Part 4

Working out in the rec yard with Red, Steve was building up more than just his physical being. He was hearing information that was needed as they had the weight equipment to themselves as most of the other inmates were playing a game of football and most others were watching, except for the ones that Red had "stand point" to make sure he and Steve had privacy, so they could talk.

"The "hack" that brought you to the cell the first day you came, that was Dougan wasn't it?" Red inquired casually.

"Yeah, that was the name I saw on his name pin." Steve answered remembering the threat that was made by that particular guard.

"Watch out for him, man. He is one of the worst and yes he is among the ones they want to go after when they make their arrests. The guy that used to be in your bunk was a good guy named Petey Hamblin. Now Petey he was kind of slow of mind well one day Dougan and a couple of his cronies saw to it that Petey lost what little mind he had. So you avoid him as good as you can. Stevens, Parker, Wallace and Cranston are four more that are in his squad. The ringleader is a guy named Francis." Red spoke quietly but loud enough for Steve to hear all he was saying.

"I thought the warden's name was DeLong." Steve said as low as he could.

"It is." Red said absentmindedly, as he was thinking. "Wait a second they aren't thinking the warden is behind all this?"

"Not totally sure who they are thinking of, but well he is in charge so usually that would be the first one they would look at- yes." Steve answered as vaguely as he could, but without offending Red.

Red got off the bench and wiped it down then went over and spotted Steve while he lifted weights. He looked around a bit to make sure everyone was still out of hearing range, then spoke again.

"You guys are looking at the totally wrong guy if you are looking at the warden. Look at Francis the assistant warden. He is the guy they want. I know a few other guys I want you to meet and hear what they have to say. Believe me when I say you will not be shortchanged by these guys. You can trust them like you trust me." Red spoke confidently.

After they finished with the weights Red sent one of his runners to get the four others that he wanted Steve to meet and they headed toward an area that was known as no man's land where there would be total privacy to wait for the guys to show up.

In San Francisco Mike Stone was in church praying that God would watch over Steve and keep him safe from harm. He took time after praying to talk to the priest that was there who he had known for almost twenty-five years.

"This young man, your partner, if he was trained by you I have no doubts that he will come through whatever is going on with him. He might have a few scratches for his trouble so to speak but he will come through it. Don't despair, Mike he is in God's hands." Father Slovik assured Mike.

"It is who else's hands he is in that has me in a dither. I know God will look out for him but, well I just would feel a whole lot better if he had never done this and was here where I could look after him myself." Mike said very solemnly.

"Trust in God, Mike," the old priest chuckled. "Do you think you can do a better job than the man up there?" He grew serious again and resumed talking. "He will be home soon enough. You have to believe that in your heart. And Mike, when he does come back, well, maybe you can find a way to tell him what he really means to you. Somehow I think he is going to need that. I know you have a problem telling people such things, but there are other ways you could tell him than just words." Father Slovik spoke philosophically.

Mike nodded, thinking of all the times he had started to say something to Steve, but chickened out because he just was not comfortable saying such personal things to another man. His daughter, sure he could say those words every second of the day and not have any qualms. He kicked himself thinking Steve is just as much a member of this family as you and Jeannie why can't you tell him how much you love him as your son as well as best friend? He silently prayed that he would not have to regret this as well, if Steve never made it back from Chino alive.

With that thought in his head, he finally said good bye to the priest and left for home to be alone a bit with his thoughts and his emotions. After about half an hour the phone rang. He almost ignored it, but finally answered on the third ring.

"Mike, have you heard anything at all?" Jeannie spoke with fear in her voice.

"No,sweetheart. I have had no word from anyone at all. What's wrong?" Mike asked feeling her deep upset.

"I had the most awful dream. Mike I am terrified for Steve. I can't shake this feeling I have had since I saw him, that this is not going to end well. I want to go back and try to see him again. I have to know if he is still alright." Jeannie demanded anxiously.

"Jeannie, I think if you tried to go back, this time he might refuse the visit. You told me when you went he seemed angry that you were there and told you for you and me to not come back there again. Maybe we should just leave it at that as much as I hate to. Believe me, I know what you are feeling I am scared out of my wits over what he might be going through or will go through. I want him out of there as much as you do I deeply regret shutting him out of what was going on." Mike said and Jeannie could tell how guilty he felt.. "Let me get hold of Bateman and Goldwyn and see if they can do a check on him for us and I will let you know what they find out. If they tell me there is trouble, well, you and I will go there no matter what the young Inspector said."

"When do you think they could check on him for us?" Jeannie asked worriedly.

"With what time it is, probably not until tomorrow. I will go ahead and put a call in to them though and call you back and tell you what they say, deal?" Mike tried to sound positive.

"Okay, deal. Please call me the second you speak with them!" Jeannie insisted.

Mike promised to do so and the moment they hung up, he put call in to CDCR to speak with either of the two men concerning Steve.

Steve and Red were meeting with the inmates, Red wanted Steve to talk with. Each of them was telling Steve of his experiences with "hacks" at Chino as well as other inmates' experiences that they personally witnessed or were told of. Steve was taking notes as discreetly as possible, so that he would not to mix up the information later on.

An inmate named Cal showed Steve a scar he bore on his back that came from a "hack's" nightstick, that had been fixed with nails.

"My crime was that I did not pick up a piece of gum wrapper, that had fallen off the desk fast enough. Dougan made sure I didn't forget to drop down fast next time." Cal said bitterly.

Steve honestly did not know what to say, but sympathized with Cal and the others as their stories had raised his awareness even more than before. Sometimes there were good prisoners, who were wronged by the system and by the ones that were working for the system. Just then the call for "yard-in" was sounded as it was "chow time". Steve secreted the notes. as the others shielded him and they all hurried to get inside before there was trouble.

They sat together at the evening meal, talking quietly, but not about anything that could get them in trouble. Steve thought of what these men might face when he was finished here and thought there had to be some way to protect them, especially Red after the way he had made sure that Steve was left alone. He promised himself he was going to put in a good word for these guys to try and help them somehow.

Mike had gotten Frank Bateman's guarantee that they were going to visit and check on Steve in the morning and get back to him with a report. Once he had hung up, he called Jeannie, as he knew if he tried to wait until they paid their visit before calling her back she would have his head.

"They are going to go pay a visit tomorrow and will make a check as discreetly as possible. They promised to call me when they could get away from there and let me know about Steve. I will call you as soon as I hear anything. I know it is useless to say but please try not to worry." Mike spoke gently to his daughter.

"Listen to who is talking, Mike. You can't tell me you are not going out of your mind wondering how he is doing." Jeannie said candidly.

"Touché, Jeannie. You know me too well for me to deny it." Mike admitted reluctantly.

After their meal that night Steve, Red and the others played a friendly card game to pass the time. As they were playing Steve felt like eyes were boring into him, he knew he should not look up, but curiosity got the better of him. When he lifted his eyes off his cards a fraction he saw Buster staring right at him and standing with him was Dougan. He tried hard to concentrate on the game but his mind was reeling as he sensed this meant trouble.