment b

act your parole officer within twenty four ho

es

tries again, they might

d toward

The man from last night. The stranger with the conc

eard eve

r a moment befo

a word. The stranger stayed. He stepped in

fe," I said soft

t a respectful distance.

stas

detective sai

say to the person who dragged you out of

ou feeling

tried to smile. It hurt. "

rive by. Anyone would

y would

ue. Maybe he k

what I saw. I told them I found you tied up." He pau

n. But the question

" I said, eyes drifting

ither. "Well, I wanted to make s

ai

was the first person in years who had done so

back?" I asked.

make sure y

not even

that m

hing to s

some rest. The doctors said y

the door closed

were white and speckled. I counte

walked in. Older woman. Kind

etie?" she asked as sh

, I g

a scare. Lucky th

h. L

notes. "Anyone you want us

No

ce. I hated that expressio

he said. "You

iggest lie

ked. I heard voices in the hallway

g to be okay

ears for murder. Everyone knows she did not do it, but the system faile

Then Et

n prison.

ner was found dead in his office. They convicted her on circumstantial ev

voice tightened. "The

Powerful man with

e just

thing probably thought she

econsidering everything. Regrett

finally said.

ne on her side for o

teps

s closed, pretending I

tered five years ago. And now Ethan knew too. I knew I was an ex

led. The kind that destro

one b

und came from the small bedside table. My be

ne buzz

in my ribs. The screen lit up. One

mach d

xactly w

ssage

u are. Finish wh

nc

ssage arrived. An attachment th

ed, my entire

a wealthy neighborhood. A

t. Then I remembered Ethan's w

s his

Because Ethan had saved me. B

message

hat you are

solated. Wanted me

d everything about me, about Vincent, abo

alway

. Set the phone down.

ady beeping. Life in the hospita

ything w

here. Watching. P

o idea how