The Inmate

by Freida McFadden

“Only I can dispense medications,” Dorothy tells me. “You write the order and I’ll dispense the medication to the patient. If there’s something we don’t have, we can put it on order.” I rub my sweaty hands against

men will see you for legitimate reasons, some of them are here to get drugs.

Do not let these men trick you into prescribing narcotics for them to abuse or sell.”

“never accept any sort of payment in exchange for narcotics. If anyone makes an offer like that to you, you come straight to me.” I suck in a breath. “I would never do that.” Dorothy gives me a pointed look. “Yes, well, that’s what the last one said. Now she’s gonna end up in a place like this herself.”

It’s because of one of the inmates in this prison. Someone I knew a long time ago, who I am not eager to see ever again. But I can’t tell that to Dorothy. I can’t reveal to her that the man who was my very first boyfriend is an inmate at Raker Maximum Security Penitentiary, currently serving life without the possibility of parole. And I’m the one who put him here.

It’s mine—all mine. After all, they’re both dead now.

don’t quite understand how you can love somebody so much, yet so frequently want to throttle them. “First of

In his entire life, my parents would never let us visit—they always came out to us in the city, until I told them they couldn’t anymore.

And I can think of a few other reasons why he would be scared about starting school after what happened back in Queens. “I’ll

“Now that we’re living here, am I going to meet my dad?”

His dad is the inmate

“She just says stop being such a baby.”

Something is up with dorothy

None of them seem to like her much.

That was what he said to me just a few hours before he tried to kill me.

But I was a minor at the time of Shane’s trial, and my parents worked hard to keep my name out of public records.

“I laid out all the charts for the scheduled visits. If you need any other charts, I can bring them to you.”

Weirdo

a teenage girl named Tracy Gifford from a neighboring town was found murdered in the woods.

Tracy Gifford was such a big deal, and now it’s like she never existed.

Did sean kill her?

But he lopes me. And that’s almost better than love.

my parents will never approve of him. Because according to them, much like his car, Shane is “trash.”

Okay this is a notebook situation

Tim knows me better than anybody in the world.

Friends w chemistry

He hates him with a strange passion that I don’t entirely understand.

Bc tim is inlove w brooke

Vaguely, I’m aware of the fact that Tim never, ever says no to me. But I try not to think about it. There are certain aspects of my relationship with the boy next door that are better not to analyze too deeply.

Oh so she KNOWS hes in love

After all, may as well show him a good time.

People do talk in towns like this, even though my parents did everything they could to conceal my pregnancy.

Tim Reese is hot

“I’m okay,” I mumble. “We weren’t exactly close. They weren’t the best parents in the world.” I don’t mention that I hadn’t seen or spoken to my parents in five years. No need to get into the details.

I’m going to figure out a way to get Mr. Carpenter that mattress if it’s the last thing I do.

then. I hate even more how much he looks like my son.

Boom shane is the bd

“Stitch him up without it.”

Tim is standing across

Tim is giving weirdo stalker

Because if it wasn’t him, I have made a terrible mistake.

To be fair, my parents barely let me out at the beginning of the year because they were so panicked after that girl Tracy Gifford was found dead.

Hmm practice kill?

“Never have I ever,” he says, “been on a date with Tracy Gifford.”

But then Tim raises his cup. And he takes a drink.

Def killed her

After all, ten years ago, he saved my life.

Did bhe tho?

“Two dates.” Tim looks like he wants to disappear into the folds of the sofa. “That’s it. It wasn’t a big deal.”

“I told you, it was just two dates.”

And what’s up with the shackles each time? I thought before it was because he had been in a fight, but now he’s still cuffed.

Our son.

didn’t want some stupid one-night stand. I

What a sick turn of events

He leans in toward me. “And I’m going to show you how much.” And he does.

Like if Shane leaned in and kissed me. I jerk my head back, shocked by the thoughts going through my head. What’s wrong with me?

Ooo girl you still LOOOPE him

“That’s right. I, uh… I live just down the block, and my mom sent over these cookies from Florida, and I thought…”

Which is fine. A dog house that big wasn’t practical, anyway.

Kayla hangs behind, a distant fourth.

Hmmmmm

At the mention of Shane’s name, Hunt’s eyes darken. He swivels his head in the direction of the infirmary door, his gaze seething.

Maybe he is the real killer?

“Hunt came in here before he went home yesterday and put the cuffs on him.

“We’re going to find who did this to you, man,” Shane says. “And we’re going to make him pay.”

“Tim.” I feel like I’m choking. “What are you saying?” “I think you know exactly what I’m saying, Brooke.”

“Oh!” Tim rubs his jaw. “Jesus, Brooke, I’m so sorry. I had no idea. I got that aftershave as a present, but I’m going to throw it away.”