INMATE 22

HE WAS SENTENCED TO THE CHAIR

Doing my best effort, I forced a smile and turned around to see Jaqueline. What was she doing there? Her car wasn't outside.

"Jacs, what are you doing here? I thought you were on vacation" it sounded nice, but the slight urge in my voice was too obvious.

"I came back early, but the real question is: what are you doing here? I believe I told you to drop the case"

Even when she had been my best friend for over twenty years I wasn't willing to let her ruin everything. I choked with the word fuck you for a bit.

"I am okay Jacs, you don't have to worry"

Jaqueline scratched her chin, doubtful.

"Yeah well, it's a waste of time anyway"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Jaqueline paused, not so sure to share that information. She took me by the arm and pulled me a few steps away from Henry. Trying to avoid being too loud Jaqueline whispered:

"I heard back from Judge Prasad, they had delivered enough about inmate 222..."

She paused enough time to make me wanna hit her in the face.

"He has been sentenced to the chair" she said.

My blood went cold.

"When?"

"Saturday morning"

Even though I felt like I was going to collapse, I put my shit together and pretended like they were just that, news.

"I'm sorry El, I know how deep you were into this"

You brought me here in the first place. If it weren't for you, offering this fucking job I...

"There is always another inmate, right?" I replied.

Content with my answer, Jaqueline smiled, convinced I was indeed doing better. I was no longer the crazy friend with a dead daughter and an obsession with a criminal.

I smiled back.

"Well, I guess I am going to head back home but, are you free for lunch?"

Her good mood increased. Jac's weakness was forgetting she was the penitentiary head director and not only my oldest friend.

"Sure, same place?"

"See you at 3, same place"

I hugged her, wrapping my fingers around her ID card in her back pocket.

"Bye"

She left.

I leaned over the front desk and said to Henry.

"I am going to run some errands, but will be right back to check on inmate 222, get the paperwork done before 3 pm, understood?"

Henry nodded, not seeing anything weird in my request. He was too busy getting cute for his girlfriend Ally, who had been visiting him quite often at work. Besides, I was still the penitentiary's psychiatrist after all.