"Nicole, you have to get me out of here. The only way I can prove my innocence is by finding you."
I hate that he's right.
"I just want this to be over. I should just go and you need to tell everyone the truth. I know they'll think you're crazy, but the truth will set you free, right? I mean isn't that the saying?" My voice is pitching high as I climb towards hysteria.
"Stop talking," Dale orders. "Just shut up for a second."
I close my mouth.
He gives me a moment for my usual rebuttal, but I don't give it. He nods and swallows. "Why do you think I can hear you?"
"I have no idea." I throw my hands in the air. Hysteria dances in my belly, making me giggle.
Dale steps right up to me and aims pretty well. Placing his arms on the cell walls, he captures me in the corner. He waits until my obnoxious twitter dies down, which doesn't take very long with his face so close to mine.
"You're supposed to survive this."
"You don't know that."
"Maybe I do. Maybe this is why God kept me alive in that car... for this situation right here."
"I don't believe in God."
Dale's face softens with a smile.
"He believes in you."
"You don't get it."
I push against him, wanting to break free. My hands whistle through his ribcage and he shivers.
"I don't need to get anything." He leans in so close I can't help looking into his eyes. "I like you."
"No, you don't, you put up with me."
"No," he chuckles. "I really like you." The blush lighting his cheeks, makes me wonder if he's actually telling the truth. "The first time I saw you, I thought you were so incredibly beautiful, but then you opened your mouth."
"Hey!"
He grins.
"Let me finish... I wanted to be put off by you. I found you so irritating."
"You know, you're really not selling this."
"I'm not done. Now shut your mouth and let me finish." He gently smiles. "In spite of myself, I couldn't stop watching you and I remember this one day near the start of the year. You were really antsy and completely lost it with this guy in the cafeteria. You told him to suck it then threw a glass of orange juice in his face."
I cringe remembering the scene all too clearly. Amber's crush. The guy I slept with. I couldn't get over my guilt and he wouldn't leave me alone, kept wanting a repeat.
"I found you an hour later crying in one of the music suites. You were hiding behind a drum kit. The second I saw you, I knew you had a heart and it restored all my faith in you. It was kind of hard not to like you after that. All your snide remarks can be pretty transparent."
I swallow down the lump in my throat.
"I wanted to impress you so bad and when I found your iPod, I thought it was my chance."
Self-loathing swamps me.
"I still can't believe I called you Scarface."
"Yeah." Dale shakes his head. "I guess it was kind of the last straw for me. I figured any more chances weren't worth it... but I was wrong."
He tentatively leans forward, reaching out his hand to touch my cheek. The urge to turn away is overruled by the power of his eyes. Before I can stop myself, I lean into his hand and rest my cheek in his palm. Dale's eyes glimmer with a smile. "This is my chance and I'm not going to screw it up. So Nicole, get me hell out of this cell so I can find you."
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
I know Dale's right. Finding me will be the only way to prove he's innocent. But how the hell am I supposed to get him out of this cell!
"Okay, I can go through the bars, but then what?"
"You'll need to find the key and bring it back to me."
I squeeze my eyes shut and silently swear. I don't think I can do this. I'm about to tell Dale that when he whispers, "I know you're scared, but you can do this."
Opening my eyes, I look directly at him. His eyes are filled with such conviction I might just be capable of believing him.
"Okay," I sigh. "Okay."
Dale shoots me a winning smile and walks towards the cell bars.
"Good luck."
I let out two quick breaths then close my eyes and step forward.
My body breaks apart as I pull myself through then I spin around with a small smile.
"Are you through?"
"Check." I nod as I look down the corridor. "Okay, I'll go exploring. You just wait for me here."
Dale's eyes shift from side to side before he nods.
"Okay."
I watch him trying to bite back a grin as I realize what I've just said.
"Oh shut up! I'm nervous."
His face illuminates with a smile.
"You'll be great."
"Yeah, whatever."
I ignore his quiet chuckle as I creep away from the cell and head towards the front desk.
I don't know why I'm tiptoeing, it's not like anyone can hear me! Sneaking up to the front of the station, I peer over the top of the desk and spot the deputy with his head buried in a pile of paperwork. He looks bored to distraction as he flicks through notes and signs various pieces of paper.
A noise from the adjacent office distracts me and I look over the desks to see the sheriff pacing away from his guest. He looks at his watch in agitation and glances out the door. I instinctively duck then roll my eyes and stand. He looks annoyed as he nods at... is that the mayor? I squint my eyes, but can't get a decent view as Sheriff Hutton walks in my line of vision.
I decide it doesn't really matter who he's talking to and the longer it takes the better. From memory, the mayor is a total blabbermouth so this meeting of theirs is working in my favor.
Forcing my brain to think cell key, I pull my attention back to the deputy and his desk. It's not exactly the tidiest work area I've ever seen. I frown as I walk through the partition and stand behind the man. He pulls off his glasses and gives his eyes a rub before stretching his arms back and letting out a yawn. I jump out of his way and spot the keys next to his coffee mug just before he leans forward again.
How am I supposed to get those without him noticing?! They're right beside his left hand.
Frowning, I fidget with my watch strap as I try to formulate some kind of plan. I can't go back to Dale without the key. I just can't.
Wiggling my fingers and stepping around the policeman, I try to reach past him for the keys. His hand jumps up and scratches his shoulder. I try once more and the same thing happens. The only way I can get those keys is to pass straight through him and even if I do that, he'll probably freak out when he sees the keys moving along the desk by some invisible force. No - I have to distract him.
I scrunch my lips up as I look at the back of the deputy's head. He scratches his shoulder again and I get an idea.
Please work. Please, please, please work!
Rubbing my fingers together, I run them down the side of his neck.
He twitches and scratches the spot. I grin and do it again. This time he slaps it. My smile grows wider and wider as I continue to torment the man until he jerks tall and moves away from his desk.
"You okay, Walter?" The female officer working at the desk behind him looks up.
"Yeah, I just feel like something's crawling on my neck."