Page 14 of Rat

“No, and I’m not going to swear I’ll never do it again either, but keep that to yourself. I don’t want to be kept here any longer than I already have been.”

Rory had heard Sebastian’s and Lester’s last conversation, and Sebastian wasn’t lying. He’d given Lester plenty of chances to admit what he’d been doing, admit he was a rat, but he hadn’t. The recording software on Lester was sensitive enough to pick up his splutters and chokes as Sebastian killed him.

“Anyway, that’s all in the past now. I’ve almost served my time, less than nine months to go, and then it’s goodbye to this cell, those gates, them officers.” He smacked his closed fist into the wall. “I’ll be free.”

“What will you do when you get out?”

“I’ll drink, I’ll fuck, I’ll work out, all things I do in here, but they’ll be sweeter on the outside, and then… then…”

“Then what?”

Sebastian tipped his head back, wrapped his arms around his stomach, and smirked. He didn’t share whatever he found so amusing. Rory pulled his sheet closer, clutching the fabric.

Sebastian’s delight tapered off, and he stayed staring at the ceiling. His arms fell away, and he rocked back a step, then fixed Rory with a cold stare.

Rory shivered, despite the cell being too hot, and clutched the blanket up to his chin.

Thatlook, whatever it was, meant trouble.

“I’ll celebrate my release with a big. Fucking. Bang.”

“Out of everything so far, this has been the best.”

Rory shot a sceptical look at Ollie, then glanced down at his tray. Vegetables, gravy, rice, what he assumed was chicken, and two cookies. They’d been there six days, and the food had been bland for every one of them. “If you say so.”

Captain sat opposite, flexing his fingers. There were bruises on his knuckles, and the skin had split.

“How did that happen?” Rory asked.

“When I was having a dream, I turned over and punched the wall.”

“The wall owned you.” Ollie snorted, admiring Captain’s bloodied knuckles.

Despite the tiredness in his eyes and his slumped stance, Captain managed to laugh.

“Benjamin Tracy?”

Captain looked up at the officer hurrying over to them. “That’s me.”

“Come with me.”

Captain sighed and got to his feet. His hand hung at his side, and several pairs of eyes snapped to it, analysing the damage. “I’ll see you guys later.”

Captain no longer blocked the sight of Pauly and his table of friends. He perked up, waited until Captain had passed through the gate, then got to his feet.

“Sweetheart, now your bodyguard’s gone, we can finally have a chat.”

Pauly strode over, then sat down on Captain’s seat and reached across the table. Rory quickly pulled his hand away and went to stand, but two hands pressed down on his shoulders,keeping him in place. Rory tensed and glanced at the inmate hovering over him, holding him down. When the inmate smiled, he displayed his missing teeth and shiny red gums. His eyes gleamed.

Pauly gestured to Ollie. “You. Blondie. Take a walk.”

“But—”

“No buts, get up and leave.”

“It’s all right,” Rory whispered. “Go.”

Ollie stood up, grabbed his tray, and moved to the opposite end of the wing. He darted concerned glances back, and Pauly stuck out his bottom lip, pretending to blubber.

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