"Thank-you everyone for coming." Vera said more formally than she would like. She had invited Mr. Jackson, Ms. Miles and Ms. Westfall to her house for a dinner, to discuss the recent events of Wentworth. "Come on Vera, we are not at work, can we please be less formal?" Ms. Miles quipped whilst taking a ship of her wine. "Of course, Linda."
Both Will and Bridget smiled. They all were surprised by Vera's offer to host the evening, given normal professional conduct. Bridget had been to Vera's house numerous times before, but never in the company of other Wentworth staff. Bridget did note that Vera was trying to be a good host, but looked more anxious than she needed to be.
"So, Vera, what can we do to help?" Will asked, he too had picked up on Vera's anxiety. 'Not that she needs to be worried', he thought. It was the first time both he and Linda had ever been invited to Vera's house and he was determined to be a good guest. "Mmm, if you could please take the salad to the table, that would be great." Vera answered, sliding to salad to within Will's reach. "No worries." Will said standing and doing so immediately.
Bridget continued "what can I do, Vera?" "The fish just needs to be plated, but if you could help Will with setting the table, I'd really appreciate it." Vera answered, she wasn't used to her guests being so helpful, she had waited on her mother for as long as she could remember before she died. "I've got the wine and the glasses." Linda said as she cheekily refilled her own glass before grabbing a new bottle from the fridge and headed to the table with her arms fulling loaded.
Vera couldn't help but smile as she looked at her guests, maybe this evening was going to be better than she thought. 'I have no reason to be nervous, I have known these guys for years.' She thought as she finished plating up the food and sat down next to them for dinner.
The meal itself was delicious, everyone complimenting Vera on her excellent cooking skills. Bridget thought to herself, only Franky can make better seafood than Vera. She was defiantly full of surprises. The conversation flowed easily with Linda often having the group in stitches of laughter about her recent dating experiences. Vera found herself joining after a while, even offering a few of her own disasters.
Bridget was the first to bring the conversation back to work, mainly because it was getting late. "Vera, did you want to talk to us about something." Bridget asked, giving Vera the floor. "Yes, well as you all know, things have been quite eventful at Wentworth lately." Everyone nodded in agreement, before Linda added sarcastically "which part?" "My point exactly. There has been too much happening, and it needs stop … someone might get killed next time." Vera said, this sobered the mood considerably. Despite their different approaches, all four were always concerned about the women's welfare, first and foremost.
"What would you like to do?" Bridget asked, Vera's body language had changed. She was sitting up straight and her expression now steely. "I think given that so much has happened, their must some guard involvement." Will whistled in response, Linda chocked on her wine and Bridget didn't react. Not that she wasn't surprised by Vera's frankness, she had her own suspicions about possible guard involvement.
"You think of us are helping the women?" Linda asked. 'This night just got better and better, she thought.' "No, I don't think it's anyone at this table. But there is no other explanation for the amount of drugs that is coming in." Vera answered. She trusted Will, Linda and Bridget, but there weren't many more than that.
Will looked at Vera, "are you sure about this?" He didn't like thinking that one of their own was part of the problem. To him this was a personal insult, to his profession and women they were trying to reform. "Not 100% no. However, it is entirely plausible if not probable. It has happened at other prison's, it can happen at Wentworth." Vera answered honestly. She had been around long enough and had enough experience to know that guard's wages weren't great and it didn't take much for guards to be doing favors for some extra cash on the side.
"What are you going to do?" Bridget asked, she could tell that Vera had something in mind. And judging by the dinner or 'meeting' they were having, it was clear this was not going to be by the book. "Well, I do have a plan. It's rather unorthodox." Vera finished, not meeting anyone's eye. "What is it?" Will asked, he was curious, given Vera's normal stance of policy and procedure.
"I want to spy on our guards, and draw them out. I also want to use the women that we can trust to do the same from their end." Vera stated. She looked at her guests, Will and Linda looking as shocked as Bridget felt. She was just better at hiding her emotions. "Wait! What?" Linda asked. "I want to get close to some of the guards, building trust. But basically, spying on them." Vera answered. Staring directly at Linda.
"That's illegal." Will said. "Yes, it is, but so is bring in drugs and other contraband into the prison." Vera answered, her steely resolve covering the nervousness she felt. Will, nodded in response. He was taking all this in, the dinner had taken a different turn than he was expecting.
"How exactly do you want us to help?" Bridget asked. She was smirking, it wasn't the first time she had flirted with what is right and wrong at Wentworth. Plus, she didn't have Franky as the prize at the end of it. "Well, I was hoping we could pair up and work together." Vera answered looking around the table.
"Pair up?" Linda asked. "Yes, I would like you and Bridget to talk to the women. Use your rapport to our advantage." Vera said. "I think Bridget will be able to use her group sessions to our advantage." Vera looked at Bridget for confirmation. "No." Bridget said, much to Vera's surprise.
"You won't help?" Vera disparately. She was counting on Bridget's support. "That's not what I said." Bridget answered firmly, and Vera released a breath she didn't realise she was holding. "I will help, but I will not compromise my care or professionalism." Bridget said meeting Vera's eye. Vera raised her eyebrows, questionly. Bridget knew she was being tested, she knew that Vera never believed that she started seeing Frankly after she was released. "I never crossed that line, and I never will." Bridget said, glaring back at Vera.
"Fine, what do you propose then Bridget." Vera asked, glaring at her. "I found being straight with the women, is always a good place to start." Bridget answered meeting Tera's glare and tone. "What women do you think will help you?" Will asked, trying to dispel some of the tension that was between the two women. They normally had such a good relationship but Franky was always a sore point between the two. "Bea Smith for starters, and I'm the rest of her crew will help as well." Vera answered turning her attention to Will. "Not Kaz?" Will asked, it was clear why Bea was the obvious choice, but by choosing Bea over Kaz, Vera had inadvertently made it clear that she no longer trusted Kaz to be Top Dog.
"Smith has the same views on drugs as I do, as we do." Vera said, correcting herself mid-sentence. "So who is supposed to help Bridget with this?" Linda asked. "You. I know you get along well with the H1 women, and a few of the other crews in D block." Vera answered. "They will want something in return, especially those in D block." Linda answered immediately. "That seems to be your area of expertise. So, I leave it to you. What I don't know about, I can deny honestly." Vera answered honestly. She knew that Linda often flirted with the line of boundaries, but it was another thing to tell her directly to do it. "Really?" It was Linda's turn to look surprised. "You may be subtle, most of the time Linda, but not always. And if Channing or anyone else from the board ask if I have knowledge of boundaries being crossed, I'd rather plead blissful ignorance." Vera said firmly.
Bridget was smiling again, she liked seeing Vera be assertive and taking control. Wentworth was better for it. "So, Linda and I are trying to get the women on side, that leaves you and Will to work with the guards?" Bridget asked. "Yes, and this is where it gets tricky." Vera answered.
"Yeah because getting the women to lug is going to easy, right Bridget?" Linda said, sarcastically. Bridget smirked in response. "No, not easy, but easier." Vera countered immediately, before continuing. "Will, I am going to bringing policy changes that will require change of locations and responsibilities for the guards. Their stations will change as well as their rosters." Will nodded and waited for Vera to continue. "What?" Linda interjected. Vera pressed on. "We will work in two teams to bring these changes in. I will lead one group and you will lead the second. That should be easy enough to sell, given you're the deputy Governor." Vera finished.
"The aim is to pair the newer guards up with the more experienced ones for mentoring." Vera continued. "I'm not working with a newbie." Linda complained. Vera ignored Linda for the second time is as many minutes, and continued "I will convince the newer guards it's for safety concerns whilst the reshuffle happens, and explain to the experienced officers that it's part of their professional development, and will be looked on favorably for career progression." Vera finished.
"This is highly deceptive and against everything you have stood for in the past Vera." Will said, "do you disagree with the plan, Will?" Vera asked. It was key for all four to be on board and fully committed to their role for the plan to work. "It's not what I would have chosen, but I agree we need to do something." Will said honestly, and although he didn't think the plan was great, he couldn't come up with a better one on the spot.
"If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done." Vera quoted. She had read the quote recently, and although she couldn't recall who first said it, it had stuck with her nonetheless. "Touché." Bridget added. "Look, I know the plan is not fool proof, and we will no doubt need to adjust it along the way. But we need to stop the drugs and the rest of the contraband coming in." Vera said.
"And you honestly think one the guards is part of this." Will asked again. "As much as I don't like it. Yes." Vera answered meeting Will's eye. Both staring at each other. "Okay." Will answered before breaking eye contact.
"Right, so Bridget and I are on women, and you and Will are on the guards?" Linda asked, recapping. "If we all agree, then yes." Vera answered looking between them. "Agreed." Bridget said, followed shortly by Will and Linda. "Well, I better get going, especially since I have an early start tomorrow. Thank-you Vera, dinner was great." Linda said standing and waving goodbye as she exited.
"I best be off too. Thank-you again for dinner Vera, it really was delicious." Will said, standing. "Your welcome." Vera answered. "Are you sure we can't help you clean up, it's really the least we can do?" Bridget asked. "No, it's fine. I think you'll both be doing enough for me. Thank-you for coming over." Vera said as she walked them both out.
