15th May, 1998

My hands trembled from the cold, my fingers wrapped together so tight my knuckles had turned white.

"I'm not corrupt, Tom." 

He stared at me through the iron bars separating us.

"I believe you." 

"I don't know how it got there."

Each guard that walked past believed otherwise though. They each gave me the same glare and dirty look. It made my stomach churn. They all practically screamed Dirty Cop at me just with the power of their scowls.

"We'll figure out whose done this to you, Dex."

I nodded my response. Tom was the first visitor i'd had since my arrest. I wasn't sure whether the others were trying to get me out, or had they completely dissociated themselves from me? The department would be going through all my past cases with a fine tooth comb. How many would they deem insufficient? Actual bad guys could get released back onto the streets.

"How did it even get there? I didn't see anyone near the pursuit." I untangled my fingers long enough to run them through my hair. How did my life turn to this?

I noticed Tom lean forward, glancing to each side quickly,

"I'm not supposed to tell you this," He whispered to me. "... but we are looking into an anonymous tip that might get you off the hook."

"Thank you, Tom."

He would never know how grateful i was.
A large guard came and loomed over Tom, tapping one of the iron bars.

"Time's up." 

Tom nodded at the guard. Pursing his lips, he got up from his seat.

"Hang in there, bud," and with that Tom was escorted out of the room and I was left to my dark cell.