Page 29 of What’s Left of Me (What Left #1)

On the way to the penitentiary the following day, Sterling calls us. Vinny’s phone is already connected to the car’s sound system when he answers the call.

“I’ll be late,” he tells us. “There’s another body about two miles west of the university, and I need to stop there. Agent Lapin can come and join the two of you so you don’t need to wait for me to go in.”

“That’s fine,” Vinny replies.

“He’s en route. You’ll be able to go into the waiting room for visitation, but the officers won’t bring Alastair down until Gabriel is with you. Even to use the phone. For Alastair to see any of his visitors right now he has to have an agent present.”

“Okay,” I reply, letting out a breath. I’m used to Sterling constantly being there with us at the penitentiary, even if all four of us rarely end up speaking to each other at the same time.

Alastair has eyes only for myself and Vinny, and Sterling constantly keeps his eyes on all of us. At this point it’s just routine.

“Are we going to have an issue getting in?” Vinny asks. Every other time we’ve arrived there’s been an agent already there waiting, even if Sterling is finishing something up. We’ve never actually waited for Alastair by ourselves before. It shouldn’t be a huge deal, it just feels wrong.

“No. They are familiar with the two of you. We’ve already called ahead to mention the issue.” He sighs. “If there’s someone walking around there bragging about being a professor I’d suggest you don’t tell her who you are.”

I flash Vinny a look as CGP comes into view. This is the second time I’m hearing about the damn professor. “Is there an issue with her?”

“She’s a fanatic that we believe is using her teaching credentials to get in with the CGP staff and schmooze them. Our tech analyst Soto looked into it and her research seems largely theoretical and not rooted in much research. She’s obsessed with Harrowths book, too.”

Vinny looks over as he slows for the gate and I shrug.

Sterling sounds… stressed. More than usual.

He’s blabbing right now. I lick my lips as he pulls forward to speak to the guard.

Vinny gave me a breakdown about this infamous book, but Sterling hasn’t said anything directly to me so I feign ignorance. “What book?”

He clears his throat awkwardly before speaking again.

“Harrowths book is hard to find online, but Soto should have a digital copy by the end of today. We would love to see the copy your sister has as well, Vinny. From the sounds of it, you aren’t missing out on much, Jo.

It’s just a love note full of obsession, so we haven’t figured out what the professor's angle with it is. Don’t talk to her if you can help it.

She has an obsession with Alastair from what I can tell, and she’ll grill the two of you. ”

I peek past Vinny and meet Wallsburg’s glare as he sits inside the check in booth.

He reminds me of me today, looking like he’s dressed in layers with the collar of another shirt peeking through from beneath his uniform.

I’m melting under my layers and can’t imagine how hot he must be, especially with his equipment.

He eyes the two of us instead of sending us through like normal.

“Didn’t know there’d be a visit today. We hadn’t heard from an agent before I came down here. ”

“Didn’t know the FBI had to clear visits with a gate guard,” Vinny replies. “Have an issue today with us, Wallsburg?”

“There’s a report about a dead body up the road. We can’t let just anyone in right now. Visitation is on lockdown while the FBI and police examine the scene.”

“Isn’t it like a few miles away?” I snap, irritated. I’m not sure if it’s simply that I have to see Wallsburg’s face, or the fact that there’s yet another death, but my patience is suddenly gone. “Is that lockdown distance? It’s got to be further than that, right? The school is closer than-”

Vinny reaches out and grabs my hand, silencing me.

He gives me a subtle shake of his head, and I press my lips together.

I’m sharing details that Sterling maybe shouldn’t have told us, like how close the body is.

The official drop spot wouldn’t be broadcast yet, right?

If Sterling mentioned a body in the past it was after they arrived on scene to handle the problem, or it was that poor girl by Emeric’s house.

I haven’t really paid attention to how long it takes for those deaths to be announced versus when we hear about it.

The guard huffs and presses at the headset attached to his ear. His brows draw together as he looks at us then away. After a moment he nods. “Fine, go on up. You can go through check-in while we wait for an agent, but you won’t be permitted back until the lockdown is officially over”

We exchange a glance as Wallsburg lets us pass. Maybe I’m being judgy just because I’ve never really liked him but something about the speech rubbed me the wrong way.

“That was weird, right?”

“Yeah,” Vinny agrees, glancing over his shoulder.

The car his brothers had following us around is parked suspiciously across the street on the shoulder but not technically in the way.

Since it’s not on the penitentiary’s property I don’t think anyone is going to complain about it.

As though reading my mind, Vinny fills in the blanks. “They’ll wait back there.”

I frown. “They don’t want to drive up?”

“Xeno wants to keep them out of any reports,” Vinny says seriously, and I can guess why.

“The prison wouldn’t let in people who aren’t on Alastair’s visitor log anyway, and even if that wackjob tried to shoot us that’s not a good enough excuse to let them in.

They can get in here if need be but it’ll be messy. ”

Cringing, I look out the window again and pick at my jeans. I’ve avoided wearing jeans this whole time because of the heat, but today I wanted something that hugs my figure and covers my skin. Most of my pants are flowy, but today I wanted to look extra nice.

I think it’s because this is it. Alastair failed to deliver anything to help the FBI thus far and we’re going to leave when nothing changes today. It’s like another goodbye, and I hate that it bothers me.

Missing Alastair is out of the question. But I can still long for what could’ve been before I go back to pretending Citrus Grove doesn’t exist.

By the time we’ve parked I’ve worked myself up, and I see Vinny messing with the rearview mirror for a moment before looking around the car.

I didn’t ask, but I think the ride Xeno gave us has a stash spot, and even though no one’s specifically checked the car since we have to go through a metal detector and security, the gun Vinny picked up from his brother could be in here someplace.

We both know that’s a huge federal charge if Vinny gets caught, but with a killer on the loose he seems to be comfortable taking the risk.

There aren’t very many cars here right now aside from staff parking in a separate lot, and my eyes dance around looking at the vehicles as we head towards the door. There’s a zippy little sports car parked to one side with a vanity plate that reads “ Chars Op .”

Vinny glances down at me as the doors slide open to the prison and I force a smile his way.

Immediately the cold air hits me and I start coughing, Vinny doing the same.

It feels extra cold in here today and the temperature change from outside shocks my system for a moment.

Inside, I clear my throat as we approach the metal detector manned by two guards.

A guard I don’t recognize gets up from his seat, clearing his throat as he scrubs a hand over his chest. His breathing looks off like he’s taking shallow breaths, and when I catch his gaze his pupils look rather small.

His words sound a little off when he speaks, and I almost wonder if I’m just imagining it. “I’m going to get some water. I’m not feeling well.”

He takes off without waiting for a response, his face flushed. I realize I feel a little lightheaded. Rubbing at my chest, I step back from the detector and turn back to Vinny. “Something feels wrong.”

“Mhmm.” He’s looking around with narrowed eyes, and his hand comes over to grip mine, rubbing across my knuckles.

His cheeks are pink but he doesn’t look near as flushed as I’m starting to feel, a headache forming at my temples.

He drags a hand across his face, over his upper lip and down to his chin as he thinks.

“Let’s wait for Agent Lapin in the car.”

The other guard looks at us. He also appears sick, face red as he coughs into the sleeve of his shirt before tugging at his collar. He’s a little more familiar than the last guy but I can’t remember his name offhand.

“Let’s… go,” I say, but the words take too long to get out. It’s like I’m talking through quicksand, and disorientation is making its way through my brain. We need to get outside.

Suddenly, the guard collapses, slumped over the conveyor belt that holds the small trays for personal items going through the metal detector. I blink. My body wants to go down to the floor instead of out the door.

Vinny’s tug on my arm is weak, and he stumbles. Or maybe I do. I don’t twist with him, but I feel both of us sinking. His weight slides into me and I fall into him. My head really wants to hit the ground and my eyes are heavy.

There’s a clicking noise, and I roll to my side as a heavy feeling settles in my chest. My body wants to go to sleep, but my mind is screaming. The last time something made me lose my senses, I woke up strapped to a table slowly dying. It was the last time I ever saw my mom alive.

When I tilt my neck towards the clicking noise, I find a pair of heels. My eyes try and close but I force them open, needing to see. This feels like a crazy delusion. Maybe I’m dying again, this time for real, and death is back to drag me home.

The person looks impossibly tall from the floor. Something’s across her face, and I can tell from the shapely figure that I’m staring up at a woman. Her hair is dark, and it takes a moment to realize she’s wearing some type of mask.

Then she lifts it up, and green eyes stare at me. Green eyes that only exist in my memories these days. Her voice is slightly off, but I’m positive this isn’t a hallucination when she speaks. “Don’t worry, doll. I’ll take care of our boy.”

If I had the energy, I think I would be sick. This idea, this crazy thought floating through my brain makes no sense. But the mask slides over her face again and I can’t see those eyes anymore. And as hard as I try to fight it, the darkness settles in and pulls me under.