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EPILOGUE I

Gatesville Women’s Prison

Teeks later

“HERE’S YOUR GOURMET LUNCH, GIRL EAT HEARTY” MAVIS, as doing tih the slot in Marie’s cell Cold hot dogs and canned beans again Marie would have told the woman to stuff it, but after a week in solitary, any voice was better than the silence

“Any news from outside?” she asked

“Just the usual” Mavis wasn’t supposed to talk to the prisoners in solitary, but if no guards were around, she didn’tthat rule

“Listen, I need a favor” Marie pressed close to the bars, keeping her voice low “Can you get word to Stella Rawlins, tell her I’m here?”

“Stella? Oh, honey, you haven’t heard, have you?”

“Heard what?” Marie asked

“Stella passed away last one to hell, or wherever she deserved”

“Oh, damn” Marie had no pity for Stella, but her deathErin Tyler, Stella wouldn’t have been around to tell her about the drug stash

“Soirl orkin’ the infire She said, ‘If that bitch Marie ever cos I told her a lie’ ”

Marie sagged against the bars “That’s what Stella said?”

“That’s the story I heard,” Mavis said “She said it, and then she died laughin’”