CASEY
My toes are turning blue, but this holding cell could be a lot worse. I don’t mind the cold so much. I have a thin blanket I can put around my shoulders. It’s not long enough to cover my whole body, I guess because they’re afraid I’ll make a noose and hang myself somehow. I’m thankful for my socks. One of the trustees who brought my food told me that when I’m taken upstairs to the general population they’ll issue me some socks, and they don’t fit well and aren’t as good as mine. She let me keep my own for now.
I’m hungry, but even that isn’t as bad as it could be, because they gave me a ham sandwich earlier. That settled my stomach somewhat. I have to say that unburdening my soul and confessing everything to the police—both good and bad—has made me feel much lighter. It’s only the dread of Keegan getting his hands on me that keeps me unsettled.
But God has been with me so far, and I think I saw a flicker of belief on the detectives’ faces when I told them about Keegan. At least there’s doubt there, which I hope will make them look into things. I know that if Dylan knows I’m in custody, he’s probably sent our evidence to some media person, or he’s already taken it to the DA. And I beg God to let Dylan miraculously be the one who’s sent to transport me. That would be a miracle.
I sit on the bench with my back against the painted cinderblock wall, and I doze for a moment. Then suddenly there’s a clang—making me jump—and the door swings open.
“Cox, you’re being extradited to the Shreveport police.”
I get to my feet, confused.
I’m instantly alert as I walk out in my sock feet, looking around me, anxious to see who’s waiting.
Please let it be Dylan. Please let it be Dylan.
As we round the corner to the hallway, I hear a voice that makes my blood chill. Gordon Keegan, cackling like he’s a good old boy and the other detectives are his fishing buds. They’re talking about fantasy football and placing bets. He’s a master.
I look for an exit, but of course there is no way out. As the guard leads me to that room, I stop. She grabs my arm and her hand moves to her Taser. “Come on. Move!”
I step into the room and see him. The hair on the back of my neck rises. Tears sting my eyes. I can’t look at him.
I feel suddenly hot, my ears burning, my hands beginning to sweat. I can hardly swallow, my mouth is so dry.
The two detectives have clearly already forgotten what I’ve told them.
“Well, if it isn’t the disappearing Casey Cox,” Keegan says. He glances toward one of the guards. “Go ahead and get her personal effects. I’m ready to get her on the road.”
“I want a lawyer,” I blurt. “Before I leave, I need to see my lawyer.”
Keegan looks up. Is that alarm in his eyes? “You can get a lawyer when we get to Shreveport.”
I look at him full on now, my gaze sharp. “My lawyer lives here.”
Detective Briar, who seemed to half believe my story, scratches his head. “Who’s your lawyer?”
“Billy Barbero,” I say. Suddenly fear overtakes me. What am I thinking? I’m going to hire an ambulance chaser to represent me on a murder charge? When he doesn’t even know who I am? But I can’t change course now. “I need to talk to him before they take me. Please call him.”
“So let me get this straight,” Keegan says. “You’ve been interviewing her for hours? And she lawyers up now? Before you extradite her? No way. That’s not gonna happen. She can get a lawyer in Shreveport. I don’t have to say a word to her on the way. I won’t ask her a thing. She can keep her lips sealed and just wait until we get back to say anything. But by God, I am going to take her back.”
I turn my pleading gaze to the detectives. They’re probably running the laws through their heads and considering whether they’ll get blamed if I get off because they violated the rules. No cop wants to be the reason a murder charge is dropped— especially one of this magnitude. I double down on that.
“I could get off on a technicality if you don’t let me see my lawyer. He will tell them in court that I was not allowed an attorney when I asked for one.”
Keegan speaks up quickly. “Once you ask for an attorney we’re not allowed to question you further. That doesn’t mean we can’t take you. In fact, I’m going to Mirandize you right now for the murder of Brent Pace in Shreveport, Louisiana. You have the right to remain silent . . .”
I listen to my rights with my breath held, but my eyes are locked on the doubting Detective Briar. If I can just get him to call Billy Barbero, maybe it will slow things down. Billy doesn’t know Casey Cox from Adam, but he won’t be able to avoid the pull into the limelight if he’s chosen to represent a supposed murderer like me. It may not occur to him that I’m Liana Winters, but he’ll figure it out soon enough.
My hope is dashed when Briar looks at Keegan and says, “It’s your case, man. If you want to take the risk, you can make her wait until she gets to Shreveport. Her lawyer can drive there.”
I close my eyes. When I open them again, Keegan’s got his crow’s-feet activated. He’s thrilled that he’s getting away with this.
Where is Dylan?
I don’t have time for subtlety, so I try again. “If he kills me on the way back to Shreveport, you will know that I told you the truth. If I vanish or if I don’t make it back, please look into what I told you. There are people who know the truth and have the evidence, and they will hold you accountable.”
Keegan cackles like he just delivered a hysterical punchline. “This girl’s good. You got to hand it to her, boys. She doesn’t let up. Come on, get her back into her clothes. Give me her personal effects and we’ll be on our way.”
The female guard takes me into another room and watches as I change back into my clothes. I feel like I’m going to throw up, but somehow I hold it back. Instead, I whisper aloud, “God, it’s in your hands now.”
The guard looks disinterested as she walks me back to the detectives and hands me over to the man who will murder me.