"Turn right, enter the security gate on the far right side, park in that area, go to the door marked 'Official', and someone will be waiting for you there," he advised.
Then he opened the tall, steel gate. It rattled back, and May drove through. She took the road to the right, which led up to another secure parking area.
As she reached the parking bay in the area near the stipulated door, her phone beeped. It was Kerry.
'Hope you're inside, sis! We did what we could. Let me know!'
May quickly texted back. 'I'm in!'
Then, putting her phone away, she climbed out.
A uniformed guard was waiting for her at the door.
"FBI Agent May Moore?" he asked. Clearly there had been some miscommunication during this hurried arrangement.
"Good morning," May said. She wasn't an FBI agent. If only! “I’m actually a deputy, deployed by the FBI,” she said, wanting to make sure everything was correct.
"I understand you are wanting an emergency interview with prisoner Kane."
"That's right."
"He's being transferred to the interview room now. Follow me."
He reached for his radio and spoke into the transmitter with rapid, professional dispatch.
Then he set off, marching along the corridor, which was lit by strip lights in the ceiling, and was surprisingly chilly. There were no visible windows, but May saw a camera on the wall, its eye staring at them blankly.
That camera reminded her of how the killer was filming his scenes, and it brought home to her all over again how important this visit was. May hurried behind the guard, hastily preparing what she should say when she came face to face with the dangerous lifer.
They reached a set of steel double doors.
"Wait here," the guard said.
He pushed open a door beside the one marked 'Official', and checked inside, speaking to somebody in the next room.
After a moment, the guard closed the door.
"He's on the way," he reported. "I'll need you to wait here a few moments, ma'am."
"Thank you," May replied, feeling nervousness crawl through her. She shifted from foot to foot, feeling her anxiety surge. Up until now, she'd been too relieved at getting inside to be scared. Now, she was realizing the enormity of her responsibility, and how much rode on getting a result.
It could be make or break. He could know something or nothing. But finding it out would depend on her.
Beyond the door, she heard the clanging of steel gates, the tramp of footsteps, and the murmur of men's voices. Just an ordinary day in the maximum security prison, though for her, an extraordinary one.
The door opened, and a prison warden hurried out.
"They are ready for you, Agent Moore," he said. "I'll escort you from here. Please, follow me."
It seemed there was no getting away from her temporary promotion to an FBI agent. May stepped through the door. She found herself in a long room that she guessed was used for the official meeting room on days when the prisoners were allowed visitors.
It had booths, with security glass and chairs on either side, and phones so that the prisoners could communicate with their visitors.
But the warden led her past this room, and into an annex that had a steel table across its length, with two chairs on either side.
"For this interview, given its importance, we thought you should be face to face. This room is fully monitored and there is camera surveillance, but we'll leave you alone with Kane if you're comfortable. He will be in cuffs and leg irons, of course."
"Yes, I'm comfortable," May said. She could hear the quiver in her own voice. She hoped he couldn't hear it. But this meant so much.
"Please, sit. He'll be through in a moment. I'm right outside."
The warden closed the door, leaving May alone in the small room with its blank walls and harsh overhead light, that smelled of disinfectant.
And then, the door on the far end opened and she felt her heart speed up even more.
Prisoner Kane was walking in.