Page 129 of Butterfly

By the time Ollie was done, his limbs were heavy with exhaustion. He’d run out of energy, and halfway through speaking a sentence, he gave up and hung his head. Neither officer chastised him nor asked him to repeat himself. They glanced at each other, then got to their feet.

“Harrison said I could see Teddy,” Ollie blurted, suddenly a lot more awake.

“He’s waiting outside to take you to his cell.”

Ollie shook both their hands, then stepped into the corridor.

“Can I still see him?” Ollie asked.

“Yes,” Harrison said, taking Ollie to one side. “But he’s been told.”

Ollie’s gut sank.

“He doesn’t know the details of what happened, but he knows Pichard is dead. The prison therapist—”

“Jarvis.”

“Yes, Doctor Jarvis has been speaking to him, trying his best to calm him down, but he’s agitated to say the least.”

Harrison bit his lip, staring at Ollie like he expected him to change his mind about visiting Teddy in the cell.

“Which way?” Ollie asked.

Harrison flicked his chin to the left.

Ollie started walking.

Harrison followed.

Ollie heard Teddy before he’d even turned the corner to reach the cells. Fists banged on a metal door, and there were snarls and growls before Jarvis spoke in a steady tone to reassure him Ollie was in no danger.

Jarvis stood up from his crouch. He’d been speaking to Teddy through the hatch and gestured for Ollie to take over.

“Can’t you open the door?” Ollie asked.

As soon as he spoke, the cell went silent.

Harrison rubbed his chin. “I’m not sure that’s—”

“He won’t hurt me. He’ll never hurt me.”

Harrison glanced at Jarvis, who nodded.

“Sit down on the bed,” Harrison said firmly to Teddy.

He closed the hatch, then peeked through the spyhole in the door. Satisfied that Teddy had backed off, he unlocked the door and stepped into the cell.

Harrison stood to one side, then gestured for Ollie to join him.

Teddy stood up from the bed, still clenching his fists.

“Teddy…” Ollie widened his eyes at his bloody knuckles. He took Teddy’s hands in his. “What have you done to yourself?”

Teddy pulled his hands back, grabbed Ollie around the waist and spun him around.

“Hey…” Harrison snapped, still stood in the corner of the cell.

Teddy ignored him and pushed on Ollie’s shoulders until he sat on the bed. Harrison looked edgy, one hand coming up to grab the radio receiver on his shoulder, but he stopped when Teddy kneeled on the floor.

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