Page 81 of Close Quarters

“I like to know things about people, especially when they’re in charge of taking care of other people. Helps to keep things running smoothly.”

I thought about that for a moment, remembering how that conversation had gone in the room all those months ago. Leon had repeatedly looked to Mona, while the latter had pushed him to take responsibility for his decision after he’d fought so hard for it. At least, that’s what I’d assumed after Leon had divulged his ‘argument’ with Mona. Except now, I was beginning to wonder if there was more to it.

“You know, it occurs to me. A smart, capable woman such as yourself?—”

“Oh, this should be good.”

“What?”

She looked at me, her lips twisting up wryly. “You, giving a compliment.”

I snorted hard, waving her off. “It’s not a compliment. It’s the truth. You’d have to be both of those things to do the job you do. To have Mr. Isaiah’s complete faith.”

“Ah.”

“And someone like you is probably involved in the selection process for the guys who get into this program.”

“That is a reasonable trail of logic you're forging.”

“Which means you helped or even picked me for the program.”

“You sound surprised.”

I snorted, flicking my ash over the railing. “Yeah, well, I was confused as fuck when I was told what was being offered to me. As it was, I’d already been in a few fights behind bars.”

“Yes, I was told that,” she said, lightly tapping the side of her cigar thoughtfully. “I was also told that two of those three incidences involved the, uh…victims, having tried to take…liberties with you.”

“Rape, they tried to rape me,” I said in a flat voice.

“That wasn’t in the report I was given,” she said in a neutral voice. “But I must say it’s good you’re willing to call it what it is.”

“Why does that matter?”

“Because many men in your position don’t like to admit it. Don’t like acknowledging it, let alone calling it by its name. It’s common with rape victims or those who narrowly missed it. Shame is a big motivator, especially with men…and particularly with proud, physically capable men like yourself.”

“Yeah, well, I knew what I was getting into when I went to prison. Doesn’t mean I was going to let it happen,” I told her, taking a hard puff. “And I’m not going to avoid it because they’re fucking assholes.”

“And I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said with a smile. “Mr. Isaiah and I both appreciated that story. But I’m betting you’ve wondered why we still brought you on. That seems to be where you were headed with your story.”

“Can you blame me? When you’ve got guys here who didn’t glare at you through the introductory meeting.”

Mona reached into her jacket again and drew out a flask, opening it up and taking a drink before pocketing it. “We go through quite an extensive process. All sorts of background information is important to us, and yes, that does involve not only how you behaved behind bars, but what you did before that. As much as we push that rehabilitation is important, pragmatism must balance the idealism.”

“So, you pick easy people to help like Elliot,” I said, unsurprised. “Make yourselves look good.”

“Well, with Elliot, that’s a yes and no. He told you?”

“Told me what he did. Both to get behind bars and why the other guys in that robbery got locked up.”

“And there you go. He’s both an ‘easy person’ to rehabilitate and a prime example of our cause. He wanted to do better, so we gave him the chance.”

“So, a little bit of both.”

“Yes. And you…you too, were a mix of both. Though one of the more challenging ones, I’ll admit.”

“Me?” I asked in sudden confusion. “What?”

She turned, not just her head, but her upper body as well, leaning on the arm of the chair to stare intensely at me. “Do you think I just looked at the charges you were given? Do you think I didn’t find ways to dig deeper, to see the what…and the why?”

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