Chapter 6- Plans within plans

"Well then I guess this means that you wont be working for me, now will you be receiving my protection" Said finally said.

Joey didn't comment, no finally parting shot that she was known for. Nothing she quietly took her leave. Only one that knew her well could speculate that she was planning something.

Oh how she had plans. She didn't know what yet. But she planned on carving a niche out for herself. She made her way to the gym, she needed to think, and she did her best thinking in front of a punching bag. It was something left over from her past.

After walking back into Em city, she needed to get changed. She didn't like to workout in jeans. And she was planning a full fledged workout, she had anger, and it was better that a punching bag took the brunt of it instead of a fellow prison mates face; it could get her into a lot of trouble.

Officer Murphy stopped her on her way into Em city.

"Armstrong, McManus wants to see you in his office. ASAP" He said to the red head as she walked toward him

"So I'll go up now. But I got plans for the gym. Will I be allowed after?" She asked. She didn't like prison; it was almost like the military always having to ask for permission to do something. It seemed her whole life that's all that she'd been doing.

"I'll pencil you in. but don't let the other guys know. I don't want to let them think that I'm giving you the special treatment" Murphy said writing her name on his clipboard.

"But that would be a lie. And why are you helping me anyway. I'm the caged criminal." She retorted

"I was instructed by the Brass that for the betterment of everyone in Em city that I should let you have nearly unrestricted access to the gym, that way it should keep down some of the violence level that's in here.

McManus Office

"Well you sure took your time" He said from behind his desk that almost looked like it was being swallowed up by files.

"You know with greetings like I'm getting from you and your staff, a girl sure knows that she's loved around here" Joey joked with him.

"Well I have a few items, that I need to question you on before I can YAY or NAY them" McManus said and pulled out a medical folder.

"Well that was quick, so the good doctor got to you, did she" Joey asked sitting herself on the corner of his officer, overlooking his shoulder, purposely invading his space, and seeing how far she could push it. And the fact that he had yet to restraint her meant something was wrong.

"Yea, I have a question. I need the address of your medical files. There are some discrepancies that we need to account for" he said making no motioned to remove the file from her sight.

"So laid it out for me, am I going on the pill, do I have STDS or HIV that I need to worry about?" She asked all the burning questions.

"You don't have any STDS. And the test for HIV has yet to come back, that usually takes about a week; it's only been a day." He reminded her.

"Okay, then why do you look like my cat died and you're the one who has to break the bad news" Joey said scared, he hadn't answered hr first question. So either she was pregnant, was she doubted, or she didn't need to worry about children.

"Well you are right about one thing; I am the one that has to break the bad news. You don't need the pill. You can't have children. I don't the exactly medical condition. But if we had your medical files, we could better answer that question. So your request for birth control, no longer applies." McManus said

"Okay, what about my other request?" Joey asked. She knew exactly where she stood with Ryan and now Said, this little bit of news changed everything. And she was going to make this day count. Although she really didn't care about the lock anymore it would make a great place to conduct business.

"We feel that a padlock for the inside could possibly lock you in there, and you could be doing prohibited things. So we have decided that we will have a combination lock on the outside, so the guards and you will know the code." He offered as substitution.

"Hey that works for me." She joked "Are we done here I have an appointment with the weight room"

"Yea, but be careful" McManus said, he knew that the information that he had given her today made her volatile, well more than usual.

"Aren't I always" She said with a wink and flipped her red hair.

Walking back to Em city, she once again bumped into Officer Murphy

"On your way to the gym" He asked. He had taken an interest in her, and was hoping that she could help him.

"Yea I just need to get change, anybody in there I should worry about?" She asked him. Since he seemed too happy to impart information, which she gather was because he wanted something from her, and yet to approach her about it. She was going to use him, the information well was eventually going to dry up, so why not use everything at her disposal now.

"Nope, just Ryan and Cyril getting ready for a fight that nobody knows about. I swear they have started doing more training now then in the 6 months before you came" He said

"Good to know. Wonder if they would like a sparring match. Hey what do you think are the chances of the brass letting us having matches again, and a bigger question is what about letting me fight?" Joey said planting the seed for one of major revolutions.

"I don't know I spread the word and see what I get" Murphy said trying to be super friendly. He knew one of these days he was going to have to bust her for something, to release the tension the guys were sending his way in regards to his actions with her.

Gym's weight room

Joey was on the leg press, trying to press nearly 200 pounds.

"Hey don't try to kill yourself" Ryan said running over from where Cyril was punching the bag, to the caged in weight room.

After gathering glances from the rest of the guys in the weight room, Ryan learned that he needed to tone down his affection and caring for the stranger.

"Nope just getting back in shape. I'm trying to get the Brass to spring from a fight. And I'm going to be one of the fighters" She said determinedly

"Well good luck with that. After they learned about everything I did to get Cyril to win, I don't think their going to let that happen, not for a long while." Ryan said

"Well I hold a few cards that they don't know about it." Joey said being vague. She was going to get a fight, and she was going to win. And make a bundle.

"Really, anything I should be worried about" Ryan said. Puzzled by the many faces that she seemed to be wearing.

"Don't worry your pretty little head about it" She said using one of her father's trademark slogans from her childhood.

"Okay, I was wondering that was up with you. You seem to have a renewed vigor." Ryan said

"You haven't seen anything yet. I'm nowhere near done" She said and got up. Wrapping a towel around her neck and leaving Ryan standing there confused about what she might be planning.

Em City

"Hey do you think I could see Said?" Joey asked officer Murphy who was just about to go off shift.

"Yea sure, but I suggest that you lay low after that for a while. His guys are starting to wonder what the hell you both are up too" Murphy warned buzzing her though.

She just shook her head, and placed a smile on his face.

After greeting Said in Arabic, Joey moved on with her plan "you said you wanted me to work for you" Joey said

"Yes, but you left without a word earlier. I just figured that the deal was off" He said and sat down, as was his custom.

"I'll do it. But under two conditions" Joey requested

"Those being?" Said asked

"The first is that we establish a way to communicate so that I don't need to risk exposure every time I need to see you to inform you. Maybe a written code in Arabic, certain words relating to people telling you something's up with that person" Joey said

"Sounds quite logical, and the second condition" Said asked again

"I want a fight. Not something that would put us all in lockdown. I mean a boxing match. With regulations, and rules that everyone needs to follow. And I need to be one of the fighters. We could have numerous fights, by a process of elimination." She already organizing the guys in Em city into different weight classes, and fighting skills.

"I don't know about that. Your boyfriend might have really screwed you over on that one" Said commented

"Well, I don't care about the past, those are the conditions. I was in the Marines I know the concept on surveillance, and concealment. But if you can promise me a match then I don't think I can deliver the dirt. Figuratively speaking of course. You have to question have much you value your safety and reputation here in isolation, and from what I know if less then a week here, I know you had some help" Joey said planting the seed, knowing he would take the bait.

She left him with the knowledge that he wasn't as secure as he once perceived, and in prison surviving is the biggest goal. And for a man like Said, as much as he believed himself above the pettiness of the other prisoners, he was just like them. Only more educated, which could be his downfall. Too much brains, and not enough common sense.