Categories
The air in Joy Masterton’s office felt close and still, thick with the faint smell of coffee and old paper, the kind of quiet that only ever settled in administrative rooms away from the noise of the wings. It was the day after Janine Nebeski had been allowed out to bury her mother — and already in trouble, sitting stiff and upright in the deep, padded leather armchair facing the desk, shoulders hunched tight, hands clasped so hard in her lap her knuckles were white.
Lou sat sprawled out across the small leather sofa pushed against the far wall, legs stretched right out, boots propped up high along the cushions, one arm thrown over the backrest and her head lolling comfortably against it like she had not a care in the world — though her sharp eyes missed nothing.
“It is quite straightforward,” Joy told them firmly, her tone calm but unyielding. “Controlled substances found concealed in the heel of the shoes she wore to leave the prison and return. This is a serious breach, and I have made it clear I intend to press full charges. We cannot have contraband brought in this way — it undermines every rule we have.”
Lou shifted slightly, but didn’t bother to sit up properly, just tilted her head forward so she could be heard clearly. “Oh come on — this is absolute bollocks, and we all know it. She’s only just lost her mum! She’s been through hell these past few days, she’s upset and confused — she doesn’t need extra time added onto her sentence. She doesn’t need punishment, she needs rehab, she needs support — someone to actually help her instead of just throwing the book at her.”
Joy glanced over at her, sharp and warning. “Lou, I understand you want to be compassionate, but rules exist for a reason. If we make allowances every time an inmate has a difficult moment, there will be no order left here at all. The evidence is undeniable — the drugs were in her property, brought back by her.”
Janine spoke up then, her voice thin and tight, eyes fixed hard on the floor, terrified to meet anyone’s gaze. “But I didn’t put ’em there! I swear — I don’t deal drugs, I don’t even use ’em! I’ve never touched anything like that in my life, honest!”
Lou finally sat up a little, leaning forward, her tone softening, low and steady so only Janine would feel the weight of her care. “Alright, I believe you. I’m listening. But you knew they were there, didn’t you? You knew something was off with those shoes from the start — I can see it on your face. You didn’t just pick them up by accident, did you? You swapped them — at the funeral, wasn’t it? Someone gave them to you, told you to wear ’em and bring ’em back.”
Janine flinched visibly, her breath catching in her throat. Her mind raced back to the graveyard — standing cold and shaky in the rain, when Natalie Buxton had stepped up beside her, calm and sharp as a knife, holding out the pair of black wedge heeled shoes. “Yours are falling apart, aren’t they? Put these on — much nicer, proper for your mum’s send-off. And don’t you dare take ’em off till you get the signal to swap them then bring back inside… or you’ll be sorry. You bring whatever’s in ’em back here, keep your mouth shut, and you’ll be fine. If you say a word to anyone… well, you know what happens to people who cross me, don’t you?”
She’d known straight away something was hidden inside. She’d felt the hard little bump through the thick sole, felt her stomach drop right through the floor — but Natalie had been watching her the whole time, eyes cold and promising pain if she refused. And now here she was, about to carry the blame for something she’d never wanted, never asked for, and had been terrified to refuse.
Lou waited, watching her closely. “So — someone made you take them, didn’t they? Someone forced you or threatened you? You need to tell us who it was, Janine. If you’re being used, we can sort it — but only if you speak up now.”
Janine hesitated, her mouth opening and shutting again, heart hammering so hard she thought they might all hear it. She wanted to say it — wanted to scream Natalie Buxton’s name out loud, tell them exactly what she’d done, how she’d threatened her, how she’d held her whole life over her head — but the fear was too big, too heavy, pressing down on her chest. She knew exactly what Natalie was capable of; knew what would happen the second she stepped back onto the wing if she breathed a single word. So she just shook her head fast, eyes wide and desperate.
“No. No — nobody gave me nothing. Nobody said nothing. It was… I don’t know. Must’ve been a mistake. I didn’t know anything about it.”
Joy sighed heavily, closing the file in front of her. “A mistake does not hide drugs inside shoe heels, Nebeski. This is not helping your case.”
The meeting wound on for some time longer — statements taken, details confirmed, arguments going back and forth — until finally the officers stood to leave, promising to proceed with the report. As soon as the door had clicked shut behind them, Joy turned to Lou.
“You’re wasting your energy. She is hiding something — I can see it, you can see it — but until she’s willing to tell the truth, there is nothing more we can do.”
Lou just nodded, already standing up and jerking her head towards the door for Janine to follow. “C’mon — I’m taking you back to the wing.”
They walked out into the long, echoing corridors, past locked gates and barred windows, the distant noise of the prison growing louder the further they went. Janine stayed close beside her, head down, hands still twisting together nervously, and before they even reached the turn leading to G-Wing she started pleading, voice trembling and low.
“Lou — please… don’t take me back there yet. Put me on the block, yeah? Stick me in segregation, lock me away somewhere quiet — anywhere but the main wing. Please, I’m beggin’ you — just keep me away from everyone else for a bit.”
Lou sighed, shaking her head as they stepped through the final gate and onto the landing. She stopped, turned to face Janine, and signed sharply with her hands, expression equal parts exasperation and concern:
“You are an absolute pain in the arse, Nebeski! Do you have any idea how much I’m sticking me neck out for you? I’ve argued with Joy, I’ve told them you’re not a dealer, I’ve fought to make them see you’re not some criminal mastermind — and you won’t even tell me the truth! I’m doing everything I can to help you, and you’re making it ten times harder!”
She lowered her hands, leaning in close so only Janine could hear, her voice earnest and firm. “Now listen to me, and listen good. You go and sign up for the rehab programme — right now, today. And you get yourself back into education classes. It doesn’t matter if you think you need it or not — it shows you’re making an effort, shows you want to do better. And I’ll keep pushing the Governor, I’ll keep fighting to get these charges dropped, I’ll keep telling everyone you’re just a kid who’s been caught up in something you shouldn’t have been. But you have to play along, alright? You’ve got to give me something to work with.”
But Janine was already shaking her head again, eyes wet and bright with unshed tears, fear still coiled tight in every muscle. “But I keep tellin’ you — I don’t use drugs! I don’t do none of that stuff! They weren’t mine, they weren’t for me — I never wanted any of this!”
Lou’s expression softened, but she pressed on gently, trying one last time to reach her. “Then what do you mean, Janine? If they weren’t yours and you didn’t want ’em — who were they from? Who made you bring ’em in? Who’s got you this scared, eh? You can tell me — I’ll keep you safe, I promise. Nobody’s going to hurt you if you just speak up.”
Again that familiar hesitation — that long, terrible pause where Janine’s whole body tensed up, where for one heartbeat it looked like she might finally break and say the name burning on the tip of her tongue. She thought of Natalie, sharp and cold, watching from shadows, her threats ringing in her ears: Tell anyone… and you’ll regret every second you were ever born.
She swallowed hard, shook her head firmly, and stepped back, arms wrapping tight around herself as if she was trying to hold herself together.
“No. Nobody. There’s no one. It’s nothing — I just… I don’t know.”
Lou let out a long, heavy sigh, running a hand over her face in frustration, though her voice stayed kind and steady when she spoke again.
“Alright. Alright. Have it your way for now. But you do as I said — sign up for rehab, get back into lessons. Do it, yeah? I’m trying to help you, even if you won’t let me know exactly what I’m fighting against. Just… please, don’t make me regret sticking me neck out for you.”