CLAIRE

The prison called Richard at nine in the morning. I knew because they called me first to confirm his contact information, standard procedure, the woman on the phone said, notifying family of an inmate's death required confirming next of kin details.

I gave them Richard's prison number without feeling anything, just reciting digits like reading from a grocery list. After I hung up, I sat at the kitchen table for a long time.

Julian had already left for the office, the apartment was quiet around me, just me and the coffee going cold in my cup.

I thought about Richard finding out about Vanessa through a prison official, and...