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Fuck. Laura’s past wasn’t non-existent because she led a boring life with no friends, no photographs, and no social media. Her past wasn’t blank. It was sealed because she had gone to juvie.
“I understand. If we need to ask you to be a witness, would you be able to provide a good character testimony?”
“Absolutely. Laura was a model inmate. But, like I said, that was more than ten years ago.”
“Thank you.” I hung up the phone, unable to say anything else before breaking down.
I couldn’t believe it. Laura was a criminal. She’d been arrested and sent to prison. She must have been a minor because her records had been sealed.
Was it possible that she had pointed a gun at Rossi? Was she lying to me now? Was this all just some con to get the baseball, then the money, and it all backfired?
I screamed at the top of my lungs, angry with myself, angry at Laura, and angry at the world.
I felt like that seven-year-old boy again who’d lost his parents and the ten-year-old child who realized his auntie wasn’t whom she appeared to be.
I wanted to be a man who believed his mother to be loyal and his girlfriend to be sincere. But I wasn’t any of those things. I was a man people lied to, concealed the truth from, and cheated.
Tears stung the back of my lids, and I pressed my fists against them to hold them in.
I couldn’t confront my mother and wasn’t interested in speaking to my aunt, but I’d be damned if I did anything else for Laura without at least an explanation. She owed me that much.
*
After making a phone call, I drove much more slowly this time to the station, needing to calm myself down. I didn’t want to rage at her like some angry bull. I didn’t want to be that person.
When I asked to speak to Laura, no one stopped me despite the late hour. My face must have shown my temper.
Waiting inside the same small room as before, I leaned back in the chair and tapped my fingers on the table. The drumming soothed my nerves.
An officer opened the door and steered Laura inside. They’d put handcuffs on her this time. I wondered if she had gotten into another fight. The bruise on her jaw had darkened and there were dark circles under her eyes, but no new marks.
“Take those off,” I commanded.
“We can’t—”
“I said, take them off.” I stared at the officer. He shook his head and complied.
Laura rubbed her wrists and took a seat in front of me. Her shoulders and head slumped forward.
“Did you get any sleep?”
“No.”
“I’ll see what I can do to transfer you to a private cell. At least then you can rest.”
She stared at the table and nodded. For a second, I wanted to turn around and forget about asking her anything. She looked exhausted, but if we didn’t hash this out tonight, it would only prolong her stay.
I cleared my throat.
“As your lawyer, I need to know everything about your past.”
She scratched at a mark on the table. “You’re not my lawyer. I’m representing myself.”
“Fine. Then I’ll assist.”
She didn’t argue. That was progress, at least.
“I’ve spoken to Brennon and Rossi. I might have some leads, but I need to know everything. Does your past have anything to do with them?”
