If she ever thought to ask another question, she murdered them and buried them under ten feet of excuses. But mine are dug up, plump and healthy, fresh dirt in their eye sockets. They want answers now, and I know where to get them.

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

DARIO

What’s black and white and red all over? A newspaper? A nun with a bloody nose?

What wears mourning black and rage red and clutches an old sheet of paper?

Sarah Colonia, standing on the other side of the glass.

“Who brought you in this time?” I need to know who I’m performing for. I don’t think I can say hurtful things to her again.

“No one. It’s just me.”

That’s absurd, and yet… the truth is in the quiver of her bottom lip and the righteous fire in her eyes. She came of her own accord, under her own power, without permission. She’s going to get herself in trouble if she doesn’t find a way out of this place soon.

“How?” I point toward the camera’s bright red dot.

“I told the guard Massimo sent me down.”

“If your brother’s not right behind you, he will be.”

“I don’t care. I’m going to tell him what you say anyway.”

“Say about what?”

“Tell me the truth about my mother.”

Does she want me to betray everything we’ve been working to conceal? I’ve seen her angry and I’ve seen her scared. This is both and neither of those. Something’s changed about her. She’s toothpaste splurting from the tube. She’s baked bread. There’s been a chemical change that cannot be undone.

But what is it?

“All. Of. It.” She launches each word like a dart. “Everything.”

Did she forget where we are and how little I can say?

No. She didn’t forget, she just doesn’t care.

That’s not what’s changed here.

“I told you what I told you.”

“You told me lies.” She speaks from her throat, rattling her larynx to get the words out. She slaps the paper against the glass, pressing it flat. I don’t want to look at it. I want to keep my attention on her, but I can’t. The severance paper proves that I am a liar. “The date is after her funeral.”

“After they told you she died. But I told you she went back to your father.”

“And you said…” She holds herself. “She was one of the first. You said she’s alive, but you didn’t know where, because you just let her go.”