Chapter 4

Six:

Because the factory director also knew Harry had taken the fall for Josephine, he couldn't stand to watch Harry ruin himself over a girl and a moment's rashness, so for the time being he had Harry locked up in the security office.

I spent two days handling my own business and Margery Hansen's, and it wasn't until the third day that I went to the security office to see Harry.

The last two days hadn't been kind to him. He looked worn thin, and yet oddly full of spirit.

When I arrived, he was reaching through the iron bars, holding the hand of Josephine, who'd come to bring him food.

"Josephine, don't cry."

"Doing all this for you, I do it gladly."

"Never mind a theft charge. Even if you'd killed someone, I wouldn't blink before taking the blame for you."

"Because I know you did nothing wrong. Taking that watch was only human. Everyone wants nice things. This is my fault, for being useless. If I'd bought you a good watch long ago, why would you ever have needed to take someone else's?"

I curled my fingers into a fist and swallowed a laugh, only pretending to dab at the corner of my eye where there were no tears, and let out a sigh.

Only then did Harry see me.

"Why are you here again?"

"You're a girl too. How can you be so shameless, always throwing yourself at me?"

"Our engagement was only a verbal one. It doesn't count for anything. Stop treating yourself like my other half. It's pathetic, the way you keep chasing me!"

I wasn't angry.

I only looked at him with regret.

"Harry, Louisa's already called the police. Are you really so willing to go to prison over a girl?"

At the word police, Harry froze.

"The police?"

"Not a chance. Don't try to scare me."

"Louisa Donaldson just wants money, and the director's been putting in good words for me the whole time. Who would go to the police?"

"Quit standing there spouting nonsense to frighten people!"

I shook my head.

"I'm not making it up."

With that, I walked straight into the security office, clearing the doorway, and the moment I stepped aside, a few officers came in.

"You're Harry Matthews?"

Seven:

Harry went blank. He nodded, but still couldn't believe it. Which made sense. In the last life Louisa had been kind. She hadn't wanted to see Josephine ruin her own life over one foolish moment, so she'd only asked for some compensation and never called the police.

So Harry panicked. He grabbed my arm and pulled me over, lowering his voice.

"Paula Pruitt, what did you do? Why would Louisa call the police?"

I covered my eyes and pretended to cry.

"Louisa knew you were taking the blame, so she only wanted an apology and compensation."

"But your mother went and made a scene with her, insisting that the watch was a gift from Louisa's lover."

"She even went on and on about Louisa being a loose woman."

"Louisa passed out from the anger right there. Her husband believes in her, and he couldn't let it go, so he went straight to the police. Everyone's calling your mother vicious. She's scared now, hiding at home, too afraid to come out."

"So stop this, please, and just tell the truth!"

Josephine had gone white with fear, clutching Harry for dear life.

"Harry, save me, I don't want to go to prison. You're a college student, they're bound to go easy on you!"

Harry had wavered for a moment.

But seeing Josephine like this, he set his jaw, repeated everything he'd said before in front of the officers, gave a statement, and signed the written confession.

Plenty of people around them shook their heads and cursed Harry for being a fool.

Harry didn't see it that way. If anything, he said it with complete confidence.

"I'm nothing like the rest of you. I'm a college student. I'm somebody with talent!"

"That watch isn't worth much anyway. Even if I own up to it, the worst is getting fired and paying for it. I can still go to college. I'll still be somebody!"

"Paula Pruitt, quit playing dead. Go home and take good care of my mother, or I'll make you regret it when I get out."

I lowered my hand, stared at his handsome face, and let out a sigh, pretending to be heartbroken.

"Harry, you're not getting out."

"The place Louisa's watch was stolen was the women's bathhouse."

"So your charge isn't just theft. It's... an indecency charge!"