Robbie Malone Ch. 3



Officer Jeffers escorted Robbie Malone from the warden's office to the weight room. Maltz' boys generally hung out in the weight room. The boys club, as they were referred to on the inside, had special privileges and special work details. Malone would be joining the boys club.

"Hey Maltz, looks like your club's got a new member." Jeffers said as he pushed Malone into the room and walked away.

Maltz and his gang looked toward the new man in the room. It was Eddie Maltz who approached him.

"What's your name?"

"Malone, Rob Malone, but my friends call me Robbie."

"What're in for?"

"B & E, among others." he said as he walked toward the weight equipment. "So," he began turning with a wide grin, "what'da we do now?"

"As you may have figured out, we don't exactly play by the same rules that the rest of the residents here do."

"I was beginning to get the picture. So, we don't work?"

"Not everyday; and only at night."

"So, then what do we do all day?"

"Whatever we want, within reason."

"And, I thought I wouldn't enjoy myself here."

"Being a member of the in-crowd has it's perks" Maltz replied.

"So, when do we go on this night job?"

"Not for a while. It'll give us a chance to get to know each other." Maltz said.

Dick leaned against the wall as he watched his new found 'friends' using the weight equipment. "Not for a while." what did that mean, "Just great Grayson, how long are you gonna have to stay here. I thought I was getting really close. Okay Grayson, patience. That's what Bruce was teaching you all those long cold nights on stakeouts when you could've been at the school dances with the girls. Just put it to use."

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Dick spent his first week in Blackgate hanging out with 'the boys'. Nothing. No mention of their "night duties" since that first day. No mention of anything unusual, other than the fact that they didn't have work details like the other prisoners. What could be wrong? What was taking so long? Dick Grayson's patience was wearing thin. He didn't like waiting. Worse, he didn't like being confined. The day in day out sameness of doing nothing wore at him. He knew this was a temporary assignment, but he had hoped it wouldn't take this long. He was a flyer, and Blackgate clipped his wings.

Officer Jeffers walked into the weight room where Dick sat watching his new found 'friends' pumping iron. Dick could easily take the whole room out, but he sat there silently watching them 'show their stuff'. Jeffers looked around the room until he saw the prisoner he had come after.

"Malone." he barked.

Dick looked towards the guard. His blue eyes narrowed. Jeffers was a bully. And Dick Grayson didn't like bullies.

"Whadd'ya want?"

"You got a visitor."

"Visitor?" Dick said surprised.

"Come on, Malone. I ain't got all day to babysit you."

"Aren't I lucky." Dick said as he passed the guard.

As he entered the visitation room and moved down the rows of cubicles, his eyes widened as he stopped at the last cubicle. Through the glass, the man he saw was unmistakable. The cheap suit, the slicked back black hair graying at the temples, the thin mustache, and the distinctive match that the man chewed on. No doubt about it, Matches Malone was here.

'Robbie' took the chair and slid down in it, "Hi 'ya Pop. What're you doin' here?"

"Kid, I told youse I'd come and visit." He said with a smile. "How's it goin'?"

"Slow." the younger man replied with a sigh, then leaning in closer to the glass, whispered, "I'm in with Maltz, but nothing's happening. We're all on the warden's special list, we don't have to DO anything. Yet."

"No idea when their next job will be?"

"None."

"The warden's involved. That's pretty high up. Who else?"

"I'm not sure. There's this guard Jeffers. He's a real jerk, I'm just not sure if he's in or not. I have figured that Maltz and the boys are using the warden's boat to get to the city."

"Makes sense. Private dock, private entry. I'll make sure to know when it leaves the island. I've also left you a little package on the south end of the island. Under a rock with a little special graffiti on it. I don't think you'll have any trouble finding it. Just in case you need to leave the facilities."

"Thanks. I was wondering how I was going to contact you since I couldn't bring any communicators with me. Now I know why you said don't bring anything. You thoughtfully forgot to mention the strip search." Dick said using his best glare at his father.

"Did I? Guess that's what happens when you get too old. You start forgetting things." He replied with a slight smile.

Dick's eyes narrowed as he watched his father. Then he leaned back in his chair and with a wide grin said, " Yeah right."

"Oh, that girl of yours, she said to tell you she's thinking about you."

"Tell her me too, although she might blush if she knew exactly what I was thinking." he replied with a sly smile.

"Time." the guard by the door yelled.

Matches Malone stood up to leave. "Take care Kid, you'll be outta here before you know it."

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Dick walked into the cafeteria looking for Maltz. He saw him and the 'boys club' at the other side of the large room. As he started through the room, a noise to his left caught his attention. Johnny LaMonica was arguing with Arthur Brown. A crowd was beginning to form. Dick started to walk on by when the glint of a shiv caught his eye. LaMonica had the homemade knife and was going after Brown. He saw the guards watching, they weren't going to do anything. Dick sprang into action, he jumped up on the table then into the affray. With a turning kick, he disarmed LaMonica.

Several guards, including Jeffers, had been watching the brewing fight. A few had even placed their bets on the outcome. Malone had just stopped what had promised to be a good fight. Jeffers stormed over leading the guards.

"All right! Break it up!" Jeffers barked as he entered the crowd, baton in hand. "LaMonica, Brown, Malone, you're going to lock-up."

"Waitaminute! I was ..." 'Robbie' started to protest.

"You was butting in were you didn't belong. Well, lock-up'll teach you to mind your own business." Jeffers grabbed Robbie Malone by the right arm. "Come on you. The rest of you, sit down!"

Dick new he could easily escape Jeffers' hold. Dick Grayson could, Robbie Malone was another story. He had to play along. For now.

"Hey Eddie, Jeffers is taking Robbie. What do we do." Snake Barton asked his leader.

"Nothing. The warden'll let him out before we need him. Until then, he can sit tight."

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Dick was the last of the three to reach his lock-up cell. Lock-up was the term used for solitary confinement. Single cells, no windows, steel doors, no bars, no contact. The other guards had already left. Jeffers released 'Robbie's' arm as he opened the cell door.

Dick started to enter the cell when he felt a sharp pain to the back of his head and then another. He fell forward into the cell. As he started to turn, Jeffers hit him again with the baton on his lower back three or four times. As he turned, Jeffers stabbed the baton into Dick's stomach.

"I told you I'd teach you some respect Malone." Jeffers said as he left the cell, locking the door behind him.

Dick's breathing was heavy as he placed his hand to the back of his neck. He felt the sticky substance. He knew it was blood before he brought his hand around to see the red stain on his fingers.

"Damn. Just what I need."

To be continued