I placed the cheap plastic pen down and straightened to look at the officer. Ginger hair, mid-thirties, bad teeth and thought he knew everything because he watched the news on TV. He had no idea. Luck had nothing to do with it. I had a plan and I stuck to it religiously. Not for one moment did I deviate from it. Not even when I was sleeping.
He wagged his finger at me. “Don’t go blow it all on greedy hookers and fast cars, cause, once the money’s gone you’ll be back on the hamster wheel until you run right back into this place. If ya don’t have money in the big bad world you’re about to head out into, ya might as well still be behind bars, only now the world gets to mock you for it … to your face … every goddamn day.”
Even when I was dirt poor no one dared mock me, but he was entitled to his opinion. I grabbed my things.
“How d’ya do it, anyhow?” he asked. “Word is you got some sort of financial education. Met the right crook, did ya?”
“Ask around,” I said, and turned away.
“Arrogant bastard,” I heard him swear in a low tone. Then he called after me. “Hope you don’t get sent back in here too soon. I need a bit more time to work my way up to captain, or one of his bitches. There’s no way you’re getting out of here again without me benefitting from that wizard brain of yours.”
His dark chuckle serenaded my exit, as the iron gate unlocked, and I was escorted out by another guard. The metal doors clanged behind me.
When I was let out of the gates of the prison, I stopped and took a deep lungful of air. Freedom. Obviously, it was my state of mind, but the hot, desert air smelt sweet. I’m coming, little Willow. I’m coming for you.
Just as had been arranged, there was a dark Mercedes with tinted glass awaiting me a little distance away. It made its way toward me. The driver immediately jumped out of the front seat, and headed over to me.
“Caleb Wolfe?” he called.
“Yeah.”
“I’m Bernado Barros. Marie Spencer sent me to pick you up and take you to your home.”
“Good,” I said, and started walking towards the back of the black Mercedes.
Bernado leaped into action and pulled the door open for me. I got into the wonderfully air-conditioned space and he closed the door. After he slid into the driver’s seat, he turned around to hand me an envelope. “That’s from Ms. Spencer.”
The car pulled away smoothly.
I didn’t look back. I leaned into the plush seat and opened the envelope from my lawyer’s understudy. Inside was the property deed of my new house, along with the keys, credit cards, a note telling me someone had fully stocked my fridge and wardrobe, and a cell phone.
I switched the phone on, and found Marie had already set her phone number on speed dial. I cracked my first smile in a long time. She was definitely efficient. I placed a call to her.
“Welcome back, Mr. Wolfe,” she said crisply.
“Thank you, Marie. When’s the meeting with the psychiatrist?”
“Just a second.” I hear the sound of her typing on her keyboard. “Your appointment with Dr. Gregory Aggarwal is tomorrow morning at 190 Blue Ravine Road. It’s a forty-five-minute drive from your house. I’ve arranged for Bernardo to pick you up.”
“No need,” I said. “I’ll drive myself.”
“Well, um … you can’t, yet. Legally speaking. You’ll need to take your test first. The license you had at fifteen would have been a restricted permit.” She paused. “Might be a good idea to stay on the straight and narrow path from now on.”
“Send Bernardo,” I muttered.
“Thank you. You’ll be glad to know your driving license test has been scheduled for after your meeting with Dr. Aggarwal. And right after that you’ll be able to pay a visit to our offices … if you wish, of course.”
I said nothing, my thoughts filled with what Dr. Aggarwal would say.
“Shall I pencil you into Mr. Albright’s diary for tomorrow, then?”
“Maybe, let’s see how things go.”
“Oh,” she exclaimed, surprised. “I thought you might want to. We’ve been in contact for a couple of years now, and only met twice in person. Plus, it’d be good for you to see the firm and meet the team that have been managing most of your affairs so diligently, would it not?” She cleared her throat. “It’s Valentine’s Day the day after tomorrow, and it will be a great opportunity for us to express our gratitude to you for the relationship we’ve forged over the years.”
“Marie,” I said quietly. “I’ll do my best, but since you’ve been managing most of my affairs you must be well aware of what my priority is.”