Chapter 19
Willow
“So, you and my brother, huh?”
I stare at Evie for a long moment, not having the slightest clue how to respond. Despite feeling like a lifetime has passed since Hades walked into the conference room at SCI Somerset, we just met today. There is no me and him.
Yet you’ve been communicating with him for ten plus years.
Yeah, and all that communication was one-sided.
“Okay, fine, don’t tell me,” she pouts when I remain silent.
“There’s nothing to tell. I’m a volunteer for the PWCC, and I went to meet with your brother at the prison today.”
“PWCC?”
“Pennsylvania Wrongful Conviction Center,” I clarify.
Evie shifts to fold her legs under her. “I’ve heard of them. They help people prove that they’re innocent so they can get out of jail, right?”
“Pretty much.”
“And you’re gonna help Hades get out?”
“That’s the plan. He and I still need to discuss his case and next steps, but as soon as I get back to the office, I’ll work with the attorney, Gordon Humphrey, on your brother’s final appeal to hopefully get his conviction overturned.”
Evie frowns. “Once you return to the office? You did hear him say that you’re not leaving, right?”
“I heard. He can’t keep me here, though.”
Evie’s eyes widen. “Oh, man, you really don’t know him at all.”
I feel like I’ve known him my entire life.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Willow, girl, if Hades says you aren’t leaving, you aren’t fucking leaving.”
“But that’s… He can’t… Surely he won’t keep me here against my will,” I settle on saying.
“Yeah, he would.”
“But I have work, and friends, and family, and a life,” I insist, although the argument sounds weak even to my ears.
“He’s got all of that, too,” she snaps, suddenly sounding angry. “He’s been gone for over a decade. I’m sure you’ll survive a few days.” Evie shakes her head and sighs. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. It’s just… If you can help him, I need you to help him.”
“You’ve missed him, haven’t you?”
“Of course, I have. He’s my brother, and the only family I have.”
“You’ve got the club, though.”
“Well, yeah,” she says, and her tone suggests she wants to tack on a sarcastic ‘duh’. “But it’s not the same.”
“No, I’m sure it’s not.” I brush a strand of hair behind my ear. “What about your parents? Where are they?”
Evie’s expression darkens with a mixture of sadness and rage. “Our dad is dead, and our mom is who the hell knows where. Hades was arrested the day of our dad’s funeral, and that was also the last time I saw our mom.”
I make a mental note to ask Hades about that. There was nothing in his file to indicate either of those things, nor were they brought up at his trial. I might not be a lawyer, but it seems to me that those facts should’ve been presented by his defense attorney as potential mitigating circumstances.
“I’m sorry, Evie. I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you.”
She waves a hand dismissively. “It hasn’t been all bad.
I mean, you’re right that I’ve had the club.
We’re all family, and they’ve all definitely stepped up for me and for Hades.
No one has stopped trying to prove his innocence in all this time.
We all believe in him, but it never seemed to matter.
No matter what we’ve said or done, all his appeals have been denied, and the entire justice system seems hell bent on killing him. ”
“I believe in him, too,” I say quietly. “I was twelve when he was arrested, and I followed the investigation and trial as best as I could as a kid. Nothing ever added up for me, which is why I started volunteering at PWCC, and why I was so glad to see he wrote to them for assistance.”
Evie locks her gaze on mine, and she looks so young, so vulnerable at this moment. “You really think you can help?”
“I do.” I gnaw on my bottom lip for a second. “But I can’t do it alone. I need my colleagues’ knowledge and legal expertise.”
She nods absently. “Then what can I do to help you with that?”
I grin. “Can I borrow your cell phone?”