Page 34 of Obsession

I pause, whipping my head in the door’s direction. “What did you say?”

“The reporter. Read the note. She refused to leave until someone agreed to hand deliver it to you.”

“You read it?”

“Of course, I fucking read it. You’re a condemned prisoner, Hammond.”

I take a seat on the threadbare mattress and unfold the note.

“I have new information you might be interested in.”

Peering over at the door, I slowly rise to my feet again and stalk over. “What information, Miller?”

“That’s Officer Miller to you, Hammond.”

I roll my eyes. “Officer Miller.”

“Better.”

“What information?” I ask, bracing my arm on the wall and bringing my face close to the door.

“It’s gonna cost you.”

“I’m not sucking your dick,” I growl.

His deep chuckle filters through the door. “You know I don’t trade in sexual favors.”

Scratching my beard, I rack my brain for any gossip I might have caught with the limited human interaction I have in this place.

Officer Miller likes information that could come in handy for the future, and there’s plenty of that in a place where thin walls separate one hundred and eighty inmates waiting to die.

“I might have something,” I drawl, leaning back against the wall.

“You might, or you do?”

“I haven’t played you before.”

“True,” he mumbles before I hear him shift. “Your girl went out for dinner last night. Fancy as shit restaurant.”

My girl…

His footsteps retreat, disappearing down the hall. He’ll cash in on the favor at a later date. He always does.

Gritting my teeth, I fight back the urge to drive my fist into the wall. It fucking sucks to be trapped in this claustrophobic cell, but at least she’s safe from the burning anger coursing through my veins.

Like a brat, she went out with her coworker despite me telling her not to.

Stalking over to the bed, I plop down and unfold the letter.

Rule number five: Always park near a lamppost.

I let my gaze drift over her cursive handwriting. There’s warmth in my chest that softens the anger that has me clenching my free hand.

I imagine her writing this note with soft strokes of her pen before carefully folding it.

She drove here to deliver it, even though we’re not scheduled for another interview until the day after tomorrow.

She was here.