Page 33 of The Silent Note

GREY

Sloane is back.

She’s walking beside me now, slightly in front. Her eyes bounce around the hallway, going up to the flickering lights, down to the puke-stained concrete floors, ahead to the steel doors that are slightly ajar.

Her Redwood Prep skirt swishes around her legs, always a little too short.She had awful hand-me-downs. No one was ever as tall as her. But instead of admitting that as the reason she had ill-fitting clothes, she told everyone it was because she had nice legs and liked to show them off.

It was one of the excuses the media used for what happened to her. One of the reasons everyone was able to move on, to write her off… as if she got what was coming to her.

The lights flicker.

Sloane is gone.

Zane stops in front of a door where a warden is waiting. He shares a nod with the officer.

“Ten minutes,” the warden says.

Zane nods again and hands over an envelope.

The warden disappears down the path, asking no questions.

“This way,” Zane says, smiling as if he’s showing me to the artwork he purchased.

This way to meet Sloane’s murderer.

He steps forward easily, but my feet are rooted into the floor.

I’ve wanted this for so long.Neededthis.

I made a deal with the devil just to have achanceat this moment and yet it was the devil’s son who led me straight to hell.

Finally.

Everything I’ve been working toward?—

A true turnaround in my investigation?—

Sloane’s justice. Right before me, close enough to touch.

So why can’t I move?

Zane notices I’m not beside him and he turns sharply. The smile teeters and dulls into a sharp frown. He walks back over.

“Talk to me, tiger.”

I open my mouth, but no sound escapes.

It hurts.

I look up, beyond Zane’s shoulder. In the darkness, Sloane crouches. She’s got her legs pulled up to her chest. Her face is dirty, her hair matted around her cheeks. Bruises and scratch marks taint her beautiful skin.

Grey,I’m scared.

My throat closes up. Why can’t I breathe?

Grey, I can’t do it. I can’t see him again.

Sloane…

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