Fourteen

Marazzi had noticed Christian’s mood change; they had now been incarcerated for a number of weeks and had settled down to prison life. Well as settled as they could ever be. “Hey what’s up with Briggo?” Kinsella asked that warm July afternoon, Paul glanced at Christian then shrugged, “He’s been in this mood for a while now”

“Hey you don’t suppose crazy Jake did anything to him?”

“No! He tried but Brig was too strong for him and threatened to slit his throat the next time he tried”

“Oh I wonder what it could be.”

Marazzi shrugged his shoulders then walked across the yard to where Christian stood. “You okay bud?”

“Yeah…fine”

“It’s just, you seem a bit down”

Christian looked at him; “Its Jessie’s birthday today” he sighed then walked away.

Marazzi drew in a deep breath then followed, “I’m sorry bud…I shoulda realised”

Christian shrugged, “Don’t sweat it”

“So what age is she?”

“Three…here mom sent me some pictures”

Marazzi took them from him and started flicking through them. “She looks like you” he smiled.

Christian took them back, his eyes focussing on his favourite. “She suits blue” Marazzi continued as they both glanced at Jessie’s smiling face.

“What’s this?” said Brown snatching them from him. “Oh you got a kid…I didn’t know that, wow she’s quite the little beauty ain’t she” Christian smiled happily, “So who’s looking after her?”

“My Mom I think”

“So she ain’t a ward of the state?” asked Brown looking concerned.

“No, thank God”

“Well that’s something then”

“You got kids Brown?”

The man shook his head, “Nah…which is just as well really…I mean I pity kids who got folks in jail…what must their lives be like?”

Christian saddened at the thought. “Oh God! I’m so sorry bud” he shrugged. “It’s okay…I suppose your right” he agreed and begun to wonder just what Jessie’s life would be like. Would she suffer because of him? People could be so cruel.

Minutes later Marazzi signalled to him to come with him. “What…what is it?” Brown grinned at him, “What the hell’s going on?” asked Christian.

“Here”

He glanced down at the cellular phone, “Where the hell did you get this?” Brown shushed him as he took his arm and led him to a quiet spot. “Call your kid” he said, Christian looked at phone. “Wait, who the hell does it belong to?”

“Warden Hardie but shit man who cares?” Kinsella joined in.

Christian hesitated, “If I get caught what will it cost me?”

“Hell I don’t know maybe some solitary time…but hell wont it be worth it to hear your kid’s voice?” Brown encouraged, Christian nodded as he begun to punch in the number of his mother’s home.

“Hello” said the voice

“Mom?”

“Who’s this please?”

“It’s me…its Chris”

“Chris?”

“Yeah…who the fuck is this?”

“Oh it’s you…hold on I’ll just get your mother”

Christian glanced over his shoulder to where his friends were keeping a lookout. “What’s wrong?” Marazzi mouthed.

“Someone else answered, another broad”

“Oh…they gone to get your mother?”

“Yeah” he nodded, then turned his back once again on his friends.

“Hello Chris…honey” his mother cried “Are you okay? They treating you okay?” he closed his eyes.

“Yeah…listen mom…is Jessie with you?”

“Yeah sweetie…she’s outside at her birthday party”

He smiled. “She’s having a party?”

“Yeah honey…you should see her, she’s got ice cream all over her face”

Christian could just about imagine. “Is she happy mom?”

“Yeah she’s doing okay…hold on I’ll let you talk to her okay”

“Yeah”

There was a pause then a little voice. “Daddy” she said.

“Hey babe”

“Daddy…when are you gonna come home?”

He hadn’t been expecting that and his heart broke into a million pieces. “I…don’t know sweetie”

“Awwwwww…got cake,” she said.

“Have you?”

“And candies”

“That’s good”

“And toys”

“Wow…Are you having a swell time honey?”

“Party”

A whistle alerted him that a guard was approaching. “I gotta go hon love you”

“Love you Daddy”

“Bye” he ended the call and stood with his back against the wall, hands gripping the phone tightly as Japp approached.

“What you up to?” he sniped.

Christian stared back at him, “Nothing at all Sir” he said as cool as ever, the man smelt a rat. “Now I know you’re up to something Ingebrigtsen because you never call me Sir…I’ll find out what the hell you’re up to and when I do I’ll whip your ass! No get back over there where I can keep my Goddamn eye on you!”

As soon as he reached the others they all burst out laughing.

“Man I thought you were busted for sure!” Kinsella muttered.

“Yeah me to” Christian agreed as he handed the cell phone back to Brown. “So, did you get to talk to her?” asked Marazzi

“Yeah…she’s having a party”

“And your mom has her?”

“Yeah…thank God!”

At least that was one worry over; his daughter was safe with his mother.

Inger lifted the glass to her lips and slowly took a sip. “So what’s so important?” she asked, her husband cleared his throat. “What’s going on with Jessica?” she shifted nervously, she’d known that sooner or later Henri would get round to the subject of her Grand-daughter “What do you mean?” he drew in a deep breath, “Inger…please don’t treat me like a fool…I only agreed to have her for a few weeks until you made other arrangements” Inger played it cool. “Well arrangements take time Henri” she said quietly before taking another sip of orange juice. “Well I’d make arrangements soon Inger because if you don’t I will” he threatened as he drew back the chair “Now I really do have to go, I’ve a whole lot of meetings this morning” he stated matter of fact. “Fine…I’ll sort something out” Inger told him firmly and turned her face away when he tired to kiss her.

Kate woke that warm July morning, there was someone in Christian’s home, she’d been taking care of it until his mother decided what she was going to do, she thought of calling the cops but then decided against it. Cops were the last people Christian would want in his home. She took a deep breath then got out of bed and reached for her dressing gown. “I’m crazy” she thought as she made her way downstairs to the kitchen.

Armed with a kitchen knife she left the safety of her own home and made her way next door to Christian’s, every light in the house was switched on. Kate felt her heart begin to thud against her chest as she made her way inside, “Hello…hel-lo” she called “I got a knife and I ain’t afraid to use it” she said bravely, no answer “Didn’t you hear me…I said I got a knife and I ain’t afraid to use…” a hand reached out and swiftly disarmed her, “Really Kate?” said a familiar voice, she recoiled backwards and stood blinking for a few seconds. “Chris!” she said quietly, he grinned wickedly at her “Oh Chris!” she suddenly yelled, he looked down to where she stood then suddenly pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Chris…What the hell are you doing here?”