Page 10 of Reclaim

“No.” He shakes his head. “You must think I’m horrible.”

“Horrible definitely didn’t cross my mind,” I admit. “There’s a lot to consider in every circumstance; this one is no different. We’re all just learning as we go.”

“Jagger and I were rocky before he got locked up,” he reveals. “And for some reason he believes we would all be better off without him, that he deserves to stay in there until the eleventh hour.”

“Yes. I managed to pick up on that vibe when I saw him too, but lucky for you, I kindly informed him the choice wasn’t his. No matter how many reasons he gave me.”

“I’m impressed. You figured out the way his mind works pretty quickly.” He smirks while his eyes light up with mischief. I lower my head and avoid his all-knowing gaze on the unexplainable flush on my skin.

“I figured if I give him less reasons to argue with me, he’ll eventually come around and be happy about leaving,” he explains.

“And that’s exactly what we’re doing,” I reassure him. “The more solid the release plan, the less reasons he or any inmate has a reason to slip through the cracks.”

He cringes at the use of the word inmate, but I ignore it; professionalism imperative.

I scribble a list of words down the right hand side of the white lined paper. The word housing right at the top. “Okay, let’s start with the important stuff, where’s he going to live?”

“With me.”

“Okay, do you live by yourself? Married? Kids? Pets? Drugs? Guns?”

He hovers while I write, the pen and my mouth in sync, as I rattle off words faster than I can think them. I look up to see hazel eyes filled with hurt and regret, and acknowledge that this is about more than Jagger.

“I know you have to ask these questions, and with what happened, they’re logical. But for what it’s worth, that’s not how we are. That’s not the life we ever lived.”

“Hendrix. Please don’t think I’m judging you.” I plead. “The parole board are sticklers, and he can’t afford to get pulled up, no matter how minor it is. We just need to cover all our bases.”

“Okay,” he nods with a little more confidence. “I trust you.”

“Thank you. Now sell yourself to the parole board.” The mood a little lighter, I throw in some humour. “Tell me why it is in Jagger’s best interest to live with you.”

He taps his fingers against the wooden table top. “Well, I live by myself. No pets, unless you count the neighbour’s cat that occasionally finds herself roaming around in my house.”

“Employment?”

“I’m a Youth Work Coordinator for my local Police Citizens Youth Club.”

“That’s the PCYC, yeah?”

“Yep.” Writing down the details as he explains the work he does with disadvantaged youth, I butt in with my own responses when the occasion fits, multitasking as best as I can.

“Okay, the hardest thing will be him getting a job.”

Carefully balancing our hot beverages and the brownies on a tray, the waiter appears beside us, his facial expression apologetic for the interruption. “The short black?”

“That’s mine, thanks.” Raising his hand to the tray, he meets the waiter halfway, taking the drink from his shaky grasp.

“And that means the caramel latte goes over here.” The porcelain clinks on the wooden table as the plate of dessert is placed between us. “If you need anything else, just call out.”

“Thanks.” Adding sugar, I pour it in and stir before continuing, “if you know anywhere that’s hiring, that would take him on based on your recommendation alone, it would be ideal. But as long as he has a place to sleep and someone who will, for all intents and purposes provide him with a roof over his head and food in his mouth, it means he has less reasons to turn to shady behaviour to make some cash. Again,” I say with a warning tone, “this is the way the legal system approaches the situation, and I’m in no way implying this is the exact pattern of behaviour he’s going to follow.”

“I get it. I hate all of it, but I do understand.”

“I appreciate that. Now, when I met with Jagger there was lot we didn’t talk about. Namely his relationship with anyone from his past. In particular. Dakota.”

His back straightens, and the tapping on the table returns.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know anything about his personal relationships. Otherwise, I wouldn’t ask. Because I’m facilitating his release, everything I do is based on knowledge of the future, not what happened in the past.”

---