The Secrets in the Book

It started off like any other day. The sun was shining, at an increasingly hot temperature I might add. I woke up around six am, did the usual quick shower to start the day, took my time to get ready for work. Now work wasn’t glamorous. My wardrobe consists of a khaki button up shirt, black pants, black socks, and a black belt. There is no room for individuality or color, but I guess that’s the outfit you get when you choose to be a Correctional Officer. The job comes with its ups and downs but overall, I like it there.

I jumped in my beat up 2006 Volvo, the silver paint was peeling off. You could tell this car sits in the sun, a lot. I wouldn’t want anything else though, she has been with me through so much. I enjoyed a peaceful car ride just sitting back listening to my favorite music before getting to work. I get there promptly at eight fifteen to have enough time to go through inspection and clock in. This is where it all started.

It was time for a prison sweep, this was routine and nothing out of the ordinary. As I was counting out all the inmates, I noticed there was one too many, but I couldn’t figure out who it was. I walked down the line checking every inmate and at the end there she was. She looked different than the other inmates, she was dirtier, her dark brown hair looked as if it has never been combed like a bird’s nest. Her orange jumpsuit was torn and covered in blood. She had a black eye on her right side and bruises wrapped around her body. What happened to her? I approached her, she tried to smile, but it looked painful. “What’s your name?” I asked softly. She turned her head to each side, like she was looking out for someone, “I’m Amanda Flemings.” She whispered. That name was familiar.

“You have to hurry.” She ordered, with fear in her voice.

“What happened to you? What do you mean?” I asked, feeling very confused.

“No time he’s coming.” She urged as she shoved a worn out little black book into my hands.

Instinctively I grabbed it, then went to look up at her, but she was gone. “Officer Ramirez, what’s the hold up?” My senior officer Greg Cervantes yelled out. “Sorry sir all done,” I yelled, “Inmates back in your cells!” I shoved the little black book into my back pocket as fast as possible. Maybe he is the one she was talking about. Her name kept echoing inside my mind. “Ramirez. Ramirez!” His yells brought me back from this trance I was in. “Yes sir.” I muttered still thinking on her name.

“Everything okay?” He asked.

“Yes, I am very sorry.” I told him cautiously.

“Why don’t you go take a quick break and be back ready to work.” He ordered. I just nodded and walked off. “And Officer!” He yelled, “Keep your personal items in your locker.” He pointed at the black book in my pocket. “Yes sorry.” I mumbled as I rushed out.

I headed straight to my locker, grabbed my phone and went right to the restroom. Quietly, I sat on the toilet seat and went to search, Amanda Flemings. A million articles popped up, all with a title like, Inmate Escapes. Amanda was the inmate who was thought to escape back in July of 2015. It was the strangest case, because she was going for an appeal of her murder conviction of her four-year-old nephew, who her and her live in boyfriend were accused of abusing and murdering. How could this be her? How is she here? Afraid to look at the article, I anxiously waited for it to load, and sure enough it was her. She wasn’t bruised up in the picture, but clear as day the woman I saw today was her. Her dark brown hair was well below her shoulders, her pale white skin had a flush of pink in her cheeks, and her hazel eyes were just glaring with sadness in her mugshot.

I felt the book pushing on my pocket, still in shock I reached for it. It was small but not too small, big enough to stick out of my pocket. The leather cover was a little warn, and the elastic band was hanging in there barely holding it shut. I slid the band off the side and went to open the book. Out dropped a key. Clink! I heard the key hit the floor, slowly I reached to grab it. It was still silver and shiny as if it were brand new. As I picked it up, I felt myself gasp for air.

Suddenly I was standing watching in the background, Amanda was there with a man. He was tall, blonde hair and broad shoulders they were walking into a bank. As they moved, I moved, following their every step. We kept making our way farther into the bank. The lady was guiding them to a safety deposit box. Number 425. Amanda brought out an envelope from her purse, she folded it in to the box. After that, she pulled out the little black book she had given me and turned to face me. I felt my heart racing and could feel my palms getting sweaty. How am I seeing this was all I could think. In the blink of an eye, she was right in front of me, she was back her bloodied prison uniform. “He’s coming. You must leave. Find me. I’m under the tree. You’ll know. Please Melody find me.” She whispered.

And just like that, I was back in the bathroom stall, trying to catch my breath, still grasping the key in my hand. Who is he? How did she know my name?

I had already made it out to my car, I like to park near the end of the parking lot underneath a tree for shade. I had already been reading the book, the most recent entry was dated the day Amanda escaped. I felt myself shaking I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

July 21st 2015

Usually, I pick them based on this feeling I get but with Amanda I made an exception. She knew what I had done, she was connecting the dots and I could tell she was figuring out. After reading her letter between her and her cousin Patrick, I knew they were close, too close. I planned everything carefully. She had gone missing during outside hours, I made the hole in the fence near the far end and dragged her through it. I love how she ran as if she had a chance. I wasn’t scared because I wasn’t alone. David was waiting for me. It was the least he could do, women aren’t really his type, he is more of a boy no older than eleven, but he had everything to lose. She was screaming, but no one could hear her, the prison alarm had just gone off once someone noticed the hole in the fence. My shift was already over, and I had said my goodbyes and clocked out before sneaking back out to the yard.

I saw her fight as she ran right into David. He held her down and began to beat her. She had to be weak enough to let us do what we wanted. She just laid there with her clothes ripped and bloodied, just defeated and sobbing silently. You go first Greg, she’s more your type anyways, David motioned for me to take my turn. David watched as I…

I was crying, I couldn’t read this anymore I knew what happened. I have to tell someone. “No! You can’t.” There she was sitting in my passenger seat. I still can’t believe this is all really happening. “Why not?” I asked as my voice cracked. “They will never believe you, he has gotten away with this before,” she explained, “It’s all in the book. Go to Montgomery Bank on 5th street, they know you’re coming. Empty my box and run. He already knows you know.” I felt my heart racing, I couldn’t breathe. “Calm down Melody, everything you need is in that box, hurry.” She urged as she faded away.

I pulled my keys out of my pocket and put it in the ignition. I was about to turn it but there he was, Greg. He ran all the way to his car. I leaned down farther into my seat, hiding myself from him. He was throwing things around, searching for something in his car. Could he be looking for the book? One, two, I silently counted to calm my breathing. Greg carefully closed the door and walked back inside, it was like he was a completely different person he seemed calm and at ease. As soon as he shut the door, I turned the key and sped away.

I couldn’t help but think about what I read and saw. The image of Amanda kept passing through my mind, Greg rushing to his car, what he wrote in his journal. Everything was starting to overwhelm me. It seemed like forever, but somehow, I ended up back in town already, I was almost to 5th street. I made a right and slowly parked in the nearest space. You can do this. Everything is okay, the sooner it gets done the sooner this is over. I walked in and proceeded to wait in line. The teller I got was the same one I saw with Amanda, she had soft blue eyes, light gray hair, but seemed a little older now. “How can I help you miss?” She asked. “I am here to empty safety deposit box 425” I told her. She gestured me to follow her towards the back of the bank. “Your name and key please.” She questioned. “It’s not mine I have the key,” I showed her the key, “my name is Melody Ramirez.” She didn’t seem surprised by name or that I had the key. She nodded, “Yes Charlotte said you would be coming.” I was very confused at this point. “You know Charlotte Charleston.” She informed me. I just nodded my head and followed her back. Charlotte why does that name sound familiar. She pointed to the box and left me alone in the room. I sat on the cold metal bench opened the box.

Inside was a bundle of money wrapped in rubber band, I counted it, and to my surprise it was $20,000. I set it aside and continued to go through the box. It was filled with newspaper clippings, notes, all related to her nephew Andrew’s death. The one she was charged with. Andrew was only seven years old; she had been babysitting him and walked inside while he was in the backyard to answer the doorbell, that was her story. She came back and he was gone. Frantically, she searched the house before calling the police. Andrew’s body was found days later not far from the house and all evidence pointed to her and her boyfriend at the time. I kept searching and found pieces of notebook paper and different clippings, done by a private investigator. From the looks of it she was trying to clear her name and find the actual killer. Why I am getting the feeling the killer was Gregg and this David guy. At the very bottom of the box was a picture of me and a little girl, who looked very much like Amanda.

That’s when it hit me. I had only been five in this picture, I was with my best friend Charlotte, her parents had died later that year in a car accident, and she had been adopted. That explains it, Amanda is Charlotte. There was a note taped to the back of the photo, Take the money, change your identity, and find me Melody.