He flinches when I run the cloth over it, and I feel a puff of his warm breath hit my cheek. I realize I’m too close and go to step back, but he moves like lightning. His bound hands reach out and take one of mine, tugging me closer. His fingers are calloused and hard against my smooth flesh. I gasp and my eyes are wide as he brings me so close we’re nearly nose-to-nose.
He says nothing; he doesn’t need to. His eyes are on mine, his expression telling me everything he can’t. It screams don’t mess with me, as well as something else, something deeper—no doubt something about the guards that he wants me to know—and part of me wishes he could tell me. The guards jump into action quickly, jerking me backwards and securing him. His eyes don’t leave mine, even as they recuff his hands, this time behind his back.
“Don’t move again,” Larry barks.
With a swallow and trembling hands, I step back and continue cleaning his face. I decide while he’s here, and he can’t escape, I might as well ask some more questions. “Do you want to tell me why you got into a fight?”
He glares at me, but I continue. “Did he say something about your family?”
A flinch.
“About . . . your sister?”
He bares his teeth at me in a snarl that has me taking a step back. His look is murderous, and it stuns me for a moment. I catch my breath and take the step forward so I’m close and only he can hear me. “I get it. I understand how it feels to be angry at the world, to want revenge. You might think I’m here to make your life harder, but I’m not. I understand what you said—I’m taking notice. I hope you know that I’d never let anyone hurt you if I had a choice.”
Our eyes lock, and we don’t move until the door swings open and Tristan enters with Kaitlyn following closely behind. I drop the washcloth, giving Beau a determined stare before turning. “I got most of the blood, Kait,” I say, smiling at the young, redheaded nurse.
“Thanks Ash.” She smiles back, taking over.
I walk over to Tristan when he beckons me, and lean in close.
“He say what happened?” he asks.
“No.”
“He nearly killed the other inmate. Neither of them will talk so a decision has been made that he needs to be transferred to a higher-security prison. We don’t have the facilities here to deal with this kind of violence. It won’t be the first fight he’ll get into.”
I turn and look at Beau, whose eyes are still on me. I don’t see this as being something he’s gotten himself into, and it worries me. He really has no reason to be transferred, but there’s nothing I can do to stop it. My argument is pointless in this situation.
“If you’ve got the morning free tomorrow, it would be good if you could accompany us. Two guards are off sick and we need extra hands. I know you don’t usually do transfers, but in this case we don’t really have a choice.”
“I’m happy to,” I say, giving him a forced smile.
At least I can get a feel of what’s going to go down if I go.
He pats my shoulder. “Thanks, Ash.”
I nod then glance back to Beau. He’s watching me still, his eyes narrowed.
Why has this prisoner gotten to me in such a way?
Maybe it’s because I truly don’t believe he’s a bad person.
CHAPTER SIX
It’s a cold morning when I head out the next day. I pull on a coat, dragging the ties around my waist to hold it secure. I say goodbye to Claire and Leo, telling them my plans. They’re too busy arguing over breakfast to hear me. With a wave of my hand, I leave.
The drive over to work is long; that would probably be because I’m spending my time pondering Beau and the issues going on around me. I’ve lain awake all night wondering why they’re transferring him. It has to be orchestrated; I’ve seen prisoners do far worse and never get moved. Someone is behind this, and it scares me to think of why they’d be going to such an effort.
I arrive just as they’re preparing the transfer vehicle. It’s a large truck, with a fully secured back. In the back with Beau there will be two guards. He will also be fully shackled to the ground and walls of the truck, making sure he can’t move. I’ll be in the front with two other guards.
“Are you ready?” Tristan asks as I approach.
I nod, wrapping my coat around me even tighter. “Sure.”
“I’m not coming, I have a meeting, but you’re with some good guards.”
He’s not coming? That’s strange. He always comes to these things.
“You’re not coming?”
He shrugs, but I don’t miss his eyes darting away for just a second. “It’s a meeting I can’t change, sorry.”