Chapter 20

John and Shawn sat in their cells. Shawn was reading a book while John was finishing a Bible themed crossword puzzle. He was stumped on the last clue going across.

"Hey, Shawn. Jacob's brother's name. I know the answer but can't remember how to spell it."

"E-S-A-U. Esau."

John looked at the puzzle. "Oh. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

There was one more clue and the puzzle would be completed. He looked at it. The answer was easy. He filled out the blocks as he said the answer out loud. Shawn's ears perked up.

"What did you say, Dean?"

"Huh?"

"Did you just take the name of God's Son in vain?"

He glanced at Shawn, then at the puzzle. He realised what he just said and how it might have sounded. "No, no, no. I just answered the final clue. 27 Down: Mary and Joseph's son. Jesus."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry, Shawn. That was not how I meant it. I swear."

"No, I'm sorry. My honest mistake."

."No harm done."

"You finished the puzzle that fast?"

"Sure did. I'm a word nerd."

And that was the honest truth.

"I can believe that."

"Next time you give me a puzzle, make sure it's' extra challenging."

Shawn chuckled. "I'll see what I can do. Of course, I doubt that the next puzzle won't be much of a challenge either."

It was John's turn to laugh.

"CELL CHECK A1 AND A2!" a voice hollered out

"Us?" Shawn pondered vocally.

Shortly, Ramirez and Jameson approached their cells. Their cell doors opened.

"Step out, men," Jameson ordered.

Both men did what they were told. Officers Rollins and Reigns approached also. Jameson searched John's cell while Ramirez searched Shawn's. They looked in the toilet, through the pages in their books and tipped over their mattress and pillows.

"AHA!" Ramirez cried out. "Jackpot."

The men looked at Ramirez. From under Shawn's pillow, Ramirez pulled out a small ziploc baggie with a white substance inside.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Ramirez stepped out of the cell holding the baggie and over to Shawn. "Where did you get this?"

Shawn eyed the bag, then looked at John. He looked back at Ramirez. "That's not mine."

Ramirez punched Shawn in the face. John went to intervene but was haulted by Roman and Seth. Jameson grabbed a hold of Shawn.

"Now, why do I not believe you?"

"He's telling the truth, Ramirez." John said.

"Shut up over there," Ramirez demanded. He turned his attention back to Shawn. "I'm gonna ask you again. Where did you get this?"

"I'm telling you. I don't know where the drugs came from. I swear to you."

Ramirez backhanded Shawn.

"Stop it!" John shouted.

"You both are getting on my last nerve," Ramirez stated.

"He said he didn't know where the drugs came from."

"Roman! Seth! Please shut him up," Ramirez ordered.

Seth grabbed hold of John's arms. Roman retrieved the nightstick from his belt and swung it hard into John's stomach. Seth shoved him to the floor. John moaned and gasped for air.

"Thank you. Now, back to business."

"I'm a cop," John groaned.

Ramirez, Shawn, and Jameson turned to look at John.

"What did you say," Jameson said.

John coughed before speaking. "I'm...a...cop. My name is not Dean Ambrose. My name is Officer John Shaw of the Cincinnati PD. I was sent here undercover to investigate the murders of inmates cause of drugs planted in their cells. That's what you did, right, Ramirez?"

Ramirez approached looking down upon the injured man.

"You went after the men participating in Shawn's Bible studies. Why? Cause they were easy targets."

"Ok. Fine. You caught me. You caught Jameson. However, I don't see how you're gonna live to tell about it. Officers Roman and Seth. You won't tell anyone will you? I'll pay you each $1,000 to not say anything."

"$5,000," Seth demanded. "Each."

"Fine. Deal. I'll get the money to you both. But, I need you both to do something else for me. Take John here down to the hole. I'm giving you the task to do away with the piece of trash."

"Trash. Me?"

"Do it slow. Do it fast. I don't care how you do it. Just get it done. Pick him up."

Seth yanked John to his feet restraining his arms to his side. Ramirez moved to stand in front of John.

"It's guys like you that make my skin crawl."

"I can say the same thing about you. You know you won't get away with this."

A sly smirk appeared on Ramirez' smug face. "I believe we will. Get him out of here."

John was being led away by Roman and Seth when an all-to familiar voice spoke out.

"Wait a minute."

Roman, John, and Set stopped in front of Luke Harper's cell.

"If you're gonna kill him, do you mind if I have one more crack at this guy?"

Roman and Seth turned to look Ramirez who simply just shrugged and nodded.

"Open B1!" Jameson ordered.

Luke stepped out of the cell with a sick smirk on his face and stood in from of John. He took John's face into his right hand moving it left and right.

"From the looks of these bruises, I could have done a better job. No better time than now to improve my craft. I predict you won't leave this building alive."

"Jameson, you go with them. I can handle Shawn."

"You sure?"

"Oh yeah,"

"Let's go, gentlemen," Jameson said following behind the 4 men.

John knew he was outnumbered. There was no denying that. He also knew that he had an ace up his sleeve the others didn't know about.