I Was Never One of Them novel · Chapter 9 of 24
Chapter 9: Bail
The county courthouse opened at eight, and I was on the steps at seven forty.
I had not slept.
I wore my work blazer over yesterday's shirt and carried a manila envelope with every dollar I could pull from three accounts.
At eight fifteen, Gavin's family lawyer climbed the steps with Constance on his arm.
Gavin came behind them with Whitney.
Whitney held a coffee in one hand and her new phone in the other, and the red light was on.
"Hazel," Gavin said, almost kindly. "Go home."
"I'm here for the hearing."
"It's a parole matter. It doesn't involve you."
"You filed a complaint saying I was a victim's family member in contact with him." I held up my envelope. "That's me. I'm involved."
Constance looked me over with something close to interest.
"You're a stubborn girl," she said. "I admire it, in the abstract."
"Is that why you called the police?"
"I did no such thing. My son's concern for your safety was entirely natural."
"My safety."
"The man is a convicted killer, dear. You were alone with him in a cabin at midnight."
Whitney lifted her phone a little higher.
I turned and looked straight into the lens.
"I went to him," I said. "He didn't contact me. I walked into his house and kissed him, and if the Lockridge family wants to press charges for that, they can press them against me."
Whitney's mouth fell open.
Gavin went white to the hairline.
Nobody on those steps said a word.
I walked past them into the courthouse.
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