"For any other murder?"
"Man, I don't get that." Beau gave him a blank stare. "What are we talking about?"
Ray couldn't sort out Loraine and Barner just now. He tried to play it through in his mind-arrest, court, judge. New situations with new rules that didn't belong in his world. Rules he didn't want to learn.
"Be back around in the morning, man. Forget about release, get comfortable." Beau left.
Ray was beyond mere fatigue. The exasperating mix of Loraine, Towson, Tammy and the detective added up to the worst day of his life; each was a puzzle piece that wouldn't fit into place. No use trying to relax. His head was buzzing with confusion plus a headache. His stomach felt sick, maybe nerves, maybe hunger.
He heard some shouting outside, must be the TV people. From the hallway, he heard noises and the rising clatter of voices. He got up and stood at the bars. People noticed him and stared as they passed, looking in at the caged man on display. He moved to the back, far back, not wanting anyone to see him.
He sat huddled in the corner on his bunk with his knees up under his chin, as far away from the bars as possible. His jumpsuit was itchy and hot. He could smell the snoring drunk a couple of feet away. Over the next few hours, he would hear the clang of a door and indistinct voices. Blurry shadows would move past in the hallway. More shadows and voices as he slipped in and out of sleep.