The dryer spun Casey and Wyatt’s clothes around; colorful fabrics swirled as he let himself get lost in thought that afternoon. His son sat at the kitchen table drawing more creative pieces. Casey needed to buy him more paper soon.

Casey wondered if art was something Wyatt would stick with or if it was just a childhood phase. Perhaps he ought to take him down to the art museum some day. He might be interested in seeing other famous artists’ works. It would give them something fun to do and get out of the house.

Peeking over his son’s shoulder, he admired the doodle Wyatt created after he’d pointed out one of the funny-looking figures was him. Wyatt enjoyed drawing his family and animals.

“That looks great,” Casey told him. “Who’s this beside me?” Casey couldn’t figure out who the pink figure was.

“That’s Mommy,” Wyatt said, then pointed to the smaller blue figure. “That’s me.”

“Looks really good. I think that might be one we’ll put in your folder, okay?” Casey told him.

Casey kept all of Wyatt’s drawings, stowing them away in folders like his own personal little portfolio. Sometimes he hung them up on the fridge or in their shared bedroom, but he didn’t keep the ones he drew of his mom out. Not anymore.

Wyatt kept his concentration focused on coloring his mom. It broke Casey’s heart when Wyatt drew her, knowing how he’d never see her again. Not unless he decided to visit her in prison when he turned eighteen. Until then, Casey wouldn’t let him anywhere near his mom or that god-forsaken prison. It was no place for a child to be.

“Hey, whatchu guys up to?” Lani rounded the corner into the kitchen.

“Laundry,” Casey replied. “Bout to head out in a bit.”

Casey had made his decision. He planned to visit Veronica today. Despite everything they’d been through, Casey had a smidgen of faith that she might be honest with him and tell him what was really going on. Not to mention, he wanted a word with her about having someone stalking him and his family.

Lani raised a brow. “Oh, wow. You’re really going, huh? I didn’t expect that.”

“Well, I can’t keep sitting around hoping she’ll call again. Not after everything I’ve learned,” Casey said. “I need answers.”

“What if she doesn’t tell you what you wanna know?” Lani asked. “You know you can’t get hostile with her in there or threaten her again.”

Casey sighed, waving a hand of defeat. “I know, I won’t do that, but sometimes she makes that difficult. And it’s not like I was the only one who made death threats. You remember what she said to me, right?”

Lani grinned. “Oh, I don’t think anyone will ever forget that. Even made the poor judge blush bright red.”

Having Veronica threaten to castrate him amongst several strangers in a jury and the judge had humiliated him. It didn’t earn her any brownie points for yelling that while under the influence of narcotics either. She couldn’t even stay clean during her trial. Casey should’ve known better than to believe she’d actually gotten better.

When they learned she was pregnant, Veronica did everything to stay clean. She went to rehab, stuck with her adviser, and delivered their healthy baby boy. Nine months clean, her record. Not too long after Wyatt was born, she got hooked back on heroin and turned to her friends in the Black Vipers gang.

Veronica hid her problems from him for as long as she could, but Casey found out again soon enough. She fell back into old patterns and behaviors, which led to him following her one night and witnessing her get high with some people from her old crew. Casey didn’t mind confronting her in front of them after she’d left their son with Casey’s parents, promising she just needed some time to be with a girlfriend who’d suffered a terrible breakup.

No matter how hard Casey tried to pull her out of that dark pit of drug abuse, nothing ever worked. Eventually, he gave up on her. The lies, stealing money from him, and empty promises of staying clean were too much for him to handle. The night she accidentally killed a young teenager while driving home high, with their son in the backseat of her car, was the last straw.

“When are you driving out there?” Lani asked.

“Here in an hour,” Casey replied. “Just wanted to get some chores done. I was about to come see if you were busy. You wouldn’t mind watching Wyatt for a while, would you?”

Lani nodded. “Yeah, sure. Audrey’s coming by, but I’m sure she won’t mind him hanging out with us.”

“Alright, thanks. And about yesterday-”

“Don’t.” Lani cut him off. “I said some crap that I shouldn’t have. You know I’d do anything for you and Wyatt. I hate how she’s treated you both. Even behind bars, she still has this hold over you.”

“Nonsense.” Casey scoffed. “She’s got no hold over me. Not anymore. I’m only going down there to see what she knows. If she won’t tell me anything, then I’ll just never see her again.”

Lani folded her arms across her chest. “If you say so. Just don’t let her fool you. I know how manipulative she can be. Don’t make any deals with her either. Don’t let her back in your life.”

“I know. I’m not an idiot.” Casey sighed. “I promise, it’ll be fine. I won’t be long either. Gonna ask her a few questions then leave. I’m also going to tell her to quit having her people follow me. I’ve already told August to stay away from me. Can’t believe she’d go as far as stalking me.”

“I can,” Lani muttered under her breath.

Before long, Casey prepared to head out into the chilly afternoon. Snow clung to the sides of the street, having been plowed. Casey considered turning back around as he neared New Syracuse County prison, but he needed to find out what Veronica knew. His curiosity would only eat him alive if he didn’t.

When he arrived at the prison, he anticipated the mandated search and going through a metal detector. It wasn’t like he’d bring anything to help Veronica escape, but he understood how some people would try to break other prisoners out. Each guard kept a stoic expression, barely saying a word to him as they led him down a familiar pathway to the visitor’s room.

With each step, Casey’s heart hammered in his chest. Goosebumps checkered Casey’s arms as he shivered, trying to avoid eye-contact with the austere guards. It made him pity Veronica for the horrid conditions she lived in.

Despite what she’d done, Casey never objected to the possibility of a contact visitation with his ex. He’d filled out the paperwork for it long ago, but never expected to need it or actually turn up at the prison they kept Veronica in.

Casey took a seat at the rickety table one of the guards directed him to, folding his hands in his lap. A few others had come to visit their loved ones. Hushed conversations floated all around him.

Did anyone else visit Veronica? Perhaps some of her family or those Black Vipers? Casey hadn’t spoken with her since the day he gained custody of their son, and he hadn’t expected to see her anytime soon. Casey wasn’t sure who else had filled out paperwork to visit her while incarcerated. He almost didn’t do it, but maybe now it had some benefits to him to stay in touch with her.