9. Visitation🧁

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, as they'd be out soon.

Casey wondered if art was something Wyatt would stick with or 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.

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 mostly.

"That looks great," Casey told him. "Who's this beside me though?" Casey couldn't figure out who the purple figure could be.

"That's Mommy," Wyatt said, then pointed to the smaller blue figure. "That's me."

"Ah, I see. Looks really good. I think that might be one we'll put in your folder, okay?" Casey said.

Casey kept all of Wyatt's drawings, stowing them away in folders like his own personal little portfolio.

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 jail when he turned eighteen. Until then, Casey wouldn't let him anywhere near his mom or that god-forsaken jail. 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 to the jail in a bit."

Casey had made his decision. He planned to visit his ex, 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 from her."

"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, 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 in court, right? After her sentencing?"

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. On the night she killed a young teenager while 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? I don't want to bring him with me. He shouldn't have to see her there."

Lani nodded. "Yeah, I understand. Audrey's coming by though, 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 Veronica's treated you both. Even behind bars, she still has this hold over you."

"Nonsense." Casey scoffed. "Veronica'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."

"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 jail, but he needed to see what Veronica knew. His curiosity would only eat him alive if he didn't.

When he arrived at the jail, 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 the horrid conditions she lived in now.

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 jail 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 in prison; hushed conversations floated 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. Although he always ignored her calls, Casey had to find out what she knew about his mom's murder.

When they brought Veronica in, Casey gasped. He'd expected her to look a lot rougher, but seeing her untamed hair and bruised face made him relieved that he didn't bring Wyatt with him. Poor guy would've been scared of her.

The look Veronica gave him made Casey freeze. He contemplated leaving right there, not even bothering with questioning her. But he fought against his nerves, and took a deep breath.

"How've you been?" Casey asked.

"How do you think I've been?" Veronica snapped.

Casey gulped. "Is someone hurting you here? I mean, there's a way to report violence, right?"

Veronica laughed. "This ain't high school, Casey. Nah, I'm good. I got bitches in here who got my back. I know you're not here to see how I'm doing. Cut to the chase. Why are you here?"

"Fine. I'm here about your phone call on the day before my mom's murder," Casey told her. "I've been talking with that little spy you sent to keep an eye on me. I wanna see what you know."

"Oh yeah?" Veronica smirked, leaning as close as she could cuffed to the table. She bared her yellow stained teeth at him, causing him to cringe. "What do you wanna know?"

"Well, do you know who killed her? Who put a hit out on my family?" Casey asked.

"There's rumors about the Voiceless Rebels putting a hit on your mom and your family for interfering with their drug business," Veronica replied, tapping her nails against the table. Bruises covered her knuckles. "She locked one of their own away. Dunno who."

"That's all you know?"

Veronica nodded. "It is. I called you. I tried to warn you."

Casey sighed. "I know. I should've answered. We were at the park sledding, and I just declined the call."

"Does Wyatt ever ask about me?" Veronica asked, lips quivering.

"Yeah, sometimes," Casey admitted. "He draws you sometimes too. Really loves doodling our family and other things he likes. I wonder if he might keep up with art as he gets older."

Veronica smiled. "He's gonna be a little artist, huh? Dunno where he gets that from. I can't draw worth a shit."

"Me neither."

"I sent August to keep an eye on you and Wyatt," Veronica said. "To make sure nobody came after you. The night you met him, someone was gonna try to rob your bakery. I'm not sure if it was the Voiceless Rebels. August didn't get a good look at the guy before he fled."

Realization hit him. "That's how August got injured, isn't it?"

"Yeah, and he had no choice but to ask for your help. He knew he could trust you. I told him he could, cuz I know you wouldn't let some stranger just bleed to death. You ain't got that kind of heart."

"If someone tried to rob our bakery, does that mean I need to warn my dad?" Casey asked. "We've already reopened."

"Don't worry. August will keep an eye on the place and make sure nobody bothers you guys," Veronica replied. "I know you probably hate how I got someone to follow you, but I'm only doing what's best for Wyatt. If you and your family die, that means he'll be put in foster care. Or worse. With my family."

Casey bristled in his seat. "That's not happening."

"You need to be careful. I don't know what their plans are with your family and August can't keep all of you safe at once. If anything happens to our son..." Veronica gazed around, lowering her voice. "I'll have you killed."

How did it come to this? How did the woman he once love not even mind threatening him with murder?

"If you haven't forgotten, you're the one who almost killed our son," Casey snapped. "That's why you're in here and not allowed to see him. You're not his mother anymore."

Veronica tensed at his remark. "Go to hell, Casey. I'm done talking to you." She motioned for a guard to come take her away, not bothering to spare a glance back at him.

As Casey rose from the rickety chair, he let everything sink in. Her rival's gang put a hit out on his family and she'd sent August to protect them, but Casey had told the gang member to stay away. Did that mean nobody was looking out for them now?