After Mr. Stern left to handle my bail paperwork, I returned to the holding cell.
There wasn't much to do—nothing to pack—so I decided to lie down on the narrow cot and rest my mind for a bit.
Before I could even close my eyes, someone lunged at me.
The steel shelving behind me left no room to move. Even someone in perfect health would've been injured if they were shoved into it. And me? With steel plates and screws holding my body together, a hit like that could easily cripple me—if not kill me outright.
I'd been caught completely off guard, too distracted by my thoughts to notice her approach. By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late to dodge.
Just as I braced for the worst, I felt a strong hand yank me backward.
One of the women in the cell—the one who looked the most intimidating—grabbed me and pulled me out of the way. Her timing was perfect; I was inches away from colliding with the shelf.
Before I could process what had just happened, she l
