Page 24 of I Will Find You

And of course, there are men who openly masturbate with far more lusty pride than discretion.

But this sound, the one that makes me cock my head, is different. It is not coming from another cell or the guard booth or anything involving the general population blocks. It is coming from the door to my cell.

“Hello?”

A flashlight lands on my face, momentarily blinding me. I don’t like that. I don’t like that at all. I block it with a cupped hand and squint.

“Hello.”

“Stay still, Burroughs.”

“Curly?”

“I said stay still.”

I don’t know what’s going on, so I do as he asks. We don’t have traditional locks and keys in Briggs. My cell door works off what’s called a “slam lock,” an electromechanical system that automatically deadlocks. It is all controlled by levers in the guardroom. The doors only work on keys as a backup.

Which Curly was using now.

I have never seen the key used before.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“I’m taking you to the infirmary.”

“No need,” I say. “I feel fine.”

“Not your call,” Curly says in a near whisper.

“Whose call it is?”

“Ross Sumner has filled out an official complaint.”

“So?”

“So the doctor needs to catalogue your injuries.”

“Now?”

“Why, you busy?”

His words are typically sarcastic, but his voice is tight.

“It’s late,” I say.

“You’ll get your beauty sleep later. Get your ass up.”

Not sure what else to do, I stand. “You mind taking the light out of my eyes?”

“Just move.”

“Why are you whispering?”

“You and Sumner got this place riled up. You think I want to do that again?”

That makes sense, I guess, but again the words ring hollow. Still, what choice do I have? I have to go. I don’t like it, but really, what’s the big deal? I’ll go. I’ll see the doctor. Maybe I’ll smirk at Sumner lying in the bed.

We leave our block and start down the corridor. Distant shouts from the general population bounce off the concrete walls like rubber balls. The lights are dimmed. My footwear is prison-issue canvas slip-ons, but Curly’s shoes are black and echo off the floor. He slows his step. I do the same.

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