Janelle expected big trouble the night she pushed Boris out of the ward, but instead, she was simply given something to calm down and help her sleep. She remained in the same room. The room had two beds, but she wasn't allowed any roommates, of course. Her bed was by the window. She managed to convince the others to allow her to draw the privacy curtain between the two beds so she could sleep better at night while Boris or whoever else was “protecting” her sat on the side by the empty bed. There was usually someone outside the room as well. Not always, but usually.
However, when Janelle woke up the next morning, things felt different. Facing the window, she slowly blinked against the light seeping through the blinds. Once her eyes adjusted, she turned over to find a young woman in uniform sitting in a plastic chair with her hands behind her head, gazing straight at her. The woman appeared to be in her twenties and had shoulder-length wavy dark hair and dark eyes. Her name tag read L. Gilbert.
Janelle squinted suspiciously at the woman as she slowly sat up in bed. When the woman remained silent, Janelle asked, "Who are you?"
"Oh, just looking out for you, Miss Stone," the woman replied.
Janelle wasn't sure she liked the officer's tone. "Oh, okay. Why are you sitting in here, though?"
The woman shrugged. "Just keeping an eye out for you."
Janelle swung her legs over the edge of the bed, stretched, and yawned. She got out of bed and placed her feet in the hospital-issued slippers. "Potty time," she said, squeezing by the officer.
"M-hm," said Officer Gilbert.
Janelle, keeping her head turned in the opposite direction, didn't see the others on the other side of the curtain or in the doorway as they stood quietly observing her. When she emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, she noted the other female officer along with the two male officers and said, "Wow."
Seated in a chair just inside the door was a male officer with silver metal-rimmed glasses who appeared to be in his 30s. He was tall, thin, and wiry, had short wavy dark hair, and light eyes. His name tag read L. Walker. Standing in the doorway was an older female officer in her 40s with sandy-colored hair gathered in a bun and light eyes. She was slightly plump, and her name tag read M. Byers. Lastly, there was a male officer who was probably the oldest, in his fifties or so. He was Black, and his name tag read C. Cole.
"Wow," Janelle said again. "Four of you?"
Officer Byers said, “M-hm,” while the young male officer said nothing after quickly glancing up at her and then back at the magazine he was reading.
"It's your lucky day," said Officer Cole.
"Have there been any threats against me or something that there are so many of you here?"
The older female officer looked at Officer Cole, who, after a moment, said, "Not that we're aware of."
"Have they been caught yet?"
"Caught?" he asked, confusing Janelle.
"Yeah. You know, as in those who escaped?"
"Oh," Officer Cole said with a snort, as if he should have known better. "Not yet, but we're getting closer."
"Is Boris anything to worry about?"
The officer wasn't sure how to respond to that and said, "I'm not sure what you mean, Miss Stone."
"Feel free to call me Janelle. Well, I'm sure you know that I had him removed because he was making me very uncomfortable with the way he was so obsessed with me."
"Was he? I mean, yes, we're aware of the situation."
"He's always had this strange obsession with me. I just never understood what it was about."
"Oh, I see. Sorry to hear that."
"Who's going to be transporting me to the safe house tomorrow?"
"We’ll make sure you get there," said Officer Byers in a curt tone that Janelle didn't find friendly at all.
"Sorry to hit you with so many questions, but is Boris going to be around?"
"Just for the transport," said Officer Cole. Noting the confused and concerned expression on Janelle's face, he added, "Is that going to be okay?"
"Uh, yeah, I just didn't see why he was needed until the trial."
"The trial?" he asked.
Once again, Janelle looked suspicious. "Well, yeah, remember? Once they find those who are missing, I’m to give witness testimony in exchange for total immunity, and the rest of my probation will be dropped."
"Oh, yeah, yeah, sorry. I'm having a slow day today. Lots going on to keep up with, Miss Stone. Boris only has to go with us to sign a paper as to your agreement to make it official. So he'll be here tomorrow when we leave the hospital."
"Where is the safe house going to be?"
Officer Cole thought as quickly as he could, not wanting to say anything that could further Janelle's suspicion. "Here in Texas. It'll be in the middle of the state, so it'll take a few hours to get there."
"He's going to drive me there?"
"No, we're all going with you in a big truck to make sure you stay safe."
It was then that Janelle noticed the New Mexican state flag on the sleeves of the officers' uniforms. "New Mexico?" she asked with both confusion and concern.
"Again, that's only because your current legal residence was there. That means we're obligated to come and escort you to the safe house," said Cole, with the other officers admiring his quick thinking and appreciating Janelle's gullibility.
"Oh, I see," she said finally crossing the room and heading back toward her bed. "You guys security or police?"
"We’re with the police," Officer Byers said in an authoritative tone.
"Oh, okay," said Janelle, as if she had just asked if it was going to be sunny or rainy that day.
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