“Pretty exciting,” I said as I stood and walked behind the desk where Anna was seated and leaned against the wall. There were only two seats in front of her desk, so Fortner assumed that I was giving the seats to them. I was actually trying to put some distance and a rather large desk between myself and Skipper.
“You need to sit down more than I do, Chaplain,” Fortner said. Skipper remained silent. He still had his shades on, his eyes hidden.
“I’d rather stand right now. I still have large amounts of adrenaline pumping through my veins.”
“I know what you mean, son,” Skipper said and smiled broadly. His teeth were white with only the slightest tobacco stains.
I did not return the smile.
“Miss Anna, how are you today?” Fortner asked.
“I’ve been better,” she said curtly.
“Her boyfriend just got beat up and nearly killed, Pete. How else would she be doing today?” Skipper said and smiled again.
I could only see Anna’s profile, but I could tell that she was giving the severest of looks to Skipper. Fortner grew awkward and uncomfortable.
“I’ve already taken Captain Skipper’s statement. Why don’t I read it to you and see if there’s anything you have to add, okay?” Fortner asked.
“Sure,” I said.
“Okay, let’s see.” he opened a file folder on his lap and flipped through a few pages.
As he continued his search, Skipper began tapping his ring on the wooden arm of his chair. It was a big class ring, high school no doubt.
“Here it is,” Fortner exclaimed. “Do you want to read it or do you want me to?”
“You can,” I said.
“Okay. At approximately twelve thirty P.M. Captain Matthew Skipper walked into the west end of confinement corridor B and saw seven inmates surrounding Chaplain Jordan. He then reached for his radio to call the control room and found that it was dead. He ran towards the group, jumping in the center with Chaplain Jordan. Together, they kept the inmates at bay for as long as possible. The inmates then attacked. The captain used defensive tactics to defend himself, and the chaplain used his head. The captain landed a couple of good blows against one of the inmates, but it seemed as if the inmates were going to overtake y’all, until the other officer showed up. He radioed control, and the inmates dispersed. The riot team responded within five, minutes and the situation was squashed quickly. The inmates were locked up, the captain gave me his report, and the chaplain was taken to medical.” Fortner looked up. “Do you have anything to add, Chaplain?”
“No,” I said and then went back to biting my tongue.
“Do you know any reason why these inmates would want to hurt you?”
“I tell you, Pete, I really can’t think of anything right now. I’m still sort of out of it. Why don’t I stop by your office tomorrow,” I said.
“Yeah, Pete, the boy’s been through enough today. Give him a break. Come on, let’s go,” Skipper said.
“That arrogant son of a bitch,” Anna said when they had gone. “Did you see how cocky he was? He sat in here knowing you wouldn’t turn him in. Why?”
“He probably thinks I’m scared.”
“I know better than that.”
“He doesn’t. He’s been dealing with inmates and inmate families too long. In those dealings, he’s had all the power. They are powerless in most situations. He’s operated not just above the law, but as the law. It’s made him like that, but it will be his downfall. Pride comes before a fall. Believe me, I know.”
“Why didn’t you say anything to the inspector?” she asked.
“It’s just not time. He’s coming down, God will see to that, but I don’t have enough evidence yet. And you know how easily evidence can cut both ways. If I’ve learned anything in my few years on the planet, it’s not to jump the gun.”
“Still, not to say anything could work against you, too, couldn’t it? I mean, if you agree with Skipper at first and then change your mind later, won’t that look suspect?”
“I didn’t agree with him. I just didn’t add anything. I told him I would talk to him tomorrow. I want the night to figure out what to do. But, you’re right. All of this is like playing with fire, and that’s true of most investigations. The trick is to get as few burns as possible, because rarely do you not get burned at all.”
“Just be careful. You’re not the man you used to be. You’ve become a lamb, and you are definitely among wolves now.”
“Well, I’m trying to become a lamb. But this wolf’s apparent strength is actually weakness.”
“And your apparent weakness actually strength?” she asked.
“If the Gospel is to be believed.”
“And it is,” she said.
“You think so?’ I asked.
“You think so,” she said, “and that, more than most things, makes me think so.”
I was caught off guard. For a moment, I was speechless. I felt tears stinging the corners of my eyes. “Thank you. That means more to me than anything. I want to do that for people, you know, point them in that direction, but I fear I fail most of the time.”
“Believe me,” she said, sounding slightly irate, “those fears are unfounded. You make a big difference around this place.”
I didn’t respond.
“It’s true,” she said.
At that moment, there was a faint knock on the door. I walked over and opened it and Sandy Strickland walked in. She looked as if she were having a hard day. Her pale-blue nurse’s uniform resembled surgical scrubs. Her hair was done up in a topknot, and her face was hard and wrinkled. Small lines cut through her makeup like tunnels in an ant farm. She was still beautiful, if no longer very attractive.
“I didn’t test Thomas,” Strickland said when I was seated.
“Why not?” I asked in surprise. I had asked her to test Anthony Thomas for drug use.
“I didn’t have to. I know that Captain Skipper has him on all kinds of drugs,” she said. Her voice quivered slightly.
“You two don’t look very surprised,” she said.
“We’re not,” Anna said.
“He’s been doing all kinds of shit at night when no one’s around to see. He uses inmates to do his dirty business. He’s a sick prick, and I want him stopped.”
“Why are you just now coming forward?” I asked.
“And why to us?” Anna added.
“I’ve been scared, okay. He’s got a lot of people working for him and some inmates who will do whatever he says. They’d kill for him.”
“Believe me, I know,” I said.
“That was just a taste of his brutality. You’ve never met anyone like him. He’d kill me if he knew I were here. I need some help.”
“And why me?” I asked.
“Listen, a lot of people know you’re looking into that murder, and when you found out about Tony, I knew you were on to something. I want to help you so you can put him out of commission. I can’t do it. I’m not strong enough, but you are. And you have the inspector’s help. What are you going to do?”
“I was just asking myself the same question,” I said. “Why don’t you tell us what Skipper’s been doing, and we can go from there.”
“What he’s been doing is whatever in the hell he wants. He’s got free reign over this place at night. He treats people like animals and inmates worse. He uses drugs and favors to get them to do whatever he wants. But he doesn’t have to use too much because they’re so powerless and defenseless anyway. They’re human,” she said with conviction.
“I agree,” I said.
“I agree that
