“Oh, you’re awake,” the nurse said, her voice like a foghorn in my ears. “You took a nasty attack.”
“Really? I thought I was in here for good behavior,” I said sarcastically, trying to sit up. My abs felt like they were tearing, so I gave up and sagged back onto the pillows.
“Do you know who attacked you? He’ll be sent into solitary.”
I pondered actually giving her Eric’s name, but I decided I didn’t want him in solitary. I wanted to attack him myself. After all, the best way to earn respect in prison is to find the biggest, baddest guy and beat the shit out of him, right?
“I don’t know,” I lied. “I didn’t see him.”
“Well, that’s shitty,” the nurse said with a sigh. “You’re going to be in here for a while. Whoever attacked you got your carotid artery and did some pretty extensive damage to your
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abdominals. It’s like he stuck you with something and just…
ripped through your muscles. You’re lucky to be alive, really.”
The nurse left me alone after that, and I wondered why Eric had been so keen on trying to kill me. At least, I assumed he’d been trying to kill me. Why else would he try and rip me to shreds with a homemade weapon? He’d obviously planned it out.
He’s probably the one who started the brawl as a distraction. The guards would assume my injuries were just a testosterone-fueled tragedy.
But I knew better, and as soon as I was released, Eric was getting a decent beating.
The prison doctor suggested I stay in the infirmary for two months, in case one of the inmates decided to finish what he started. The doctor wanted me to be fully recovered before sending me back. I had no issues with that, seeing as the second I was released, I was going to beat Eric to a bloody pulp.
Two hours after I woke up in the infirmary, my lawyer finally came to visit. He was a wimpy looking guy, and I lost pretty much all faith in winning the case with just one look at him. His name was James Lowe, and he walked with his briefcase tucked into in chest like he was afraid of getting beat up.
“Hello, Mr. Bell,” he said, sitting down on a chair next to my hospital bed. “I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to speak with you sooner, but your mother is very… well, let’s just say it was hard to get in with you without her. But, seeing as they’ve decided to try you as an adult, I am allowed to question you privately.”
“They’re trying me as an adult?” I asked, a little shocked.
It made sense; my eighteenth birthday wasn’t that far away. But it was unexpected, and it did make me worry a bit more.
“Yes,” James said, trembling as he opened his briefcase.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I said. “I just got the shit stabbed out of me, in case you didn’t know.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to offend you,” he said, looking up with paranoid eyes. “It’s just… well, you’re my first case, and I’ve never been in a prison, and this is a touchy case, and I’m very nervous about it because there’s so much press coverage.”
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Samantha Steele
“You’re not gaining my confidence,” I said flatly.
“I know,” he squeaked. “I’m sorry.”
“What do you need to know?” I asked with a sigh.
“Well, if you could tell me exactly what happened, honestly, I need to know if this truly was a defense thing, or if you planned it.”
“Oh come on! You really think I planned to murder that little fucker? Look, I found Macy tied up, she told me what happened, and I went after Jacob. I found the gun in his bag, and I shot him after he attacked both Sam and Mitch. I didn’t plan anything, just ask Macy!”
“I do have her police report,” James said, pulling a sheet of paper out of his briefcase. “Her story matches yours. But the Fastner family is claiming she was part of the plan. They say that you probably broke her nose and staged finding her in the car -
there were no cameras outside the hotel to see Jacob attack her, and no witnesses. There weren’t any cameras outside the mall, either, so there’s no proof you found her tied up.”
“Listen, I know you’re trying to help, but I honestly didn’t plan anything. And regardless of whether or not I planned it, Mitch saw Jacob stab Samantha in the throat. I was protecting them.”
“Jacob claims you and Mitch stabbed Sam and attacked him - he also claims Evan was the one who got him into the room by giving him a bag and asking him to return it. The hotel clerk confirmed that Jacob was returning a bag to Evan when he entered the hotel.”
“I’m sure he said that, but it isn’t true!”
“I - I believe you. I’m just telling you what the situation is. To be honest, the outcome looks bleak.”
“Well, at least you’re honest,” I said with a sigh. “What should I do?”
“Tell the truth and hope the jury takes your side,” James said. He seemed to have relaxed a little; his was no longer tightly gripping his briefcase with trembling hands.
“And if they don’t?”
“Then you and all your friends are going to prison.”
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“God I hate that little shit.”
“The hearing was scheduled for next Friday, but I talked the judge into putting it off until you’re healed. Your friends are going in to make statements. The Fastners haven’t decided who they’re charging yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“It looks like they’re focusing on you, but it’s unclear at the moment. The connection to Evan, Bryce, Mitch, and the girls is weak at the moment, but you and Macy are prime suspects.
Well, not suspects, but… you get what I mean.”
“Yeah, I do.”
A few weeks later, Austin and Evan came to visit me.
Evan was clearly recovering from a nasty black eye; I’d forgotten Jacob had punched him.
“Hey, guys,” I greeted them with a grin.
“Hey, Zac, you look like shit, man,” Evan said, sitting in a chair next to my bed.
“Who attacked you?” Austin asked.
“I don’t know,” I answered a little too quickly,
“The hell you don’t,” Evan needled. “Who did it?”
“My cell mate,” I answered reluctantly. “But don’t tell anyone. I don’t want him sent to solitary.”
“Afraid he’ll do it again as punishment?” Austin asked.
“No; I want him to be available to beat the life out of when I heal. Fucker damn near ripped out my stomach. He shredded my abs.”
“Oh, please, you’ve never been ripped,” Evan joked.
“You guys make your statements?” I asked. They both nodded.
“Sam was first,” Evan said. “Mitch was second.”
“How’d things go? I haven’t talked to my lawyer in a few days; I’m not sure what’s going on.”
“My mom got a call this morning from the judge,” Evan said. “Bryce, Cami, and Annika aren’t being charged. Jury’s still out on the rest of us - no pun intended.” The two of us laughed softly.
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“I’m really glad I didn’t go to prom,” Austin said with a sigh.
“You could have. In fact, you probably could’ve prevented the whole thing if you’d gone with Macy,” I laughed.
“I’m sure he would’ve found another way in,” Evan said.
“He was pretty dead set on killing Sam - again, no pun intended.
Damn, I’m on a roll tonight!”
“I still can’t believe so much happened. I mean, you and Mitch fighting over a girl was wacked out enough but someone trying to kill her? You trying to kill him? It’s weird as hell, man.
It’s like the universe is trying to tell you something,” Austin pondered.
“Something like what?” I asked.
“Like that chick is messed the fuck up. Who pisses a guy off so much he tries to yank her?”
“H
e just had some weird ass obsession,” Evan offered.
“It’s not like he hid it. Honestly, Cami should’ve said something.
He creeped us all out, and he mentioned on more than one occasion he thought life would be easier if Sam was dead.
Honestly, we all knew about it. We really could’ve done something.”
“It’s no use worrying about it now,” I said. “Everything’s over. We can’t change it. And yeah it should’ve been a huge red flag that he was a valet. But the point is, everyone’s alive. That’s really all that matters.”
“What about you?” Austin asked. “You can’t get blamed for this. None of you can. Why would anybody believe Jacob?
How can they possibly think you four could cook up a plan like that?”
“I guess they’ve seen too many movies,” I said with a shrug. Evan shook his head.
“It’s his goddamn family. If he was dead, there’d be no question about what happened. But now he’s making up lies and shit, trying to get us all in trouble. I guess he figures if he couldn’t kill her, putting her in jail will suffice.”
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“Then why are they focusing on Macy and me?” I asked.
“Shouldn’t they be focusing on Sam? My lawyer said they think Mitch stabbed her.”
“That’s ridiculous. Don’t they think she knows who stabbed her? And what about fingerprints? His should be all over the knife!” Austin snorted. Evan shrugged.
“Almost all of us have fingerprints on the knife. Sam touched it, Annika touched it, Mitch tried to pull it out, I probably touched it… Jacob’s saying he tried to pull it out after Mitch stabbed her. He says it’s just all part of the plan to kill him,” Evan said disgustedly. “Does anyone really think we’d be dedicated enough to risk one of our own?”
“I don’t think the judge thinks anything. I think he’s bowing to whoever has the highest status in society. I mean, throwing Jacob in prison - rich kid from a well-connected family
- would be much more of a scandal than tossing me to the wolves.
My dad’s already in jail as it is.”
“Is he in here?” Evan asked. “Have you talked to him?”
“He is, but we’re in different wards. I don’t think I’d want to be with him anyway. I’m not even sure he knows what’s going on.”
“That status thing is bullshit,” Austin interrupted. “Just because you’ve got a ton of money doesn’t mean you’re better than anyone else. Royal blood doesn’t taste any sweeter.”
“Uh, thanks,” I said. “That was… poetic.”
“I just mean Jacob’s guilty and might not have to answer for it because he’s got more money than you. That just goes to show how flawed the justice system really is.”
“We don’t know anything yet,” Evan said with an air of hopefulness. “For all we know, the Fastners might drop all charges. Maybe Jacob will confess. Maybe some convenient evidence will pop up and prove we’re telling the truth. Who knows?”
“You really are an optimist,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Better to be let down than get what you want.”
“And how is that true?”
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“Wouldn’t you rather think you’re gonna win and live happily until your sentence, or live in misery and still go to prison?”
“I’d rather think I’m gonna win, and then win,” I said.
Evan shrugged. “Never know. Anything could happen at this point.”
“Have you talked to Mitch or Sam yet?” Austin asked. I nodded.
“Mitch, but not Sam. He came to see me a few days before I got stabbed. I don’t know if seeing Sam would be a good thing.”
“Why not? Mitch said she wanted to see you. Probably to thank you for saving her life and all that.”
“I don’t know. I just don’t feel good about it. It’d be kind of weird, you know?”
“Oh, ‘cause you used to be obsessed with her?” Evan interjected.
“Yes, because I liked her and now she’s dating my best friend, and I just happened to show up when she was most in need and save her life when Mitch was helpless. Yes, that,” I answered, rolling my eyes. Austin and Evan laughed.
“I think it’d be a good thing. Maybe you two could get some closure.”
“Closure? For what? It was the weirdest situation I’ve ever been in. It was like I couldn’t function when I was around her. It was -”
“Lust?” Evan interrupted. I looked at him, a little offended but also at a loss for words - he was probably right.
“That’s what it feels like. I’ve never quite had an obsession but Macy’s was so strong I could taste it.”
“I think Macy had some kind of revelation or something after Jacob broke her nose,” I said in an attempt to change the subject. “She was so… practical. Like a whole new person.”
“I think she realized she’s not popular anymore,” Austin said. “I kind of told her that. You know, when she asked me to prom.”
“What did you say?” Evan asked.
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“Uh, that Sam was the It Girl now and I didn’t like Macy.
I think I also mentioned her friend Taylor being pretty hot.”
“Have you ever even met Taylor?” I laughed.
“Not… exactly. Have you?” he snapped. I shook my head, still laughing. “I was angry. That was the first name that popped into my head.”
“You know, I think Mitch could help out with that,” Evan offered. Austin rolled his eyes.
“Can we move on from this?”
“Tell us about your cellmate,” Evan requested. He leaned in and added softly, “the one who stabbed you.”
“His name is Eric,” I said quietly, looking around to see if any doctors or nurses were listening. I was the only patient in the juvenile infirmary.
“Why’d he try to kill you?” Austin asked. I shrugged.
“I don’t know. He hated me from the start. He’s a weird character, that’s for sure.”
“What do you mean? Aside from stabbing you, that is.”
“Well, one of the guards told me he’s in for selling drugs -
they said nothing serious so it was probably just pot - but he doesn’t look like the drug dealer type. He’s this six foot Indian guy with forearms the size of my head.”
“Indian? Like, from India? Never seen a buff Indian guy,”
Austin said thoughtfully.
“No, like Native American Indian. He put his previous cellmate in the hospital with brain damage. And he slit my carotid artery. I’m lucky as fuck to be alive right now.”
“Damn. What did you do him?”
“Nothing! First day I came in here, he…” I paused, not wanting to admit that at seventeen I’d been the victim of an atomic wedgie. How humiliating.
“He what?” Austin demanded.
“He… punched me?” I answered uncertainly, not sure if they’d believe it.
“Unprovoked?” Evan asked. Yippee, they took the bait.
“Completely. He said that’s what they do to new guys.”
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Samantha Steele
“Well, at least he didn’t rape you,” Austin offered with a faint grin.
“I think he’d be the one in the hospital then,” I said, readjusting myself uncomfortably.
“Well, at least you’re alive. He could’ve done it at night while everyone was sleeping. You would’ve bled out before anyone even noticed,” Evan said, patting my shoulder in a useless gesture of comfort.
But he had a point. Eric must’ve been trying to teach me a lesson, not kill me; but a lesson for what? I never did anything to him except get stuck as his cellmate. He was a drug dealer, but he must be smart enough to know I didn’t choose to get stuck in his cell?
“What are you thinking about?” Austin asked, checking the clock. We didn’t have much time left before a nurse would come in and tell them to leave.
“Evan’s right. Why didn’t he do it at night?”
“Maybe he was going to, but saw the brawl as an opportunity. He is in prison. He can’t be that smart.”
“Oh, thanks,” I replied, rolling my eyes. Austin cringed with a guilty smile.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean it that way.”
“You sure you didn’t do anything to piss him off? You know, like fart in your sleep or something?” Evan inquired. I laughed and shrugged.
“I don’t think so. I think he just hates me. Maybe he wanted a room to himself - if I’d have said who attacked me, he’d be sent into solitary.”
“Damn. Solitary for a teenager? That seems a little rough,” Austin said.
“Maybe not for a teenage murderer. I can’t believe he’s still in here. I mean, he gave his other cellmate brain damage,” I said. “Keeping him in here after that is fucking crazy. He should be in a psych ward.”
“Maybe that’s where he’s trying to go,” Evan wondered.
“But everyone’s afraid of him so they never mention names.”
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“Well, he’s getting his ass kicked when I get out of here. I won’t live in fear of a stupid bully.”
“You really think you can take him?” I stared at Austin, more hurt than offended. Austin cringed again with that guilty smile. “I just meant, you made him sound so badass. Is it really worth possibly getting stuck in here again? Why don’t you just tell them who did it?”
“If I tell them who did it, he’ll probably actually kill me when he gets out of solitary. And hey, if I get stuck in here again, they’ll just put off my hearing and I’ll get more time away from that psychotic freak. Besides, being in here isn’t so bad. The nurses all feel sorry for me - even though they know what I’m in here for - and the food is way better than the cafeteria.”
“You sound like you’re enjoying it.”
“I kind of am. Did Mitch tell you about the guards? They read my file and said they don’t blame me for shooting Jacob.
They took a real liking to me - I don’t even eat with the inmates anymore, I eat with them! Dan, the first one I met, has a wife that makes the best chocolate cake ever. Mike’s wife is Mexican and she makes the best enchiladas - I get fancy lunches every day now. I’m eating better in prison than I was at home!”
Night Prowler Part One Page 20
