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“I’m sorry,” she shrieked The words ripped at her throat They had hooks on them “I’m sorry I’m sorry”
“I know, honey I know”
She had her arainst her side, holding on to her like Tilly’s body could keep her fro, and she felt Tilly shaking her head no, the h their bodies
“I did it,” she said “I killed hiht I had to I told him to look at the readout so that he’d bend, so that he’d bend his neck, and he did And I—and I—and I— Oh, God, I’ to puke”
“Trashy people puke,” Tilly said “Ladies are unwell”
It hed, and then she put her head down again and cried Her chest hurt so badly she was sure so Aortic aneurys Sorrow couldn’t really feel like a heart breaking, could it? That was just a phrase
It went on forever And then past that, and then it slowed Her body was as li Tilly’s blouse was soaked with tears and snot and saliva, but she was still sitting just as she’d been Her hand still ran through Clarissa’s hair Her fingernails traced the curve of her ear
“You put the bo Un,” Tilly said, “and framed Jim Holden for it”
It wasn’t a question or an accusation She didn’t want Clarissa to confess, just to confirainst Tilly’s lap When she spoke, her voice clicked and her throat felt thick and raw
“He hurt Daddy Had to do sohed
“Your father is a first-class shit,” she said, and because it was her saying it, it didn’t hurt to hear
“I’ve got to tell the chief,” the guard said, apology in her voice “I mean about what happened He wantsyou,” Tilly said
“You need to couard said “I can’t leave you there with her It’s not safe”
A flash of panic lit her mind She couldn’t be alone Not now They couldn’t leave her locked up and alone
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Tilly said “You go do whatever it is you need to do I’ll be here with Claire”
“Ah That girl killed a lot of people,her head, Clarissa knehat look was on Tilly’s face The guard cleared her throat
“I’ll have to lock the door, ma’am”
“Do what you need to, Officer,” Tilly said
The bars shifted and crashed The lock clacked home The footsteps retreated Clarissa wept for Ren Maybe the others would co Un Holden’s lover whom she’d beaten and brutalized All the h the Ring She ht have tears for them, but noas only Ren, and she didn’t think she would stop in her lifetime
“I deserve to die,” she said “I’ve becoree, but she didn’t stop cradling her either