Chapter Four #2
Bryn scowled his way through the prison security checks.
The place was claustrophobic and brought back memories he’d rather have avoided.
The interview room was gray and windowless.
There was no two-way viewing facility like at the FBI and the whole place had an air of neglect.
The overpowering smell was of disinfectant.
“This place could use an interior designer.” Bryn slumped in an uncomfortable metal chair on one side of a table, which was bolted to the floor. “Maybe a rug. Some artwork.”
“It’s okay to be nervous.” Gunnar seemed relaxed but a slight tension around the eyes betrayed him.
“I’m not. The sooner we get started the sooner you take me shopping for Twinkies.”
Gunnar shook his head. “Where’s our customer?”
Bryn stripped off his gloves and removed his shades. He handed both to Gunnar. “May as well give him the freaky eyes from the start.”
“Next time you call yourself a freak, I’m gonna put you over my…” Gunnar clamped his mouth shut as the door opened.
“Yeah, hold that thought.”
The inmate that came into the room escorted by a corrections officer was dressed in prison garb. The exposed parts of his arms were covered with tattoos. His hair was shaved close to his skull and there was some faded bruising around one eye. He was even bigger than Gunnar.
Gunnar sniffed. “Wolf.”
Bryn eyed the man who took the chair opposite him. “You have counsel, Mr. Scott?”
“Nah. What the fuck are you, pretty boy?”
“Your way outta here if you’re telling the truth, so be nice.” Bryn folded his arms across his chest. “Why hasn’t he been told what’s happening?”
The CO leaned in. “We’re short-staffed. His brief couldn’t get here but the superintendent is joining us.”
Gunnar grunted. “Fine. While we’re waiting then, Mr. Scott, Bryn is an augur. Your conviction is being questioned because the arresting officer was corrupt…”
“That fucker should be in here, not me.”
“That’s what we’re here to determine. Do you know what an augur can do?”
“How the fuck should I know?”
“He’ll know whether or not you’re telling the truth.”
“You’re shitting me?”
“I shit you not.” Gunnar scowled. “You willing to go through with it?”
“Too fucking right I am. You really mean it?” Scott’s tone got softer.
“He’s a wolf. He isn’t going to lie to you,” Bryn said.
It was a few more minutes before they were joined by the superintendent, who seemed harried to the point of an impending nervous breakdown. When he spoke, his accent was all Georgia peaches and cream.
“Gentlemen, I apologize for keeping you waiting. Shall we get this show on the road?”
“I need skin-to-skin contact, Mr. Scott.” Bryn held out his hand. Scott grabbed it, the strength of his grip making Bryn wince.
“Ease off, Dwayne,” Gunnar said. “He doesn’t need broken fingers.”
Bryn gave him a grateful glance and shifted his grip to Dwayne’s wrist before closing his eyes for focus. He gave the briefest of nods.
“Dwayne Scott, on September fifteenth, five years ago, were you in the vicinity of the 7-Eleven on Berkeley?” Gunnar asked.
“Yeah, I was. Had to pick up some meds from the late-night pharmacy.”
“Truth,” Bryn confirmed.
“Did you enter the 7-Eleven with the intention of robbing the store?”
“No. Didn’t go in there.”
“Truth.”
“Were you armed that night?”
“No.”
“Truth.”
“Have you ever knowingly committed a crime?” Gunnar asked.
“Shit, man…I maybe smoked some weed a few years back.”
“Truth.”
“You deal?”
“Fuck no. I ain’t into no shit like that.”
“Truth.”
“Okay, Bryn is going to look at your memories now.”
Bryn changed his focus. “Cute kid. He’s holding a baby, saying well done to a woman in the hospital.”
“My boy. He’s almost six now.” Scott’s voice trembled. “I won’t let his momma bring him here. She’s stuck by me, though.”
“Future intent then, Bryn.”
“Hugging his kid. Taking him to the park. Going bowling…”
“Okay, I think we’re done here. Superintendent, you have any more questions you need answered?”
“No. It seems that a grave miscarriage of justice has occurred. I’ll expedite Mr. Scott’s release as soon as possible.”
“That’s it?” Dwayne Scott gaped. Bryn let go of his arm and massaged his temples.
“That’s it. There’s no disputing the word of a certified augur,” Gunnar said. He handed Bryn his gloves and glasses. “Good luck, Dwayne.”
“Thanks, man. When I’m out, you ever need anything, you come find me.”
“Have a great life.” Gunnar squeezed Bryn’s shoulder. “How you doing?”
“Not too bad. Feels like we did something good.” He pushed his chair back. The CO left with Scott but the superintendent closed the door behind them.
“This is not an authorized request, but I’d like to ask you guys a favor.”
Gunnar frowned but Bryn shrugged. “Go ahead.”
“The reason we’re having staffing problems today…bordering on a riot situation…is an accusation from an inmate about one of the corrections officers.”
“What’s the accusation?” Gunnar asked.
“Rape. Inmate says the officer assaulted him in his cell. There are no witnesses so it’s his word against the CO’s.”
“What does the CO say?”
“That it’s a pile of horseshit. One more scumbag trying to get him in trouble.”
“You disagree?”
“I know better than to take one side or the other without evidence, but the unrest is about to blow up. Bryn here could throw ice water on the fire.”
“This ain’t like shelling peas. It takes a lot out of him,” Gunnar said.
“Hey…we’re already here.” Bryn tilted his head from side to side, wincing at the cracking sounds. “How do you want to do this?”
“My office. Simpler to question the officer than the inmate. He’s an employee so he doesn’t get to say no. Inmate could refuse unless his lawyer was present.”
“You sure about this, Bryn? I don’t want your head to explode or anything.” Gunnar wrinkled his nose. “Warden would end me himself.”
“My brain is not going to explode.” Don’t think I’ll be driving anywhere later, but what the heck. “I think we should do it.”
“Okay.” Gunnar didn’t look happy.
Fuck, he’s sexy when he gets all growly.
Stop thinking like that, idiot. He’s your work partner, nothing more.
Bryn trailed after the superintendent and Gunnar, making a conscious effort not to wince at every clanging door or loud noise.
The superintendent’s office proved to be a quiet sanctuary.
It was utilitarian and as gray as everywhere else in the prison but had to have some kind of sound proofing to deaden the noise from outside.
After the super made a quick call on an old-fashioned desk phone, they waited.
Gunnar paced and Bryn lounged on a windowsill.
The bars didn’t enhance the view but at least the window was high enough that the sky was visible above the prison walls.
“When Officer Phelps arrives, I’ll ask him straight out if the rape allegations are true,” the superintendent said. “We’ll get this over with quickly.”
“Will he be carrying?” Gunnar asked. “Because he won’t react well if he’s lying.”
“No. Basic officers inside the penitentiary don’t carry firearms. He carries pepper spray.
He is qualified to carry firearms so has the magazine pouches and holster rigs on his duty belt, but they are only issued a holster and weapon for transports outside the pen or for specific posts on areas like the perimeter or lobby. ”
Gunnar grunted. “Wonderful. Bryn, you watch yourself.”
“Isn’t that your job?” Bryn briefly lifted his glasses and batted his lashes at his partner, knowing it would annoy the hell out of him.
“Try to remember which one of us is in charge.”
“Exactly.”
“I don’t get paid nearly enough for this gig,” Gunnar grumbled. He went to stand by the door.
Bryn took his gloves off and tucked them into his waistband. He kept his glasses on. The superintendent took a seat behind his desk but stood when Officer Phelps arrived. Bryn took an instant dislike to the officer, who oozed arrogance. He had a paunch, pallid skin and cruel eyes.
“Officer Phelps, you’re aware we’ve had a complaint against you?” The superintendent didn’t waste any time with preliminaries.
“Wouldn’t be a day with a y in it if there hadn’t been. Cons got nothing better to do than make shit up.”
The super gave a non-committal grunt. “Well, we are fortunate to be able to clear this up quickly. I’d like to introduce you to Bryn Ashton. He’s an augur.”
Phelps’ face reddened. “The fuck he is.”
“He was here helping with another case but kindly offered to stay so that we could remove all doubt about your situation as quickly as possible. This isn’t an accusation you need hanging over you.”
Bryn took off his glasses and grinned at Phelps’ wince. On this occasion, he was happy his eyes made someone uncomfortable. “Give me your hand.” He held out his own.
“Why?”
“I need skin-to-skin contact for this to work.” Bryn held down a shudder when Phelps took his hand. His palm was sweaty and he gripped too hard for comfort, but Bryn had been trained not to show any emotion. He pressed his thumb to the underside of Phelps’ wrist. “I’m ready.”
“Did you assault prisoner Da Costa? You only need answer yes or no.”
“No.” Phelps’ word was accompanied by a spray of spittle.
“Lie.” Bryn locked on to Phelps’ memory.
“He’s done it before too.” He yanked his hand away but Phelps grabbed him and got an arm around Bryn’s throat.
He pulled a knife, but Gunnar was far too quick for him.
He dragged Bryn away and disarmed Phelps in one swift movement.
He had Phelps on the floor with a knee in his back seconds later.
“Where the fuck did this lowlife get a knife?”
Bryn backed away. He really wanted to wash his hands. The super was white-faced and already making a call for backup, which arrived seconds later. Two uniformed men crashed through the office door, guns raised.
“What did you see, Bryn?” Gunnar asked.
“He was raping a man. Ginger hair, freckles, looked young. He was enjoying it. The power as much as the act. He called him Jimmy, so I knew it was someone different from the accuser.”
“Jimmy Allen, killed himself in his cell. Get this garbage out of my office,” the superintendent snapped. “Read him his rights then put him in a holding cell. Maybe he’ll get lucky and be sent back here in a different colored uniform. That would be justice.”
Gunnar dragged Phelps to his feet then pushed him at the armed officers. “He’s all yours.”
“Nicely done, Detective.”
“He was predictable and dumb as a rock.” Gunnar put the knife on the super’s desk.
“And evil,” Bryn contributed. “It wouldn’t surprise me if you get a lot more inmates coming forward after this. I’d guess he’s been abusing his position for a long time.”
“It’s sickening. The COs wear body cams but it’s too easy to obscure the footage or claim the camera isn’t working.
I can only thank you for helping, but I’ll be sending a report to your superiors.
This has been invaluable and I hope we can work together again, particularly if it means freeing more people who’ve suffered injustices. ”
Gunnar shook the super’s hand but Bryn just nodded as he put his dark glasses on. He couldn’t wait to leave the cloying prison atmosphere and breathe fresh air.