Page 25 of Trusting Laurence
Marcus clenched his hands, fighting the urge to throw something at the door.
For the first time in his life, he was learning what depression was. Stuck in this hellhole, he’d had years to slowly go out of his mind. He raged at how much he’d lost, powerlessness another first.
Out in the world, he’d been somebody. He’s spoken and people had listened. In here, he was nobody. And he blamed Tahlia and her bitch sister for every last thing that had gone wrong for him in the last few years. After all, if it hadn’t been for them, he wouldn’t be trapped in this unending nightmare.
He had no idea how long he’d been lying there where a nurse bustled in.
“Doctor has requested follow-up X-rays to see how the ribs are healing up. So let’s get you to radiology, shall we?”
Her cheerful, good-naturedness grated on already seriously aggravated nerves, but Marcus held his silence. He was trying his damnedest to be a model prisoner in the hopes of garnering favor for parole. But there were days he was sorely tempted to lash out. To dish out a lesson, just like the ones he used give his ex-wife.
She pushed his bed down the hall and wheeled him into the waiting room at radiology.
“I’ll be back to collect you in a little while,” she told him.
Left to his own devices once again, he lay listening to the noises of the hospital wing.
Time passed slowly as he waited to be attended to. Stuck in a hospital bed staring at nothing was not his idea of a good time. It irked him to no end that he was confined to this hellhole while his ex-sister-in-law got on with living her life outside. At least there was some consolation in the fact that his bitch ex-wife was dead.
When he was eventually returned to his room, he had a visitor. Seemed it was his lucky day.
9
Larry watched from his position at the window as they wheeled Marcus’s bed back into the room. He’d been surprised when Jim had called him to say that the slimeball was requesting to see him. It was most definitely the last thing he’d expected from the man.
He waited for the orderly to situate the bed to his satisfaction and watched as he left. All the while not saying a word. As was his habit, Finn stood off to the side, quietly watching. The man missed absolutely nothing. And he relied on those keen observation skills.
Silence reigned for long moments as Larry waited for Marcus to speak. Clearly the man had an agenda; otherwise, they wouldn’t be here. He was curious as to what it was but wanted Marcus to be the one to bring it up. Larry watched as Marcus squirmed under Finn’s silent, focused gaze.
Finally, Marcus cleared his throat, the nervous sound the first that had been made since the orderly had left the room.
“I see the warden contacted you. I didn’t expect you to come so soon.”
“I was in the area, so I figured I’d stop by,” Larry lied.
Marcus nodded. “Yes, well ...” He cleared his throat again. “I wanted to speak to you.”
“Yeah, I guessed as much since you asked to see me.” He had no intention of making things easy on the other man. It amused him to see Marcus so uncomfortable. Clearly, he wanted something from Larry and was having a hard time coming out and saying it. But Larry had time.
Marcus cast a look Finn’s way, then back at Larry. Neither man moved nor said a word. Merely waited.
“I need your protection,” Marcus finally blurted, the words coming in a rush.
“Yeah? From what, exactly?” Larry asked.
“The people who did this to me.”
“You’re going to be here a long time still. Why exactly do you think I’d be willing to protect you from anyone here on the inside?”
“This happened to me because of you. They beat me because you visited me. The fact that I didn’t tell you anything meant nothing to them.”
That got Larry’s attention. He straightened from where he’d been leaning against the windowsill. “How did my visit buy you a beating? What has one got to do with the other?”
“Apparently, they have eyes on me in here. Shit, if they find out you’re here now, they’ll probably send someone to finish the job. That’s why I need your protection.”
“Listen up, Marcus. I owe you nothing. Unless you’ve got something for me pertaining to that visit, we’re done here.” He noticed Marcus was sweating. Something had the man scared. He was intrigued. Turning to Finn, he nodded. “We’re out of here.”
“Wait. Wait!” Marcus took a deep breath. “When you came, you were asking questions about the papers you had.”
