is very well connected, not as well connected as me, of course, but nevertheless it was enough to push this case forward when you should have been slapped on the wrist at best or served six months at worst. See, the file that says you put that kid in the ICU? It’s bullshit. The doctor is a friend of the family. Did you beat the little fucker black and blue? Yes, but he had no broken bones and spent only twenty-four hours in the hospital. As for the girl who changed her story? Her parents reported her missing about a week after you were sent down. Seems pretty fucking convenient if you ask me,” he continues, clearly pissed on my behalf.
“Oh, and here’s my favorite one, the judge that presided over your case, he is the fucktard’s godfather. It’s not common knowledge, but it was easy enough to find out with a little digging,” he admits with a shake of his head.
“Son of a fucking bitch. I never stood a chance, did I?” I laugh, but there is nothing funny about it.
“No, you didn’t, but shit like this makes my blood boil. I worked my ass off to get here, and for the most part, I believe in the system. But like with anything, there is always someone willing to abuse the power they’ve been given.”
“What makes me happy, however, is having a father who is who he is. I don’t keep the fact that he’s governor a secret. After what happened in here, maybe in hindsight, I should. But family is family no matter what form they come in or the paths they take in life. Hiding them makes it feel like I’m ashamed of them in some way when I’m anything but.”
“I get that, although my family members are family by choice, not by blood, which is just as well.”
He nods, before carrying on. “I spoke to my father, showed him what I found, and it’s no surprise to me that he was even more pissed than me. He takes shit like this personally, being the governor of the state in which this travesty occurred. As a result, as promised, you will be a free man as of the end of the month.”
I nod in thanks.
“No, Keaton, you’re not getting it. You’re free. Your record is being expunged, which is why you’ve had to wait until the end of the month because these things take time. But when you walk away from here, it will be without a record, without the need to check in with a parole officer and without restrictions about carrying firearms if you have a concealed carry license. Heck, if you wanted to apply for a job here, you could as you now have nothing that would get flagged in the system. We took care of your juvie record too. I think you’ve been punished enough, don’t you?”
I stare at him in open-mouthed shock. “Are you fucking serious?” If this is some kind of joke, I’ll lose my shit.
“As a heart attack, Keaton. Do me a favor, though, don’t come back. You don’t belong here. Don’t let what happened define you or skew the perception of who you are. You are innocent, which is a really odd thing to be saying to an inmate in solitary confinement.”
I laugh at him. “Didn’t you know, everyone is innocent in here,” I tell him with a wink, making him shake his head as he taps the bars twice.
“It’s going to be a long week of counting down. I’m sorry about that. I know being stuck here for the last two weeks has been tough, but they are gunning for you in general pop,” he explains with regret lacing his tone.
“I think I can manage seven more days of gray walls for a lifetime of blue skies.”
“That you can, Keaton, that you can,” he says with a smile before turning and walking away, calling over his shoulder when he gets to the outer door, “’Night, Keaton, and thank you.”
“’Night, Warden,” I reply and watch as he disappears before I collapse back on the bed. I toss the balled-up paper into the air over and over as the warden’s words finally sink in. And when they do, I smile the first smile since I walked through those iron gates.
Chapter Eight
Reign
“Hello?” I answer my cell distractedly, without bothering to look who’s calling. There’s a leak in this damn car I need to find.