Chapter 22

As they get out of the room, another prisoner is called for his advocate and even that sounds suspicious. Ramirez is too cheerful. And the corridors have way too many shadows. Zach might be losing it.

But no. As soon as Zach sees the infirmary, he realizes that he’s right on the money. Ramirez is taking him to see Essex.

And Zach’s alone.

“You look well,” Essex’s high-class accent echoes in the room.

They all have it—the Academy kids, Anton, Zach’s brother, Giuseppe, a lot of people he meets daily. But with none of them does it seem so obvious. It could be the sneer, or the patronizing tone, or even in Zach’s head, but it’s rage-inducing. He used to use recordings of Essex’s appearances to motivate himself. Zach has rarely seen somebody so careless have so much power.