Prisons

by Rob Edwards

  “Hey, Judith. It looks like you’ve got a big day ahead of you.”

  “Noah does too, thanks to you.”

  “I just called in a few favors. I’m glad it worked out.”

  “You did it for your son, and I thank you for that.” There was silence on the other end of the phone. “Jack, I want you to know that by being a good man, you’ve taught me a big lesson. You’ve taught me that I shouldn’t try to do it all alone. I don’t have to have all the answers, or be the strong one all the time. In fact it’s better for Noah, and even myself, if I’m not. You taught me that. If it weren’t for you, Delton would not be getting out today. So Jack…I want you there.”

  “You what?”

  “If you’re going to be a part of Noah’s life, you need to start by meeting his best friend in the whole world. So meet us at the prison, and start being his dad today.”

  “I…” There was a pause and then a breath. “Thank you, Judith. I would love to be there.”

  “See you in an hour or so?” She asked.

  “See you then.” His line went dead.

  Judith slipped the phone back into her pocket, looked into the mirror and smiled. “You just did a good thing, Judith,” She said to her reflection. “You got this, girl.” Then she could’ve have sworn she heard her father’s voice. “Judith, you know you’re not done.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You have one more phone call to make.”

  Judith shook her head. “Now is not the time.”

  “Now is exactly the time,” Her father said. “You just told Jack that it’s better for everyone to let others be involved. So get out of your own way and make the call.”

  Judith sighed like a ten-year-old school girl and slipped the phone out of her pocket. She hit dial quickly before she lost her nerve. “Hello?” Neil Keating’s sweet voice said on the other end.

  “Hello, Neil?” Judith said, tentatively.

  “It is you,” Neil said. “I was afraid I was being butt-dialed. And that would have been tough to take. So to what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “Delton is getting out today.”

  “He is?” Neil said. “Oh wait, I think I did hear something about that, on every single channel known to man.”

  Judith giggled. She suddenly felt stupid. This is the kind of energy she needed in her life, and she had been keeping it at arm’s length for far too long. Not anymore. “So here’s my question. What do I have to do to get you to hold my hand at the prison when he’s released?”

  “You just did it,” Neil said. “I’ll see you there. I know where you’re parking.” Then the line went dead.

  Judith sat with Noah on the couch watching GINfo, while they waited for Darlene to show up. They had cut back to Brooke who pointed out the governor’s car was arriving. She watched as Governor Anderson got out of the car, towering over the crowd like a modern-day Lincoln, and waved to the cheering masses with his bright smile. Then he went into the front entrance of the prison to meet with Delton Hayes.

  The cameras cut to Judith’s apartment again just as a blue SUV pulled up with big white letters on both sides which read “Hayes-Mobile.” The cameraman walked to the back of the car to see a dozen tin cans on strings dragging behind it with the words “Just Freed!” scrawled across the back window.

  Judith laughed and clicked the TV off. “Come on, Noah. Aunt Darlene’s here.”

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Two armed guards accompanied Delton, hands cuffed, through the prison. He was weary and ragged. He hadn’t been able to get much sleep since he had been flown back to Michigan in the middle of the night, and delivered back to Two Rivers early in the morning.

  Delton paused as a set of barred doors were electronically slid open. He was nudged into an area of the prison he’d never been in before. This area looked more like an office building than a prison. The floors were carpeted, the walls were clean and not sticky, and the doors were made of wood and not metal. He was led into a large conference room, where Taysha Williams, and two white men in business suits sat around a long conference table. The man at the far end stood. “Well, here’s the man behind all the trouble.” He was tall; like six-foot five kind of tall, with graying hair. He stepped forward and held his hand out to Delton. “Governor Mitch Anderson. How are you, Delton?”

  Delton shook it. “You the governor of Michigan?”

  The man smiled down at him. “Yes, I am.”

  “You the one who brought me back here?”

  “I am. I want to have a discussion with you, and perhaps see about getting you out of here.” Governor Anderson pulled out a chair. “Have a seat, and we’ll talk.”

  Delton turned and sat down. It was then he noticed the TV on at the far end of the room near the door he came in. The picture showed a helicopter shot looking down at thousands of people around a building complex. Delton saw his name scroll by at the bottom of the screen. “…-derson has arrived to talk with Delton Hayes.” Delton pointed at the TV. “Where’s that?”

  “That’s right outside this building.” The governor took his seat again at the end of the table. “Your friend, Judith Higgins, has been very busy on your behalf.”

  Delton looked over and saw Taysha. He waved to her with one hand while the other hand hung from the cuff. She smiled back, winked and nodded.

  “I understand you already know Taysha Williams,” The governor said. “I’m not sure if you’ve met Warden Luzynski.”

  “We have not,” The warden said. He stood and reached way across the table to shake Delton’s hand, then sat back down.

  Delton looked back at the TV. There were closer shots of the crowd. He couldn’t believe his eyes were actually seeing signs that read, “Free Delton Hayes,” and “Noah needs Delton.” “So why do you say I’m the troublemaker?” Delton asked.

  “Pardon?” Governor Anderson said.

  “When I walked in here, you said I’m the man behind all the trouble.” Delton looked back at the governor.

  Governor Anderson nodded to the TV. “That. What’s going on outside this building right now.”

  “But didn’t Miss Higgins do all that?” Delton said.

  “Delton, now’s the time to hush,” Taysha said.

  “No, no.” Governor Anderson said, holding up his hand to quiet Taysha. “Delton, she did that on your behalf.”

  “But I didn’t do it,” Delton said. “So I’m not the troublemaker.”

  Governor Anderson’s brows drooped with his head. He was beginning to lose some of his fake swagger. “Miss Higgins did it because you couldn’t keep yourself out of trouble in here. And now I’m dragged into the middle of all this nonsense because of the shit you pulled.”

  Delton put his cuffed hands on the table. “What shit did I pull?”

  Taysha cleared her throat. “Delton, that’s enough.”

  Governor Anderson threw his hands in the air. “A man’s dead.”

  “I didn’t kill him,” Delton said.

  “And yet you were there when he died.” The governor rested his hands on the table. “Right in the middle of trouble again.”

  Delton narrowed his eyes at Governor Anderson. Here was a man who was judging him without even knowing him or caring to. He was just another white man who was writing him off as a menace, without seeking any truth. Which only left Delton with one question. “Why did you bring me back here again?”

  Governor Anderson leaned in. “To pardon your ass. You have a problem with that?”

  “But why would you want to pardon a man you think is a troublemaker?”

  Governor Anderson looked over at Warden Luzynski, who shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

  Taysha dropped her face into her hand, and shook her head.

  Governor Anderson looked back at Delton. “It’s all about the boy. We want to help little Noah Higgins. He’s suffering without his best friend, Delton Hayes.”

  Delton looked back at the TV. The picture cut to a shot of a big bl
ue car pulling up with the words, “Hayes Mobile,” across the side. The text below read, “Judith and Noah Higgins arrive.” All Delton had to do was shut up and he would be free to walk out the door. He could see Noah again, and spend time with his sister once more. He looked back at the governor. “I don’t believe you.”

  “What?” Governor Anderson said. His head snapped back and forth from the warden to Taysha.

  “This isn’t about Noah, or me. This is about you, and how you will look to all of the thousands of people out there and who are watching this thing all over the country. This is about you running for president someday, or some damn thing like that. And I’m not going to be part of that shit.” Delton stood slowly and looked down at the governor. “You see, I’ve had time to think things out. I’m a good man who made some really dumb moves in his life. I done my time for those decisions and then some. I’m capable of doing a lot a good for a lot a people in my lifetime. I know that for a fact. My work on Dr. Fitzpatrick’s project showed me that. And I’ll be honest, I can’t wait to get out of here so I can get my life started. But I can’t do it like this—you letting me out just so you can look good for the world. I’m sorry, but this thing here, right now, has to be about me being good enough, not you trying to get votes for helping out some poor black dude too stupid to help himself. And if you think I’m nothing but a troublemaker, then it looks like I’m not ready to leave yet anyway. You can pardon me when your mind has changed about me.”

  “You pretentious little prick.” Governor Anderson stood and looked down on Delton. He pointed to the TV. “What the hell am I supposed to tell all those thousands of people out there waiting for your ass to walk out the door with me?”

  Delton shrugged. “I don’t give a shit what you tell them. They’re your problem, not mine.” He turned to the guards. “Send me back to Kansas.”

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  They had made it through the mass of people to their parking spot, but there was no getting out of the car. The crowd was too thick and too loud. Judith sat in the back seat next to Noah on the ride in. She couldn’t believe the number of people that had shown up in support of her son and Delton. Cars were parked along the road for the two miles prior to the prison, with license plates from Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois, along with Michigan.

  But the noise was what was concerning her now. Noah had his head buried in his hands and was moaning his discontent.

  “Darlene, this is not good. With all these people and those helicopters, Noah is going to meltdown right here, before Delton even gets out. I don’t want that on the national news.”

  “I got this, Sis. You sit tight.” Darlene unbuckled, opened the door and slipped out of the car as quickly as she could. She squeezed her way through the mass of people to a police officer. “Sir, I’m Darlene, Judith Higgins’ sister and Noah’s aunt. And I need a megaphone.”

  “For what?” The officer asked.

  “I gotta quiet this place, or little Noah’s going to blow a gasket in front of the cameras and everybody.”

  The officer nodded. “I get it. I was here the last time that happened. Give me a minute.”

  “Bring it to the car,” Darlene said. “I’ll meet you there.”

  The officer nodded and headed in the other direction. Darlene turned and worked her way to the TV lights. Brooke was there, facing the camera, microphone in hand, speaking to the thousands of people who were watching live. Darlene moved in as close as she could when an arm reached in front of her and a brute of a man said, “That’s far enough, lady. We’re live right now.”

  Rather than try to explain, she just put her hands to her mouth and screamed. “Hey, Brooke. I’m Judith Higgins’ sister.” Then she waved her arms over her head.

  “Stop that,” the brute said. But Brooke looked over, then pointed in her direction. The cameraman panned the camera as she walked over to Darlene. “…going to talk with Judith Higgins’ sister who has just showed up.” Brooke tapped the brute on the shoulder and he let Darlene pass. Brooke spoke in the mic. “So Judith and Noah are in the car?” She held the microphone out to Darlene. “Yes, that’s what I need to talk to you about.”

  “Oh, what do you need to say?” Brooke asked.

  “The copters above are freaking out Noah,” Darlene said. “I know they’re getting good shots and all, but they have to leave or he’s going to get ugly. Can you make that happen?”

  Brooke looked up to the camera, like a deer in headlights. “Ahhh….,” She put her hand on her ear for a moment, then she nodded. “Yes. We can do that right away.”

  “Thanks,” Darlene said. “And Brooke, I’m a fan. I think you do a great job. I’ve been watching all day and I love that scarf. I’ll be in touch and you can tell me where you got it.” Then she turned and wriggled her way back to her car. The copters had flown off by the time she made it back. The police officer was there with the megaphone.

  “Thanks,” Darlene said. She took the megaphone, stepped up on the bumper of her car and then onto the hood. “People, I love your enthusiasm, but we need to keep it down.”

  The crowd did not seem to notice or care that she was speaking. She pulled the trigger and screamed. “Peeeeeeeeeople, please. Quiet!”

  Many in the crowd hushed and turned in her direction.

  Darlene looked into the front window of the car. Noah was rocking back and forth with his hands in front of his face. Judith was rubbing his back and talking to him. She looked up at Darlene and gave her the thumbs up. Darlene continued to talk to the crowd, much quieter this time. “Noah is in the car, and he can’t handle large crowds or noise, so this is absolutely the worst place to bring him. But we wanted him to be here when Delton got out. So if you could all just whisper, and not cheer, Noah will be able to stay. Please explain this to people near you who couldn’t hear me.”

  The crowd grew very quiet. They turned to others and began whispering. Darlene stayed on the hood of her car listening to the crowd grow quieter in an ever-expanding circle.

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  “Now hold on just a minute,” Governor Anderson said. “Just what is it that has your panties in a bunch?”

  Delton looked back. “I’m not doing this, Governor. I’m not going to live the rest of my life with a cloud over my head that I’m a murderer, but you took pity on me because a boy was sad without me. When I walk out those doors, it will be with a clean reputation.”

  “So what is it you need from me?” The governor asked.

  “You can start with an apology.”

  “Oh, Lord have mercy,” Taysha whispered.

  “For what?” Governor Anderson asked.

  “For assuming that I’m the cause of all the troubles, even before you have said one word to me.”

  Governor Anderson stood up straight, put his hands on his hips, and stared Delton directly in the eye. There was a long pause before the governor spoke again. “You know what?” He nodded. “You’re right. You have reason to be upset, and I apologize.” He gestured to the chair. “Can you sit down now?”

  “One more thing,” Delton said.

  Taysha scooted her chair out, crossed her legs, and looked angrily at the wall.

  “Name it,” the governor said.

  “When you talk about all of this to the press, and I know you will thousands of times, you will say I was pardoned because I acted in self-defense, not because you took pity on me. If we don’t agree to that, we have no deal.”

  Governor Anderson scowled at Delton. Delton could see he was weighing his options at this point, wondering if it was even worth the trouble of a pardon now. Finally the governor reached his hand out. “Deal.”

  Delton shook it firmly, and took his seat.

  Governor Anderson sat down and looked at him. “You’re a first for me, Mr. Delton Hayes.”

  “How’s that, sir?”

  “Before today, I’ve never respected a man behind bars.”

  Delton smiled. “Thank you, sir.”

  Ta
ysha picked up the pad of paper in front of her and fanned her face.

  The two men chatted a few minutes more. Delton explained why Rick Simpson was angry with him, and how the fight went down that led to his death.

  The governor let Delton know that arrangements had been made for him to stay with Judith and Noah, and that his education would be covered for the first two years by Marmont. Delton was surprised and grateful for both pieces of news.

  “Okay, let’s get this done.” Governor Anderson opened a folder that had been on the table in front of him the entire time. He took a pen from his coat pocket and scrawled his signature across a line on the bottom. A few in the room clicked photos of the moment. The governor then looked over to Delton. “Delton Hayes, you are a free man. Gentlemen, please uncuff this citizen.”

  One of the guards walked over and removed Delton’s cuffs. As soon as they were off Governor Anderson shook his hand. More photos were clicked.

  Taysha walked up and hugged him. “Son, I think you just took a full year off my life.”

  Governor Anderson slapped his shoulder. “Well, innocent man, there’s a little boy who would love nothing more than to see you again. Shall we go make him happy?”

  “Yes, we should. Thank you, sir.”

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Judith and Darlene leaned against the side of the SUV. The crowd was eerily quiet for the large number of people. It seemed more like a crowd that would be gathered at the death of an important figure, rather than one celebrating the freedom of a wrongly incarcerated man.

  “Whew, I had to park nearly five miles away,” Neil Keating said, squeezing out of the crowd to appear beside her. “I didn’t think I was going to make it.”

  Judith looked up into his kind eyes and smiled. She reached her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “Thank you so much for being here.”