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Angel zoomed around the corner with a cart loaded with books. She slowed down as she came upon a line of women.
“Ah, visiting day,” she exclaimed as she pulled up next to Harris and DeMarco.
“No, the sharks are in the tornado,” Harris insisted to DeMarco, who looked as if she was ready to strangle someone.
“Walt, thank God,” DeMarco blew out. “Your bunkie was just enthralling me with the finer points of today’s cinematic achievements.”
“Wow, you use a lot of big words. What is it you did on the outside?”
“Stockbroker,” DeMarco admitted, sounding defeated.
“There you go. You have a nice job to go back to.” Harris sounded hopeful.
“Not so much,” DeMarco choked out. “I’m not allowed to do that anymore.”
Harris stared blankly at her.
“So, you’re finally going to get to see your kids.” Angel quickly jumped in.
“I can’t wait,” Harris admitted. “I don’t know why they make us wait in line.”
“Again, you’re in prison,” Angel couldn’t resist pointing out. “Enjoy seeing your families, ladies,” she added before darting off toward cellblock A.
Block A was dim and depressing. On one side was the treatment area that had a few beds for overnight guests with minor issues. The other side of the room was hidden by a curtain. That was where the terminal patients were housed.
“What’s up, Doc?” Angel greeted Dr. Saunders, who unlike the other physicians who worked at the prison, seemed to give a damn. “Pickles.” She nodded toward the trustee/nurse who was the only healthy person housed in block A.
“What’s shaking, Walt?” Pickles returned the greeting before brushing back her neon pink locks.
“Same old crap. Any thoughts about how you’d break out?”
“I was thinking about hiding in a body bag,” Pickles offered.
“Lot better than the number one pick, which is, of course, screwing your way out.”
“You got a lot of women waiting to spend a little time with you.” Pickles pulled back the curtain. “Ladies, ready for storytime?”
The announcement was greeted with some excitement from those who could respond.
“Walt,” Dr. Saunders greeted her before flashing a shy smile. “How is it that you’re always available on visiting days?”
“Apparently, my charms are lost on the general public.”
Dr. Saunders laughed as Angel set about making her rounds. Most of the inmates spent visitation days with their family or friends, so it was easy for her to lock up the library and spend the day in the infirmary.
“The ladies enjoyed themselves,” Pickles said. “They look forward to seeing you. Doc seems to enjoy it, as well,” she snidely added before looking around to reassure herself that the doctor was out of earshot.
Angel shrugged it off as she finished packing up her books. “Some of my friends are missing.”
“Compassionate release.” Pickles snorted. “Most went to state-funded homes. Part of the warden’s agenda for keeping this place just over maximum capacity without overcrowding.”
“Let me guess, that’s why she makes the big bucks.”
“Yup.” Pickles snorted with disdain. “It’s also why Hollister is branching out with her staff. Her usual minions are either being watched or have been granted an early release.”
“Thanks.”
“Just thought Cooper would appreciate a heads-up.”
“I’ll let her know.”
Angel headed straight for the common room to relay the information. Nana nodded thoughtfully. “Well, I knew something wasn’t right,” Nana murmured as Angel helped her to her feet. “I need to get dinner started. I need to bake a little something sweet to thank Pickles.”
“What can I do?”
“Keep an eye on the kid. She’s a prime candidate to be recruited by the likes of Steger,” Nana cautioned. “If Hollister is fresh out of runners, she’ll be looking to branch out.”
Angel walked Nana to the kitchen before returning the books to the library. She had just finished shelving her books when Becks stormed in.
“You won’t believe what happened.”
“Scarlett Johansson answered your letter and is coming for a conjugal visit.”
“No, and stop trying to crush my dreams. Your bunkie has gone off the rails and landed herself in the SHU.”
“What? Do you know what happened? What am I saying? Of course you do. Spill it.”
“Her mom showed up alone.”
“Damn.” Angel pursed her lips. “The kid is a pain in the ass. Still, would it have killed her mother to give a heads-up that she wasn’t bringing the kids?
“From what I could make out between all the cussing, her mom signed the kids over to the state.”
“Son of a bitch.”
“Harris flipped out.”
“At least she’ll be out of Steger’s grasp for a while.”
“Don’t be so sure about that. There’s some bullshit going down.”
“Great, more fun.”