There was good news and bad news, the good news was that the hole had been covered with the plywood and fast setting concrete thanks to Sucre. That bad news was that he did in fact get caught and was serving time in the shu. The worst news was the Michael was down there. Erica had received this during line up and she hung her head in complete disbelief. The two most important people on the team was stuck in solitary confinement for god knows how long. Then when things couldn't have gotten worse...they of course did.
"Scave has been bitching about the toilet," T-bag said, "So Geary has placed in a work order. The worker move the toilet..."
"They find the hole," Seth finished, T-bag nodded.
"That isn't all," Tweener said informing the team, "Geary's selling off Michael's cell."
"He's what?" Erica cried.
"Selling starting at two hundred."
Everyone groaned, this wasn't good, neither of them had anything except...
"I have two hundred."
Everyone turned to Erica and looked at her as if wondering if she was making it up or actually telling the truth.
"Where the hell would you get two hundred?" C-note exclaimed.
"My brother," Erica replied.
"It doesn't matter," Westmoreland said, "We can start with that and see what we can do."
T-bag then side glanced the oldest inmate and said, "There is always another option isn't their D.B?"
Westmoreland glared at T-bag and said, "A- I'm not DB, b-there are no visitor's today so we have no contact with the outside world and c-Erica is the only one with enough money."
"Yeah," C-note muttered, "But Geary could easily turn up the price on the cell, I'll see if I can talk to him." C-note easily strolled up to the watch room and started chatting away.
It was in the cafeteria that Erica received the worst news possible.
"Pretty's stuck in the whack shack," T-bag said.
Erica groaned knowing that things had officially gone from bad to worst to horrific.
"How did he get in there?" Seth asked.
"Couldn't take it in the shu."
"Now what are we going to do?"
Before T-bag could answer C-note came up to the table for the first time and sat down. His face was swollen and he was stiff from the beat down he had taken.
"Whoa," T-bag commented as he studied C-note's face, "Looks like the Bank of Africa didn't take any withdrawls."
"Stuff it," C-note shot back angrily.
T-bag grinned and then leaned back.
"We still have Erica's money," C-note added, "We can use that."
The table went silent and everyone turned to T-bag who was tapping his plastic spoon against the table. Once he knew that he had everyone's attention he smiled his signature smile and said, "I think I might have an alternate way to deal with our solution."
"And that would be?" C-note asked.
T-bag nodded his head over his right shoulder and Erica noticed a man shuffling cards. He was tanned, dark eyes and a shaven head.
"The Kitchen Game," T-bag announced.
"The what?" Seth asked.
"Gambling," C-note growled and Erica immediately knew that he didn't approve. T-bag smiled and said, "Trust me son, when I play cards it ain't gambling."
"So in reality," Erica started, "You want to use my money to gamble."
T-bag sighed and said, "It ain't gambling Girly."
"How much is it to get into the Kitchen Game?" Westmoreland asked.
"Fifty, each."
Everyone was now complaining but T-bag said, "I'm sure we can figure something out but first we need to know on who's playing."
"I am," C-note said.
"I am," Erica said.
All eyes were on her now and she said, "Use to gamble for a hit."
No words needed to be said.
Back in Cell Block A Erica took out her brown package and extracted a crisp fifty bill and stuffed it in her jumper pocket.
"You sure about this?" Erica turned to see Seth standing in her doorway, a worried look was clear on his face. Erica walked up and kissed him gently on the cheek. Seth walked in and then peered into the package. Erica slowly took it from his hands and then took the money out.
"I didn't know you use to gamble," Seth said.
Erica stopped wrapping the money in a band before looking at Seth.
"I'm sorry," Erica said, "I just didn't know how to tell you."
"Oh right," Seth started, "But you can tell me in front of everyone else."
Erica frowned and said, "What the hell are you talking about? Look I'm not proud of gambling for a hit, but I had no choice!"
Seth looked at her as if trying to find some resentment but he didn't.
"I'm sorry," Erica said.
Seth walked up and embraced her he laid his head against hers and then simply said, "Don't be."
They both stayed like that for a few moments then separated.
"Be careful," Seth said, "Please."
Erica smiled then replied, "Aren't I always?"
C-note led T-bag and Erica through the back door into the kitchen. They came up to a guard and then produced their fifties. The guard quickly counted then allowed them in. Inside there was a line of inmates with their back against the walls and one inmate got up angrily then marched out with nothing.
"Next."
Erica looked at C-note and T-bag who too looked confused on who was going to go. The man in charge looked up and said in an even more dark tone, "Next."
Erica decided that she would.
"Deal."
The cards were shoved towards her and she picked them up. They felt new and Erica knew that they were new. There were only a few bends from previous bridges but besides that they were perfect. Erica picked up the cards and then started to shuffle. Game on.
