Chapter 10: The Visitor
The visitation room was chilly. Nathan sat at the metal table, his wrists cuffed to the surface.
Fluorescent lights hummed overhead and a moth fluttered around it.
The glass partition between him and the visitor’s side was smudged with fingerprints, grime and dust.
The door on the other side opened and Catherine stepped in.
She looked worse than he remembered. The dark circles were prominent now. Her hair was tied back but many strands had escaped. She wore a black T-shirt and pants with no patterns.
She sat down across from him and picked up the phone.
"Hey, big bro" Her voice cracked. "How are you holding up?"
"I’m fine, Catie. What’s up with you?"
Catherine let her shoulders drop. "I haven’t been sleeping much, with you being here and all."
A second passed before she added. "Why did you confess? Did they threaten you or something?"
Nathan recalled the unsettling feeling in the court room. "I don’t know. I’m not sure."
Catherine let out a sharp exhale and relaxed in her chair.
Nathan noticed she looked exhausted. "You should get some rest."
"Rest?" Catherine shot. "How can I do that when you’re in prison? On death row?"
Nathan shrugged. "It’s fine. I’m not dead yet."
Catherine frowned. "Yet? You seem... Calm about this. Why aren’t you panicking?"
"Panicking won’t solve anything," Nathan replied and relaxed in his seat. "How are you and dad holding up?"
Catherine looked away. "Dad hasn’t been home much. He’s been working more shifts and looking for other jobs."
"Isn’t he supposed to rest?"
"I tried to tell him but he’s too stubborn. He said he couldn’t just sit around doing nothing."
Nathan nodded. "Thanks for the money you sent by the way."
"No problem." Catherine forced a smile. "Between selling his old stuff and my savings it was the least we could do."
"Your savings? The one you kept for your college party in a couple of months?"
"Yeah... I mean what good is a stupid party if you’re in here?" Catherine muttered.
Her false bravado made Nathan smile. He knew how much she looked forward to the party.
"You don’t have to deny yourself happiness for me," Nathan said, giving her a smile.
Catherine wasn’t buying it. "But you’ve always denied yours for me and dad."
She brushed the tears that were starting to well up. "If we were there for you. Maybe you wouldn’t have gotten involved in this in the first place."
Nathan leaned closer. "That’s on me. You did try to warn me and I should have listened."
Catherine sniffled. "Don’t say that, I know you took it because you wanted to help. I just wish there was a way out of this."
Nathan’s eyes narrowed. He considered letting her know about his wealth but he didn’t want to reveal the system.
"Catie. There’s uh something I have to tell you..."
"Nathan... " Catherine’s eyes darkened, which caused him to meet her gaze. "Did you... pick up the soap?"
A confused frown shot across his face. "What? No!"
"Oh alright." She let out a sigh. "What did you want to tell me?"
Nathan looked sideways. "I want you to know I’ve found a way to help you and dad out. I’ve got a prison job, and I think I found someone willing to help me."
She crossed her arms. "There you go, still looking out for us. What if it’s dangerous or illegal?"
Nathan gestured vaguely at the room. "I’m on death row Catie."
Catherine dropped her head. "I know that but I don’t want to lose you soon. We can still appeal your case or something?"
"You won’t," Nathan said calmly. "I promise."
Catherine met his gaze. She looked away.
"I guess you haven’t given up yet." Catherine muttered. After a brief pause, she forced a smile. "Changing the subject... I’ve got a PK battle with Tabi tonight."
Nathan frowned. "Tabi? As in Tabitha?"
"Yes."
"The same girl who called me a charity case back in school? That Tabi?"
Catherine nodded. "Yes, her."
Nathan stared in disbelief. "I thought she’d never collaborate with smaller streamers."
Catherine looked away. "She doesn’t."
"Then how?"
"I sort of asked..." She rubbed the back of her neck. "...more than once."
Nathan sighed. "Catie..."
"I begged, alright?" she admitted with an embarrassed laugh. "If it brings in donations, I don’t care if I have to swallow my pride."
Nathan’s expression softened. "Well...good luck."
Catherine grinned. "Thanks, I’ll need it."
The guard behind Nathan motioned for him to wrap things up.
"What?" Catherine shot out. "It’s only been a few minutes."
"Time’s up I guess." Nathan shrugged. "Oh I almost forgot. Give me your account number."
At the very least, I can send enough that she doesn’t do the stream.
There was a moment’s pause before Catherine responded. "No."
"What?" Nathan shot out. "Why?"
Catherine kept a straight face. "If I give it to you, you’ll just send all you have to us. So, no."
Nathan smiled, putting a hand to the glass. "Catherine. You really don’t have to worry about me."
Catherine stood up. "I think I do. Like I should have done before it got to this." She looked away. "Take care of yourself Nate, I’ll come visit soon."
She dropped the phone and quickly left before he could give a response.
Nathan watched the empty chair for a few seconds before the guard tugged on his restraints and escorted him from the visitation room.
—
A Couple Of Hours Later...
Catherine laid on her bed back home, spreading her arms out to the side as her compact frame sank into the bed.
A heavy sigh escaped her as she recalled the conversation.
Sorry bro. But you’ve done enough, leave it to me now.
She glanced around her room. A table and a chair sat in one corner. In the other corner was a chair that had a pile of clothes.
The ones that were too clean for the laundry basket but too dirty to keep with fresh clothes.
She brought out her phone and scrolled to watch gameplay videos.
After a few scrolls in, a message popped up on her phone. It was from a number she hadn’t saved.
The text read:
[Long time no see gorgeous 😉]
Catherine frowned, trying to recall if she gave anyone her number recently. But no one came to mind.
She typed a response.
[Who’s this?]
A reply came back. [Come on, guess 😏😜]
[I don’t have time to play games.]
[Maybe this will jog your memory 😏😏 ]
[-🖼️- Image attachment]
Catherine clicked on the image to download. Her face contorted in vile disgust as it finished rendering.
It was a picture of a young man in his twenties. His hair featured shades of green and red. A neck chain hung around his neck which he used one hand to flash to the camera.
The other hand had a stack of cash and he had a sleazy grin that would shame any goblin.
"Leon," Catherine muttered. "What does this bastard want?"
A knock on the door interrupted her from her thoughts. Her body jolted upwards on instinct, every fibre of her being was on high alert.
A knock at this time of the month usually meant one thing.
The landlord?
She walked to the door and looked through the peephole but what she saw wasn’t the rotund body of their landlord.
Instead, there was a woman in waistcoat and black pants standing in front of the door. Her dark hair was pulled into a bun, and a gun was holstered at her hip.
"Who is it?" Catherine called through the door.
The woman flashed a badge. "Detective Della Decker. Arkis police department."
Catherine squinted her eyes to see the badge before opening the door, slowly, poking her head. "Hello, how may I help you?"
The woman tucked the badge in her waistcoat. "Is this the residence of Henry Ledger?"
Catherine frowned. "Yes? He’s my father but he isn’t around right now."
"Oh, you must be Catherine? I’d like to speak with you about your brother, Nathan. May I come in?"
"No," Catherine quickly shot out, which prompted a raised eyebrow from the detective.
Her eyes drifted past Catherine’s shoulder before the door moved to block her view. No sofa or a television.
Catherine adjusted herself. "I mean, we can talk outside. I know a great place."
The detective’s grey eyes remained on her for a few moments before nodding. "Alright,"
"Please give me a few moments," Catherine said, the woman nodded. Catherine quickly closed the door to get ready.
Outside, the dark haired woman stood, her arms crossed as she surveyed her surroundings.