At once, the crowd around her chorused with flattery.
“You really are so generous, Dr. Shanahan!”
I searched for a place to sit, but someone sneered nearby. “Look—the housekeeper dares to show up. Does she have no shame?”
Before I could speak, Mariam smiled brightly and answered for me. “Dr. Crumpler is here to apologize to me.”
A man jeered, “The esteemed Dr. Crumpler apologizing? For falsely accusing Dr. Shanahan five years ago? How will Dr. Crumpler apologize?”
Mariam tilted her head toward Charlton with a mock-sweet expression.
Charlton lowered his gaze, his voice stripped of warmth. “She will beg for Mariam’s forgiveness. Arizona, come and apologize.”
I stared at him in disbelief. How could he say such a thing? He wanted me to apologize to my enemy?!
Mariam clapped lightly, laughter chiming. “How could I bear such a gesture? Why not let her show everyone how she lived in prison?”
The crowd erupted in mocking laughter. My face was drained of color, but before I could refuse, a voice bellowed from the back.
“0528!”
My body froze, then straightened by reflex. Without thinking, I shouted, “Here!”