Two

“Hey Maz, cheer up man, it’s Christmas” Paul Marazzi glanced at the brown arm around his shoulder. “You thinking about Briggo?” he added, Marazzi was leaning against the wall, hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Silly really, it ain’t as if he’d ever remember me.”

Leroy Brown fixed those deep brown eyes on the younger man.

“Hey now, you don’t know that.” He said in a firm tone of voice.

Marazzi fixed hazel eyes on him then let out a deep sigh.

“Yeah I do. Hell I would if I were him.”

Brown watched the small man saunter away.

“He down again?” asked Brown’s cellmate and friend Kinsella.

“Yeah, I thought he’d get over this.”

“They were real close friends.”

“Yeah, maybe they were just too close.”

“Yeah.”

As soon as Marazzi reached the door he was accosted by two guards, who demanded to know where he was going. “I need to take a leek, is that okay with you moron’s?” he sniped. One of them looked across to where Jaap stood, Jaap, now bald nodded curtly and so the men stepped aside.

He’d just finished when Jaap rounded the corner. Marazzi glanced at the truncheon the man held in his hands and then up at the face.

“You never did tell me how Crazy Jake met his death?”

Marazzi tensed. “That’s because I don’t rightly know.”

“Bullshit!”

Marazzi tried to pass.

“Not so fast, get down and give me fifty.”

“Go fuck yourself.”

Jaap’s face contorted into an evil sneer, he straightened then drew back his truncheon. Marazzi bracing himself for the pain which he knew would come, ever since Ingebrigtsen’s departure Jaap had been making it his personal goal to make Marazzi pay and pay he did.

Roxi looked at the small Christmas tree then exhaled a breath, another Christmas, this was to be her first Christmas alone, usually she and Kate spent Christmas together but that was when Christian was in jail, he was out now and no doubt they’d want to spend Christmas together. She smiled at her efforts; Kate had allowed her to rent her house until Paul got out of jail.

Things were looking up for her at last, she’d gotten a job working part time at the 7/11, it wasn’t anything special but she liked working there, she liked chatting to the customers. She’d have to start getting changed, she was due in work at 5pm and Christian said that he’d drop her off.

She’d just about had time to swallow a few gulps of coffee when she heard a car horn blast. Christian could be so impatient at times. She checked her look in the mirror then emerged, dressed in the hideous maroon uniform, which consisted of knee length skirt, white blouse and maroon jacket. “Wow, you look swell Roxi hon, is that the new look?” he joked.

She slapped his arm as soon as she got into his car.

“Well it beats a prison uniform I suppose.”

“Ouch! That really hurt.” He joked, as he started the engine and moved off. “So, you seen Maz lately?” he changed the subject.

“Yeah, I saw him last week, and I’m gonna see him boxing day.”

“Cool.” They drove on for a while. “So, how’s he holding up?”

“He’s doing okay; he’s got a new cellmate.”

Christian felt a little twinge of jealousy which puzzled him greatly.

“Oh. Really?”

“Yeah.”

“So, what’s he like, this new guy?”

Roxi fixed baby blue eyes on him. “Well according to Paul he’s a fucking moron.”

Christian chuckled to himself. “Sounds like something he’d say.”

“So, how’s the case going?”

“I’m not sure; Mark said these things take time. I’ll just have to be patient.”

“Be patient, now there’s a challenge.”

“Tell me about it, I’m not worried about the compensation claim, I just want Jessie.”

Roxi thought back to that day on the beach, the first day they’d met. She’d come across him, he was wet through and sobbing his heart out. She’d offered to call Kate or his mother, but he’d refused and so she’d taken him inside and held him while he cried. After that day a brother/sister bond had been created between them. They would always joke around whenever they met.

He pulled into the parking lot of the 7/11 and watched her get out and make her way towards the entrance. “Rox, you want me to drop by and pick you up after work?” she smiled then shook her head. “It’s okay; I usually get a ride with a girlfriend but thanks anyway.” Christian nodded tiredly, watching her walk across the parking lot, to where an African/American young woman stood.

Roxi drew in a deep breath as she neared her friend, “Hell girl why’d you turn him down?” she asked, Roxi narrowed her eyes and looked back to where Christian was now reversing. “Wow girl, have I taught you nothing? Why you wasting your time waiting for that bum who’s in jail, when you could have that, that Adonis!” Roxi sniggered as they made their way inside. Latish. That Adonis as you call him, is very much attached, in fact he’s getting married.” Latisha fixed her huge dark eyes to where Christian had once been, “Hell girl, he ain’t married yet.” Roxi sniggered. “He’s Kate’s boyfriend.” She stated, Latisha frowned, “Oh is that Chris? Wow, no wonder she waited. Hell if that’s what they look like in prison; maybe I should go and get meself one of em. What you say girl?” Roxi laughed again, “I say you’re as mad as ever, come on, let’s get inside before we both get fired.” She said calmly.

“Maz, hey Marazzi” Brown said as he crouched down, the young man moaned, “Kinsella, go get help!” ordered Brown, “Come on buddy, you’re gonna be just fine.” He whispered as he gently moved him, cradling his head on his knee. “Come on, we need help in here.” The older man called, his voice echoing all around.

Minutes later Kinsella returned with a couple of guards “What happened here? Brown step away!” he was ordered, the man gently moved away and watched, horrified as Marazzi was kicked. “Come on Marazzi, get up!” he heard them say. Another kick. “He needs help, he needs a doctor!” Brown insisted, they just stood there watching, as if not really knowing what to do.

“What the hell’s going on here?”

“He needs a doctor Warden Hardie.” Kinsella answered.

“Get the doctor. NOW”

A guard scurried off, coming back seconds later with the prison Doctor.

The man took one look at Marazzi and demanded answers, “I just found him lying here.” Said Brown, looking worried. The doctor examined him, “He’s coming round.” He said, somewhat relieved.

Marazzi opened his eyes and blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the light. “Hey take it easy.” He was told and lay there was a few minutes before trying to sit. “I’m fine, please don’t fuss.” He said, but the doctor wasn’t satisfied, “I want him in the infirmary.” He commanded, Jaap moved forward and Marazzi flinched. “You heard him, he said he’s fine.” He said as he caught hold of Marazzi by the arm and proceeded to pull him to his feet. “I said I want him in the infirmary.” The Doctor stood his ground and Marazzi was escorted to the prison infirmary.