Hiding off the Grid

Chapter Eighteen

It was the same man that I had talked to before, the old man that believed I didn't kill my parents. I assumed he was in charge of a large part of the FBI so I had to be careful around him. I had to show him that I'm completely innocent so he won't charge me with a lot of misdemeanors.

I quickly looked at my reflection in the one-way glass on the side of the room to take in my reflection. I noticed my bruises I have gotten since I have been here and how the old man will just view me as a law breaker and nothing more. This was the man's job to arrest and sentence criminals according to the law. I was just another case of his.

"So I'm going to get straight to the point." The man said looking me up and down. "I won't charge you with the other crimes you committed, out of my generosity." And I took an intake of breath, does that mean I'm getting out soon?

"I can see that prison life is not suited for you, so you will get out in a week. We need time to get paperwork straightened out with you. We're erasing the name Arizona Stone from all records everywhere, we are going to send an announcement to news stations today saying you were executed. We will then start over by giving you a different name and write up background information to put on your public records." The old man stated slowly as if it would take me time to decipher what he was saying. But I just sat frozen for a minute before a big smile lit up my face.

I quickly stood up from my chair and ran over to the man, pulling him into a huge hug. The smile not budging as I wrapped my arms around him and he did the same. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." I chanted to him under my breath.

Things were finally working out for me. Then the old man spoke again, "But we are going to get you to do something for us when you're out, we don't know what yet." And I stepped out of the hug I was giving him.

Was I going to have to be on parol? Or have a foot bracelet? Or do community service?

I thought over all the possibilities and soon I was dreading to have to do something for them. I think my facial expression mirrored my feelings and the man spoke again. "Don't worry yourself, I shouldn't have told you that part yet. Ignore it." He said giving me a smile.

Hearing that I put it to the back of my mind and I smiled about how I could go back home. Go back to Charleston. I got really excited, I've already been away too long. What if Jaxton didn't want me back?

No, I thought. He wouldn't just cast me aside, after everything we've been through already.

"A woman named Marilyn is here saying she wants to speak to you Arizona before your 'supposed' execution soon." Damien said entering the room again, I didn't even realize he left in the first place.

"Aunt Marilyn." I whispered under my breath. Last time I had seen her I went all crazy at that hotel in Maine. She must have thought I had some serious problems and I guess now is the time to really face her. I'm not that scared girl I was last time I saw her, I was a new and improved Arizona. "Okay." I said to Damien who led me out of the room and further down the hallway to the large double doors at the end.

When in the room I could tell it was a place where prisoners could talk to their family and friends while in here. It was just a bunch of small metal tables scattered around the room, right now only one other prisoner was sitting at a table talking to an older woman.

Then my eyes connected with my Aunt Marilyn was sitting at a random metal table by herself staring at her hands as if she was in deep thought.

I slowly left Damien and sat myself down in front of my aunt who looked up at me immediately. She had tears in her eyes and I could tell she was going through a rough time over something.