Page 10 of His Favorite Felon

I caught myself staring a second too long, then turned my attention back to Cambridge.

“What?” Cambridge asked as he smirked.

“Nothing.”

“You looking hard,” he accused.

“I’m observing.”

“Mmmhmm.”

“What? I’m doing my job.” I questioned

“You’re observing with your whole chest. Don’t observe too hard. We don’t need a repeat of D.C. jail. I’d hate to lose my only friend in this shithole.”

I shook my head. “Man, shut up.”

I hated it when people brought up the fact that I was transferred here because I got caught with my pants down, literally. There were a few women who weren’t as crazy as the others, and when they asked nicely, I was there to help relieve some of their pent-up stress. My father was furious. He was the Warden, and he pulled some strings to get me transferred.

I’d been at Cumberland for two years, and I was there strictly to get a paycheck, with the help of my medication. Before my dad agreed to transfer me, he demanded I see a doctor. He was convinced something had to be wrong with me because, as smart as I was, I made poor decisions. So I did. When the results came back, my dad wasn’t happy, but he knew something was off. I was diagnosed with schizophrenia. After my transfer was completed and a few months on meds, I wasn’t worried about these females, and I knew my dad couldn’t always protect me.

Before he could say anything else, I noticed movement near the back tables. Ramirez, one of the older inmates, stood and slowly approached the new girl. Ramirez had a reputation for targeting the vulnerable, particularly newcomers and those who showed fear.

The young woman glanced up as Ramirez stepped into her path. She stood firm, took a tentative step back, then another.

Ramirez smiled, but it wasn’t a warm or friendly one. It felt more like a shark circling its prey.

I immediately pushed back from the console.

“I got it,” I told Cambridge.

“You already know,” he said, and I heard laughter behind me.

The security door buzzed again as I stepped back into Housing Unit C. By the time I reached them, Ramirez had backed the new inmate up against the concrete wall.

“Problem?” I asked evenly.

Ramirez glanced over her shoulder. “Nah, C.O. We’re just talking.”

The younger woman remained silent, but her eyes revealed her fear as she swallowed hard. I stepped between them.

“Then y’all can talk with some space between y’all.”

Ramirez smirked. “You always ruin my fun.”

“I wasn’t aware intimidation counted as recreation, Inmate Ramirez.”

Only after Ramirez disappeared did I turn to the new inmate.

“You alright?”

After a moment, she nodded and spoke softly, “…Yes.”

Her voice barely rose above a whisper, and she wouldn’t meet my gaze. That disappointed me.

“Good.”

I paused, then quietly added, “If someone gives you problems, report it.”