Death Row novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: The Carbon

There was one day left, and the officer with the cross woke me before the lights came on.

"Sergeant's office," she said. "Hauck. He says it can't wait for the legal-call window."

I followed her down the hall in my socks again.

The receiver was already off the hook, lying on the desk.

"Ms. Marwick?" Hauck's voice was low and rushed, and I could hear a clock ticking behind him. "I'm at your mother's care home."

"It's six in the morning."

"Their office manager comes in at five. I've been in her parking lot since four."

"You went there for the log."

"I went for the book. The page they tore out." He breathed out hard. "The manager says she wasn't here seven years ago, and the aide who was is gone. Nobody ever told her a page was missing. Ms. Marwick, I don't know what I'm looking for yet. But I think your mother does."

"My mother doesn't know what day it is."

"She asked for you."

My hand tightened on the phone.

"They're bringing her to the office in her robe," Hauck said. "The aide says mornings are her best hour. Hold on."

There was a scrape, and a creak, and a long silence.

Then a small old voice said, "Hello? Who is this?"

"Mom."

"Oh, it's you." She sounded cross and sleepy. "They've put me in a chair by the window. What time is it?"

"It's early. Mom, it's Leah."

"I know who you are."

I closed my eyes.

I had not heard her say that in years.

"Mom, listen. Do you remember the night of the fire? The night Blaine..."

"I don't like to talk about that." Her voice sharpened. "That's the night you slept in the chair. I woke up and you were in the chair with your coat on, and I thought, she's tired, let her sleep."

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