The Inmate

by Freida McFadden

The real reason I was reluctant to take this job isn’t that I’m scared a prisoner will murder me with my own shoe. 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.

I dated a few guys before, but Shane is my first real boyfriend. He doesn’t even seem to mind that we have to sneak around because my parents don’t approve of him.

red flag

We stare at each other for another few seconds, then Tim’s face breaks into a sheepish grin. “Pretty smooth how I found out you’re still single, huh? You impressed with those skills?”

what a dork

Despite everything, I have to laugh. Tim always knew how to make me smile. “Extremely impressive. You must be quite the player.” “All elementary school assistant principals are.”

oh no thanks, creep

“Well, why not?” She blinks at me. “Is he ugly? Ugly men are good in bed, you know.”

lol

I thought of him like a brother, but there was nothing objectionable about him.

so you would practice on your brother??? no thanks

She ends up lying down, her hand strewn across her face. Whatever comes of this, Chelsea will never be the same. Finding her boyfriend murdered has done a number on

No shit

“I got worried that whoever it was would come back, so I went to get a knife from the kitchen. And guess what? All the knives are gone.”

Dun dun dun

Maybe because this isn’t the first girl he’s gone out with who suddenly vanished.

I had assumed after we exchanged “I love you’s” for the first time, we would make passionate love soon after.

I’m sure of it.

You shouldn’t be

Does Tim have a mannequin wrapped in a tarp in his basement?

Lo okay parker

drop the Merlot on the ground, and the bottle shatters into dozens of pieces.

Well why dod you do that

“Please…” Tim’s face is turning pink as the cop snaps the cuffs on his wrists. “I don’t know what’s in my basement, but I didn’t put her there. I swear to you…”

Well it cant be tim...this is going to easy

Today, after eleven years, Shane Nelson is being released from prison. And I am picking him up.

<3

body

open again. And there he is. Tim Reese. The boy next door. The guy I thought I was falling in love with before I temporarily sent him to prison for murder.

After all, I would do anything for my mom.

Oh Lordy