Chapter 2: The connection
Tom awoke with a start. He heard someone moving around in the dark and momentarily he forgot where he was. Then, as he turned over onto his side and the throbbing in his head returned with a vengeance, he quickly remembered where he was. Tom sat up slowly, waiting for the annoying pain in his head to subside. "Doug… that you?" he squinted as he tried to focus in the dark. Tom listened intently as he thought he heard the sound coming towards him. As Doug's face came into view, Hanson realized that Doug was starting to hyperventilate. He jumped down from his bunk and put a hand on Doug's arm, turning him to face him. "Doug… take slow breaths. Come on, breathe with me, ok?" Tom forced his best friend to look him in the eyes and he could tell that Doug was trying to control his breathing. "That's it, nice and slow."
Doug began to feel himself calm down and his breathing return to normal. He let out a shaky breath before sending Tom a small smile. "Thanks Tom. It was just so quiet and dark in here and the walls started closing in on me, you know?" Tom nodded and sat down on Doug's bed. "Want to sit and talk for a while?" he asked his partner. Doug sat down on the bed, making sure to face towards the cell doors. If he could at least see out, it wasn't so bad.
"How's your head?" Doug looked at his partner and could tell that he was still in pain. "I didn't know that you had it in you to be such a …"
"McQuaid?" Tom finished. He let out a small laugh and brushed away the bangs that were hanging in his eyes. "Yeah, well, sometimes I really enjoy being a McQuaid… just don't let anyone else know that okay?"
Doug laughed and said, "Don't worry… you're secret's safe with me."
Hanson and Penhall spent the next couple of hours keeping each other company until finally they could hear the guards coming into the cellblock. "Rise and shine McQuaids. Time to start your new life as inmates here at this fine establishment." Doug and Tom were not surprised to find Fitzgerald standing outside their cell. As the cell door opened, they found themselves being approached by the guard. "So, Tommy… do you think you can remember your manners today or do we have to teach you another lesson?"
Tom stood up and stared straight into the eyes of Fitzgerald. "I'll let you know after breakfast." He waited for Doug before stepping outside their cell to line up with the other prisoners. "And by the way… don't call me Tommy."
Fitzgerald marched up next to Tom and pointed his baton at him. "Like I said, you'd better watch yourself, boy. A pretty thing like you won't last long in a place like this… especially with a mouth like that."
Doug watched as the kitchen server slopped what was supposed to be scrambled eggs onto his tray. He sniffed them and made a disgusted face before saying, "What the hell is this supposed to be?" Tom made a face as Doug held the tray out to him for inspection.
"Beats me… I'm sticking with the cereal. You can't mess up corn pops!" Tom took his tray and made his way over to an empty table in the far corner. Doug grabbed a couple cartons of milk and made his way over to his partner. As Doug began eating the questionable substance on his plate, Tom began scanning the prisoners in the cafeteria. I wonder which one of these guys is Josh Matthews? He pulled the white bandana out of his pocket and tied it around his head, pushing the bangs out of his eyes. He looked up as a group of rugged looking guys made their way over to their table. Hanson quickly kicked Doug under the table.
"What was that for?" Doug asked, a mouthful of eggs in his mouth. Tom looked at him and then at the gang headed their way. Doug swallowed his food and wiped his mouth. "Uh oh. Welcoming committee maybe?"
The group consisted of six tough looking men who surrounded the officer's table. A tall, heavyset blonde sat down next to Tom, eyeing him up and down. "So, I hear you're in for murder." He asked.
"Yeah, so what's it to you?" Tom said, watching the heavyset man carefully in case he was to strike.
A smile slowly spread across the blonde's face. "Just wanted to welcome you to Chase County." He stretched out a hand and Tom just looked at it, as if it were too much trouble to acknowledge him. "I'm Josh Matthews. You must be Tom and Doug McQuaid."
Doug leaned forward and said, "Hey Tommy… we're already making friends. Our mom will be so proud."
Tom let out a laugh and turned to Josh. "Is there something you wanted, cause we're kind of busy here." Two of the guys from the gang went to grab Tom by the arm when Doug stood up, ready to strike. Josh quickly shook his head, telling them to back off. Obediently they let go of Tom and took a step back.
"Let's just say that I heard you guys were good with moving some product. I could use a couple of guys like you for my business." Josh said as he leaned in so that no one else could hear the private conversation.
Doug looked at his partner before speaking up. "What's in it for us?"
"Yeah, why would we want to help you?" Tom added.
"Well, what would you say to a 20 cut?" Tom pretended to think about this for a moment before answering. "What kind of product are we talking about here?"
Josh quickly looked around to make sure no one was watching when he pulled out a small vial and handed it to Hanson. "Heroin… and it's not your everyday average stuff either. We're talking 97 pure."
Doug let out a slow whistle as Hanson put the vial into his pocket. "Make it 25 and you've got a deal." Doug couldn't believe his ears. What the hell are you thinking Hanson… don't blow this already. To his surprise however, Josh held out his hand and shook it with Hanson. "Ok, you have a deal." Josh stood up to leave and then turned back to the officers. "We'll be in touch soon. I've got some product to move in a couple of days." With that, he and his gang left the table and made their way back to their seats.
"Holy shit Hanson… what were you thinking, asking for 25 percent? What if he walked away?" Doug asked as he tried to figure out what his partner was thinking about.
Tom just shrugged. "He didn't did he? Trust me, he wouldn't have walked away. He knows the reputation that we have… he needs us." Tom finished the last of his cereal and looked up at his friend. "Come on… let's go see if we can find out anything else about these guys."