"I'll see what I can do"
"And you think that's good enough?" The Russian spat
"No but it's the best I can do" Sam Healy removed his glasses, sighing as he caught sight of a mountain of paperwork "money doesn't grow on trees"
"No but round here it seems to disappear quicker than trees in the Amazon" the red head scanned Healy from top to bottom waiting for some sort of reaction. He knew what was going on in the place. Nonexistent buildings, ridiculous budget cuts that seemed to only increase the amount the prison was spending and refurbishments that never occurred. Something was going on and it sure as hell wasn't legal.
A few seconds of silence passed.
Healy slowly leant over the desk, his face edging closer to Red's.
"What are you suggesting inmate?"
Red narrowed her eyes. It was a love hate relationship, though less of the love and more of an understanding.
The door slammed, shaking the few frames that hung on the surrounding walls.
It was Boo.
Red all but rolled her eyes, that insufferable idiot couldn't even eavesdrop quietly.
She left, biting her tongue to stop the long string of Russian swear words spilling out.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be. She should be spending her days with her boys looking forward to retirement, not arguing with her counsellor about a dodgy kitchen fridge which, as it turns out, is probably older than half the inmates using it.
"Red"
She paused, walking again when he caught up with her. He grabbed her shoulders, bringing her to a stop then turning her around to face him. Her eyes immediately darted to his hands , he removed them instantly muttering an apology followed by a nervous smile.
"What do I owe the pleasure?" the Russian scanned Healy. He was looking suspicious, shifty.
"I'm guessing you haven't visited the kitchen yet"
Red narrowed her eyes "it's 6am"
One of Healy's grins and she was gone. He was up to something.
Red stopped, bumping into a crowd as she rounded the corner into the kitchen.
A fridge. She had a new fridge.
The kitchen staff crowded round as if it was some sort of metallic alien that had just crashed onto the kitchen floor.
A few seconds passed before anyone noticed the ring leader had arrived. A few short barks and they were back to work, leaving Red to inspect the new appliance.
There had to be a catch, there always was.
Healy suppressed a smile when he noticed her leant against the door frame. She crossed her arms, a small smirk apparent on her pale face.
She had found her little gift then. It had been hard enough to get, but anything for her I suppose.
"Red" he slid his glasses off.
She stepped in, closing the door before walking towards the small wooden desk.
"What's the catch?"
Healy's eyes widened, as if he'd suddenly been slapped across the face.
"Catch?" He questioned. Why was she always so sharp and straight to the point? "why does there have to be a catch?"
"I scratch your back, you scratch mine or so to speak" she waved her hands in the air, her slick accent taking over as she sat down on the chair facing him.
Healy frowned at the saying.
"It's an unspoken rule" she narrowed her eyes "I've been here twenty years. I created most of them. So I will repeat..." She spoke slowly, putting emphasis on each word as it left her red lips "...whats the catch?"
"Mmm" Healy brought his hands together, lying back in his chair as if considering it.
Red on the other hand pulled back; sliding her hands off his desk, suddenly pulling away from one of her close up face to face arguments which were used to intimidate, as if deciding it was unnecessary.
"A new fridge" Red pondered "she cut showers to 30 seconds so she doesn't have to address the drainage problems and you honestly expect me to believe she gave me a new fridge out of the kindness of her heart?" The Russian let a sarcastic chuckle escape from her painted lips "I wasn't born yesterday Healy"
Healy stood, looking up he soon realised Red was standing before him. Even with a bad back she could move swiftly...like a red fox.
Silence overcame them. Healy opened his mouth to speak just as Red turned to leave the room.
"Mrs Figueroa was very interested in hearing about your budgetary concerns" Healy fell back into his office chair.
Red stood with her back to him, her hand on the door handle. Her head moved round slightly upon hearing his words.
"She hopes that by replacing old appliances in the kitchen you are reassured that the prison budget is..."
"Appliance(s)? She bought a fridge." Red interrupted his blabbering, her head turning so that her eyes could meet his "what does she want us to do? Bow down to her? Make her a crown for doing her job?" The Russian mocked, waving her hands in the air.
"Red" Healy's eyes latched onto hers "you get a new fridge, I get to end 3 years of listening to you complain about it and she gets to show the inmates that she's actually doing something to improve life"
The room was silent as red opened the door, failing to suppress her grin and light chuckles. "Improve life" she repeated, giggling like a school girl as she continued down the corridor.
He had to agree.