Black Rose

Chapter 23

Kate

My feet pounded against the concrete as I ran towards the road. I knew exactly where I was headed.

I reached the jail before I could think twice about what I was about to do. Valerie needed me. We needed each other. At least that's what I kept telling myself.

I knew I could get in major trouble for my actions, but if it helped Valerie, then I would do anything.

I walked into the lobby of the jailhouse. I immediately noticed the large, heavy-looking steel doors that most likely kept the prisoners confined inside. There was an old, wooden desk in the corner and three plastic chairs on the right wall. The concrete floor and white, bare walls gave the room a drab feel.

I walked over to the desk where an older man sat typing at a computer. Even the computer looked ancient. "Excuse me," I said politely, after I had been standing there for a couple minutes.

The man looked up at me. I glanced at his name tag that read Jake. "Yes, ma'am?" he asked. I detected a hint of a Southern accent mixed with a bit of annoyance.

"I'm here to visit an inmate. Her name is--" I began to say, before Jake interrupted me.

"Visiting hours are closed for today. You can come back tomorrow at noon," Jake said with a sigh.

"Yes, I understand. But may I please see her? It's very important," I said, starting to get desperate. If he refused again, I already had a Plan B ready.

Jake looked at me suspiciously. Suddenly, another cop walked up to the desk. His name tag read Paul. "Sorry to interrupt, but I think we can squeeze in one more visit. What is your name?" Paul asked.

My previous disappointment turned into happiness. There was still hope. And, quite honestly, hope was pretty much all I needed. "My name is Kate. I'm here to visit Valerie Rose."

A brief look of panic flashed across his face before he replaced it with a smile. "Of course. Right this way," Paul said, leading me through the steel doors.

We walked through a long hallway filled with empty cells. Occasionally, we passed a couple inmates who were moping around in a common room but Officer Paul ordered them to go back to their cells.

We finally reached the cells where the inmates were kept. Out of everyone, I spotted Valerie immediately. She was sitting cross-legged on a bed, facing the opposite wall. As we got closer, I noticed that she was deep in conversation with another inmate who was sitting on the other bed. The girl Valerie was talking to looked familiar, but I couldn't place her.

"Valerie, you have a visitor. I will escort you to the visitor's room," Paul said. Valerie looked up and met my eyes. Despite the warm temperature in the jail, I shivered. Valerie was glaring at me with pure hatred.

"I'll be back soon," Valerie told the girl. She hopped off her bed and walked towards us. We were led to a small room with a long table and two folding chairs. The officer stood outside the room, keeping an eye on us from a grimy window that sectioned us off from the cells outside.

"Valerie, I am so sorry that things turned out this way. I had no idea that Susan had sent the police to your house. I should never have let that happen," I apologized. I looked at Valerie to gauge her reaction but she was just staring at me blankly.

When Valerie didn't reply, I asked, "Val, are you okay?"

Valerie shook her head slowly. "You should have never let that happen," Valerie repeated. Her voice sounded hollow and her face was pale and ghostly in the dim lighting.

"I know. And I'm really sorry for that. But I have a plan to get you out of here," I added, lowering my voice. I was practically whispering.

When Valerie didn't reply, I continued. "I could sneak us out through a window I saw at the end of this hallway. It opens up into the side parking lot. If you listen to my instructions--" I explained before Valerie cut me off.