Page 47 of In Death, Love Survives

“Nothing to report just yet. Not opening up easily, but at least he’s interested in meeting with me still.”

“That’s good. If you get anything unusual, please come see me.”

“Unusual?”

“I’m meant to be keeping an eye on Walker, but you and I both know how difficult that is to do with how understaffed we are.”

“Oh, nothing out of the norm.”

Ryan scoffs.

“What?” I ask.

“That’s good, I suppose.”

“Isn’t that what we want? For people in here to do well?”

Ryan opens the door at the entrance for me. I can feel Wolfe’s eyes on my back as I slip inside, with Ryan following close behind.

“Of course it is.”

Although Ryan is a leader at Roper State, he took an oath to treat patients with care. Regardless of the prison politics, he’s still a good man who only wants the best for everyone, or so I hope.

“I’ve been meaning to ask,” he starts.

“What’s that?”

“Would you be interested in meeting up for a drink tomorrow night?”

Feeling a little stunned, I stumble over my words.

“Oh. Um. Maybe not.”

He laughs briefly as he rakes a hand through his polished hair. The movement looks nothing like it does whenever Wolfe does it.

“Ouch,” he says with a hand over his heart.

I try to make light of my immediate reaction.

“Don’t be silly. It’s not like that. You know me, I just don’t go out much. I don’t know if twice in a month is really me.”

Ryan pauses outside Crawley’s door.

“Maybe I could bring over dinner instead? No going out that way.”

“I,” I start.

Suddenly, Crawley swings open his previously closed office door. Ryan and I both back up slightly from the sudden interruption.

“What are you two doing out here?” he asks.

“Crawley,” Ryan says.

“Get in here. We only have a few minutes.”

“We’re your next appointment,” Ryan says, unimpressed.

“Life moves fast at Roper State. You two ought to know that.”