Chapter 3 No Justice, No Peace

"It's the truth." Daya responded on the visitation phone while looking through the glass to her visitor. Daya's eyes were watery, but sincere and her face looked as if it went through enough suffering. "It was him… it was CO Humphrey. I didn't kill her… I didn't kill her."

It was her third time confessing to her visitor, Danny Pearson, who took a genuine concern for Daya's side of the story.

"Daya, I believe you. I know how corrupt these for-profit prison systems can be and I will do everything in my power to get you out of here."

"When?"

"I don't know…" Danny tilted his head with uncertainty while shrugging. "I would have to properly investigate this and get back to you when I can."

"How long will that take?"

"I don't want to scare you with numbers, but I will tell you that I won't stop at this investigation until you are out of Max. Believe me when I say, I will do everything possible to help you. What happened during the riot was a horrific act and only proved how Humphrey is a sadistic opportunist who will go through extreme measures to make incarcerated women seem like monsters. He pretends to be the victim, but I will uncover his act and reveal him as the monster he truly is."

Danny was able to catch Caputo in Litchfield's parking lot. He noticed Caputo appeared stressed as if he had a billion thoughts running through his mind while he headed to his car. Caputo glanced ahead and happened to see Danny.

"Pearson? What're you doing here?"

"I told you repeatedly, it's Danny. And I'm here to speak with you in regards to Dayanara Diaz."

Caputo briefly sighed. "I can't right now. I have a lot to do and a billion thoughts rushing through my mind. Not only am I working my ass off to get this lockdown lifted, but I'm under a great deal of pressure to hire more staff and I'm finding it excruciatingly hard to do considering we are nicknamed, by PC thugs, as Litchkill Prison- a name so catchy that it made it to the front page."

"Daya's innocent. She wasn't the one that killed CO McCollough, it was Humphrey."

Caputo paused momentarily. "And you know this, how?"

"I paid her a visit in Max and got her side of the story. I can tell when a person is being sincere or not. Having worked at MCC, really gained me an insight on how people respond when fabricating a story. I can tell you, Daya was 100 percent truthful, she did not commit the crime."

"It's going to take a lot more than you believing her. Look, I'm not saying Daya did it, but if what she's saying is actually true, then you're going to need some cold hard evidence to prove it. Honestly, I'm surprised myself, that doesn't seem like her."

"Well, what about the security cameras? I can take a look at the footage from last week and go from there. In fact, why not we take a look together?"

Caputo shook his head vigorously. "No, that can never happen."

"No?! I thought you stood behind these women? What happened to fighting for what's right? You're not seriously going to disregard substantial evidence that can take a woman out of Max for a crime she didn't commit?"

"I want to fight for what's right, okay…" Caputo heavily sighed before running his fingers down his beard. "But, due to budget cuts, we haven't had working surveillance in several months."

Danny returned with a look of disappointment which only led Caputo bending his own head down in shame.

"Free Daya!" the entire Latina dorm collectively chanted after being fed up with the strict lockdown, coincidentally the black dorm were chanting "no justice, no peace!" It was a chant led by Taystee.

Their outburst was enough to make the SWAT men angry and one of them irate when Taystee stepped out of her bunk.

"Inmate! Step back in your fucking cube or I'll blow your fucking head off!" The fully covered SWAT man said, the only visible aspect on him was his pale skin.

The dorm grew silent as well as Taystee. Instead of abiding orders, she aimed a serious angry expression at him before boldly walking towards his direction.

"I'm not fucking around, inmate! Stand back!" He positioned his weapon to kill but Taystee didn't back away.

"What was that?" She responded with much attitude. "You're gonna shoot me? I'm right here!" She said while placing her forehead to his gun, all while maintaining a mean mug.

Janae and Cindy stared in shock along with the rest of the women who were in their cubes. The other guards watched as everything unfolded. Seconds passed and Taystee was still standing like a rebel in front of the SWAT man who felt like a fool by her. It was the most uncomfortable feeling to the guard to have his authority challenged by an inmate, particularly a black inmate. The SWAT guards were not as dangerous as they appeared because it was becoming all too evident that none of them actually had bullets, considering they would have shot someone from the start.

The SWAT man used his weapon as a bat to hit Taystee against the head, but Taystee immediately blocked the blow by shielding herself with her hands. She was struck hard enough to lose her balance, causing her to hit the floor with bloody hands.

The entire dorm reacted concurrently with a gasp of shock thinking that it was the end of Taystee. Some inmates like Janae and Cindy were balling their fist preparing to help her out.

But instead of continuing to hit her, the SWAT man looked down on her and said, "you fucking inmates."

The silence between Judy and Yoga Jones became too unbearable for Judy.

"Oh, I can't take anymore of this!" Judy said in frustration. "It's bad enough that I have to stay stuck in this ratchet hellhole!"

"Oh poor you." Jones said dryly, avoiding eye contact with Judy.

"Poor me, that's right! When I leave this place, I'll have memories that'll haunt me for life! These CO's are fucking nuts! Killing inmates and shooting other CO's. I gotta get the hell outta this place!"

Jones finally turned to her, "Shooting other CO's? What're you talking about?"

Judy revealed everything that happened on the day of the riot and Jones grew more shocked after every word.

"Judy, you've got to say something!"

"And what?! Get shot and killed too?! Fuck that! I gave you a cellphone, you know how to use it."

"But, it'll be their word against an inmate's word. They need to hear it from someone with a higher status, you know, money!"

"Not my problem. Leave me out of this!"

There was a knock at the door before the person allowed themselves in.

"Judy King," it was Piscatella holding a confidential document in his hand. "You will be released today, if you sign this document stating that you will not discuss the events that have taken place at Litchfield."

"Done!" Judy said, grabbing a pen to sign the document. "I'll sign a contract with the devil himself if it meant gettin' the hell out of here!"

Jones rolled her eyes. "You just did."

Judy felt liberated walking down that long hallway, again. This time, it was just Piscatella escorting her out. She shuddered at the thought of last week's events repeating itself. The halls elicited flashbacks of the riot and made her feel overwhelmed. She gave Piscatella an extended look when they reached the exit door. As with all stares from women, it brought a sense of discomfort to Piscatella.

"What?" he asked.

She opened her mouth and paused for a moment as if to consider what she was about to say next.

"When I get home, I'm going to cuddle up in my favorite blanket next to the fire." She smiled proudly.

"It's 83 degrees." Piscatella responded.

A fire blazed inside of a portable pit outside under the black sky.

Piscatella and Goremen were wrapped together in a long blanket. Piscatella dozed off in boredom. Goremen admired the way he slept as he snapped a picture of the moment.

To be continued...


Thanks everyone for the reviews! I really appreciate you all taking the time to read my story and leaving a comment. 1 more chapter to go before complete! Is it too late for Daya? Will Danny somehow find a way to get her out, or will Caputo do something? Or maybe someone else will save the day, or will they? Hmm...