As soon as he was out, she asked Seth to make sure he had a shower, got new clothes and was given breakfast before he joined the others. Before they exited the room, she asked him a question. “Mr. Winchester. Why didn’t you kill them yesterday?”
“Was I meant to?”
She studied him. “It’s occurred before and from what I can tell you have a history of violence.”
“Not everything you read is true.”
She squinted. “But you had the upper hand.”
“Did I?” he replied before being led away. It was as if he wanted her to consider his words. One thing she’d learned from her time in the ER was people would tell you anything to get what they wanted. “On a scale of 1 to 10, what is your pain level?” her staff would ask every new patient. Most said 10 even if it was a 1 in the hope of getting treated faster. Mind games were par for the course and that was a regular hospital.
Jack breathed in the crisp fall air as he stepped into the yard, stuffing his hands into his pockets to keep warm. A cool breeze blew against his cheeks turning them red. A flock of birds squawked before settling in a grove of trees. He ambled among the patients, surveying them and putting names to faces. The same groups clustered together like they did inside the pen or a schoolyard. People stuck with those they knew, those who protected them, those who were like them. On the far side, Tyler Sutton tossed a basketball into a net. A cheer rose from his team. He glanced at Jack and smirked. Edgar hurried over and fell in step. “Hey, I appreciate what you did for me yesterday.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“No, I meant it, Jack. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I was already blacklisted. No point both of us getting a strike, right?”
He shrugged and smiled. “I guess. Thanks.”
As they walked the yard together, Jack asked Edgar about Rocket Man. “You think he knows the way out of here?”
“Who?”
“The pianist.”
“Oh him. If he does, he isn’t telling. When they hauled his ass back in, Chapman grilled him for days. He wanted to know how he did it. They threw him in seclusion for a week thinking it would break him but he just sang Elton John tunes until they couldn’t bear it anymore. They eventually let him out but they keep a close watch on him just in case he tries again.”
“And has he?”
“He’s still here, isn’t he?” Edgar said, laughing as he looked around and spotted him on the far side of the yard twirling around and singing “Tiny Dancer.”
“Well let’s see if he knows,” Jack said heading over there.
“Hey Jack. C’mon man. You want them to throw your ass back in seclusion?”
“I’m already in it,” he said gesturing to the razor wire rolled around the fences. He hadn’t made it halfway across the yard when the basketball came soaring over. It missed both of them by inches. He looked over at Sutton.
“Go get my ball, bitch.”
“Get it yourself,” Edgar replied.
Sutton scowled. “What did you say?”
Jack threw up a hand. “Seriously, you got a death wish?” he muttered to Edgar.
“Oh he’s full of hot air. He wouldn’t dare touch me. I’d jeopardize his whole enterprise.”
Jack collected the ball and tossed it over. “What enterprise?”
“You saw it. I know you saw it.”
“The drugs?”
“Yep.”
Sutton continued. “Hey fuckers. We are two men short. Let’s go.”
“Ignore him.”
“That wasn’t a question!” he bellowed as they walked away. Several people looked over and the crowd before them parted as Sutton narrowed his gaze. Even Rocket Man had stopped spinning to observe. Jenkins and Porter watched from the door with an expression of amusement, and maybe curiosity.
Jack turned and glanced at him. “Maybe another day, I’m busy.”
“Busy?” Sutton laughed. “I hear that’s what they told Dana when she asked for help.”
Jack stopped walking and spun around. “What did you say?”
Sutton smirked and tossed the ball at Jack. He caught it and bounced it a few times before making his way over.
“Yeah, that’s it. Come on!” He taunted Jack, beckoning him to come at him, but instead he bounced the ball a few more times and then tossed it back.
“You want to play. Let’s play.”
The two teams prepared as the rest of the yard looked on with eager interest.
The ball was thrown, and Jack surged forward looking for his opening, and enough cover to strike. He knew Sutton was baiting him into a fight. Edgar was right, it would only land him back in seclusion, but if he got in a few jabs while dribbling or going for the ball when Sutton had it, maybe, just maybe he could unleash some of his pent-up anger and get away with it.
Bodies moved fast, darting from left to right, through the middle, covering as much ground as possible. The ball echoed as it bounced on the asphalt. Men shouted as it was tossed from one person to the next. Sutton grabbed it and Jack piled into him, knocking him to the ground, then firing an elbow to his face, cutting his lip as he got up. Jack smiled and Sutton spat blood and cursed.
The game continued, all the while Jack kept an eye on the psych techs who kept moving to see what was going on, but it was hard to see with so many creating a perimeter around the game, and players moving constantly.
Sutton was quick to snap back by lunging at Jack as he took a shot and knocking him face first into the ground. He kicked him in the ribs then spat on him before laughing and jogging off. Jack crawled to his feet and coughed hard. The game continued on around him and he quickly joined in. This time both of them observed one another and instead of going for him directly, Jack shoved one of Sutton’s players into him as he tried to dribble the ball to the far end
