Page 24 of The Rat

“You sure you were stabbedin the side?” Ollie asked.

“Yeah,that’s right.”

“Only I’mstarting to think it went throughyour thick skull and cut out part of your brain.”

Ollie grabbed his tray and moved to avacant table. Teddy snorted, then went to join him.

“He’s worried about you.”Captain muttered.

“I know he is. I’m worried aboutme.”

“No going into darkcupboards or cells alone, understand?”

“Trust me, I won’t go making thatmistake again. You’re not gonna bitch at me for turning downSebastian’s offer?”

Captain grinned. “Nope, you areyour own man, own your choices, like I do.”

****

Rory spent most of the day sitting inCaptain’s eyeline. He sat outside in the yard and watched football.He sat in the gym and watched Captain teaching Ollie moves. He satby the pool table and listened to the clink of the balls knockingtogether.

When roll call arrived, Rory felt exhausted.He trudged after Captain and peeked a look inside his cell. Singlebed kept military tidy. He had boots at the end of the bed, theones he’d come in with, but he never wore them in the wing, he worehis prison grade sneakers.

“Come on.”

He startled at Sebastian’svoice, thencontinued along the walkway to the last cell. He waited onthe bunk bed while Sebastian got ready for bed. “Your ballsshriveled up again?”

“There’s not enough roomfor both of us.”

“There’s plenty of room. Why are you scaredof me?” He gestured to his naked self and Rory lookedaway.

“I’m not.”

Sebastian squinted. “Is it because I’ma killer?”

“I’m sure there’s plenty ofkillers in here.”

Sebastian hummed. “There’s afew. Pauly, he’sa killer. Killed two men, and Teddy…”

Rory widened his eyes. “What didTeddydo?”

Sebastian held up his hand, hiskilling hand, and spread out his fingers. “Five.”

“Five?”

“Yeah,and one of those five was a fellowinmate.”

“Jesus…”

“He’s the most dangerous man inhere, on paper at least. Then there’s the newest inmate, baby-facedOllie. I heard a rumor he’s in for murder, too, stabbed someonetwenty times...”

“You know nothing about him.”Rory defended.

“He still killed someone.My point is, you’renot scared of him or Teddy, but you are of me, especially whenwe’re alone. You’re all … jumpy.”

“Excuse my jumpiness, I wasstabbed a few weeks ago.”

Sebastian laughed.“Who wasit?”

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