Date: Sunday, February 25th, 2024
Time: 8:03 am
Location: Los Tokyo Maximum Security Women's Prison, Japanifornia
Lana Skye opened her eyes that morning and looked at the gray-painted cinder block walls of her prison cell for the very last time. After seven years, she was finally free and about to begin her new life on the outside. Although, despite years of thinking about it, she hadn't exactly figured out what that life would look like yet.
At 7:15 am, two male correctional officers entered Lana's cell to escort her out. She had a brief goodbye with Kat, her cellmate for the last four years, with promises to keep in touch. Lana was dubious of the likelihood of that friendship going the distance, knowing that Kat still had 16 years of her sentence left to serve, but she told herself that she'd try, knowing how lonely and monotonous life on the inside can be.
She was taken to a small room, frisked, and given possessions of hers that had been confiscated on her first day. These items included the chocolate brown skirt suit she was wearing the day of her arrest, her commendation medals, her black pumps, her jewelry, and her favorite red scarf.
Lana was also handed a more casual set of clothes: a plain white T-shirt, navy blue sweatpants, white ankle socks, and white tennis shoes. A brand-new outfit that Ema had dropped off at the prison a few days earlier in preparation for Lana's release day. Despite being in good repair, Lana wasn't sure if she'd feel comfortable wearing her old clothes again, reminding her too much of her tenure as Chief Prosecutor.
She quickly changed out of her striped jumpsuit and was shuttled to a reception area. There, she signed her discharge paperwork and an agreement listing all her many probation requirements. She was also given the address and name of her probation officer, with the date of her first meeting set for 9 am sharp tomorrow morning. Lastly, the administrative assistant cut her a check for a measly $68.71, the remaining balance in her prison fund. Once all her affairs were settled, Lana was ushered through three ultra security doors and released outside without so much as a wave or a "good luck."
For 2,556 long days, Lana had pictured this day and dreamed of what it would be like. What she didn't imagine was how crisp and refreshing the February air would feel. How warm and soothing the morning sun would be. How bright and blue the sky would look. She had regularly scheduled outdoor time in the yard, but these beauties of nature escaped her notice with 15 feet concrete walls and barbed wire fencing obstructing her view.
She also hadn't envisioned the chauffeur who would be driving her home this morning. In the prison parking lot, arms crossed and leaning against a parked car was Diego Armando, fresh off his own prison sentence.
Lana thought back to the last time she saw him, about five years earlier. Months out of his coma and newly employed at the prosecutor's office, Diego had bumped into her at the prison, while on orientation, and asked Lana to spy on Morgan and Dahlia. He wanted her to call him if she overheard anything suspicious. When she did, he stopped by the prison to listen in on Morgan Fey's meeting with Pearl. One month later, he was behind bars too.
He looked nearly the same now. His hair was still medium length and stark white, and he had the same futuristic red neon visor. He was no longer dressed in his courtly prosecutor's ware though, instead sporting a black leather jacket, white shirt, blue jeans, and brown leather laced boots. Around his neck, he had a silver dog tag necklace.
Based on his attire and body language, Diego clearly still cared about maintaining his cool guy persona, even as he was rounding 40 years old. However, it's a tough feat when you're standing in front of a beige and gently used 2007 Toyota Corolla.
Lana waved to him, and he gave a small wave back before walking around the front of the car to the driver's side door.
She approached the passenger side door and grasped the handle. "Nice car. You borrow it from your grandmother?" Lana teased.
Diego tittered softly. "Uh…yeah, actually I did."
"Oh, shit. Seriously?"
He entered the vehicle. "I've only been out two weeks. Where do you think I've been living?"
She did the same. "True. Thought you'd still have that 70s clunker."
"Nah, I wish. Miss that old shit bucket. Had to sell it when I lost my license."
Lana was taken aback. "Does your probation officer know that you're driving without a license?"
"I got it back." He pointed at his visor. "It took seven years, but the DMV finally added these bad boys to their list of approved eyewear."
"You're moving up in the world."
"Yeah, something like that." He retrieved a travel mug from the cup holder and handed it to her.
"What's this?"
"Coffee. The stuff they serve in prison has all the quality of swamp water."
"Probably. I only drink tea though, but thanks anyway."
"Oh, really? I'd say I won't hold it against you but… honesty and all that jazz." He took a swig from her mug and grimaced before returning it to the cup holder and exchanging it for his own mug. "Looks like I'll be double fisting."
"Aren't they both coffee?"
"Yeah, but yours has cream and sugar in it. Need to wash it down."
"You don't have to drink it, you know."
He scoffed. "It's liquid gold. Can't waste that."
She rolled your eyes. "Your assumptions about my drink preferences were wrong, by the way. I take my tea black."
He shrugged. "I took a wild guess. That's how Mia always took hers."
"Right."
There was an awkward silence.
He cleared his throat. "Where to?"
"1030 Wiltshire."
"Aye, aye." Diego started the car but didn't move.
"You waiting for something?"
"You haven't put your seatbelt on."
She exhaled in laughter and buckled up. "I would have remembered once you started driving. It's been a while since I've been in a car."
"You drive with me; you wear a seatbelt. That's one of my rules."
"Don't start."
He smiled. "You're the one who brought up probation violations."
"Please, just drive."
Diego pulled out of the parking lot, and they embarked on their 30-minute commute to Lana's new apartment. Ema's apartment, really.
"Surprised your sister wasn't here this morning," Diego said. "Weren't you two supposed to have a dramatic, tearful, and heartwarming cinematic moment outside the prison gates?"
"That was the plan. She got stuck working."
"No way she could get out of it?"
"Apparently not. She just joined the police force three months ago. Zero seniority, and I guess a lot of shit went down last night. They needed the extra hands."
"Bummer. Sorry you had to resort to your second choice."
"You were my third choice, actually. Phoenix doesn't have his license."
He laughed. "Don't think he'll ever get it. At this rate, Trucy will have hers before he does. Maybe she can teach him."
"You've met his daughter too?"
"A few times. They came to visit while I was in the clink. Saw them last week too."
Lana smiled. "You've changed your tune on him. When I last saw you, I believe the name 'Trite' came up." She pretended to think. "You said something about being wildly jealous of him, if I recall correctly."
He pursed his lips. "There's a chance I was wrong about a few things. Maybe."
"Kidding. You'd have to work pretty hard to hate someone like Phoenix though."
"Back then, no one worked harder than me." Diego shook his head. "Was total BS what happened to him. All for doing the same thing that prosecutors do every single day."
"No one would accuse our justice system of being fair."
"That's for damn sure."
"Other than seeing Phoenix, you do anything fun and exciting during your two weeks of freedom?"
"Let's see. Got my piercings redone. They closed over. My license. Had a couple of meetings with my probation officer. Living at my grandmother's. Lots of excitement, truly."
"I didn't know you had a grandmother who lived here, actually."
"Yeah, you wouldn't. What do we know about each other, exactly?"
"Mia and I texted sometimes while you were still in a coma. She mentioned that your mom had died."
"She did. Yeah. Almost ten years ago now."
"I'm sorry. And… you used to say that your dad was a deadbeat."
He nodded. "So, you're not up to date on all my lore, then. I thought my dad was a deadbeat, but it turns out he died before I was even born. Was such a relief to find out that I'm actually just an orphan."
"Sorry." Lana swallowed. "I know what that feels like."
"Yeah," he said solemnly. "Fucking sucks."
"So, your grandmother?" Lana asked, trying to veer off the topic that made her most apt to devolve into a hysterical and emotional wreck.
"Oh, right. So, she's my dad's mom. My other grandparents died years ago." He took a swig of each of the coffees and then continued. "She actually knew about my mom and me, and that we immigrated to Japanifornia to look for Dad, but I hadn't met her until after I woke up."
"What? Seriously?"
"Ah, it's a long story. She thought we were using Dad for a green card. Blah blah blah. Racism. Blah blah blah. It's whatever. We're fine now; I guess."
"That's really effed up."
"Yeah. Well, that's my life for you."
"So, you two are good now? After all that?"
He sighed. "I'm too tired to hold grudges anymore. Plus, I get free rent and food. And, we already have a system worked out. She makes breakfast; I make coffee. I watch TV while she attends all these lunches, committee meetings, senior fitness classes… I don't know. She's almost 90, but she's always out doing something. We watch Coronation Street and Jeopardy! while we eat dinner, and both go to bed around ten."
"That sounds miserable."
"Beats prison."
"Have you started looking for a job yet?"
"Here and there. Nothing too enticing." Diego paused for a moment, trying to decide if his next remark was worth saying. "Was probably good we had a chance to re-connect, actually."
"Why's that?"
"I have a potential business proposition in mind, if you want in."
Lana laughed. "Two weeks, and you're already embroiled in a pyramid scheme."
"It's not a pyramid scheme."
"Sorry, a multi-level marketing venture."
"It's a legitimate business idea."
"Okay, do tell."
"A private detective agency."
"Really?" Lana asked incredulously. "That's allowed?"
"I'm working out all the nitty-gritty details with my PO."
"You have the money for that?"
"Some. Look, it's a work in progress."
"I see. Why involve me though? Go solo and you can pocket all the mountains of cash you'll be raking in."
"You used to be a detective. It'd provide a certain level of… cachet."
"A dishonorably discharged one," Lana countered.
"We wouldn't lead with that."
"People will find out anyway."
"Maybe. All I'm saying is the market for ex-felons is not so hot. You'll see."
Lana mulled the idea over for a moment. This was her dream girl's ex-boyfriend. To say they were hostile would be a tad uncharitable, but they were never exactly chummy. Her past encounters with Diego amounted to third-wheeling a handful of outings with him and Mia and two prison visits. The idea of spending 40 hours a week with him was… uncomfortable.
"I'll think on it," she finally said.
"Please do." He pulled into the lot of a weathered four-story apartment building with cream-colored stucco walls, terra cotta colored shingles, and motel-style wrap-around balconies. "This the place?"
"I think so." Lana analyzed her surroundings. She stopped and stared when she noticed a beat-up metallic blue Honda Fit plastered with bumper stickers. "Ema's home."
"How do you know?"
Lana pointed. "That's her car. It has to be. It has 'geology rocks,' Blue Badger, and Steel Samurai stickers on the back." She gathered her belongings and got out. "Thanks for the ride. See ya."
Diego turned the car off and started getting out too.
"What are you doing?" Lana asked.
"I'm being nosy."
"Really?"
"We've already established that I have no life. Humor me."
"Okay, whatever."
They walked up two sets of stairs and approached door 308. Lana hovered over the door's keypad, blocking it from Diego's view.
He chuckled. "You think I'm going to rob you? I'd like to stay out of prison, thanks."
She smirked. "Can never be too careful." She typed in the pad's code: 0225, the day Lana went to prison and the day she was free. It unlocked.
"Ema!" Lana called out.
Ema walked from her bedroom to the living room, still dressed in her work uniform. "Lana!" she called back. She ran over and gave Lana a hug.
"I thought you were working."
"I was. Just got off a 14 hour shift. He finally let me leave."
"Who's he?"
"Oh, the glimmerous fop. Who else?"
"That prosecutor?"
Ema groaned. "I told him that you were getting out of prison today, but he wouldn't give me any leeway. Then, an hour ago, he's all: 'Oh, fraulein, you have to pick up your sister? Please go. Family is so important,' Ema mocked in a poor German accent.
Lana giggled. "Well, you're here now, at least."
"You should see this guy, Lana. It's three in the God damn morning, we're at a murder scene, and he's prancing around in these tight leather pants, bad eye liner, and his stupid blond braid. He's always leaves the bottom buttons of his shirt undone, so we can all see how much he works out. Like, Jesus. Cover up."
"He's a prosecutor though. Why's he hanging around the crime scene? There are detectives for that."
"He says he's just very hands on. I think he just wants to seem important."
"The lady doth protest too much," Diego chimed in, hovering by the front door.
Lana turned to face him. "What?"
"She's clearly in love with the guy."
Ema sneered. "Who's this asshole?"
Diego grinned. "Apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, eh Lana?"
"Ema, this is Diego. He was my drive this morning."
"Who?"
"Do you remember my friend Mia from Ivy?"
"Yeah, of course."
"He and Mia used to be…a thing."
"Engaged," Diego corrected.
"Sure," Lana said skeptically.
"I'm not in love with Klavier Gavin," Ema insisted. "That pretty boy is lucky I haven't punched him square in the face."
"I don't know," Diego countered. "When I hate someone, I don't usually go on about how hot I think they are and how beautiful their hair is."
"Shut up. I would never. He's the reason Phoenix Wright got disbarred."
"Oh, he's that guy? Well, fuck him, then."
Ema smiled slightly and yawned. "He's not staying is he? I just worked over 12 hours, and I don't have the energy."
"He was just leaving," Lana said.
Diego chuckled and walked outside. "Alright, I'm going. Thanks for indulging me. Has been very enlightening."
Lana started closing the door. "Buh-bye."
He held it open. "Don't forget about my business idea. Okay?"
"I'll be touch."
Diego waved goodbye, and she locked the door.
"What's he talking about?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Just this pie in the sky idea he has, so he doesn't have to look for a job."
"Weird."
"Yep, that's him."
Ema picked a bag off the coffee table and offered it to her sister. "Snackoo?"
Lana took one and examined it. "What is this?"
"Your new favorite food."