“Treepoint is a small town; everybody knows your business, whether you want them to or not.” He shrugged. “Damn if I would put my freedom on the line for anyone, family or not.” He gave a disgusted snort. “How much longer you going to sit here, twiddling your thumbs, expecting her to come and save the fucking day? Elizabeth is going to steamroll you into a prison sentence, and you’re gonna let her. Then, when you come to your senses at the state pen, you can say Greer told you so,” he mocked. “I wish I had a nickel for how many dumbasses have found themselves locked up protecting someone else.”

“I haven’t done anything wrong, and Elizabeth will testify to that.”

“What she waiting for? Why wait until you go to trial?”

“There are mitigating factors you’re unaware of.”

“Mitigating factors? Jeez, you know what that sounds like? A fancy way of saying you’re fucked. Have you told your lawyer about this information? The sheriff?” The deputy gave her a pitying look. “Just don’t expect her to come visiting you in the state pen when they give you life.”

A crunching fear had her jumping up from the bunk to confront him. “You’re overexaggerating to get me to talk, and it won’t work. Life?” she scoffed. “I didn’t kill anyone.”

The deputy raised his hand, lifting one finger at a time. “Kidnapping, bribery, assault—”

“I did not kidn—” Snapping her jaw closed, Alanna hugged her waist as she turned to give the deputy her back, hiding her expression. “Go away.”

“Owen Hudson is telling the sheriff it was all your plan to get Arin not to give the patent away for the vaccine. That you were planning to sell it to the highest bidder.”

She pressed her lips together to keep herself from talking.

“He’s gonna walk with a sweet deal while your ass rots away.”

Her resolve lasted one hot minute before doubt creeped in, undermining her determination.

“My lawyer won’t let that happen.”

“Diamond is good, but she ain’t that good. What you need is a fucking miracle,” he ridiculed her.

Unable to take it any longer, Allana spun to face him. “Unless you have one handy, please leave me alone,” she pleaded, unable to keep the fear at bay any longer. Why had she allowed herself to get drawn into talking to him? She needed her medication. It put her in a funky headspace where she didn’t want to talk.

His discerning gaze bore directly into hers. “I wouldn’t say handy”—straightening from the bars, he pulled his pants up his skinny frame—“but I been known to make them happen when someone needs one.”

“Is this where you tell me you’ll help me out if I do a little something for you?” Giving him a disgusted glance, she sat back down on the bunk.