I grab the small notepad from my bag and give it to Nicholas who types the address into his Maps app to look it up.
“Actually, Max, while I am here, I want to quickly visit a work colleague.” Nicholas replies casually.
Max’s eyes flicker to me again in the mirror. “Where at?”
“We will go to his work.”
“Where does he work?”
“Turn right up here,” Nicholas instructs.
The car in front of us falls behind so we now have two cars trailing us. My heart really starts to hammer.
“Second left.” Replies Nicholas.
I can see it. The large grass area of the prison and the fences. Fuck, am I really going to do this?
“Natasha, you can come in with me.”
We get to the gates and Max narrows his eyes in thought.
“He works at the prison?”
“Yes, I’m just going to invite him out for lunch with us.”
Max enters slowly and goes into the car park to park the car.
“I-I will come with you,” I stammer as I open the door.
“No, you won’t!” Max snaps. “You will wait here.”
Panic hits me and I start to hotfoot it across the car park to the prison’s front doors.
“Natasha?” Max yells. “Get back here.”
“I’m going in. I need answers, Max.”
His face falls as he puts the puzzle together. “No!” he yells.
The other guards all start to get out of their cars.
I make it to the front doors with Nicholas hot on my heels and turn to look out the window to see Max on the phone. Shit, he’s ringing Joshua.
My heart is thumping so fast.
Nicholas walks to the reception. “We have an appointment to see an inmate.”
My eyes turn to look back outside to see the guards all pacing. They aren’t allowed to touch me and I know they won’t physically drag me from here.
My phone rings and I jump. The name Lambo lights up the screen and I flick it to silent. Nicholas turns and looks at me, shaking his head.
Fuck. I run my hands through my hair.
The phone rings out but then rings again straight away.
A text beeps through.
ANSWER YOUR FUCKING PHONE!
Oh my God. He’s going to kill me.
It rings again and I close my eyes as I answer. “Hello,” I whisper.
“Where the fuck are you?” he shouts.
“I need answers.”
“Where are you?” he screams.
“I’m at the prison. I’m visiting the boy who kept me alive.”
“What?” He yells so loud, I have to hold the phone away from my ear.
“Get in the fucking car and get your ass back here right now. How dare you do this?”