Heart of a Killer Read Online Free Page B

had been a quiet, model prisoner.
    It wasn’t the prison authorities that were particularly interested in Sheryl; in fact, Lila wasn’t sure who she was reporting to. She had a phone number that she was to call. When the process first began, soon after Sheryl’s incarceration, Lila had reported a few insignificant matters, simply to show that she was on top of things and could be relied on. Soon she stopped bothering to do that.
    The truth was that Lila never really thought it would last this long; she had never been that lucky. She remembered the first anonymous package she had received, filled with ten blank one-thousand-dollar money orders. A phone call followed, equally anonymous, instructing her on what she should do, with the promise of more money to come.
    The person had done their homework about her, Lila knew. Not every guard would have been susceptible to the proposal, even though technically she was doing nothing illegal. For her the call had been an easy one; she would take her money and follow those kinds of orders as long as they wanted.
    And the money orders continued to come, one thousand dollars the first of every month. No return address on the envelope, and no indication who her employer was. She didn’t really care, maybe didn’t even want to know, so long as the money kept coming.
    So when Lila learned about Jamie, it represented an opportunity to cement her employment, to show that she still had value. She dialed the number, the first time she had done so in almost four years. And this time, just as the few times back then, it was answered on the first ring.
    “Yes?” It sounded like the same male voice as in the previous calls. The man’s name was Ray Hennessey, but Lila did not know that, and had never felt like she should ask.
    “This is Lila Baldwin, I…”
    “Yes?”
    “I’m calling about Sheryl Harrison; I’ve been watching her for you, and…”
    “I know who you are and about whom you are calling. Say what you are going to say.” There was a trace of impatience in the voice, which worried Lila. She wanted to stay on this person’s good side.
    “Okay … sure. The thing is, Sheryl met with a lawyer on Friday.”
    “What was the subject of the meeting?” Hennessey asked.
    “I’m not sure. I’m trying to find out, but she’s being really quiet about it. I’ve had some people ask her, but she refuses to say.”
    “Might it be her parole hearing?”
    “No, she told someone she’s not preparing for that at all. That if things go well there won’t be a hearing.”
    “What else do you know?” The voice sounded more interested than before, which Lila took as a good sign.
    “The lawyer’s name is Jamie Wagner. He works at a firm called Carlson, Miller, and Timmerman. They’re in Newark. I’m trying to find out more about him.”
    “Report in when you do,” Hennessey said.
    “Of course.” Lila momentarily was struck with a desire to ask if all of this information, which was clearly of interest to her employer, warranted a bonus. She thought better of it; if it developed further, that could happen down the line.
    “What area of the prison is Sheryl in these days?” the voice asked.
    “She’s in with the general population.”
    “Good.”
    Click.
    The word “good,” just before the man hung up, unnerved Lila more than a little. He had seemed relieved to learn she was in the general population, and Lila was certain that wasn’t because he wanted Sheryl to be able to socialize.
    No, it sounded like he was pleased because if it became necessary, Sheryl could be gotten to. In the context of prison life, that was a very ominous concept. Lila worried about what might happen to Sheryl, and whether she should intervene in any way.
    If she did say something, her receiving the money all those years would be uncovered, her career would be over, and she might well switch places and become one of the guarded, rather than the guard.
    For Lila, the decision was an easy one: