Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
But we can’t. Not right now. And I realize that when my phone rings, and I pull it out to see Faye’s name on the screen. I glance at Caz, and he sighs when the reality of our situation sinks back in. He stands and takes my hand, helping me to a stand.
We collect our things, grab a coffee and tea to go from inside the diner, then make our way to the rental car lot where Faye will meet us for our trip to Virginia.
Chapter 30
WILLOW
Virginia Coast Psychiatric Detention Center sits atop a hill, a wide three-story brick building that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. The majority of the dark roof is hidden beneath pregnant gray clouds that threaten to break at any given moment, and lawn lights flash onto the building, revealing cracks and chips to prove just how old the building is.
We passed a gate where a security guard stood in a security box and asked for identification. Now, after four hours of being on the road, I’m driving into the parking lot, the wipers on the windshield swinging every few seconds to combat the light drizzle.
It’s a gray day, cast with rain and fog, and of course it would rain today, when I’m already paranoid and don’t know what to expect. I normally love rain, but not when it comes to visiting a place like this. What the hell was I even thinking by coming here? I should just drive away right now.
I breathe as evenly as possible and find myself parking. When the car is still, I glance at Caz who has his eyes trained on the building. I look over my shoulder at Faye who is chewing her bottom lip so hard she’ll probably make it bleed.
“Stop doing that,” I hiss at her.
Her eyes swing to mine, and she stops chewing immediately. “Sorry. Lost in thought.”
“Are we ready?” I ask, shutting the engine off.
Caz drops his eyes to his coat, lifting one side of it and revealing the Blackwater gun. “You’re sure I can’t take my gun?”
“I’m positive you can’t take it. They’re most likely going to check us for weapons and other things.”
“Which, by the way, you shouldn’t take personally, okay?” Faye adds, as if she’s talking to a toddler. “Security checks are protocol in places like this.”
Caz removes the gun from the inside pocket of his coat and slides it beneath the passenger seat. “Don’t patronize me,” he grumbles over his shoulder. “There’d better not be any funny business going on.”
“We’ll talk to Phil, get the information we need, and then get out,” I assure him.
I say the words, but even as I get out of the car and peer up at the building, I feel an uncomfortable buzz ride through me, and my gut forms into a block of lead. I shake it off though and shut the car door behind me as Faye leads the way to the building.
We approach the door, where Faye pushes her thumb on a large button next it. The double doors clink and spread apart, groaning on the hinges, and we walk inside to a sterile white lobby. Ahead are two security guards—a man and woman—dressed in black and standing with metal detector wands in hand, and to our right is the check-in desk, where a woman in all white with red hair sits in a chair behind it, clacking away on a computer.
Her green eyes flicker up to us, and she does a double take as she rises from her chair. Her name badge reads Elana.
“Can I help you?” she asks with a practiced smile.
“Hi, yes. We’re here to visit Phil Patterson. I’m his cousin, Faye.” Faye trots toward the desk, smiling, just as she practiced. Because that’s one thing she didn’t find out until we were already on the road—that the only visitors who come here must be family or with a family member.
The woman cocks her head. “Hmm. That’s interesting. Mr. Patterson has never had visitors before.”
Caz stiffens next to me, but Faye continues a smile with a sappy sigh. “I know. Sad right? See, here’s the thing,” she says, folding her arms on the countertop. Elana almost frowns at the gesture. “I’ve been so upset with Phil—for years, really. I just…I hate that he’s in here. We weren’t just cousins growing up, we were best friends, and I couldn’t bear seeing him in this place. But I’ve had a life change—you know how that goes, right? And I’ve realized life is way too short to be selfish with my time.”
Elana raises her chin, studying Faye a moment before swinging her eyes to Caz and me. “And you brought others with you for a first-time visit?”
“They’re friends. We all used to hang out together.”
“Only family is allowed, I’m afraid.”
“Sure, but can’t you allow a mild exception? As you stated, Phil never has visitors. I can’t guarantee that I’ll make it all the way out here to see him again. I’d hate for him to miss out on seeing all of us.”