The sound of high heels clicking on the tile flooring moved down the hallway while former FBI Agent Eunice Bloom looked at the information in the file folder in her hands and she frowned.
"Shit," she whispered.
She, former FBI Agent Paul Smecker and Father Sibeal had spent the last four months trying to find a way to free the Saints from Hoag Maximum Security Prison, but with no success.
She stopped in front of the door to the office Smecker had secretly rented when she opened the door and she walked in the room.
"We're screwed," Eunice said, walking to the desk after she closed the door. Smecker and Sibeal looked at her when she sat on the corner of the desk and she placed the file folder on her lap.
"In what way?" Paul asked, leaning back in the chair.
"I got in contact with someone in the Governor's office and it turns out the Saints are in trouble."
"What sort of trouble?" Sibeal asked.
"This."
Eunice handed the file folder to Smecker as he looked at the information and his eyes widened.
"Is this on the level?" Paul asked, handing the file folder to Sibeal.
"Yes," Eunice said with a nod of her head.
"How did this happen?" Sibeal asked, placing the file folder on the desk after he read the information.
"One word? Revenge," Paul said.
"Are you talking about the Governor?" Eunice asked.
Smecker remembered the heated phone calls he had with the Governor and he sighed, placing his head in his hands.
"Yes," he said.
"But it makes no sense. Why would he risk his career…his pension…over a few phone calls?"
"He plans to kill two birds with one stone, sort to speak. He knows the Saints couldn't resist taking out this scumbag once they find out who he is and what he did. And this scumbag would love to get their hands on them after he finds out who they are. If they do kill each other…? The Governor would just say the warden was negligent and it was a horrible tragedy."
"We have t'stop this," Sibeal said.
"How?" Eunice asked.
"Well… If this information was leaked to th'press… To th'FBI an' other government agencies… They could stop th'transfer."
"The FBI won't do shit! They want revenge as well!"
"She's right," Paul said with a sigh. Standing, he walked to the front of the desk and he looked at them. "We're on our own."
"What are we goin' t'do?" Sibeal asked.
"You'll see."
Eunice and Sibeal looked at each other while Smecker leaned against the desk and he smiled.
Hoag Maximum Security Prison
The gates slowly opened while the prison truck moved down the road leading to the prison and the driver held the steering wheel tightly in his hands. The gate closed behind the prison truck as the prison truck headed for the front doors to the prison and the driver looked at the guards at the doors. He parked the prison truck as he turned the engine off and the guard walked to the driver side door.
"Any trouble?" the guard asked.
"No," the driver said, handed the guard the clipboard.
"The warden must be nuts. This guy is gonna cause a riot once those assholes find out he's here."
"Yeah."
The guard read the information when he initialed the piece of paper then he handed the driver the clipboard and he nodded at the other guard. The guard walked closer as he pushed the restraint platform and the chains made a soft jingling sound. The driver got out of the prison truck then walked to the back of the prison truck when he used the key to unlock the doors to the back of the prison truck and the guards looked at the prisoner.
The prisoner was six foot three inches in height. He had black hair, a chiseled face, a straight nose, dark eyes and thin lips. His body was lean and muscular and he had long fingers. His black hair was long and mostly covered his face and his fingers were twitching He was wearing prison orange, but he was barefoot and heavy shackles were around his wrists, waist and ankles.
The guards and driver carefully got in the prison truck as they walked toward the prisoner and the prisoner barely lifted his head. He looked at them with anger in his eyes and the two of the guards removed the guns from the holsters on their belts.
"Do you really think that's a good idea?" the prisoner asked.
"Stand up," the guard said.
"What will you do if I don't?"
"Get up!" the guard said when he pushed the button on the cattle prod which he had in his hands and the end of the cattle prod crackled.
"Your ass is toast when I tell my lawyers about that."
"I'll deny it. Get your ass up."
Sighing, the prisoner slowly stood as the guard pointed to the exit and the prisoner followed them out of the prison truck. He stepped on the restraint platform after the guard opened the bulletproof door in the bulletproof glass surrounding the restraint platform and the prisoner turned to look at them. He watched as the guards placed the chains around his legs, waist, arms, shoulders and neck and the prisoner blinked his eyes a few times.
"Let's go," the guard said, closing the door
The driver watched the guards lead the restraint platform toward the door to the prison then the driver closed the doors to the back of the prison truck. got in the cab of the prison truck, closed the door, started the engine and the prison truck headed down the road.
Inside the prison, Warden Jeffrey Maxwell watched the guards leading the restraint platform closer and he looked at the prisoner. Maxwell had the file folder in his hands as he stopped his hands from shaking and he could feel the sweat trickling down his neck. He knew better to show fear in front of a prisoner and his mind replayed the day the Saints were brought to the prison four months ago. They were not on restraint platforms, but, despite their injuries, they did wear shackles on their wrists, waists and ankles.
"Nice place you have here."
"Aye. Really nice."
"Are you two going to cause any trouble?"
"Only if someone starts summat."
He remembered the cold looks they had given him. Those hard, blue eyes. Then those eyes twinkled in a bright light and sly grins moved across their faces as they laughed.
"Shit! You should see yer face."
"Priceless."
"Do you think we made him piss himself?"
"Did we?"
"No."
The Saints settled in without incident and they were model prisoners while they were in the infirmary. He was surprised when he received phone calls from the Mayor and the Governor's offices about what was to be done as far as the Saints were concerned and he strummed his fingers on the file folder. The restraint platform came to a stop as Maxwell looked at the prisoner, cleared his throat and Maxwell opened the file folder. Maxwell walked closer while the prisoner glared at him and Maxwell felt a sense of power and calmness move over him.
"Prisoner…"
"My name is Vincenzo Yakavetta," Vincenzo Yakavetta said with a growl. He was surprised when Maxwell didn't flinch, shake or look away and Vincenzo blinked his eyes a few times.
"Take him to his cell," Jeffrey said to the guards, snapping the file folder shut and he walked away,
"I don't know why you're bothering to take me anywhere! My lawyers will have me outta here within the hour!" Vincenzo shouted.
"I hope so," Jeffrey whispered and he walked faster.
Vincenzo growled when the restraint platform started moving and he glanced over at the guard.
"You're gonna love your cellmates," the guard said with a smile.
"Yeah. Those guys are gonna eat you alive," the other guard said.
"Who the hell are you talking about?" Vincenzo asked.
"You'll see."
Vincenzo looked straight ahead as they went deeper into the prison and he wondered where they were going.
Cellblock MacManus
Located separately from the main part of the prison, Cellblock MacManus had been made especially for the Saints. Not only to protect Connor and Murphy MacManus from the others prisoners, but to protect the other prisoners from Connor and Murphy.
The cellblock was a one story, light gray brick building. Iron bars covered the high windows and floodlights sat on top of the roof. The cellblock had an iron door at the front of the building and an iron delivery door in the kitchen area. The kitchen was small and staffed with a cook and the bulletproof/shatterproof glass looked out into the main room. The cellblock also had a small clinic, staffed by a doctor and a nurse, three solitary cells, a laundry room and there was a helipad with a helicopter next to the cellblock in case of medical emergencies or evacuations.
A janitor came in once a week to clean the cellblock and a guard was assigned to the cellblock both day and night.
In the main room of the cellblock, a television was bolted to a stand on the wall and a couch sat a safe distance from the television. Two wooden bookcases had some books, a Bible and some comic books on the shelves under the television and DVD/VHS player sat on the small bookcase between the bookcases. DVDs and VHS tapes were on the shelves and the remotes were sitting on the arms of the couch.
Thin, white cloth curtains divided the three showerheads and a bookcase with towels, washcloths, toiletries and toilet paper was to the right of the showers.
The three cells had beds, a toilet, a sink with a shatterproof mirror, a hamper and an overhead light.
The only other iron door led out to the yard. The iron door had a pressure sensitive push bar and an alarm would sound if the guard didn't use the keypad to turn off the alarm. The keypad on the wall near the doorway leading to the front door was used to shut down the cellblock in case of emergencies. Security cameras were connected to the ceiling and Connor and Murphy took pleasure in flipping off the cameras.
Outside, the yard consisted of a fence with barbed wire at the top surrounding a cemented area, two basketball hoops, three weight benches, a basketball, a cement table and benches, some weights and a cement storage box. The low hum from the electrical wires interlaced with the links of the fence kept anyone from getting too close to the fence and security cameras were mounted on the walls.
Inside the cellblock, Guard Mike Andrews walked to the couch while Connor and Murphy watched a movie and Murphy had his arms crossed over his chest. His legs were sticking out with one ankle over the other and Murphy sighed.
Murphy was wearing jeans, a black t-shirt with a Punisher skull on the front and a pair of bunny slipper someone sent him were on his feet. He wore the bunny slippers more than he wore his sneakers when he was inside the cellblock and Mike found out that the bunny slippers were washable.
Connor was barefoot and he was wearing jeans and a sleeveless tan and white checkered shirt.
Mike shook his head as he thought about the amount of mail and the care packages Connor and Murphy had received over the last four months then he sighed.
Some of the care packages consisted of shirts, t-shirts, underwear, undershirts, socks, pajamas, winter coats, coats, knit caps, scarves and gloves.
In other care packages, there was wide variety of food, which had been checked for poison or anything which could harm them, and he was surprised when they shared the food with him and the other guards.
They received books, newspapers, magazines and comic books as well as DVDs and VHS tapes.
Mail bags filled with letters and cards, child drawings from local schools and a wide variety of toiletries, which were also checked for poison or anything which could harm them lined the wall near the door to the clinic and laundry room and Connor and Murphy would answer what they called their fan mail..
"Why are we watchin' this shit? We've already seen it ten times," Murphy suddenly grumbled.
"Because it was my turn t'pick what we watch," Connor answered. Connor felt the frustration and anger coming off his twin and he lightly tapped Murphy's right leg with his left foot. Murphy looked at him as their eyes locked and they had a silent conversation. Mike had seen them do that before and he reached for the gun on his belt.
"Guys…," he warned and Connor turned to look at him.
"Sorry," Connor said and Murphy nodded.
The sudden static crackling from the walker-talkie startled them as Mike looked at the walkie-talkie and he removed the walkie-talkie off his belt after he placed the gun back in the holster.
"This is Andrews," Mike said then let go of the button.
"Got new meat for you," the voice said.
"What are you talking about? This is a restricted area."
"Not anymore."
"Shit."
"One more thing. The warden wants them in lockdown before we get there."
Mike looked Connor and Murphy when Mike placed the walkie-talkie back on his belt and he walked to the television after picking up the remotes. He turned off the movie with the first remote then the DVD/VHS player then he used the second remote to turn off the television. Connor and Murphy slowly stood as Mike pointed to the cells and Connor and Murphy nodded. They headed for the cells when Murphy walked inside his cell and he headed for the bed. He picked up the comic books off the mattress when he settled down on the bunk and he bent his legs up.
"Are you really gonna have t'lock us in?" Murphy asked after he picked up the top comic book.
"Yeah," Mike said.
"This is bullshit," Connor said from the other cell and Mike walked to the cell after he closed and locked the door to Murphy's cell. Connor was pacing back and forth as he flexed his fingers and Mike saw the anger on his face.
"I hear you, Dude."
"Do you think this is some sort of trap?"
"I think it is," Murphy said, placing his left hand behind his head.
"Don't worry, Guys. I've got you covered," Mike said and Connor looked at the gun in the holster on Mike's belt.
"Jus' make sure you don't shoot either of us if you have t'use it," Connor said. Nodding, Mike closed and locked the cell door then he walked to the doorway which led to the front door. After pushing the buttons on the control panel to put the cellblock in lockdown except for the front door and the clinic, Mike turned to look into the main room as he frowned and he heard Connor talking out loud to himself.
"Connor….," Mike called out.
Sighing, Connor went to sit on the bed when he went onto his back and he placed his hands behind his head.
"You know… If Romeo was here? They wouldn't be able t'do this," Murphy said.
Romeo had died from complication from being shot and his uncle came to take Romeo home for burial. They were still angry with Maxwell for not allowing them to go to the funeral, but they understood the risks of letting them attend it.
"You're right," Connor said with a nod.
"Why do you think they're puttin' whoever this is in here?"
"It's like I said. It's gotta be a trap."
"You mean whoever this is was sent here t'kill us?"
"Wouldn't put it past 'em."
"Or they want us t'take whoever it is down."
"The question now is why."
"T'add their death t'our prison sentence."
"We haven't even had a trial yet."
"Don't you think that's odd?"
"I think it's very odd. But you gotta think about from their point of view."
"Which is?"
"Security wise? It would be really hard t'protect not only us, but th'lawyers, th'judge an' th'jury durin' th'trail. Career wise? If th'judge an' th'jury find us guilty? Someone will go after them as well as th'lawyers."
"You mean t'avenge us?"
"That is exactly what I am sayin'. Now…," Connor said as he got up, walked to the cell bars and he slid his forearms between the bars. He could just see Mike as Connor waved to him and Mike smiled, rolling his eyes. "If they send someone here t'kill us? They don't have t'do a trail."
"What about th'warden?"
"He's screwed."
"They want him t'be th'scapegoat?"
"Aye."
They became quiet while Mike watched Connor slide his forearms back through the bars then Mike heard the soft crackling sound coming from the walkie-talkie. He removed the walkie-talkie from his belt and he pushed the button.
"Andrews," Mike said, letting go of the button.
"Are they in their cells?"
"Yeah. But they're not happy."
"Are they on lockdown?"
"Yeah. What do you want me to do next?"
"Alert the clinic."
Mike changed the frequency then pushed the button and he looked toward the cells.
"Doctor Billings? This is Andrews," Mike said then let go of the button.
"This is Billings. What's the emergency?" the voice asked.
"We are receiving new meat. Need you to come here and examine them."
"Wait! What!? New meat!? What about Connor and Murphy!? Are they alright!?"
"For now. Just get your asses in here."
Mike changed the frequency as he pushed the button and he sighed.
"The clinic has been alerted," Mike said, letting go of the button.
"What about the kitchen? Have you told them?" the voice asked.
"Not yet."
Mike headed for the shatterproof, bulletproof glass which looked into the kitchen and he saw the young woman with long blonde hair placing something onto one of the plates.
"Maggie," he called out and Maggie Franklin turned to look at him.
Maggie was tall with an athletic build and she also had green eyes, a round face, a small nose and nice lips. She was wearing a denim shirt, jeans, sneakers and a white apron was tied around her waist.
"What's up?" Maggie asked as she walked to the window.
"We're on lockdown."
"Lockdown!? Why!?"
"We're getting new meat."
"New meat!?"
"Yeah."
"Hold on!" she said as she backed up. "I only signed up to look after Connor and Murphy! I am not going to deal with some psycho!"
"We don't know if they're psycho."
"Then why are they being brought here instead of the main prison!?"
"I have no idea."
"I'm outta here!" she said, taking off the apron, and she walked to the exit.
"You can't leave. Lockdown includes everything except the clinic and the front door."
"That's nuts!"
"Look. You are perfectly safe in there."
"Oh yeah!" she said with a snort. "I'm safe behind the glass, but bullets can still go through the walls!"
"They're not armed."
"They could take your gun!"
"Just turn everything off and go sit down. Ok?"
"Fine! But I'm outta here once this shit is over!"
Nodding, Mike walked back to the doorway leading to the front door when he looked at the walkie-talkie then he pushed the button.
"Kitchen's been told, but the warden's gonna need to hire a new cook. Maggie just quit," Mike said, letting go of the button.
"She what!?" the voice asked.
"She quit."
"Damn. Fine. We'll sort that out later."
"What about Connor and Murphy? They gotta eat."
"They can go a few days without food."
Sighing, Mike turned the walkie-talkie off and he placed the walkie-talkie on his belt. He looked at the cells when he frowned and he shook his head.
In the cell, Connor had heard what Mike had said.
"They not gonna feed us," Connor mumbled.
"What?" Murphy asked, lowering the comic book.
"It sounds like Maggie quit an' they're not gonna feed us until they find a new cook."
"Can they do that?"
"Aye."
Murphy placed the comic book on mattress when he walked to the bars of the cell and he slid his forearm between the bars.
"Did Maggie quit?!" Murphy called out.
"Yeah. She did," Mike said, looking toward the kitchen.
"An' you're not gonna feed us?!"
"Not until the warden can get a new cook."
"Can we order take out?!"
"Nope."
"Shit."
In the kitchen, Maggie had heard their conversation. She sat back in the chair when her mind replayed when she met Connor and Murphy and she pressed her lips into a thin line.
"Hullo. Who are you?"
"I can't tell you that."
"Come on."
"Maybe we should tell her who we are first."
"You first."
"I'm Murphy."
"An' I'm Connor."
She admitted she liked their smiles and boyish looks and she was surprised with how comfortable she felt talking to them.
"I'm Maggie."
"See?! That wasn't so hard."
"What are you makin' us fer lunch, Maggie?"
"Depends. Do either of you two have any food allergies?"
"Not that we know of."
"Then you can have whatever you want."
"You think you can get us some whiskey?"
"Aye. We're dying here."
"Ok. I take that back. You can have almost whatever you want."
"Damn."
Her mind replayed her serving them their meals and she softly laughed at the times one or the other would go back for seconds.
"Come on, Maggie! Just a little more?!"
"I do that and you don't get anything to eat tomorrow."
She hated to see Murphy or Connor's sad face as he slowly walked away, but he would be fine the next day.
"Dammit," she whispered when she stood and she walked to the window. She could just see Mike standing at the doorway to the front door and she tapped on the glass to get his attention. Mike looked at her as she motioned for him to come closer and he walked to the window.
"Now what's wrong?" he asked in a cold tone.
"Knock off the attitude."
"What do you expect? Do you know how long it is going to take to get a new cook? Especially for those two?"
"I'm not quitting."
"You're not?"
"No," she said with a shake of her head.
"Did you hear that?! She's not quitting!" he called out and Murphy and Connor cheered. Maggie laughed when the static sound came from the walkie-talkie again and Mike walked back to the doorway leading to the front door. He removed the walkie-talkie from his belt when he pushed the button and he frowned.
"Andrews," Mike said, letting go of the button when two people appeared in the hallway and he looked at them.
Doctor Oliver Billings was a tall man with balding black hair and gray eyes. He had a long face and a long nose, thin lips and wire rim glasses were perched on the bridge of his nose. He wore a white lab coat, black leather shoes, black pants and suit jacket and a white shirt.
Nurse Wanda Tanner was medium size with short black hair and blue eyes. She had a round, pretty face with a small nose and nice lips. She wore a white nurse's uniform, nude hose and white sneakers and she held the medical kit in her hands.
"We're here. Is everything ready?" the voice asked and Mike saw the fear in Wanda's eyes.
"Affirmative. Oh. Tell the warden that Maggie's not quitting."
"Will do. Now open the door."
"Hang on," Mike said. He turned off the walkie-talkie when he placed the walkie-talkie on his belt, walked to the front door, pushed the buttons on the keypad near the front door and he heard a soft click.
"What's going on?!" Connor called out.
"The new meat is here!"
Maggie looked toward the doorway while she tried to see what was going on and she heard the front door opening. She watched Oliver and Wanda enter the room as they headed for the empty cell and Mike followed them. He walked to the cell door when he opened the cell door and Maggie heard the soft squeaking noise. She looked toward the doorway and the sudden chill moving through her made her shake.
"Shit," she whispered as the guards led the restraint platform in the room and Vincenzo looked straight ahead. She watched the guard turn the restraint platform to face the kitchen when Vincenzo locked eyes with her and Maggie's stomach fell from the cold smile on his face.