Page 64 of Two Kinds of Stranger

‘What?’ asked Elly.

‘Your thumb. You bleedin’.’

‘Sorry, I do that when I’m nervous.’

‘I got some Band-Aids in the cell. You better keep that shit clean in here. All kinds of infections going around.’

Elly nodded, was about to speak.

‘Don’t thank me yet. You could be doin’ a whole lot more bleedin’ before tomorrow,’ she said, and gave a slight nod by way of indication.

Following Suze’s gaze, Elly saw the woman, Nance, and the small blond girl huddled in the corner with five other women. At first, Elly didn’t notice anything sinister about the group. Then she saw that as they spoke, they covered their mouths, and their eyes collectively zeroed in Elly’s direction. Nance took something from one of the other women. It was thin and black, but it had a shine to it.

‘She got herself a shiv,’ said Suze.

Fear is a strange thing.

It’s hard to tell if it’s physical, emotional or psychological. Maybe all three.

But when it bites it bites hard.

There is nothing else like it on this earth.

Elly felt every limb freeze. Her muscles. Her lungs.

Her heart.

Every nerve ending, every tiny hair follicle on her skin, tightened in alert. Her mouth was suddenly dry, her throat tight. With her eyes frozen on the thin black blade that Nance slid into her sock, Elly’s mind shut down.

‘I told them to lay off,’ said Suze. ‘They’re not listening. They gonna cut you. Then they gonna ask you for money.’

Elly’s mouth opened, but no words came. Tears filled her eyes and she started to shake.

‘Wo-won’t the guards see?’ said Elly.

‘Sure. They gonna take a cut of whatever you give to Nance. There ain’t no way out of this for you. You gotta pay ’cause you sure as shit can’t fight.’

‘I don’t have any money in here. I’m not sure I have anything left once I pay for my bail.’

‘They don’t care. You get cut and you pay. Or. . .’

‘Can you help me?’ asked Elly.

‘I can try. Stay here.’

Suze got up and strolled over to Nance and the group of women in the corner. Elly tried to listen, to hear any snatches of their hushed conversation, but all she could hear was her own heartbeat thumping in her ears.

The group of women crowded around Suze. Elly heard them whispering.

To any casual observer it was nothing more than a conversation.

Until it wasn’t.

Until the scrawny blonde from Elly’s cell stepped forward.

Something shiny flashed in her hand.

And she stabbed Suze in the belly.