You Owe Me

26th March 2013

The day after he arrives at Liverpool Prison Brendan goes through psychiatric assessment and s approved for a shared cell. The cell is empty when he arrives, the bed on the right side of the rectangular room has a book on the pillow – To Kill a Mockingbird – and pictures on the wall. He put his belongs on the left side of a shared desk –bible, toothbrush and past, electric razor, pictures of his kids, one of himself with Cheryl, Joel and Mitzeee and finally Ste with his kids – before laying on the free bed.

"Open 106, transfer from sickbay." Calls out the voice of an unknown prison guard over the tannoy.

It's late evening by the time his cellmate mate returns, Brendan is sat reading the Bible his eyes flicker up, immediately returning to the words in front of him.

Leviticus 24:17-21 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast. And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.

He's cellmate is a kid barely out of his teens with fiery red hair, milky skin covered with freckles and green eyes. The kid has this nervous energy about him, constantly squirming and an expression that says he could be sick at any moment permanently planted on his face.

There are angry red marks on his neck, telling the story of a strong grip around his neck.

Although the boy - Robin - eventually musteres up the courage to say "hi" Brendan has yet to utter a word to his cellmate over the last four days, or even acknowledged that there is even another person in the room at all. Their only interaction thus far had taken place in the shower when Robin had dropped his bar of soap. He warily looked around, the room was not occupied to full capacity and there was no one in close proximity. As he went to pick it up his arm was tugged harshly, Brendan simply shook his head and gave him a stern look, then offered the boy is own soap. This is when Brendan noticed more bruising, an array of purples, greens and yellow all over his torso.

It isn't just Robin, Brendan doesn't socialise with any of is fellows inmates. Word of the epic stand off at a club in Chester, requiring a helicopter and an armed police force has spread through the prison. Brendan has killed five people and survived a sniper shot, his arrival was big news in the lower security prison filled mostly with non violent offenders. He was highly anticipated, by both convicts and guards alike.

The guards look at brendan as if he is something they have trodden in, he's a cop killer and the fact that the cop in question was dirty is irrelevant, to the guards Brendan is the worst type of scum. But they aren't used to dealing with such high profile and dangerously unpredictable inmates, they are cautious of what he was capable of. The prisoners are split, they know not to fuck with hard man Brendan Brady, but his presence means different things to different people. Most stay out of his way, trying to stay off his radar, others try to recruit him for there perspective gangs or want to use his contacts for a whole range of illegal activates.

Brendan just wants to be left alone and serve his time.

-8-

By his fifth morning waking up inside Brendan has formed a daily routine. He gets up early, while the rest on the prison is still sound asleep, works out while listening to Johnny Cash – Cheryl had sent a few of his books, CDs a small stereo and his portable chess board – on the first morning he discovers Robin can sleep through pretty much anything. Wake up call is at at 7:30am, once the door to the cell is unlocked Brendan heads straight for the shower, has breakfast and goes to daily mass before returning to his cell to read.

"Kid, scram. I need a minute with Brady."

Brendan looks up, he has wondered how long it would take for Warren to come around. He looks over to Robin, who is now standing but unmoved. He's feet frozen looking between the two, seemingly seeking Brendan's permission to leave. Brendan nods, approvingly.

"You've got that one well trained." Warren smirks, taking a seat on Robin's neatly made bed.

Brendan finishes the verse before marking the page and placing the Bible to the side. His legs swing off the bed so he's sitting up right, directly across from Warren.

"I've not said a single word to the boy."

"It must be your intimidating demeanour or your reputation of being a psycho, this place was buzzing with rumours when word got out that you were coming here. Poor kid must have been scared shitless when he found out you'd be roomies."

"I've been here for five days and not a word from you, your not here for a friendly catch up or to talk about my cellmate." Brendan is sharp, already tiring of Warren.

"Straight to the point, I always did appreciate that about you. But the days are long inside, there's no harm in a little small talk to pass the time. Not to worry, you've got 30 to life to get used to it."

"Just get on with it, Warren." Brendan warns.

"Word is, you had yourself a little trip to the cop shop yesterday?"

"You want to know what I said about Danny?"

"You tried stitching me up with that once before, I've just come to make sure you ain't made the same mistake twice. It'd be a shame if my mates in here had to pay you a visit."

"Warren I'm the reason your in here, I turned your girlfriend and even your son against you. If that isn't reason enough to put a target on my back then I don't know what is. My guess is none of your little mates have the balls to even say boo to me now. A few of them have actually been quite hospitable. I have to say I'm feeling the love, so if you want to do the big man act lets just see how that turns out for you."

Warrens looks defeated, never one to hide his emotions well. Knowing Brendan has all the cards he gets up to leave.

"Foxy." Brendan's standing now, invading Warrens persons space. "I didn't say a word about your involvement."

"Why not?" Warren questions, suspicious.

"I'm in here either way, might as well do an old friend a favour. Mark 11:25 'and when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.' I'm a changed man."

Brendan looks at Warren tenderly, an inviting smile across his face. Nevertheless, he can almost see the cogs turning in Warrens head as it tries to figure out the catch.

"You're going to hang this over me?"

"It couldn't hurt to have someone like you to owing me one in a place like this. Owing me two in fact."

"Two? And how'd you figure that."

"Joel."

"Joel?"

"Joel, your son. Mick, my second 'victim' was Joel's step-daddy. I killed Danny for Steven, why would I go and do a thing like kill for your son?"

"You wouldn't."

"The kid's already been inside twice, once for battering the guy. Accident or not I don't see a judge being too lenient, do you?"

"Why would I give a damn about what happens to that little scroat?"

"Oh I think you give a damn. He's your only son, your blood you can't help but care."

There a beat when Warren says nothing trying to bluff his way out. "Fine, whatever." He relents.

"I'll be seeing you Foxy." Brendan feel's pretty smug as Warren leaves.

Before brendan has a chance to return to his reading the post trolley stops outside his cell. There are letters and a package for Robin, which he places on his side of the desk. The envelope at the bottom of the pile is addressed to and Brendan already knows what is sealed inside it, he's had the exact piece of paper arrive everyday, without fail. A request for a visiting order from Ste, he tickes the refusal box and hands it back to the inmate in charge of post straight.

Brendan sits for a while, thinking of how much pain Steven must be in, but he had told him that he wouldn't let him visit. He has to live his life, Brendan has nothing more to offer him. Contact will only make it harder, for the both of them.

Brendan hadn't realised how much time had passed, he could spend all day thinking of his Steven. He splashes water over his face before heading off to his prison job in the kitchen.

-8-

He spends the rest of the day in a haze, the monotony of prison life is easy to fall into and requires very little dinnertime Brendan is still out of it, missing his love, grieving for the happily ever after they'd now never get. He sits in corner of the canteen on a table he has claimed for himself alone, after an incident on the first day no one had dared join him. Brendan wasn't looking to cause trouble, he had to be on his best behaviour, there was many perks to be gained by a long timer like himself for good behaviour. But he also knew that he had to assert his place occasionally.

When some big guy came over patted his back, talking about smuggling heroin he quickly decided this should be his first frenzied act. He picked up his tray and slammed it against thet guy's head, knocking him to the floor. Discarding the tray he went at him with his fists, over and over. The guards eventually pull Brendan off his bloody and beaten target, he shrug himself out of their grasp announced to the room 'I like to eat my meals in peace, it's the simple pleasures', before returning to his pudding totally calm. That was that.

Uncharacteristically, Brendan has yet to take a single forkful of the meal in front of him, he's in such a state, mind so muddled eating is the last thing Brendan wants to do. As he walks over to the bins to dispose of his untouched soggy meal Brendan the loud clatter of a food tray hitting the floor rings through the dinning hall, proceeded by a united jeer from the inmated. But it's the complete silence that follows that really catches Brendan's attention.

Brendan turns to see his cellmate, whom has a tendency to walk around with his head down, in an attempt to be invisible, honestly it makes him look weak. An easy target. Eyes on the floor, the boy has walked into another prisoner, whose dinner is now down his front and over the floor. Brendan can see the look in the man's eyes, the look that many have seen in his own eyes countless of times before. This is not going to end well for Brendan's you cellmate. Brendan hesitates for a second, swaying back and forth where he is standing, looking from the door to the frightened boy and back to the door again.

By the time he makes his way though the crowd now circled around the two men, the kid is pinned against the wall about to have his face caved in. Brendan makes there just in time to pull back the man's arched arm before he can do any damage. The man shakes off Brendan's hold, turning to look at whoever dared get involved in his business, fuming eyes falling on Brendan.

Brendan simply looks past, pulling the Robin away and pushing him into the crowd.

"Get back to our cell." Brendan orders the visible shaken boy.

Robin doesn't need to be told twice, he run the entire way only feeling safe when the cell door closes behind him.

-8-

"And I thought I was the psychotic one in this place. No need to cry over spilt milk." Brendan laughs manically to himself, noting the cup of milk on the floor.

There are grumbles of laughter from the horde behind him, but not from the man I front of Brendan, he still looks like he could blow at any moment. The mood of the room changes, tension rippling through as the man came toe to toe with Brendan. Ready for a confrontation.

"Alright lads?" Brendan turns at hearing that familiar voice for the second time in just a few short hours. Warren stands with his arms crossed at Brendan's side.

"Lincoln, you got a problem with my friend here?"

"You know this moppet? He's got a death wish." Lincoln fumes.

"Me and Brady we go way back, I dated he sister for a while, lovely woman." He laughed to himself when Brendan lets out a low growl. "He didn't mean anything, always had a soft spot for young boys did our Brendan. Anyway I'm sure the three of us can work this out amicable?"

Lincoln assessed the situation, looking at the two men in front of him, Brendan poised for a fight while Warren has this annoying grin on his face. He is bigger than both Brendan and Warren, but together they could take him. With all the talk he has heard over the last few days its's unlikely any of the other inmates will have his back against Brendan Brady, the guards haven't even come over to break up the commotion.

"Amicable, sure. Just tell that boy of yours to stay out of my way."

-8-

There are no good days in prison, just days better or worse than others. This has been the worst so far, being apart from Ste has become unbearable and his future is bleak. Brendan isn't too happy that he has just now made an enemy, less that a week in, and is sure Warren is going to count that as one of his favours. He just wants to get back to his cell and sleep through the rest of this day.

"Kid, you need to be more careful. I'm not always going to be there to protect you."

Robin is curled up under his sheets, his back to Brendan. He doesn't respond, but Brendan can tell he is still awake because of the sniffing from crying. He decides to leave it, stripping to his boxers and putting on his standard prison issued pyjama bottoms. It wasn't cold so he lies on top of the sheets, arms under his head ready for sleep.

Being miserable all day is exhausting, so Brendan driftes into a light sleep fairly quickly.

The weight on the mattress shifts, then there's a warm slender body on top of his. He's dreaming of Steven again. Brendan lets go, indulging in the fantasy of his dreams as legs move either side of his hips, hands on his chest and lips pressed against his own. At that Brendan's eyes Spring open, because even in his sleep in knows exactly what Steven's lips feel like, taste like. Those lips, the body in top of his definitely do not belong to Steven.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Brendan demands, sitting up.

"What do you think?" Robin's voice is low and husky.

Still straddling Brendan, nuzzling his neck and caressing his chest. Brendan grabs the boy by the wrists to stop him.

"Are you even gay?"

Robin laughs in response, but it's humourless. "Like that even matters, there's only one thing someone like me is good for in this place."

"So you what, you just jump into people's bed and maul them?"

"It's easier that way. If I don't struggle, give them what they want it hurts less and I don't get a beating."

Brendan only now notices how sad the boy looks, he wonders if he's always been that sad. He hasn't taken any real notice of him. The reason for the bruises and his trip to sickbay is obvious now. He lets go of Robin wrists, the boy climbing off Brendan's body to perche on the edge of the bed, Brebdan follows suit.

"What made you think I wanted anything from you?"

"You said you wouldn't always be there to protect me. I thought that meant you'd look after me if I let you... you know. People round her are scared of you, better I be yours than the bitch of the prison, being paced around from one frustrated asshole to another."

"They rape you?"

"I'm still alive." He doesn't answer the question.

Brendan instantly feels compassion for the boy, but can see he doesn't want to talk about it and knows first hand he doesn't want to be pitied.

"If you get yourself killed I'm going get a new cellmate. You're quiet, neat and don't snore, I like that, that's the only reason I stepped in. I don't need anything from you. Go back to you bed Robin."

NEXT UP: Brendan decides to take on an apprentice