Lights Out Read Online Free Page A

rushed forward, kicking a heel against his desk. It sounded like a shotgun going off in the small office. He jabbed a finger at Hall’s face, and the vicious sneer he twisted his own mouth into made the convict’s eyes bug wide.
    “That’s it, Hall! As of this moment, you get to shut the fuck up. You don’t say dick unless I ask for an answer out of you. Any other sound, and my fist goes right down your goddamn throat! Got that?”
    Hall’s nod was a tiny motion, like a mouse trapped in a corner.
    “Yeah.”
    “Good,” Ronald said, and his smile was almost instantaneous. “You want some coffee?”
    Hall shivered in his chair. After a long moment he managed to say, “Naw.”
    “No? You’ve been in solitary for two years, Deon. When was the last time you even had a cup of joe?
    “Can’t remember, man. Never really liked the stuff.”
    “You can’t remember? Jesus. C’mon! Have a cup. I’m not gonna spit in it or anything, okay? Scout’s honor.” He flashed Hall a grin, one full of sincerity.
    “Fine,” Hall said. His voice still sounded frightened, small, but it was regaining some of its strength.
    “Great.” Ron crossed his office to where a coffeemaker sat on top of a short filing cabinet, a supply of napkins, sugar, and creamer beside it. He grabbed a Styrofoam cup from inside the cabinet and filled it. “Cream? Sugar?”
    Hall shook his head. “Naw, man. Gimme the shit black.”
    “Man after my own heart.” He turned to Kling. “Anything for you, Dave?”
    The officer smiled, but waved him away.
    “Good enough.” He poured himself a cup and returned to the desk, handing Hall his coffee. “Y’know, I have to keep all that creamer and sweetener shit in here because nobody wants coffee to taste like coffee anymore. Whole buncha crap, if you ask me.”
    Hall nodded and then took a sip. His lips curled at the bitter taste, but he took a second, larger sip before letting out a sigh.
    Timms took a drink of his own, watching the con over the brim. Once he swallowed, he set the cup on the edge of his desk.
    “So, Hall. I wanted to ask you a question or two about last night. We know the attack happened sometime between one in the morning and four. I was wondering if you might have heard anything during that time, maybe a struggle or an argument. Anything like that.”
    “Yo, Timms. I didn’t hear shit.”
    “You sure?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Absolutely? Nothing at all?”
    “I didn’t hear anything, okay? Just like I told you.”
    Ronald shared a look with Kling. The guard shook his head, disbelieving.
    “Don’t give me that, Deon,” Timms said. “I’ve been in the solitary unit enough times to know that place is far from soundproof. Three men were murdered, their throats ripped out. That doesn’t happen without somebody giving out one hell of a shout at some point.
    “Now, truthfully. Are you telling me you didn’t hear anything?”
    Anger flashed in Hall’s eyes. “I already told you, I didn’t hear shit! Ease up off my fuckin’ dick!”
    Ronald held up his hands. “That’s enough.” He took a sip from his coffee and set it back down, sloshed the brew around in his mouth for a moment before swallowing. “You’re protecting somebody, maybe? Diggs. You’re in solitary because of him, aren’t you? Protecting his honor from The Brotherhood? Maybe it was his people went in to get Jenkins, took care of Webber and the guard on duty to cover their tracks. Am I getting warm, Deon?”
    The con shook his head and looked away.
    Ron leaned in close.
    “Because I can throw Diggs in solitary with you. I can put him in a nice little concrete hole that he won’t see the outside of for a good fucking while. Is that what you want, Deon? You want your pal Diggs to rot in solitary with you? Say the word, and I can do it. Don’t say shit. I don’t care. I can do it either way.”
    “Diggs didn’t have shit to do with what went down last night.”
    Timms smiled. “So, you did hear