Page 63 of Birdy

Us.

“Oh, Bala, did you happen to take a look at this?” Mack’s voice erupts behind me as I’m putting all my shit into my locker.

There’s a few of us in here, but I’ve not said much other than “Good morning.”

I spare him a look over my shoulder and drop my gaze to the paper he’s holding out to me. My eyes quickly scan its contents, and the further I read, the more intrigued I become, the proverbial lightbulb flickering at the possibility. One of the third-shift dudes, Zhao, needs someone to cover him for a week. He’s going on vacation to visit family in China and promises he’ll cover a different week when he returns. The catch is he originally had coverage from one of the D Block guards, Ryker I think his name is, but he just got suspended while they investigate him—something about sexual misconduct—so now Zhao is SOL.

Hmmm—this could work. Aside from the time, third shift is easy.

It’s quiet.

And it’s dark.

See where I’m going with this?

“I might be able to swing this,” I tell Mack.I need to talk to Benni first.“My parents just moved to the Keys, and they’ve been dying for me to make the drive down for a visit. Let me check the dates with them first, and I’ll let you know.”

Mack claps me on the shoulder, rooting a fist in the air. “You’re the man, Bala. Thank you.”

My eyeswantto narrow, but I keep my poker face on tight. “No problem.”

As soon as Mack’s out of the room, Delfino blows out a whistle. “Speaking of Zhao, did you guys hear about Ryker?”

I guess it’s not common knowledge yet. The only reason I know is because Walker and I saw him being escorted to the Warden’s office. Later in the day, Walker filled me in on the details.

Birks and a few of the other guards shakes their heads, prompting Delfino to go into story mode.

I’m not staying.

Shutting my locker, I snap the lock in place and head out in the same direction Mack went, treading the halls that lead to B Block. I think Benni’s off today, which gives me several different times throughout the day to quickly pull her aside and lay out my idea, maybe even steal another kiss to sate the raging need.

I’m about to make that last turn toward B Block when the counselor knocks on his window, stopping me dead in my tracks. Judge motions for my attention with a crook of his finger, prompting me to stick my head through the threshold of his office.

“Everything okay, Judge?”

“Oh yeah, we’re good,” the round man agrees, taking a sip from his “#1 Dad” coffee mug. “You’re mostly in B Block, yeah?”

I nod.

“Excellent. When you get clocked in and all of that good stuff, would you escort Benita Villanueva down here, please? I only just realized as I’m clearing off all this paperwork that I never spoke to her after last weekend’s fiasco.”

I forgot all about that, too. After telling her I’d get her the phone, our little cyclone morphed into an EF5 tornado, tunneling us in this crazy whirlwind of a ride. Now that he’s brought it up, though, the wheels are spinning again. I was curious as to what he needed to see her for then, but I’m all the more curious now. Unless completely necessary, inmates aren’t required to meet with the counselor. Theycanmeet with him if they suffer from anxiety and depression, considering he’s licensed to treat them and recommend prescriptions, but most of the time, you only see them in here if it’s by Judge’s request. Most of the time it’s due to an excess in behavioral issues, or after they’ve been released from the hole. If they’re awaiting trial or there’s a change in their sentence, you’ll see them down here more frequently, too.

So why does he wanna see Benni?

“Yes, sir. I’ll have her down here in about five minutes or so,” I reply, taking my leave as he dismisses me with a tip of his balding head.

When I make it to the cellblock, I let myself in, the buzzer alerting everyone of my incoming presence. I can feel Benni’s stare from one of the tables, but I just keep on for the box. The faster I let Mack know she needs to be somewhere, the faster we can be alone, even if it’s just roaming the halls to Judge’s office.

Mack’s the only one in here, and from the looks of it, he’s actually logging in his paperwork. He drags his gaze my way in acknowledgment and goes on about his business promptly thereafter.

“Judge needs to see Villanueva,” I state, maintaining my place by the door.

“Ah, perfect.” He smiles, clicking through a few screens. Moments later, the printer starts up, shooting out paper after paper. “I need to drop these off to him anyway, so I’ll take her. You can either stay here or post up out there. Your call.”

No.

No, no, no.Iwas supposed to take her. Judge askedme.

---