CHAPTER 51

LEEWOOD FOLCRUM

I NMATE 82145

Hi, my forever,

I can't stop thinking of you, stuck in that place. It seems so cold and horrible from the photos I can find online. I wish I was there to fix you a warm meal and hold you in my arms.

I've been researching the party lately, and I wish you would have just told them what happened. I know you didn't do it, but it seems that the police just didn't have enough to go on to find the real killer. Please think hard about if there's any other details you can remember about the intruder. Even something small. I have connections, Leewood. I could help get you out, and then we could be together.

I believe in your innocence. I love you. You and I, we are connected in ways that others will never understand. You feel it, don't you?

I'm sorry that I haven't written in a while. Things have been very busy here, and I haven't been able to sneak out a letter, but it has nothing to do with how much I think of you and want to see you.

I haven't given up the thought of visiting you. I have so many complicated feelings about seeing you in there—and having you see me. But maybe soon. I really have been thinking about it a lot.

Always yours,

Darcy

PS: Please send me a photo. I'm enclosing a camera and some film. I just want to see what you look like now. All of the video clips online are so old. xoxoxo

The camera was a blue plastic thing, with a thin five-pack of blank photos. I turned them over in my hand, surprised people were still using Polaroids.

"Folcrum." Redd stood in the doorway. "Doc wants to see you."

"On a Sunday?" I stood, my back creaking in protest. I leaned back, trying to pop it, then bent over, reaching for my shoes.

"Don't know what to tell you." He glanced at my desk. "How's the fan mail?"

"Same old shit. Half loonies, half whores."

"No loony whores?"

I smiled as I pulled the back of the sneaker over my heel. "Good point." My chest suddenly seized and I gripped it, inhaling deeply as I tried to get some air in.

"You okay?" Redd stayed outside the cell, but I heard the sound of his radio unclipping.

I held up my hand, stopping any action. "I'm fine," I said tightly, sucking in shallow breaths as I gripped the railing of the bed. My chest finally relaxed, and I lifted my chin, meeting his eyes. "I'm good," I said.

"Maybe it's a good thing, you going to the doc right now." He reattached his radio to his shirt.

"Or maybe the thought of seeing him is what choked me up." On the way to the door, I stopped, taking a moment to cover the next letter in the stack. I didn't expect anyone to step into my cell while I was gone, but you could never be too careful.