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His body hadn’t been found, and she felt certain he wasn’t really dead

No,her up this way He’d learn about this hearing, confirm that she wasn’t permitted bail And he’d smile and smile

She needed to get her mind off this somehow She needed a shoulder to cry on, but for the moment, at least, she was all alone

Except for the driver in the cab of the van He’d been the same one who’d driven her to court

His name was Ari They’d been introduced as she was led into the van at the prison and strapped in before heading to the courthouse Not that he’d said a word to her then He was young and skinny, with dark hair and a constant frown, dressed in a police uniform

Of course they’d send a cop to ensure that vicious, murderous Savannah wouldn’t harm anyone else

She cringed at the irony her own mind presented

Outside the courthouse, all Ari had done was to open the back door and unhook her when they’d arrived Then he’d handed her over to another uniformed cop, who had led her inside to the courtroom where her attorney waited, as did the District Attorney, Karly Fitzpatrick She’d been shohere to sit—as if that was a surprise Right up front, facing the judge The procedure had gone forward, with its terrible result, not even any bail, and she had been led back outside, handcuffed again and strapped once more into this van

Ari had acknowledged her only with a nod of his head

But noell, she could at least try to get his attention She turned as much as she could to face the closedthat led into the van’s cab

“Ari?” she called “Ari, I knoe’re still a distance froency back here”

She hadup the one she would tell him about

He didn’t respond, or at least she didn’t hear him

“Ari, could we please stop at a gas station or so? I really need to use the restroom”

She concentrated to hear beyond the vehicle’s ru, but she heard nothing