Grant of Immunity Read Online Free
Author: Garret Holms
she asked. “I thought you liked school.”
It was true. He did like school. He enjoyed learning and talking with teachers, and his grades had shown it. Before this week, he had not missed even one day during the last five school years.
But none of that mattered now. Not compared to the death of Sarah Collins. He hated himself for what he had done. He couldn’t believe he would never see Sarah again. Couldn’t get the memory of Sarah, pleading with Snake, out of his mind. Couldn’t stop hearing the sound of her terrified voice, begging to live. Couldn’t stop thinking about what might have been.
Somehow, he got out of bed, got ready, and went to school. But the dark thoughts stayed with him, reliving that night, detail after detail after detail. He worried he might be going crazy.
He was sure the police would eventually find out and come after him. In his third period English class, his teacher told him that he had to report to the principal’s office. On the way, through the empty hallways, he imagined walking into the room to find police officers waiting to take him away. But it turned out that the principal just wanted to personally notify and congratulate him that he had won a scholarship for which he had applied.
By the end of the day, Danny decided to go to the police.
He walked eight blocks from his house to the police station, feeling relieved that the ordeal was about to end. He went over and over in his mind what he would say, and how he would explain his behavior. He didn’t need to tell them what Snake had done to him. The thought of that made his face burn. It didn’t matter about his fingerprints. Whatever happened would be better than living with the guilt that tortured him.
He walked into the police station. An elderly couple was arguing with the uniformed officer at the reception desk. Danny waited patiently, but the dispute became more heated, until the couple turned abruptly and left.
Danny hesitated. What if the cop arrested him? Danny pictured himself in a jail cell while the police called his grandmother. What would she say? How could he explain what he let Sarah do to him, or why he didn’t throw away the knife? What if they did find out how Snake used him?
The officer looked at him coldly. “May I help you?”
He stared at the policeman, but couldn’t speak. Danny realized he didn’t even know Snake’s real name.
“May I help you?” the officer repeated.
“Uh. No. No thanks,” he said. He turned and walked out.
As the days went by, Danny discovered that he could distract himself by studying. Whenever he began to remember about that night, he would study. Math. English. Science. Anything at all to keep his mind occupied. His grades soared, and teachers hinted he might achieve valedictorian. But that meant nothing to him—he didn’t deserve awards. What he deserved was death … but he wasn’t man enough to kill himself.
He had a thought. Maybe. Just maybe he could redeem himself for what he had done. Dedicate his life to finding a way. The thought eased his pain.
Almost.
Except for the dreams.
BOOK TWO
Nineteen Years Later
5
Judge Daniel Hart
Monday, June 12, 1995, 1:30 p.m.
F emale defendants charged with prostitution were always arraigned in the afternoon. Each time Judge Daniel Hart viewed this procession of handcuffed and chained women, he couldn’t help thinking how much these creatures were like trapped animals. Trapped in a system they despised, based upon rules they didn’t understand. Women in a cage.
Today, like every day, he was surprised by the number of young women charged with prostitution. He’d seen too many of these cases. They were strikingly similar. Women not just accused of prostitution, but of streetwalking. Strolling down Sepulveda Boulevard, standing at intersections, provocatively catching the eye of single male motorists. Now, clad in orange jumpsuits and without makeup, they stood, feet shackled, eyes down. It always moved him. They
It was true. He did like school. He enjoyed learning and talking with teachers, and his grades had shown it. Before this week, he had not missed even one day during the last five school years.
But none of that mattered now. Not compared to the death of Sarah Collins. He hated himself for what he had done. He couldn’t believe he would never see Sarah again. Couldn’t get the memory of Sarah, pleading with Snake, out of his mind. Couldn’t stop hearing the sound of her terrified voice, begging to live. Couldn’t stop thinking about what might have been.
Somehow, he got out of bed, got ready, and went to school. But the dark thoughts stayed with him, reliving that night, detail after detail after detail. He worried he might be going crazy.
He was sure the police would eventually find out and come after him. In his third period English class, his teacher told him that he had to report to the principal’s office. On the way, through the empty hallways, he imagined walking into the room to find police officers waiting to take him away. But it turned out that the principal just wanted to personally notify and congratulate him that he had won a scholarship for which he had applied.
By the end of the day, Danny decided to go to the police.
He walked eight blocks from his house to the police station, feeling relieved that the ordeal was about to end. He went over and over in his mind what he would say, and how he would explain his behavior. He didn’t need to tell them what Snake had done to him. The thought of that made his face burn. It didn’t matter about his fingerprints. Whatever happened would be better than living with the guilt that tortured him.
He walked into the police station. An elderly couple was arguing with the uniformed officer at the reception desk. Danny waited patiently, but the dispute became more heated, until the couple turned abruptly and left.
Danny hesitated. What if the cop arrested him? Danny pictured himself in a jail cell while the police called his grandmother. What would she say? How could he explain what he let Sarah do to him, or why he didn’t throw away the knife? What if they did find out how Snake used him?
The officer looked at him coldly. “May I help you?”
He stared at the policeman, but couldn’t speak. Danny realized he didn’t even know Snake’s real name.
“May I help you?” the officer repeated.
“Uh. No. No thanks,” he said. He turned and walked out.
As the days went by, Danny discovered that he could distract himself by studying. Whenever he began to remember about that night, he would study. Math. English. Science. Anything at all to keep his mind occupied. His grades soared, and teachers hinted he might achieve valedictorian. But that meant nothing to him—he didn’t deserve awards. What he deserved was death … but he wasn’t man enough to kill himself.
He had a thought. Maybe. Just maybe he could redeem himself for what he had done. Dedicate his life to finding a way. The thought eased his pain.
Almost.
Except for the dreams.
BOOK TWO
Nineteen Years Later
5
Judge Daniel Hart
Monday, June 12, 1995, 1:30 p.m.
F emale defendants charged with prostitution were always arraigned in the afternoon. Each time Judge Daniel Hart viewed this procession of handcuffed and chained women, he couldn’t help thinking how much these creatures were like trapped animals. Trapped in a system they despised, based upon rules they didn’t understand. Women in a cage.
Today, like every day, he was surprised by the number of young women charged with prostitution. He’d seen too many of these cases. They were strikingly similar. Women not just accused of prostitution, but of streetwalking. Strolling down Sepulveda Boulevard, standing at intersections, provocatively catching the eye of single male motorists. Now, clad in orange jumpsuits and without makeup, they stood, feet shackled, eyes down. It always moved him. They
Readers choose
J.M. Bush
Joanne Pence
Jeff VanderMeer
Laura Leone
Julia Thomas
Amy Lane
Bella Forrest
C.M. King
Cynthia Sax
Dusty Richards