Inmate Infected The Female Prison Warden With HIV After A Secret Affair, Leading To A Murder
…
Merritt didn’t know that this day would be the beginning of a story that would change her life forever a month passed.
Fletcher cared quickly put the library in order the catalog was updated with pedantic Precision books were returned to the shelves on checkout day and the reading room was always immaculately clean even the most fastidious wardens couldn’t find anything to complain about.
Meritt looked into the library more and more often on the pretext of checking in she noticed how skillfully k dealt with the other prisoners never raised his voice.
but his requests were obeyed without question that evening she stayed in the library longer than usual cared was arranging books in the far Corner when she stopped at the shelf of classic literature you’ve reorganized the classic section she remarked running her finger along the spines yes by chronology of Works he echoed stepping closer it’s easier to trace the development of literary movements that way interesting approach.
Merritt picked up a tattered volume from the Shelf Jane Austin I haven’t reread it in a while Pride and Prejudice he sounded genuinely interested or Emma reason she paused are you well acquainted with her work studied English literature at University he Shrugged Austin was the subject of my thesis her understanding of human nature is remarkably accurate they talked for nearly an hour kedy proved to be a great conversationalist a udite with a sharp mind and an unexpected sense of humor he talked about literature with a passion that surprised Merit from that evening on their conversations became regular they discussed Dickens and ther argued about modern pros and shared their impressions of poetry.
Merritt caught herself looking forward to these conversations you don’t look like a financial swindler she once said what should a Financial fraudster look like he smiled a man in an expensive suit with a shark smile maybe she looked at him carefully.
but definitely not a connoisseur of Victorian literature life is full of paradoxes Mrs Caldwell he held her gaze sometimes we don’t know what we’re capable of ourselves something flashed in his brown eyes that made her uncomfortable.
but that feeling quickly passed.
Dakota Ramsey was the first to notice the change in her boss’s demeanor Mrs Caldwell smiled more often and appeared in the library almost every evening one day.
Dakota heard them laughing muffled almost intimate he’s a manipulator.
Dr.
Frost the prison doctor had once said when she and.
Dakota ran into each other in the dining room I’ve seen a few of those he knows how to make himself comfortable.
Dakota remained silent she was devoted to her boss and wasn’t about to discuss her with anyone.
Merritt found herself thinking more and more about the library the quiet evenings among the books the unhurried conversations the look in his brown eyes the challenge in them she realized that these conversations were beyond the normal interactions between Warden and prisoner.
but for the first time in years she didn’t feel like following the rules have you read this.
he asked once holding out a book to her their fingers touched for a moment.
Merritt jerked her hand away as if burned their breathing could be heard in the Silence of the library it’s getting late.
she said abruptly time to close the library he nodded silent ently.
but his look told her that this was only the beginning the beginning of something she couldn’t or wouldn’t name yet that night.
Merritt couldn’t sleep for a long time she thought about how easily her impeccable reputation could be ruined how fragile the line between Order and Chaos was and how some books were better left closed.
but it was too late the story had begun to write its own plot and.
Meritt Caldwell unwillingly had become come its protagonist.
December was unusually cold the Prison Walls seemed frozen solid and even the old heating system could not cope with the biting wind.
Merritt stayed late in her office more and more often pouring over documents.
By the Light of the desk lamp at least that’s how she explained her presence in the prison after lights out that evening she took a particularly long look at herself in the mirror in the office bathroom 53 years old the wrinkles around her eyes had become more noticeable the gray in her hair was no longer hidden by coloring.
Meritt had long ago decided it was a sign of weakness the austere suit sat flawlessly on her still slender figure she caught her reflection fixing her hair and felt angry with herself the walk to the library took exactly 4 minutes.
Meritt knew every turn every security camera knew there was a security shift in the west hallway between 10 and 10:15 knew that.
Dakota Ramsay was on duty in the other Wing that knowledge should have been alarming.
but somehow it only stirred her blood.
Fletcher was waiting for her he always somehow knew when she was coming sitting at the far table lit by the only lamp he read when he heard her footsteps he looked up and smiled that special smile that took Merritt’s breath away I was thinking about our conversation yesterday he began as she sat down across from him about Free Will and the predetermination of fate and what conclusion did you come to her voice sounded horse that sometimes our decisions are already made for us All.
That Remains is to accept them his fingers slid across the table almost touching her hand.
Merritt didn’t pull away those are dangerous thoughts Mr kedy.
Fletcher he corrected softly when we’re alone I’d like to hear my name she shook her head.
but he had already taken her hand in his his palm was warm and surprisingly soft for a prisoner this is crazy.
she whispered perhaps he agreed.
but isn’t that the beauty of it the first kiss happened right.
then in the semi darkness of the library among the dusty volumes of classic literature it had been tentative almost chased.
Fletcher kissed her as if she were a fragile Jewel.
then there were other evenings other kisses not so innocent anymore touches that made her dizzy Whispers in the Dark the constant fear of being discovered only heightened the senses by day.
Meritt was the same name as before a tough demanding boss she held meetings reprimanded negligent employees inspected cameras.
but now there was a mystery in her life that colored the gray everyday life with bright colors.
Fletcher was changing too in the presence of the other inmates he was aloof.
but once they were alone.
The Mask fell he told her about his childhood in a small town in Idaho about his dreams of becoming a writer about how his lust for Easy Money had led him to jail I I have no regrets.
he said one day as they sat in the quiet of the library if it hadn’t been for all this I never would have met you.
Merritt realized that every time they met was a step into the abyss she tried to resist the attraction several times she decided to stop seeing each other.
but every evening her feet carried her to the library.
Dr.
Frost made more frequent appearances in the administration Wing her attentive gaze followed Merit during General meetings once she to start a conversation about the strange behavior of some of the inmates but.
Meritt cut her off halfway through.
Dakota Ramsey understood too one day she ran into the warden outside the library after lights out their gazes met and.
Merritt saw in the young warden’s eyes a silent promise of secrecy.
meanwhile their relationship with.
Fletcher was growing deeper they no longer met only in the library Merritt’s office empty classrooms even the old back room all these places has kept their secret we should be more careful.
Merritt would say after a particularly risky encounter are you scared he would ask kissing her neck no she would answer and it was true she wasn’t afraid of exposure or embarrassment she was afraid of what was happening to her heart every night lying in her empty bed.
Merritt analyzed the situation she tried to find the moment when everything changed when the prisoner.
Fletcher Karma had become just.
Fletcher a man whose mere sight made her shake and.
then the thing she feared most happened one morning looking in the mirror.
she said it out loud I’m in love with him that confession should have frightened her sobered her.
but.
instead of fear came a strange relief it was as if she had finally stopped fighting the current and let the River carry her that evening she came to the library earlier than usual it was as if.
Fletcher sensed the change in her he didn’t say anything just put his arms around her pulled her close and there was more in that Embrace than in all the words in the world snow was falling outside the library window somewhere in the depths of the prison the heating pipes were humming.
Meritt Caldwell the warden of.
River Creek women’s prison stood in the arms of a prisoner and felt truly alive for the first time in years she did not yet know that this winter would be the last of her former life life that soon everything would change irrevocably that the price for these moments of Happiness would be unimaginably high.
but for now she just stood there with her eyes closed listening to the heartbeat of a man she had no right to love.
January brought snowstorms and temperatures well over minus 20 the old prison building was drafty the prisoners were wrapped in blankets and the staff tried to stay close to the heaters.
but it was as if.
Meritt didn’t notice a fire burning inside IDE her that no amount of frost could extinguish their meetings with.
Fletcher became almost daily she had learned to find excuses for late checks and he always knew how to divert the attention of the other inmates the library had secluded Nooks known only to them behind the racks of legal books where the light of the surveillance cameras didn’t reach in a small back room filled with old catalog boxes did you ever think you could do something like this.
he asked once as they lay on a library plaid spread out on the floor to do what exactly she ran her finger across his chest outlining the tattoo a strange pattern that looked like a Celtic ornament on such recklessness for passion at the risk of losing everything.
Meritt remained silent she had long ago stopped analyzing her actions for the first time in her life she allowed herself to just feel.
Dakota Ramsay had first seen them together in mid.
January she was checking the core before lights out and heard a strange noise coming from the library when she opened the door she saw her supervisor pressed against a bookcase.
Fletcher was kissing her neck and she rolled her head back closing her eyes.
Dakota silently backed away covering the door her cheeks burned.
but not from embarrassment from the realization of responsibility she remembered how.
Meritt had saved her career 5 years ago when the young Warden had been accused of abuse of power now it was time to repay the kindness from that day on.
Dakota became their unspoken Guardian she happened to be in the right corridors diverted the attention of the other warders and created safe time slots.
Meritt never spoke to her directly about it.
but sometimes their gazes met and the warden nodded slightly a sign of appreciation and Trust.
Fletcher had changed too there was a special softness in his movements when he looked at.
Meritt he could spend hours telling her stories about his life about traveling about people he’d met about books that had influenced him you know what the most amazing thing is.
he said one night I feel more free here with you than I ever did on the outside.
Meritt understood him she too had never felt so alive so real it was as if she had worn a mask all her previous life and now she was finally able to take it off their passion was becoming more more and more uncontrollable they took more and more risks dated longer and longer one day they almost got caught when.
Dr.
Frost unexpectedly returned to the medical office for her forgotten Keys.
Fletcher barely had time to hide in a closet this madness has to stop.
Merritt said.
then once the danger was passed is this really what you want.
he asked pulling her to him she didn’t answer they both knew the answer in early.
February the thing.
Meritt feared most happened she began to plan for the future imagining what would happen when.
Fletcher was released there were still 11 years left on his sentence.
but she was already dreaming of the lakeh house the quiet evenings together the possibility of just being together you’ve got wrinkles around your eyes when you smile he remarked once running his finger over her face I’m getting old she grinned you’re beautiful he kissed every wrinkle Just the Way You Are on those rare nights when she was alone.
Merritt tried to imagine how it would all end sometimes she thought she saw Shadows of the Future Dark frightening Shadows.
but in the morning all fears receded all that remained was the desire to see him to touch him to hear his voice and.
then something happened that changed everything one evening.
Fletcher was particularly pensive he was silent for a long time going over her graying hair and.
then.
he said quietly there’s something you ought to know about me.
but he didn’t have time to finish footsteps were heard in the hallway and they had to leave in a hurry the next day.
Meritt received the results of a routine medical examination.
Dakota Ramsey later recalled that something changed in the atmosphere of the prison that day it was as if the temperature had dropped a few more degrees as if the shadows in the corners had grown thicker as if fate itself was holding its breath preparing a strike.
but no one knew that a storm was coming that would sweep away everything in its path and that the price of passion would be unimaginably high the envelope with the test results lay on Merritt’s desk like a ticking Time Bomb.
Dr.
Frost had brought it personally and she could tell by the look on her face that something was wrong have a seat Mrs Caldwell the doctor’s voice sounded unaccustomed soft.
Merritt ran her eyes over the lines of the medical report numbers terms and acronyms blended into a blurry stream only two words stood out as if Written in Blood Red HIV positive it’s a mistake her own voice sounded foreign to her we double checked three times.
Dr.
Frost paused Mrs Caldwell.
Meritt you need to recall all contacts from the last leave me alone the order sounded like a whiplash left alone.
Meritt sat motionless staring into the space in front of her scraps of phrases swirled in her head there’s something you should know about me I have no regrets if it weren’t for all this rage Came.
In Waves she remembered every touch every kiss every night he’d known all this time he’d known she entered the library at 900 pm sharp.
Fletcher was reading sitting at his usual desk he lifted his head smiled and the smile froze on his lips when he saw her face you knew not a question a statement he closed the book slowly his hands usually so confident trembled slightly yes how long ago 3 years learned it in a Nevada prison.
Merritt looked at him and she thought she was seeing him for the first time a handsome face attentive brown eyes a slight gray on his temples the man she trusted with everything why I fell in love with you he stood up trying to move closer I was afraid of losing you don’t you dare her voice was quiet.
but there was steel ringing in it don’t you dare speak of Love Merit you used me all this talk of books all these stories you were just looking for a way to get to me no it was all real every word every touch every touch was poison.
she said in a near whisper you poisoned me.
Fletcher in every way he tried to say something.
but she held up a hand stopping him you know what the the worst part is I actually loved you for the first time in my life I let myself her voice trailed off.
Merritt turned around and walked toward the exit at the very door she stopped without turning around tomorrow you’ll be transferred to the high security unit I hope you’ll be comfortable there Merit please she closed the door cutting off his words the hallway was dark and cold somewhere water dripped measuredly like a met Rome 1 2 3 in her office.
Meritt pulled.
Fletcher car’s personnel file from the safe now she saw what she had missed before the hints in the characterizations the odd gaps in the medical records the transfer from Nevada for health reasons her hands didn’t shake when she signed the transfer order her handwriting was as smooth as ever only the letters seemed sharper as if each was a small knife.
Dakota Ramsey when she received the order the next morning didn’t ask a single question something in her superior’s face stopped all possible words that night.
Merritt did not sleep she sat in her office looking out the window at the snow covered prison yard somewhere out there in a Cell sat the man she loved the man who had killed her slowly calculatingly with a smile on his lips in the desk drawer lay a gun a service weapon she almost never used.
Merritt pulled it out weighted in her hand Revenge was a dish served cold she knew that better than most and she had a plan the high security unit smelled of fear and chlorine.
Fletcher knew what awaited him over 15 years in various prisons he’d learned to read the signs the two guards who led him down the humming Corridor did not hide their smirks their crude jokes echoed off the walls the new cell was half the size of the old one a narrow bunk covered with gray laundered Linens a toilet without a lid a sink with peeling enamel and a great thick metal bars that divided the world into before and after Welcome to Hell pretty boy one of the escorts grinned as he slammed the door shut this block held the most dangerous criminals murderers rapists prison gang leaders.
Fletcher could hear their voices horse shouts laughter threats the cell across the hall belonged to.
Roy butcher Harris convicted of a triple murder to the right sat.
Marcus Wayne who had beaten two guards to death in an Atlanta jail hey librarian someone shouted how do you like our sweet.
Fletcher was silent he thought of.
Meritt the way she had stood in the library straight and motionless like a statue about the way her voice had trembled when she’d spoken of love about the fact that he really loved her perhaps for the first time in his life he truly loved a woman the walk in the yard was at 2:00 in the afternoon the maximum security prisoners went into a separate pen fenced in with a double row of barbed wire.
Fletcher felt the stairs heavy assessing hostile heard you the boss.
Roy Harris appeared like a shadow massive with a scarred face nice job huh none of your business.
Fletcher replied calmly the blow came in the solar plexus quick professional.
Fletcher bent in half gulping Frosty air with his mouth mine now Harris leaned in close to his ear everything that happens here is my business the guards pretended not to notice anything.
Fletcher realized this was just the beginning news of his affair with the warden had already spread throughout the prison for men like Harris it was a gift of Fate an opportunity to put the upstart in his place in the evening lying on the hard bunk.
Fletcher listened to the sounds of the cell block somewhere a prisoner was screaming like a nightmare the guard’s Keys jingled Water dripped from a faulty faucet he thought of the library the smell of old books.
The Silence of the reading room the warm evenings with Merit it all seemed like another life now almost a dream hey cared.
Marcus Wayne’s voice came through the wall you know what they’re going to do to you don’t you.
Fletcher knew there was no room in the prison hierarchy for those who slept with their superiors especially if it ends in Scandal the next day during lunch someone accidentally pushed his tray hot soup Spilled Out onto his robe his soap disappeared in the shower room minor bullying harbingers of Greater Misfortune.
Dakota Ramsay occasionally walked past his cell her face was impenetrable.
but once she lingered a second longer than usual she really loved you it sounded like a judgment by the end of the week.
Fletcher noticed that the guards were passing his cell less frequently at certain hours the corridor seemed to die out he knew it meant he was in for a surprise Friday night he wrote a letter to.
Meritt he wrote three pages in small handwriting trying to explain the inexplicable he told her about his diagnosis about his fear of loneliness about how it was impossible to resist her strength and vulnerability about how every word of love was true he gave the letter to the young guard slipping him a stashed pack of cigarettes he promised to pass it on but.
Fletcher knew.
Merritt would never read it at lunch on Sunday he caught Harris’s eye he nodded faintly to someone behind Fletcher’s back and smiled slowly anticipative.
Fletcher realized the time had come he could have asked for protection could have tried to negotiate.
but something inside him felt petrified perhaps it was Redemption maybe it was just fatigue that night he stared into the darkness of the cell for a long time somewhere at the other end of the prison in his office sat the woman he loved who had betrayed him who now wanted him dead forgive me.
he whispered into the darkness.
but the darkness did not answer the morning of.
February 15th was unusually clear.
Meritt Caldwell arrived at the prison earlier than usual she checked the mail signed documents and held a brief meeting with the staff no one noticed that her right hand occasionally touched the desk drawer where the gun lay.
Dakota Ramsay came on shift at 7 in the morning as she passed.
Fletcher car’s cell she noticed that he was awake sitting on his bunk staring at one point he had a strange expression on his face a mixture of Doom and determination at 10:00.
Dr.
Frost made her rounds as she entered the high security cell block she heard.
Roy Harris talking softly to his cellmates scraps of phrases made her shiver she wanted to warn her Superior years.
but.
then changed her mind after all it was none of her business by lunchtime the prison was unusually quiet the prisoners were talking in Whispers the guards were tense it was as if everyone sensed trouble was coming at 2:00.
Fletcher asked to go to the infirmary saying he had a bad headache on the way he turned down a side Corridor the guard who accompanied him accidentally lagged behind for a few minutes the library was empty.
Fletcher walked slowly between the shelves touching the spines of the books everything was still the same here the smell of paper the silence the muted light from the tall Windows only now it seemed like the setting for a play that was coming to an end at 3:00.
Meritt received a note he is in the library the handwriting was unfamiliar she folded the paper four times and burned it with a lighter.
Dakota Ramsey watched a group of prisoners led by Harris move down the hallway they walked at a leisurely confident pace face as if they knew exactly where they were going and why she turned away and began to check her papers at 3:30 there was a scream in the library a short terrible one as if a man was trying to say something and couldn’t.
then there was silence.
Merritt sat in her office slowly going through the papers her hands were calm her breathing even only the whitened Knuckles gave away her inner tension at 4:00 a young guard found the body.
Fletcher lay between the shelves among the scattered books his face was unrecognizably disfigured multiple stab wounds darkened his chest.
Dr.
Frost examining the body noted a strange detail a book was clutched in the dead man’s hand Jane Austin’s reason a tattered hard cover.
Dakota Ramsey watched Harris and his men return to their cell block their hands were clean their robes neatly buttoned only their eyes glittered with feverish excitement at 5:00 the the detectives arrived at the prison.
Merritt met them in her office collected professional with a perfectly even voice she answered questions clearly and matter of factly no one noticed how she covered her eyes for a moment when the detectives mentioned the crime scene no one saw her lips quiver as they described the condition of the body only.
Dakota Ramsay standing in the corner of the office noticed that the supervisor never once said the name of the murdered man it was as if.
Fletcher kedy had already become a ghost one of many that haunted the gloomy corridors of.
River Creek by Nightfall the prison had regained its usual order only the library was dark where the police were working fluorescent lights illuminated the crime scene turning blood into black stains on the worn lenium in her office.
Meritt Caldwell stared out the window at the snow covered yard a loaded pistol lay in her desk drawer she never used it she didn’t have to Revenge did turn out to be a dish served cold detectives Ashton.
Graves and Sage.
Malloy arrived in.
River Creek the morning after the murder.
Graves a large man with a streak in his dark hair had specialized in prison crimes for 15 years.
Malloy was his complete opposite petite red-haired with sharp looking green eyes they surveyed the crime scene in Silence the library still bore the marks of last night’s tragedy dried blood stains on the floor overturned shelves scattered books weird.
Malloy muttered squatting down beside a blood stain look.
Ashton the spatter on the shelving units is angled he was hit from top to bottom.
Graves nodded he was already lying down when the main blows were delivered doesn’t look like a spontaneous prison fight this was an execution the first person they questioned first was.
Dr.
Frost the young woman was nervously rubbing the chain of her glasses as she recounted the autopsy results 23 stab wounds multiple head injuries.
but there’s something interesting handcuff marks on his wrists he was restrained how many people were involved in the murder based on the nature of the injuries at least four.
Dakota Ramsey proved to be a difficult witness she answered briefly looking somewhere over malloy’s head where were you at the time of the murder checking paperwork in the administration building did you see anyone suspicious everyone in prison is suspicious detective.
Graves noticed how she faltered for a moment when it came to.
Meritt Caldwell they left the warden for last she received them in her office impeccably dressed calm with a perfectly straight back Mr cared used to work in the library yes he was transferred there after he arrived why was he transferred to a high security unit a week before his death regime violation her voice didn’t didn’t waver.
Malloy watched her carefully something about her superior’s demeanor seemed unnatural to her like a carefully rehearsed play by evening they had their first suspect.
Roy Harris his interrogation lasted 3 hours where were you at the time of the murder in my cell I can provide a dozen Witnesses do you have an alibi for every minute of it there’s always an alibi and prison detective especially if you have to.
Graves and.
Malloy sat up late into the night going over the testimony something’s not right here.
Malloy spread out the crime scene photos look the book in the victim’s hand the reasoning of reason why that one random maybe there are no accidents in prison she rubbed her tired eyes especially in murders like this they didn’t realize they were being watched.
Merritt stood at the window of her office watching the detectives walk to the car her reflection in the glass seemed ghostly on the desk was an envelope with the results of her latest HIV test she didn’t bother to open it some things were better left unknown footsteps sounded outside the door as.
Dakota Ramsay brought in the evening report.
Merritt squared her shoulders and turned toward the door the game was just beginning on the third day of the investigation Sage.
Malloy had discovered her first lead reviewing the security footage she noticed a strange pattern on the day of the murder four cameras in the hallway leading to the library went out of service for 30 minutes at a time it’s not a coincidence she told.
Graves someone in the administration helped organize the assassination they started digging deeper the guard Duty schedule showed unusual changes in the week before the murder several experienced wardens had been transferred to other units they were replaced by rookies who didn’t know the internal rules well the interrogation of the prisoners had become a game of Silence it was as if each of them was reading from an visible script saw nothing didn’t hear anything was in the Cell at the time only one inmate a young guy with a tattoo on his neck casually mentioned Harris said it was a gift for the warden an hour later he was found in the shower room with his head bashed in survived by a miracle.
Graves and.
Malloy questioned.
Dr.
Frost again this time she was more nervous than usual what do you know about Mr cared and Mrs Caldwell relationship yeah I can’t discuss patients medical records this is about murder.
Malloy reminded her gently Frost snapped told her about the test results about car’s diagnosis about Merritt’s test about how the supervisor had changed after receiving the results a picture was beginning to emerge motive Revenge a carefully planned murder at the hands of others.
but there was no proof Harris and his men were silent the guards averted their eyes.
Dakota Ramsay stood a wall between the detectives and her boss she thought of everything.
Graves said looking at the evidence board use the system against the system.
Malloy walked to the window in the prison yard.
Meritt Caldwell was talking to a group of guards straight back confident gestures a commanding turn of her shoulders you know what the worst part is asked.
Sage quietly she really loved him otherwise she would have just shot him herself they checked phone records reviewed emails interviewed the staff nothing not a single piece of direct evidence just circumstantial evidence and conjecture.
Roy Harris smiled at the last interrogation sometimes bad things happen to bad people detective especially in prison on the evening of the ninth day of the investigation.
Graves and.
Malloy sat in an empty office looking at file folders we know she did it.
Malloy said knowing doesn’t mean proving it.
Graves replied a crime scene photo lay on the table the book reasons arguments clutched in a dead hand a final message from the killer or from the victim footsteps sounded in the hallway the clear steady tapping of heels.
Meritt Caldwell walked through her prison like a queen through a palace she had won and she knew it and somewhere in the depths of the prison corridors the inmates were Whispering passing from cell to cell a new Legend that of the warden who knew how to wait and knew how to avenge the.
Fletcher kedy murder case File landed on the District Attorney’s desk exactly 1 month after the tragedy detectives.
Graves and.
Malloy presented all the evidence they had collected camera footage witness statements forensics not enough the da said slamming the folder shut it’s all circumstantial it’ll fall apart in court on the first day they knew he was right.
Meritt Caldwell had built the perfect scheme no direct contact no explicit orders just random coincidences and odd circumstances.
Roy Harris got extra time for murder.
but kept quiet during all the interrogations his accompli remained silent too in the prison World there are scarier things than extra time.
Merritt went back to work as if nothing had happened she was still holding meetings checking documents keeping order only now there was something new.
In Her Eyes Cold dangerous the library had been renovated the new librarian an elderly man with a quiet voice put the books in their places only the volume of Reason had disappeared it had been entered into evidence.
Dakota Ramsay was the only living witness to that story she saw Merit change as if every day something in her died giving way to something else harder darker on the last day of the investigation Sage.
Malloy came into the warden’s office you know what we know don’t you.
she said it’s not what we know that matters in our work.
Meritt replied it’s what we can prove they stared at each other for a long minute two women on opposite sides of the law.
but so similar in their understanding of Justice a year passed.
River Creek lived its ordinary life.
Meritt Caldwell still ran the prison tough efficient flawless her gray hair had turned completely white.
but her posture remained as straight in the evenings she sometimes came into the library standing between the shelves touching the spines of books perhaps reminiscing maybe just thinking about the Thin Line Between Love and Hate and somewhere in the archives of the Department of Corrections was a file with an unsolved case on the last page detective.
Malloy had written sometimes Justice doesn’t come through the law sometimes it comes through pain betrayal and revenge and no one knows what the higher price will be to love and be betrayed or to take revenge and lose oneself the case was closed.
but the story remains as a reminder that within the walls of prison even love can become a deadly weapon
