Part 3

PMDS

Lake Tahoe

Perry shook his head out of a daze and focused on his fishing line in the water. He put aside the book he was reading for a moment. He reeled in his line and casted it out again into the open water. The sun's beams warmed his skin, and he remembered that Della had left a bottle of lotion down below deck. He looked through the cabinets and found the bottle as he smiled to himself since he knew that Della always kept one on the boat. He remembered the last time he got sunburned, and how painful it was. However, Della didn't let him get away without a smart remark after the fact when she rubbed soothing aloe on him. He reemerged from the deck, opened the bottle of lotion, and lathered it on his forearms and face.

He looked out into the lake and noticed a few more boaters had launched into the water from earlier that morning. He took a drink of his soda and ate his lunch that Della packed for him while he looked at his watch noticing it was almost one in the afternoon. He was really enjoying the book that Della picked out for him. He would be thanking her when he got back to shore. He finished his light lunch and took his reel in his hand again, tugged on the line, and came up empty handed, but that didn't deter him. He cast his lure out again into the water, picked up the book again, and flipped back to the last chapter he was on and began reading. As he followed the story line, his vision blurred again when he fell back into the plot line.

Marshville County, Ga

It was a rude awakening when Max was brought to the building where the low prolific criminals were housed. He would be sharing a cell with a criminal who would try to beat him to establish rank. He knew he had to act the part, or he would be beaten to a pulp. The fact that he was interested in the warden's daughter would soon spread like wildfire, and he would become an easy target. He got his uniform that was a plain blue work shirt, matching slacks, and work shoes. He was introduced to his cellmate who was doing thirty days for stealing an automobile which was his first offense.

Lou made sure Max changed his clothing and instructed him that they would wake up at five o' clock in the morning. As Max handed him his personal clothing, he found the handkerchief that Kerri handed him and pocketed it into his shirt.

"Sir, may I keep this handkerchief? It's all I got from the outside world to keep me sane." Max asked for permission from the officer.

"Why not. It won't last long in here. I'm sure. It might get you a week in the 'hole,' and I'd be glad to give you permission." Lou responded with a wicked grin.

The strict floor walker informed him of the rules of conduct. If the rules were broken, the offender would be put in solitary confinement as punishment. The work detail was handed out from day to day. The prisoners could be out on the local farm doing chores in the field, harvesting crops, doing prison laundry, or road work along the county line. It was up to the captain where they would go, and which guardsmen would be present even as they were still in their leg irons.

Max was escorted down the hallway with a lot of stares and whistles toward him that was considered normal for Lou, but Max was uncomfortable with all of it. He never seen so many faces so eager to pounce on him, and the officer was unnerved by it. Max stood by the cell door while the officer unlocked it and swung the door open before he went in without a word to the officer. He kept his back turned away from the him while he unlocked his cuffs, but left his leg irons on. The cellblock still had a few vocal men taunting the officer as he locked the door and walked down the main hall and spoke to the floor walker about the newest addition.

"What's your name? My name is Amos Miller. I got caught stealing an automobile. This is my first offense, and hopefully I'll be getting out of here in a month." The man said as he smiled at him with crooked teeth and devilish grin on his lips. He was thin, had light brown hair, brown eyed, and muscular. He was a scrawny guy and by the looks of his figure, he could hold his own in a fight.

"I'm Max Stone, and I'm not even from around here. I was caught up in a bank robbery which I've been wrongfully accused of doing. My father is an attorney and will be getting me out of this god forsaken place." Max gave him a hard stare.

"Sure, you better get in line like the rest of us. We are innocent until proven guilty." He laughed at his remark while being in the jail cell. He knew all too well that everyone says that once they get booked.

"I promise you that I will be out of here in two days." Max told him and looked through the bars of the cell to observe the floor walker as he did his rounds.

"I've been in here for about three weeks now. I've been trying to be on my best behavior. With the warden's daughter on my mind, I think of what I could be doing to her right now. Everyone is smitten with her especially the one brut who is called "Bad Bart." You would not stand a chance with him, but once he gets an opportunity, he's going after her. He's told everyone that's why the warden has guards on her twenty-four seven. He's very dangerous. In every fist fight he's had; he's nearly killed the opponent and put them in the hospital for weeks with broken limbs and busted jaws. What have you got there? A handkerchief? How did you manage to sneak that past Lou?" Amos badgered him while he eyed his shirt pocket.

"It was a gift and that's all I'm saying. The officer gave me permission to have it. You have a problem with that?" Max pushed the cloth back into his shirt pocket to conceal the fabric and felt something else in the cloth. He pulled it out of his shirt and revealed a necklace that Kerri gave him. He thought why did she give him the necklace in the first place? Was it by a mistake or did she show her affection towards him? It was a chance he was going to take and unclasped it put it around his neck for others to see when he was out and about the prison. If he got a beating for wearing it and someone wanted to take it from him, he would defend himself. Even if it meant spending time in the 'hole' he would.

Max thought long and hard about this man called "Bad Bart." He wanted Kerri all to himself but only to harm her because of his own intentions of dealing with the pent-up years he's been put away behind bars and what satisfaction would it be if he could harm the warden's daughter. He knew that she worked in a dangerous place and he wanted to take her out of here for her own safety. He thought about it and when the lights were dimmed, he found his cot and thought about what tomorrow would bring him. Hopefully, he would catch a glimpse of Kerri that would make his day if only to see her beautiful face.

"Sure, it was a gift. Who from? Your mother? Girlfriend or another inmate in the maximum-security building?" He peered at him with a possible hint he was interested in another inmate and could have his way with Max anytime he wanted and even put a ransom on him.

The prison life could make or break you whether you were a man or woman because it literally depended on how a person dealt with the situation. Max knew he couldn't show weakness and for that he approached his cell mate with rage in his eyes and rapid breathing. Max used his broad shoulders to make him bigger than what he was compared to the scrawny cellmate. He shoved him back against the wall by force and pinned him against the cell bars with one of his larger hands.

"It was a gift from a young lady. It's not important who she is. Just know I'm not interested in you, or anyone else in this prison system." Max released him and sat down on the cot before he raked his palm through his damp hair with his fingertips and closed his eyes.

"Okay, fair enough. A young lady has your eye, and I get that. Don't worry I won't trouble you with that again. I wonder who the lucky lady is? I mean she's got to be pretty, right?" Amos thought it over in his twisted mind and smelled a familiar scent. He recognized the perfume which happened to be the scent of Kerri. He knew it was her because when he was booked, it was the same perfume that lingered in the main building.

"What's going on down there? Keep quiet! Settle down, or you're going to spend time in the hole!" The floor walker yelled as he quickly made his way down to their cell.

"Nothing Boss! We're just having a friendly chat that's all." Amos gave his answer as Max stood silent, since he didn't want any trouble between his cell mate and the floor walker.

"Well, next time I hear loud voices one of you will be sent to the hole! You hear me!"

"Yes, sir!" Max and Amos said in unison and retreated to their cots in silence.

"I'm only going to warn you that Kerri is nothing but trouble. If Bad Bart finds out you're making a play for her, and that's a mistake that's going to cost you your life, Max. I'm only giving you advice. You can take it or leave it. He will have your ass in the hospital before you can even blink. He means business and nothing is going to stop him from going after her." Amos told him confidently and closed his eyes as he placed his hands behind his head.

"I don't care what he thinks. If it means killing him to keep him away from her then so be it because I know the guards are on her all the time. There will be a point in time when she will be taken away from all this. I promise you that." Max murmured under his breath so that the floor walker couldn't hear him.

"You mean you're telling me you have a plan to have her for yourself? You're kidding right? I can't believe I'm hearing this. I heard that she was involved with a very prominent business man and promised to take her away from all this, but he had seen better pastures and left her high and dry. He was possibly threatened and Bad Bart had something to do with it too. You better get some shut eye." Amos whispered under his breath and turned over in his cot as he tried to get some rest since tomorrow morning would be one hell of a day especially in this hot, summer heat.

"Yes, I'm serious. Bad Bart and the guards are going to be the obstacle for me. It's a chance I'm going to risk, and I think it's time something is done with this Bart fellow." Max replied and threaded his large fingers behind his head and closed his eyes but he was only thought of Kerri. He didn't care what the other men thought of him, but he found himself falling in love with her. Although, he wasn't with her, she was on his mind constantly.

Since Kerri and her boyfriend had recently split up, one guard would follow her home. Her father had posted a guard around the clock for her protection after the incident with Bad Bart. Everyone in lockup knew it was a matter of time before her life would be in danger, and no one could stop it from happening. He was a man on a mission and always thought of ways to get at her. The guards took a sworn oath to protect her at all costs. Kerri arrived at her home with the guard not far behind, and she glanced in her rear-view mirror to acknowledge him with a small smile. She parked her car and exited it. The officer made his way to her porch and sat in one of her wooden rocking chairs with his pistol at his side and his shotgun in his other hand. He would stand guard until his relief came and that wasn't for another six hours that he had to sit and watch for suspicious activity.

Kerri knew that she needed protection and was glad that her father put guards on her. She was afraid of the man they called, "Bad Bart" for good reason. He was mean, nasty, and most of all a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, her thoughts went back to Max Stone. He was good looking man for all she knew, and that he had told her that he wasn't any part of the bank robbery that day. She got ready for bed, showered, and laid down on her cool sheets while a slight breeze came from her upstairs bedroom. The guard kept watch because he knew that Kerri would be going to bed soon. He sat up in his chair, looked into the darkness, and listened for any foreign sound to come to his ears. It was all quiet.

Kerri thought of Max throughout the night. He was an attraction that she couldn't explain. It seemed like she knew him from another dimension. She had to tell her father about him and inform him tomorrow that he wasn't lying when he mentioned his father was a lawyer in another county. He was truthful about that, and although she didn't know much about him and his life prior, she wanted to know more about him. She couldn't get the look of his pleading eyes out of her mind, his touch, or the way he looked at her. She thought to herself that plenty of men gave her a once over, but Max was different she could feel it in her bones that he was completely opposite from any other man she encountered. He respected her and worshiped her with his eyes as she walked away from him.

The next day the alarm sounded in the building where the prisoners were housed. Max didn't get much sleep because his mind was racing about what his detail would be today. Would he see Kerri again? What would happen if his father couldn't post his bail? The floor walker called attention to everyone while the other guards opened their doors for them to stand in a formal line. Max followed the rest of the prisoners, and the guards opened the front door for them to exit and be loaded into one truck which held fifteen men inside.

The other truck that accompanied them carried their basic tools for the road work that was five miles away from the prison. The morning went smoothly as far as Max was concerned since no one bothered him. The summer heat was sweltering, and they removed their shirts. The first crew cleared the weeds and cleaned out the ditches. Max shed his shirt after asking for permission which was granted as he swung his scythe to clear the tall weeds along the county road. Other inmates had worked ahead of him while the guards kept alert.

Kerri was dressed in a pale pink floral sundress with white sandals she wore her chestnut hair in a bun due to the heat. After morning breakfast Kerri met with some office personnel when she received a phone call from her mother that her father had arrived and that he would be in the office in a half hour. Kerri knew he would be going out to the work detail today to oversee the prisoners and talk to the guards. She also wondered how Max was being treated and if he took her advice to cooperate with the guards.

As black ford coupe arrived at the prison, the guards at the front door recognized its occupants as the warden and his driver who was seated across from him. Earl Pike wanted to see his daughter Kerri immediately. He was an older man, who was tough as nails, no nonsense, and straight to the point. He was the boss of the prison system. He treated every prisoner with respect as long as they respected him. If a man crossed him, the prisoner would be in the 'hole' for a month at any given time. The driver parked the car and exited it before they both were greeted by the two guards as they stepped aside and let them pass through the front door.

"Mr. Pike, I see that you're back a day earlier than expected." Jesse said as he tipped his hat towards him.

"Yes, I'm back. Where is my daughter? I need to have a word with her." He demanded and took his handkerchief out of his shirt pocket and wiped his brow.

"I'm right here, Father. Unfortunately, I've been back logged with paperwork because I had another report to file on another inmate." Kerri appeared from around the desk. He was glad she was safe, and that he couldn't understand why the judge hadn't ruled on the removal of another certain inmate whose name James "Bad Bart" Trent. He wanted him out of his prison, but the judge hadn't granted his leave yet. It was only a matter of time of which he hoped was sooner rather than later.

"I'm glad to see you. How have things been going since I last talked with you over the phone?" Her father asked with a hint of suspicion since he needed to speak to her about a recent offender, Max Stone.

"I need to have a word with you alone in private if I may, Father?" Kerri walked to his office before he followed her, shut the door, and turned to face her.

"Yesterday they booked Max Stone as an accessory to a robbery. He's a very well to do fellow, handsome, and doesn't seem like he'd be the type to do any of this. He's different from the other prisoners, and his father is a lawyer in Woodland County across the state line. When he placed his only phone call out of the office, it was to his father. He was in here paying a visit when I got the okay from you that they could move him to the other low offenders building. He isn't lying, and I know he's telling the truth. You have to believe me father. There is something about him that draws me to him." Kerri whispered to her father as the walls were paper thin.

"Kerri, understand this when I say this. You've seen a lot of men come and go in this system. You just broke up with your ex, and I know you're broken hearted over it. You're all taken with this fellow who is a fresh face in town because he's nice looking and well to do. You've got to think of your future and someone better than this Max Stone. Who knows what he is thinking, and what his future plans are. I hope you know what you're doing by getting mixed up with this Max Stone. I want to see for myself what he has to offer. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt just for you my dear. I hope you're not making a big mistake." Earl said and placed his hand on hers before he gave it a quick squeeze when a loud knock come to the door and interrupted their conversation.

"Sir, it's about time to make your rounds. Did you want to go check on the road crew or observe the meal time down at the main dining hall, first?" The Lieutenant asked him, tipped his hat at Kerri, and waited on his answer.

"I think I'm going to check on the road crew first. I want to observe how things are going out there. I shall not be long, and then I'll return to check on the main hall of inmates." Earl informed him and watched him walk down the corridor.

"I'll be back in a short while, Kerri. I'm going to see what this Max Stone is made of, and whether I need to be worried for your safety or not. I'm not taking any chances with him because I worry about you." Her father touched her hand.

"I know you worry. If something better comes along, I might change my career, but for right now, I love working in the office here with you." Kerri explained to him before he turned without a word, walked out of the room, down the corridor, and out the front door to his car.

The road crew of inmates worked hard all morning and a few cars passed by them. They looked toward the officers keeping a diligent watchful eye on them. It was almost noon, and their lunch was only cornbread and baked beans. It was punishment enough to work in the heat, and a much-needed break was all that the men wanted. Suddenly, a black ford coupe approached them slowly and pulled over to reveal its occupants. The men stood in line to get their lunch, and Max wondered who it was. The men stood at attention as they waited on their meals. Amos kicked Max in the shin to get his attention before he looked back at him with a look of surprise.

"That's the warden, Earl Pike, and he is Kerri's father. He is one tough guy, but fair if you treat him with respect and don't cross him." Amos mumbled under his breath while Max remained speechless and didn't say a word as he watched the warden inspect the crew and eyed him because he's never seen him before in the lineup.

"I see we have a couple fresh faces here in the crew. Care to tell me what your name is, and how you got to be here?" He asked them without blinking and watched for any reaction when one guard stepped up to block any harm to the warden.

"Sir, if I may speak? I'm David Westfall. Sir! I was booked on a petty theft and sent her for thirty days as punishment, Sir!" The young man replied with respect towards him and stepped back in line. He shook his head and continued down the line of men and stopped when he spotted Max. He was a fresh face, tall, good looking, and broad shouldered. He finally recognized why his daughter was taken with him. He spotted a familiar chain on his neck that dangled from his neck when the sun's light hit it and reflected back into his glasses.

"What's your name? Why are you here?" The warden asked Max in a demanding tone when he stopped in front of him and waited on him to speak.

"Sir, my name is Max Stone. I was falsely accused in robbery of a federal bank, Sir! My father is lawyer in Woodland County. I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. In the meantime, I'm waiting for my bail to be set by the judge, and that should be tomorrow, Sir." Max's voice was firm but respectable towards him.

"Well, what have we here? You steal this, Mr. Stone?" The warden pointed to the necklace that was around Max's neck.

"No Sir. I don't have a reason to steal anything, but it was given to me by a young, beautiful lady, and I plan to keep it, Sir." Max answered him without hesitation and stood firm.

Kerri's father eyed him with a hint of suspicion and continued down the line to the other prisoners. He knew it was from his daughter because she had worn that necklace many times before. Knowing he hadn't harmed her; he ended the conversation and left the inmates eat their lunch while he conversed with one of the guards. Max ate his lunch alone with a quick glance at the warden and the guards. He noticed the guards shaking their heads in agreement, but couldn't read their lips. The warden walked toward his car as a familiar vehicle approached and stopped. The occupant was a young female who exited the car and walked toward him.

Max finished his meal and brought his plate to the dish container before he dropped it in with the rest of the dirty plates. Max picked up his scythe and returned back to work along the roadside with the rest of the inmates. Sweat soaked his waist band of his slacks as perspiration poured out of every pore of his body. He took out the handkerchief that Kerri gave him and wiped his face with it before he placed it back into his pants pocket. He worked hard and concentrated on his task.

Kerri glanced at the men working along the road side and noticed the guards were keeping an attentive eye on them. As she returned her attention to her father, Max caught her eye. He worked hard and made his body contort in the most erotic way to the point of overheating.

"Kerri, what on earth are you doing out here?" her father asked her.

"The judge needs to see you immediately. He is going to set the bail on Max Stone so his father can gain custody of him. Also, I was informed that the detectives on the case have found more evidence out in the field. There is a lot of talk down at the city lock up, and I overheard a few guards as they spoke about incident." Kerri informed her father.

A certain evil con had his eye on Max. He was jealous of him for how he presented himself to the warden, his looks, and wearing a lady's necklace that meant something to him. The con eyed the guard and walked away from the crew as another inmate distracted the guard that was trained on Max. It happened in a blink of an eye. Max turned around to see another con man with a smirk on his lips. The guard had been deliberately distracted for the reasons of pure hate and jealously because the con man had nothing to lose and was jailed for six months.

The con man pushed and shoved Max until he defended himself and punched the con man square in the jaw and knocked him flat on his back. The con reached for Max's leg irons, tripped him up, pulled him down on the hard ground, and punched him in the ribs. The con made an example out of Max to make sure he wasn't top dog in the system. Although Max fought back to defend himself, it was a losing battle after he swung his large fist at the con when the guards had been alerted of the commotion. The two guards came towards them to break up the fight when the con hit Max again in the stomach and knocked him to the ground. It was a bloody brawl between the two men and Max laid on the ground defeated only for a split second when the armed guards stood over him.

"What's the problem here? Get back in line! Who started this?" The guard pointed his gun at Max and the con.

"He did sir. I had nothing to do with this." Max mumbled under strained breath with blood flowing from his brow.

"He's lying! I had nothing to do with this. He's a troublemaker!" The con lied to the guard which made the situation worse than it already was.

The warden saw the fight as did Kerri when she came to the aid of Max. The warden quickly came and investigated the incident between the two inmates and learned it was a con man against Max.

"Kerri, you need to stand back. Don't involve yourself here." Her father warned her for her own good.

"I'm already involved. He's hurt and needs to get to the hospital. He might have broken ribs or even a concussion." She forced her way to Max, kneeled down beside him, and observed him for a moment. He was shirtless, sweaty with dirt all over his torso, and bloodied. Kerri needed to get him to the prison hospital immediately for his own safety.

The inmates stood back and watched the scene unfold. It was obvious to all of them that she had a soft spot for him, and the con man did his best to cause trouble. The trouble making con was belted with the butt of the shotgun which knocked him to the ground, and ordered to continue working on the roadway. He thought he was doing something great when he caused trouble with Max, and it backfired on him and cost the con more time added onto his sentence. The warden would make sure it was added once he got back to the office.

"Alright, get this man up. He's had enough for today. Kerri, get him to the hospital now. I'll have a guard follow you back to the prison hospital." Her father instructed her while the guards carefully helped him up off the ground and placed him in the back of her car. Kerri followed the men to her car and was glad to have him away from the other criminal's. Her father turned his attention back to the con man who started the fight and ordered him to see him in his office once he got back from work detail. The con knew exactly what was going to happen to him even before the warden handed out his punishment.

Kerri drove to the prison hospital with an injured Max in the backseat. Once she arrived at the hospital, the guard pulled up behind her and helped to get Max to the hospital ward. Kerri gave his information to the nurse while the orderlies and the doctor showed the way to an exam room. The doctor talked to the semiconscious Max and asked him questions while he examined his stomach and ribs. The x-ray revealed no broken ribs, but they would be bruised and sore. The nurse and doctor tended to his abrasions, cleaned his wound, and wrapped his ribs. Max, was on his own and awaited his fate. Kerri and the guard waited outside in the hallway before the doctor released him back into their custody.

The warden arrived not soon after his daughter brought Max to the prison hospital, and Kerri hurried out of the building to see him while the doctor still had not given the all clear to release his patient. When she approached her father quickly, he had a notion of what she was about to ask him.

"Dad, may I have a word with you, right now?" She looked at him with worry in his eyes as she showed concern over Max.

"What's the matter, Kerri?" He gave her his full attention when she stopped in front of him.

"Would it be possible if you let Max come home with me? I know what you're going to say, but its' for his own good. The cells are literally packed with criminals, and I don't want to see him killed. At least until he can regain his composure, tomorrow I'll bring him back for work detail. I know the judge will be setting his bail, and his father will be here. I just want him safe, and if he can stay with me tonight, I'm sure he would be appreciative and so would I." His daughter begged him to let her take the prisoner home with her.

"Are you sure I should be allowing this to happen? Kerri, I don't want to endanger your life. I have no idea if he's telling the truth, and nor do you for that matter. You are taking a chance by allowing your feelings to interfere with your well-being. I'm not sure if I should let him out of his cell to be with you. I have no idea what he is capable of doing, and neither do you." Her father protested since he didn't know Max's whole story on how and why he got there. He had seen a lot in his career, and this man that had a hold on his daughter troubled him to no end. He contemplated for a moment and walked away, before he came back to her. He knew a guard would be at her house, and Max would be killed on sight if anything happened to his daughter because the guards had been ordered to shoot to kill.

"Okay, I don't know why I'm going to allow this, but for you, I will. Tonight, he will be allowed to be in your care. If anything happens between the two of you, the guard will, and I mean this, "Shoot to Kill." Her father told her, but he wasn't showing any remorse for Max. He wanted to make his daughter happy.

"Thank you. I'm sure he'll thank you later. Once he is out of this mess and shows you his true self, you'll change your mind about him." She hugged her father and placed a kiss on his cheek before she returned to her office. The guard stood vigilante in the corridor while the doctor gave Max a shot for pain since he would release him soon. Kerri quickly finished her paper work in the office so she could accompany Max to her home where he would rest for the remainder of the day. The warden carried out orders against the con that attacked Max out on the road and would be meeting up with the judge within the hour.