Death Row novel · Chapter 19 of 24
Chapter 19: The Third Seat
They strapped me down at ten to six.
The table was narrow and cold through the thin gown, and the straps were wide, padded leather.
An officer I didn't know slid the line into the vein in my left arm.
I watched the ceiling tiles, staring at the patterned squares.
"Ms. Marwick," the warden said from the foot of the table. "The witnesses are being seated. When the curtain opens, you will be asked for a last statement."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Do you understand?"
"I do."
The curtain on the long window to my right was pale green and heavy, and it slid open at one minute to six.
Behind the glass was a room with three rows of chairs.
I turned my head as far as the strap would let me.
The first row held two women from the press and a man in a gray suit from the attorney general's office.
In the second row sat Evan, and next to him Hauck, in his tight brown suit, with his bad leg stuck out into the aisle.
Hauck looked at me and gave me his short nod.
Then I looked at the third row.
There were three seats, and two were taken.
Marlene sat at the left end, in black wool, with her hands in her lap and a handkerchief ready.
The ring hung at her throat on its chain.
And in the third seat, in a camel coat, with a gray beard and wire glasses, sat my husband.
He looked sad, like a man at the funeral of someone he loved.
He met my eyes through the glass and nodded gravely.
Then he put two fingers on the arm of his chair and tapped it twice.
I had known for eleven days, and it still went through my whole body.
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