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He admitted that the case had appeared pretty open-and-shut at the beginning Originally, even he had thought Nick looked guilty He’d lost faith in the criminal justice systees But maybe this time the system would actually work the way it was intended

Morgan’s body shifted forward an inch “Did Chief Horner tell you about the accusations against Dean Voss last year? And that he was on the yearbook committee with Tessa?”

She never raised her voice, but her posture and tone had beco in a way he hadn’t expected She slid into the offensive in a perfectly ladylike fashion It was like watching Perry Mason disguised as Donna Reed Lance i counsel by surprise

“I’ll have the test expedited” The DA’s eyes went flat Clearly, he hadn’t expected Morgan’s direct attack either “Be careful, Ms Dane You’re stirring up ”

Chapter Thirty-One

Jail, day 5

Nick retrieved an evening chow tray froestured to him Nick walked over, and Shorty motioned to the empty spot on the bench next to him “You can eat here if you want”

No one had bothered hi far away fro list of habits He’d also spotted other blind spots and avoided them as well

Nick sat down, hoping no one would attack him in full view of the surveillance cameras

“I’ry You want an extra biscuit?” Shorty asked

Nick hesitated Trying to analyze the subtext was giving him a headache If he took the biscuit, did he owe Shorty so in return? If he didn’t take the offer, would Shorty be offended?

If there was one thing he’d learned since he’d arrived here, it was that jail operated on a syste a man could do was show disrespect to another Every man had a place on the hierarchy, a spot he’d earned Insults, even perceived ones, threatened that established pecking order

Chaos resulted

Plus, Nick figured if he stuck with honesty, he wouldn’t have to remember what he’d said “I appreciate the offer, but I can’t help but wonder why you’re ation?”

Shorty tossed the biscuit onto Nick’s tray “You’re a smart kid We trade food all the ti”

Spurning the biscuit would be offensive and signal that Nick held a grudge Had the beatdown been a test?

“In that case, I accept,” Nick said The er drove hiy green beans, but today Nick ate every scrap of food on his plate

The two guys on the opposite side of the table joked between theive Nick a second look He realized that he was no longer being eyeballed Had he passed whatever test he’d been put through?

They finished eating, shoveling their food with the concentration of the perpetually hungry

Shorty lowered his voice “Do you have your PIN yet?”

Nick shook his head He was still waiting to be issued his prisoner personal identification nu from make phone calls to purchase items at the commissary

“That sucks,” Shorty said “We’re ht I could spot you”

A spread was a ether with food they’d purchased from the commissary like tuna, ramen, coffee, and candy Nick had watched theht he’d been here

“Thanks for the offer, but I’d rather wait until I can contribute I don’t want to mooch” Nick had already seen oneon a debt