Page 73 of Consequences

“Because the warden’s up his. Literally.”

Eyebrows raised, he juts out his chin. “Come again?”

The warden, a man named Scott Bishop, is married with three children. But now that Tony says it, there are a few things that start to make sense. A lot of sense. It could very easily be what Ramsey has on the man to keep him in his pocket.

“Yeah, Bill’s getting rammed by the married warden. Mrs. Bishop has no idea, and the only reason I’m not fired or dead is because I have proof of it. Bill can’t touch me, and the warden knows that if anything happens to me, the video goes public. He’d be ruined.”

“Might be the same thing Ramsey’s using against him.”

It’s Tony’s turn to look shocked. “That’s who you pissed off? No wonder you’re fucked. No, I don’t think that’s exactly what it is. Might be one of many things, actually, but our wonderful man in charge is notoriously corrupt. There are probably hundreds of things to use against him.”

“I can make that happen if you help me, and we get out. I gotta ask, though… Why’s Beckett locked up down here so much?”

He just laughs. “Because they’re trying to break Cohen. He’s resilient. Might be the worst thing for him in the long run because it forces them to get creative. But I gotta hand it to him… He’s a hell of a lot tougher than he looks.”

“I’m sorry, did you miss where he took out all five guys who attacked us?”

“I may or may not have left his military background out of the dossier I made for the two of you. Had I realized it was Ramsey who’s so pissed at you, I would’ve left your hacking skills out of yours. Given you half a chance.”

It’s like making a deal with the devil, but at least it’s more like a devil he knows. If this is a trap, what’s the worst that can happen? He’s already going to die in here if he doesn’t get out. If Tony doesn’t help him, he’s just still in the same spot.

But what if he really is trying to help? He seems normal. Hard but normal. Hell, he let me talk to Summer to know she’s pregnant. He wasn’t supposed to let me call her.

“I’ll get what I need written out,” Brock decides with a nod.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes to collect the tray from your delicious looking dinner.”

“Be lucky you don’t have to eat the same slop as we do.”

The door shuts behind Tony, and Brock gets to writing. He begins with a list of what he needs, including his laptop and a message to Sebastian. In order to make his plan work, he needs his father-in-law involved. It won’t work without him.

This has to be done quickly, but if it’s too quick, he’ll get suspicious. I’ll have to take my chances. Who knows how long Shannon can survive on her own otherwise.

Tony returns as Brock forces himself to eat half of the now-cold mystery meal. “Got hungry enough to eat?”

“It’s amazing what you can eat when you’re hungry enough, but I still couldn’t finish it.”

Reaching out for the notepad and pencil, he looks confused as Brock pulls it back and holds it against his chest. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m trusting you,” Brock says.

“And I’m trusting you.”

“If you double cross me, I’ll take you out before the warden or Bill has a chance to carry out their plan for me.”

He smirks. “I got it. Here’s where I stand, Bradshaw. I’ll take a standup crook over a corrupt leader of the law any day. Cop, judge, warden… We have to toe the line—sometimes blurring it—but we’re not supposed to cross it. Not like this.”

“What do you consider blurring it to be? Because you did kind of just ask me to take out two guys for you.”

“Killing bad people who pretend to be the good guys is justifiable in my book. I don’t give a shit that they’re fucking. Whatever makes them happy, but they abuse their power. And I’ll be the first to admit I don’t always stop someone killing a rapist, especially when their victims are vulnerable individuals.”

Kill the worst of the worst. Not a bad mentality for someone in charge.

“You ever fancy yourself the warden?” Brock asks. “Sounds like you’re already preparing for it.”

“Got beat out thanks to Ramsey. He doesn’t own me, but my dad was in charge here once upon a time. Should’ve been me, but Ramsey has shit on the men making the decisions.”

Maybe they’ll get Tony in the position of power if this all goes according to plan. He hands him the notepad, which is placed under the tray, and Tony leaves Brock alone.

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