Crave by Karen E. Taylor

raised his head. Our eyes met and some of the despair in his demeanor lifted, to be replaced with a glimmer of hope. He jumped up from the bed and flung himself at the wall, fingers splayed on its surface, his face so close that his features were distorted in the thick glass.
    â€œDeirdre.” There was no mistaking the relief in his voice. “Shit, I’m so happy to see you. Hell, I’d be happy to see anyone right now. Even Mitch’s ugly face. How long have I been here? And what took you so long?”
    â€œI’m sorry, Larry. I wasn’t sure they’d let me see you. . . .” The lie was apparent, even to him.
    A twisted smirk replaced the pleased smile that had been on his face. “I know, and you didn’t exactly rush to find out, right?” Larry shrugged and laughed. “No, it’s okay, really, why should you? I mean, what am I to you that you should care?”
    I sighed. This wasn’t going to be easy. “Larry, you are my responsibility. One that I have neglected, I confess. And I apologize for that. But I’m here now and I want to help if I can. We can talk; you can communicate with me, tell me your needs, your fears.”
    â€œYou’re here now? Actually, you’re there and I’m stuck in here. How can we communicate through this wall? I mean really communicate? And shouldn’t I have gotten bail or something? I haven’t been convicted of anything yet. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?”
    Ron laughed. “That’s not a Cadre rule, Martin. Don’t push your luck.”
    Larry struck at the glass wall with his fist. The noise was amplified through the microphone and I jumped. He continued punching to emphasize his words. “Oh, that Ronny is a brave one.” Thump. “It’s fucking easy to laugh when you’re on the other side, isn’t it, buddy?” Thump. “Let’s trade places and see how much you like it.”
    â€œNo thanks.” Ron made a grimace of distaste and turned to me. “Deirdre, are you sure you want to talk to this creature?”
    â€œYes, I do, Ron. I want to. I have to.” I gave Larry a quelling glance, which seemed to calm him, then looked back to Ron. “And I’d like to see him inside the room, if I may.”
    â€œJesus, Deirdre, I’m not sure you should do that.”
    â€œAre there rules against it?”
    â€œWell, no, not really. But he’s a strange one. He might hurt you.”
    I threw my head back and laughed. “Ron, what on earth could he possibly do to me? He has no weapons, and no defenses. I think I can reach him, make a difference to the way he is, but I can’t do it through a wall of glass.” I reached out and touched Ron’s arm gently, looking up into his face, studying his eyes. “We’ve been friends, good friends, all things considered. You may stay and watch if you need to, but let me go in. And turn off the microphone. This should be a private discussion. Please.”
    It was the last word that settled him, I think. And although I could tell he was not happy about the situation, he agreed. “Stand back, Martin,” he said in a sharp voice. Larry moved quickly to the end of his cot. “Okay, Deirdre,” Ron said, his hand resting on another switch on the wall, “the door will open for just a few seconds. Once you’re inside, you’ll be sealed in with him. And when I turn the microphone off, the air goes, too. Although there should be enough in there for at least a half an hour of conversation.” He looked over at Larry and back at me. “Are you really sure you want to do this?”
    â€œIt’s the only way, Ron.”
    â€œOkay,” he said reluctantly, then grinned at me, “you always do this to me. Talk me into doing things I don’t want to do. It’s not fair, you know. And Victor will have my ass for this if anything goes wrong. But you