“You don’t want to be here, Covington,” Jetson said, glancing between her and Hosea’s bow.

“To the contrary, Jetson, I do. Now hush!” She smiled, looking like a fox. She closed the door and sauntered toward us. “I couldn’t help but overhear your dilemma.”

“He’s the one with a dilemma,” Jetson said.

Covington smirked. “Oh, Jetson. Don’t be a cliché as well as a fool. Arika isn’t worth it.”

Jetson’s eyes narrowed. “Whose side are you on?”

“Your side,” she said.

“Well, I’m on Arika’s side.”

She tilted her head. “And have you asked her whose side she’s on?”

Jetson didn’t respond.

“I thought not.” She flicked a disrespectful finger toward Hosea’s weapon. “That thing won’t be necessary.”

Hosea hesitated a moment, then dropped his arms. By the time they rested at his side, the bow was, once again, a metallic tube.

Covington licked her lips. “Now, move away from her.”

He didn’t budge.

“Obi Solomon, not you too! I’m not going to hurt her. I just want Jetson to see her face, so he knows I’m not lying.”

Hosea looked over his shoulder at me.

I dropped my gaze and nodded. I knew what was coming and I knew I deserved it. I couldn’t stop myself from trembling as he took my arm and guided me forward.

“That’s better,” Covington said, icily. She never liked me, but at least she had respected me. Now, I’d lost even that small affection. I’d wheedled my way into their circle only to betray them—again.

“What’s this about?” Jetson said, looking between us.

Covington thrust her face close to my cheek, almost kissing me. “This is about Hannibal in the Pit,” she answered.

Her words struck me like a blow, and I bent at the waist. No!

Jetson jerked. “Hannibal is in the Pit? Why?”

“Why exactly.” Her voice shook. “Why is Hannibal in the Pit, Arika? Hannibal is the best of us. She never has a bad word for anyone, even when they deserve it.”

I rolled my shoulders forward, trying to stave off the guilt.

“Explain yourself—now!” Jetson shouted.

She met his gaze. “There’s nothing to explain. She’s in the Pit and your precious Arika put her there. She told Jones that Hannibal stole newspapers, and Jones had her room searched. There was twenty months of evidence. So, she’ll have twenty days, without food, in the Pit.”

My head flew up. I found Covington’s eyes and accused her silently. You lie! Most people didn’t last twenty hours in the Pit. With ten days, I held the record. I emerged a shell, but I’d emerged. Twenty days was a death sentence.

“The hell you say?” Jetson took Covington by the arms and shook her.

Her face crumpled and tears welled in her eyes. “It’s true, every word.”