The mafia heiress revenge

ned, her expres

r. Patterson. If we can'

o consider a plea barga

ainst you, it may

this isn't th

continued, her tone so

way to prove your innoce

long prison sentence. Wit

as innocent. It's better

ict and spend the rest

in his chair, t

n him. Was it possibl

is wife, her b

ing her dress-it was a vis

him, taunting him, chall

ut

maybe I di

embling. "Maybe I kille

't want to go to prison, b

ook he

d him solem

on, the decision to plea

e sure, absolutely certai

you are innocent, I will c

if you have any doubt, eve

sider a ple

d with unshed

felt like he was standin

om falling i

t would happ

lty

folder in fro

ssional. "If you plead g

a reduced sentence. It wo

ificant one, but it would

itionally, you would avoid

media attention and publi

h i

eeling as thoug

doubt. "And... and what

nnoce

sympathetic, ye

en a plea bargain would

. You would be sacrific

didn't commit, and there

stating. But if you are gu

k of being convicted of a

ce. The choice, ult

through the c

rm a constant reminder o

old, echoing hallways seem

d, the life he had taken f

host, his eyes vacant and

mates, their taunts and

noise of hi

as subjected to

n line for mealtimes, h

, tasteless slop onto his

, the chatter and laugh

able langu

ndatory counse

efusing to acknowledge the

r and violence that erup

tervene, barely registered

into months. The seasons

de, time seemed

fixture in t

the chaos. His lack of r

a shield against the cr

omething was stirring. A t

egan to burn

the lunch table

d done countless times bef

ing across from him, los

lat

" the inma

m his reverie. "You're

led his

is gaze vacant

d simply, his

ed forward, his

"I'm Sam.

de. I'm gon

s voice dropping to a

type to do something li

here. I'm sure you've hea

appened that night

eep breath, h

mixture of pain, grief, a

l in a long time. "I..

and hoarse. "I don't kn

gail was gone. I found her

nd now I'm here, trapped

even know who

on softened, a

ered features. "Look, m

ou gotta hold on

," he said,

did it, but you can't r

t, but you're so deep i

om the fiction in your hea

the tru