A Constant Reminder by Lolah Lace Read Free Book Online Page B

turned in front of them blocking their path. They both took off in opposite directions hoping to get away from their doomed fates.
     
     

CHAPTER 5
     
    Time was a Band-Aid for some and an open festering wound for others. Adam’s luck had run out. Tony was never lucky so he was back where he had been so many times before, police custody.
    Adam sauntered over in his bright orange jumpsuit. He never thought he would end up here in the County Jail. He hadn’t really been thinking at all. For years he was in a self-induced drug fog. It was much like his actions weren’t even his own. It was like he was possessed. The time in jail was one of the first times, in a long time that his mind was sharp. Sharp enough to understand the deeds and mishaps that landed him behind bars.
    He knew in advance who was coming to visit him in jail. It was a routine at this point. He had been here awhile and his mother visited with him twice a week. Everyone was held in the county lock up before trial and sentencing.
    Adam sat on one side of the glass partition. His mother Jane sat on the other. She would never be comfortable in this environment but she had to see her son. It didn’t help that this had made the local papers. Adam knew he was an embarrassment to the good upstanding Hardwick name. If only he could flip the hourglass over and start anew.
    He picked up the phone receiver and motioned for his mother to do the same. They had to talk into the phones to communicate. Jane hated the distance the phones created. She hated the situation in its entirety.
    “Adam.” Every time she came to see him she said his name. It was her first word to him every single time.
    Adam had time to notice things like this. He was lucid now and didn’t have many things to preoccupy his mind.
    Jane hated being in this filthy place. She tried to act otherwise but Adam could see through her tough exterior. His mother loathed coming here. He loathed that he had put her in such a predicament.
    “Mother, I’m sorry.” Adam apologized every time he saw her. He would never have enough apologies. He had done so many terrible things to her when he should have been comforting her.
    Jane took a breath. “Did you know the store manager died?”
    “Vincent told me he died in the hospital a few days ago. He also said the District Attorney’s office is going to add to the armed robbery charge.”
    “What does that mean?” Worry creased the lines around her eyes that her plastic surgeon had missed.
    “They’re charging me with murder.”
    “You didn’t shoot that man. It was that creep Tony Demarco. Everybody knows that.”
    “It doesn’t matter. Illinois law is clear. There’s this thing called the Felony/Murder rule. If you are committing a felony and anyone dies during the commission of the felony, for any reason you can be charged with first degree murder.”
    “Murder, you were just there.” A white privileged outrage spewed from her painted lips.
    “I’m going to be charged with murder mother. You have to accept that. It’s within the law and they are really strict with this law. I’ve been reading up on this. I already know my fate.”
    “I just don’t want to believe this.” Jane covered her mouth.
    “Mother I swear to you. I had no idea Tony was going to shoot that guy. I don’t want to be in here. But I know why I’m here and I just have to accept it. Armed Robbery is a Class X felony.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “I can get a mandatory six to thirty year sentence.”
    Jane held back tears. “You need a bond hearing.”
    “No way. I told you no. You will not mortgage your house or use dad’s life insurance or put up the family businesses for me.”
    “I want you out of here.”
    “No, the time I’m in here will count toward my sentence. I’m here. I deserve to be here.”
    “You sound like you’ve given up.”
    “Mother no I haven’t. I’m going to do what Vincent tells me. I’m going to fight my case but I’m not going